Top Travel Tips and Popular Excursions of Malaysia
About Malaysia
Malaysia is a beautiful and diverse country with many highlights. The many different regions, each with their own characteristic features, make this country the perfect destination for tourists. However, Malaysia does not entirely depend on tourism. This country's economy has been going strong for years. On the contrary to what some people (still) believe, Malaysia is not a third world country. The country has developed itself enormously in the past 50 years and this is clearly noticeable when visiting it. Especially in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, you will see many modern buildings, a modern light rail transit system, many luxurious shopping malls and countless expensive cars on the roads. Life outside of the capital is often less developed; but even there the times of people only being able to afford a motorcycle are long gone.
How to travel within Malaysia?
By Bus
Travelling via bus in Malaysia is one of the desirable experiences for many travelers worldwide. It instills the experience of luxury coaches and express bus services. These buses are specially designed for travelers in Malaysia as they can opt for any bus online that suits them. These buses enhance the attractions of cities and tourist destinations in Malaysia as one gets to know Malaysia better by travelling in a bus than in an airplane. Tourists can book their own ride and save tons of money without wasting it on airline tickets. The bus network of Malaysia is quite strong as there are more than 160 bus operators along with more than 6k+ bus routes. Travelling through buses is the most advantageous mode of transportation for tourists and local inhabitants of Malaysia.
Traveling by bus is the cheapest way to travel in the city. There are air-conditioned buses connecting various places within and outside the city. Non air-conditioned buses are also available which usually run in the smaller towns.
Travelling via bus in Malaysia is one of the desirable experiences for many travelers worldwide. It instills the experience of luxury coaches and express bus services. These buses are specially designed for travelers in Malaysia as they can opt for any bus online that suits them. These buses enhance the attractions of cities and tourist destinations in Malaysia as one gets to know Malaysia better by travelling in a bus than in an airplane. Tourists can book their own ride and save tons of money without wasting it on airline tickets. The bus network of Malaysia is quite strong as there are more than 160 bus operators along with more than 6k+ bus routes. Travelling through buses is the most advantageous mode of transportation for tourists and local inhabitants of Malaysia.
By Train
Malayan railways or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) connects all the major cities/towns in the Peninsular Malaysia. One can travel by rail from Peninsular Malaysia via Thailand and Singapore. First, second and economy air-conditioned coaches are available in the trains.
The Ekspres Langkawi connects Kuala Lumpur and Arau on a daily basis. This train departs nightly reaching Arau in the morning and then leaves for Hatyai, Thailand before heading back to Arau in the evening.
There are express services which have restaurants serving local and continental cuisine. Tickets for these trains are to be booked 60 days in advance. Children below 4 years of age can travel for free whereas children below 12 years are charged half price. 10 day and 30 day tourist Railpass are available to foreign tourist for unlimited travel on KTM for that period.
Senandung Malam connects Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth on a nightly basis. Sleeper berth is available in the first and second class coaches.
Though there are no direct India to Malaysia trains, if one wants to experience a railways journey in Malaysia, one can take the Keretapi Tanah Melayu commonly referred to as KTM, which is a Malayan Railway service that offers daily train services from Singapore and Thailand. One can take a direct flight from any of the metropolitan cities of India up to Singapore and Thailand, and then a train from there. The Malaysia route of the train is very beautiful, and one gets to experience some of the gorgeous views of the country.
Public Transport
Malaysia has well developed transport networks and efficient rail links. Its international ports and airports are well connected to bus and train services, making travel to, from and around the country easy and efficient.
Most domestic transport in Malaysia is comfortable and reasonably priced, with air travel the most expensive. It is advisable to book domestic transport well in advance during the main festivals, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Pusa and Hari Raya Haji. Domestic flights and domestic express bus services are often sold out weeks before these festivals.
Transportation in larger cities is good with many different means of transport. In Kuala Lumpur, for example, there are buses, minibuses (bas-mini), taxis, pedicabs (trishaws), as well as trains.
In Malaysian towns and cities various modes of transport are used, including ferry services. In cities the rail network is a good way to get around, especially the KL Monorail and transit trains.
Malaysia Gastronomy & Restaurants
Malaysian food is quintessentially a conglomeration of many things. Cultural references play one part — there’s a harmonious multiracial influence for sure but more importantly, the love for food unites us all. Whether it is a simple piece of roti canai from a little stall under the tree or a delicious bowl of chilli pan mee, the daily conversations will surely touch on the topic of food.
And that’s the appeal that we have here in the country whenever we speak the language of food — we have the traditional Malay and Indian cooking, as well as cross-pollinated Kristang and Peranakan cuisine. This has certainly inspired many chefs in the country to truly bring out the spirit of Malaysian cooking by elevating it to the next level. In fact, Modern Malaysian cuisine was unheard of five years ago — it is a new style of cooking that has given our local food and produce a breath of fresh air.
While traditionalists would call it the bastardisation of heritage cuisines, visionaries in the industry think its one step forward to put Malaysian cooking on the map as one of the best food destinations for both street snacks and ‘atas’ posh plates. And in case you’re not sure what Modern Malaysian cooking is, it is all about food that is inspired by traditional recipes but refined to the modern palate — some even to the extent of experimental and experiential with the use of molecular gastronomy.
Malaysia whether and climate
Malaysia enjoys tropical weather year round however due to its proximity to water the climate is often quite humid. Despite this, the weather is never too hot and temperatures range from a mild 20°C to 30°C average throughout the year; however the highlands experience cooler temperatures.
Malaysia has a tropical rain forest climate with high temperatures and a lot of rainfall throughout the year. In Malaysia humidity and rain is a common feature and nights are fairly cool. Throughout the year, the average temperature can range from 28°C (82°F) to 32°C (89°F) during the day. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast. East Malaysia has heavy rains from November to February.
Travel Adaptors and Plugs
For Malaysia the associated plug type is G, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Malaysia operates on a 240V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Currency of Malaysia
The local currency is Ringgit Malaysia (RM) and it is currently pegged at RM3.80 to US$1.00.
The monetary unit used now is Ringgit (RM) and Sen (Since Aug 75). Rm1 (One Ringgit) is equivalent to 100 Sen. Denominations are 1 Sen, 5 Sen, 10 Sen, 20 Sen, 50 Sen and RM1. The RM1 banknote is now being replaced by Rm1 coin.
The Malaysian Ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. Our currency rankings show that the most popular Malaysia Ringgit exchange rate is the USD to MYR rate. The currency code for Ringgits is MYR, and the currency symbol is RM. Below, you'll find Malaysian Ringgit rates and a currency converter.
Malaysian Ringgit is the official currency of Malaysia, that is generally accepted both at a professional and at the local level. The currency code is MYR and 100 sens (cents) make up 1 MYR.
Location and Geography
Malaysia consists of two geographical segments. West Malaysia, the southern third of the Malay Peninsula in South East Asia and East Malaysia, which occupies the northern quarter of the island of Borneo. Thailand to the north, the South China Sea to the east, and Singapore bind West Malaysia to the south, and the Strait of Malacca to the west. East Malaysia is bound by Indonesia to the south, the South China Sea to the west and north, and the Sulu Sea to the northeast. The county is slightly larger than New Mexico with a land area of 329,750 square kilometers. Malaysia is located at 2 30 N, 112 30 E.
Malaysia is situated in central South – East Asia, bordering Thailand in the north, with Singapore to the south and Indonesia to the south and west. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650 to 950 km (404 to 600 miles) across the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia is an area of forested mountain ranges running north – south, on either side of which are low – lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1,900 km (1,200 miles).
The west coast consists of mangrove swamps and mudflats which separate into bays and inlets. In the west, the plains have been cleared and cultivated, while the unsheltered east coast consists of tranquil beaches backed by dense jungle. The major islands are Langkawi (A group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast and Tioman, Redang, Kapas , Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast. In Malaysia Borneo, Sarawak has alluvial and , in places, swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating the jungle – covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow coastal plain which gives way to mountains and jungle. Mt. Kinabalu, at 4,094 m (13,432 ft), is the highest peak in Malaysia.
Time zone in Malaysia
Currently has same time zone offset as MYT (UTC +8) but different time zone name. Malaysia Time (MYT) is 8 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in: Asia.
There are actually more than 24 time-zones around the world, and while Malaysia belongs to a cluster of the world's time standard that is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) +8, we actually have our own time-zone, Malaysian Time (MYT).
Population of Malaysia
Malaysia is currently experiencing population growth at a rate that is gradually slowing down. Malaysia’s population is currently 32.37 million people. It is estimated that Malaysia’s population will peak in the year 2068 at 42.07 million people. Following 2069, the population will begin to steadily decline.
Malaysia’s population is growing at a rate of 1.30% as of 2020. This is significantly lower than its rate in 2000, which was 2.51%. This decrease in the population growth rate is expected to continue in the next few decades, slowing down population growth until the numbers plateau and eventually decline.
If Malaysia wants to continue to grow its population further than current projections and prevent an aging population, it will need to increase its fertility rate. The fertility rate is 2.01 births per woman, just under the population replacement rate.
Malaysia Languages
The national language of Malaysia is Malay, apart from being one of the two official languages. Also called Malaysian Malay or Malay, it is spoken by over 80% of the population. The second official language of Malaysia is English, which is also one of the most commonly spoken languages. The three main Malaysian languages are Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. The diverse Malaysian country is home to a diverse 137 living languages!
Shopping where and what?
Shopping in Malaysia is a famous affair, as it stocks affordable and fashionable products all year long. Malaysia dubbed a ‘shopping paradise’ has over 50 big shopping malls. Name a famous global brand, and it would have at least one store in one of the malls in Malaysia. Malaysia caters all types of shopping needs from cheap wallet-friendly shops to high-end luxury shops, making it a one-stop for all shopping needs.
Kuala Lumpur is the most popular shopping destination, rivalling Singapore and Hong Kong for fashions and electronic goods. At the base of the Petronas Towers, suria KLCC, houses a great selection of leading international brands. Sleek starhill Gallery and Lot 10 have more glamorous brands, while Berjaya times square has its own amusement park, with rollercoasters looping past the stores. The jalan petaling street market in Chinatown is good for inexpensive souvenirs, and quality handicrafts can be found in the eye – catching central market.
Phone and Emergencies in Malaysia
Police & Ambulance : 999
Fire Brigade : 994
Civil Defense : 991
Accidents / Natural Disasters : 991
Popular Excursion of Malaysia
Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The tallest twin towers in the world, the Petronas reach an impressive 452 meters high up into the clouds. The towers are 88 floors tall and have an impressive total of 76 elevators.
Built using reinforced concrete, steel, and glass, the two towers are connected to each other by a double skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floors. Visitors can make their way up here for stunning views of KL and the 6.9-hectare KLCC Park below the views are particularly impressive at night.
While most of the floors on the towers are rented to companies IBM, Microsoft, and Huawei Technologies all have offices here the bottom floors of the towers are reserved for Suria KLCC, one of the largest shopping centers in Malaysia. With over 300 stores, an art gallery, and even space for a Philharmonic Hall, this retail and entertainment space will keep visitors occupied for hours.
Petronas Twin Towers were once the tallest buildings in the world. Now the world’s tallest twin structures, the 88-storey buildings were designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates with both towers joined at the 41st and 42nd floors (175m above street level) by a 58 metre-long, double-decker Sky Bridge.
Standing 452 metres tall, the Petronas Twin Towers retained its world-title claim to fame until 2004 when Taipei's 101 was built, measuring 508 metres tall. Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010) retains the spot as the world’s tallest building. Located in the KL city centre, the Petronas Twin Towers’ architecture is Islamic-inspired and the buildings primarily house the corporate headquarters of the Petronas Company and other offices.
Batu Caves, Selangor
Located less than an hour outside Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves complex consists of three main caves plus a series of smaller ones, most of them containing statues and 100-year-old shrines dedicated to Hindu gods.
The main cave, known as Cathedral Cave, is at the top of a massive colorful staircase—make it all the way up the 272 steps, and you'll find a space decorated with statues, altars, and lights. At the bottom of the stairs, a 43-meter-tall gold statue of Lord Murugan welcomes visitors.
Visitors are allowed to explore the caves on their own or can join a guided tour to learn more about the caves. During the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in January, thousands of people flock to the cave for the celebrations.
Batu Caves, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most frequented tourist attractions, is a limestone hill comprising three major caves and a number of smaller ones. Located approximately 11 kilometres to the north of Kuala Lumpur, this 100-year-old temple features idols and statues erected inside the main caves and around it. Incorporated with interior limestone formations said to be around 400 million years old, the temple is considered an important religious landmark by Hindus.
Cathedral Cave
The largest and most popular cavern in Batu Caves – houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100-metre-high arched ceiling. At the foot of Batu Hill are two other cave temples – the Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave – which houses numerous Hindu statues and paintings.
Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
Mount Kinabalu’s specialty lies in its location at a renowned World Heritage Site—Kinabalu Park. Nature lovers will be delighted to be able to witness the many variations of flora and fauna that are to be found on the mountain at different altitudes.
Mount Kinabalu, along with other upland areas of the Crocker Range is well-known worldwide for its tremendous botanical and biological species biodiversity with plants of Himalayan, Australasian, and Indo-Malayan origin.
A recent botanical survey of the mountain estimated a staggering 5,000 to 6,000 plant species (excluding mosses and liverworts but including ferns), which is more than all of Europe and North America (excluding tropical regions of Mexico) combined. It is therefore one of the world’s most important biological sites.
At just over 4,000 meters high, Mount Kinabalu is the tallest mountain in Malaysia. The mountain is part of Kinabalu Park, one of the oldest national parks in Malaysia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of its unique ecosystem mixing alpine meadows, grasslands, and shrublands, Kinabalu is home to an impressive range of both plant and animal species, including the threatened orangutans.
Mount Kinabalu is a major destination for climbers—but summiting here can be tricky. Only 185 climb permits are issued daily by the park, and visitors must make accommodation reservations and hire a mountain guide in advance in order to be allowed to hit the trails. Although people under 16 are allowed to join climbing groups, there are restrictions in place.
Perhentian Islands
Once a stopping point used by traders traveling around Southeast Asia, this group of small islands is part of a marine park and has become a major tourist destination in northeastern Malaysia. Most of the islands can be accessed by either ferry or small motorized boats, although only the two larger islands offer accommodations, shops, and amenities—of these two, Pulau Perhentian Besar has more of a backpacking scene, while Pulau Perhentian Kecil is a little more upscale and family-oriented.
While you can hop on a water taxi to move from one beach to the next here, it's also possible to follow the island's walking trails instead—a much-recommended option as you get to trek through jungle paths and get open stunning views of the water along the way.
The Perhentian Islands are 2 tiny islands lying off the east coast of Malaysia.
They are perfect for those looking for some beach-underwater-ocean-sand-sun time and make a great alternative to the overcrowded islands of Thailand.
With beautiful waters, these islands are famous as top diving or snorkelling destinations, but are also ideal for those just looking to relax on some sand for a while and read a book.
Sipadan Island
Sipadan Island and its surrounding ocean waters are part of the world's richest marine habitat, home to endangered hawksbill turtles, whale sharks, monitor lizards, and hundreds of coral species. The island is also considered one of the best diving destinations in the world and is fiercely protected—visiting requires a permit in advance and only 120 permits are given out per day.
Reaching the island requires an hour-long ride on a speed boat. Once here, the island can be easily explored on foot, with different beaches and reef sites within minutes of each other.
Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive.
Divers require a permit to dive Sipadan and the quota is capped to 176 permits per day; 3 dives per diver. Each permit is valid for 1 day only. Permits are to be attained from dive resorts. Kindly enquire directly with them if you wish to dive Sipadan.
Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Gunung Mulu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has everything to offer for both leisure and adventurous visitors. It has the world’s most extensive cave system, jungle trekking, river rapids, and fascinating people, including Sarawak’s last nomadic tribes.
Important both for its high biodiversity and for its karst features, Gunung Mulu National Park, on the island of Borneo in the State of Sarawak, is the most studied tropical karst area in the world. The 52,864-ha park contains seventeen vegetation zones, exhibiting some 3,500 species of vascular plants. Its palm species are exceptionally rich, with 109 species in twenty genera noted. The park is dominated by Gunung Mulu, a 2,377 m-high sandstone pinnacle. At least 295 km of explored caves provide a spectacular sight and are home to millions of cave swiftlets and bats. The Sarawak Chamber, 600 m by 415 m and 80 m high, is the largest known cave chamber in the world.
Thick rain forest covers most of the park and makes some areas difficult to access—one of the reasons some of the caves here weren't really explored until the 1970s. Another reason is how massive the cave systems are: both the largest passage and the largest underground chamber in the world are located in caves here.
Deer Cave is particularly beautiful, with ceilings over 122 meters tall, waterfalls cascading through the rocks, and an opening over a sinkhole that's over one kilometer wide. Visitors to the park can also trek up to the Sarawak Chamber and Paku Waterfall or try a climb up on The Pinnacles Summit Trek, which takes three days and involves ropes, ladders, and an arduous walk through the jungle.
Penang Hill
The top of Penang Hill offers beautiful green views over the city and is home to the Habitat Penang Hill, with a 1.6-kilometer nature trail cutting through the rain forest and a number of tropical gardens; a canopy walk 40 meters up in the sky; ziplines; and the Skyway, which offers three viewing decks and a 360-degree view of the bay and islands.
Penang Hill was the first colonial hill station developed in Peninsular Malaysia. Comprising Western Hill, Bukit Laksamana, Tiger Hill, Flagstaff Hill and Government Hill, it is located six km away from Georgetown. The hilly and forested area is the state's primary hill resort.
Set 821m above Penang’s capital, islanders call it Bukit Bendera and it is generally about five degrees cooler than Georgetown. It is the last patch of tropical rainforest in Penang so the flora and fauna here have been protected since 1960. It does not have the same prominence as Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill or Cameron Highlands but it is one of Penang’s best-known tourist attractions due to its fresher climate.
The most popular way to the top of the hill is the Penang Hill Railway. Located at the foot of the hill, this Swiss-designed funicular starts out from Air Itam. Built in 1923, it is one of the world’s oldest funicular systems and has a 2,007m-long track that climbs the hill at a crawling 30-minute pace.
The journey takes you past luxuriant greenery and the occasional macaque plus the bungalows originally built for British officials and other wealthy citizens. The queue for carriages can be quite long especially on weekends and public holidays: passengers have to change trains midway.
Another way to the top of Penang Hill is by a five km drive up a private road accessible only to the vehicles of hillside residents: this jeep trail is a popular hiking route and starts out from the quarry at the entry of the Penang Botanic Gardens.
There is a well-marked eight km path leading up from the Moon Gate (between the post office and police station) at the Botanical Gardens: it is a steep one-hour climb, but a delightful walk with plenty of places to rest along the way.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan
Sprawled over 40 square kilometres on the ground of Kabili Forest Reserve, this rehabilitation centre is known to give new life to orphaned orangutans before sending them back to the forests. The reserve is inhabited by 200 orangutans who form the major highlight of this place.
Sepilok Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is swarmed with people from all across the globe who wish to see this rare animal species living in their natural habitat. If you are someone who loves to spend undisturbed time amidst nature, here is a perfect place to visit in Sabah.
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center was founded in 1964 to help orphaned orangutan babies rescued from the pet trade or saved from illegal hunting. The center's main goal is to help these orangutans learn how to survive in the wild (in fact, replacing what they would usually learn from their mothers), so they can be eventually released into the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, which is covered in virgin forest and extends for 4,300 hectares around the rescue center. Over 80 orangutans currently live free in the reserve.
While visitors cannot interact with the animals or approach them, they can come to the center to learn more about orangutans and the challenges they face today, see the nursery and the climbing area through a glass window, and attend feeding times (seen from a platform) twice a day.
Kek Lok Si Temple, George Town
Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple sits on a hill, at the bottom of Air Itam mountain. As Asian temples go, Kek Lok Si is relatively new, as construction began in 1890—but the massive seven-story Pagoda surrounded by 10,000 Buddha statues make this a striking destination that can't be missed.
Surrounded by gardens, fish ponds, prayer halls, and a number of stalls selling both religious and secular souvenirs, the pagoda is also home to a 36-meter-tall statue of Kwan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.
The temple attracts many visitors from all around Southeast Asia who come here to "make merits" but also to see one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the area. Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly beautiful at the temple, as the entire space is decorated with thousands of lanterns.
Kek Lok Si is both carved into the rock face as well as perched atop the slopes of Air Itam. The main attraction here is the impressive pagoda of Rama VI and at the centre of the complex, the seven-storey, 30-metre high tower is acknowledged as the ‘face’ of Kek Lok Si. Topped with a Burmese crown, Ban Po Thar – the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda – displays a collection of alabaster and bronze Buddhas and has a Chinese octagonal base while its middle tiers are of Thai design. Meanwhile sited in the Hall of the Devas, are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings – each of the Kings allegedly controls one of the four points of the compasses – Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch'i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and lastly Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).
At the apex are a couple more temples, a fish pond, sprawling gardens and 12 animal statues that represent the Chinese zodiac. Kek Lok Si temple houses tablets and imperial Buddhist sutras gifted by Manchu Emperor Kwang Xi and Empress Cixi of the Ching Dynasty; these historic relics are kept in the temple archives. The impressive complex is usually crowded with visitors and is located approximately three kilometres from Penang Hill.
Langkawi SkyCab, Kedah
The Langkawi cable car makes a 2.2-kilometer trip between the Base Station and the top of Gunung Machinchang mountain, where a number of attractions—including a pedestrian skybridge—are located. There's also a middle station, where travelers can get off to access a viewing platform.
The journey to the top, in glass-bottom gondolas, takes about 15 minutes and offers sweeping views of the bay, the Telaga Tujuh waterfall, and the turquoise waters surrounding Langkawi Island.
Langkawi is known as the Jewel of Kedah, which is a north-western state in Peninsular Malaysia. Although, the Langkawi archipelago consists of 99 islands in the Andaman sea, most people will only visit the main big island of Langkawi itself.
Locally, Langkawi is known as a land of myths and legends. There are stories of Mahsuri, a pretty maiden who cursed the island for seven generations, the legend of the Pregnant Maiden and the Field of Burnt Rice. But our favourite story is that of the quarelling giants.
The story goes that there were once two Giants living on the island, Mat Raya and Mat Chinchang. The two were great friends, to the extent that their children became betrothed to wed. Unfortunately at the wedding reception, Mat Raya and Mat Chinchang got into an argument and began to quarrel.
Each grabbed items close to them and began to throw at each other. A pot of gravy was thrown and spilled on the ground. The place where it fell became known as Kuah (which means gravy in malay) and is today the main town on the island. A pitcher of hot water fell at Ayer Hangat (hot water in malay), where today you can find a hot spring. Lastly a jar fell at Belanga Pecah (broken crockery) and the handles or rings of a pot fell into Selat Cincin (Strait of Rings), the channel which separates Langkawi from Tarutao island in Thailand.
A third Giant, Mat Sawar, managed to stop the fight and mediate between the two warring giants. In remorse and anguish, they decided to atone for their mistake by being turned forever more into mountains. Mat Raya was turned into Gunung Raya, the tallest mountain in Langkawi today, and Mat Chinchang became Gunung Machinchang, the second tallest. Mat Sawar the mediator was also turned into a small hill between the two giants, to separate the two and guard the peace for eternity.
Bako National Park, Borneo
Bako National Park sits right against the water, sandy beaches, and steep sandstone cliffs surrounding the beautiful mangroves and peat swamp forests. Reaching the park requires taking a bus followed by a 20-minute ride on a small motorboat that's not for the faint of heart.
Once at the shore, you can follow any of the 16 marked trails on the island to help you explore (there's no transportation within the park) and hopefully catch sight of the unusual local flora and fauna, which includes carnivorous plants, the endangered proboscis monkeys, and the rare and friendly bearded pig. Two of the best trails include the Lintang Loop for great sightseeing on relatively easy terrain, and the Tajor trail, which takes you to a waterfall and pools you can swim in.
To better appreciate the beauty of the park, consider staying overnight, as most animals only come out once the sun sets. There are bungalows for rent as well as a designated campsite at the park headquarters.
Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak for wildlife experiences. It is Sarawak’s oldest national park and was gazetted in 1957. The animals at Bako are therefore used to humans. As a result visitors are almost guaranteed to see wildlife.
Commonly seen wildlife includes the proboscis monkey which is endemic to Borneo, silver-leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, monitor lizards, bearded pigs and a variety of birdlife.
The park’s star attraction is undoubtedly the proboscis monkey. Males have a huge nose and pot belly. It is estimated that there are 275 proboscis monkeys at Bako. They are often spotted around the park HQ and accommodation blocks at Telok Assam. The Telok Paku & Telok Delima are also good places to spot proboscis monkeys.
Cameron Highlands, Pahang
The Cameron Highlands is the name of a scenic hill station in the state of Pahang in Malaysia which dates from the 19th century. The highlands were founded by a British colonialist named Sir William Cameron and were named after him, and were modeled on a traditional English village. The aim of the Cameron Highlands was to provide residents in the lowlands with some respite during the summer months and allow them to enjoy the cooler climate here, and you will find English influences all over the region.
Just some of these include unusual attractions such as rose and lavender gardens, and one of the big draws here is the chance to go strawberry picking. In keeping with its British history, you can stay in traditional style colonial buildings here as well as enjoy typical treats such as English cream teas. If you are looking for the perfect drink to go with your tea, then the Cameron Highlands is known for its sweeping tea plantations.
The Cameron Highlands span some 71,000 hectares of land, so there is a huge amount to do here, especially if you are a nature lover and fancy jungle trekking or scaling the most famous peak in the area called Mount Brinchang.
A stunningly emerald green hill station, the Cameron Highlands cover an area of over 712 square kilometers. The main attraction here is the tea estates, a legacy from British colonial times. The area, however, also offers orchards; lavender farms; and plenty of opportunities to hike through the local mossy forest to reach aboriginal villages, waterfalls, and lakes.
Both locals and visitors head here to enjoy the cooler climate and experience a true high-tea experience in places like the Boh Sungei Palas Tea Estate, where you can not only tour the plantation but also see the tea-making process, sit at the café, and stock up on goodies at the gift shop.
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