Malaysia Boleh!
The monotony of the working world can be a huge drag sometimes. You wake up, you work, you go home, you sleep, and you repeat the process all over again.
If the above paragraph strikes a strong chord within you, it’s probably time for a travel break (that is, if you still have enough annual leave left).
Planning a trip to faraway places like Europe might be a huge drag, and sometimes, all you want is to just pack up and head off to a destination that doesn’t include all the hassle of advanced detailed planning and a long haul flight.
That’s where Malaysia comes in – it’s got good food, beautiful scenery, and most importantly its nearby.
While we’ve all probably been to Malaysia at least once in our lives, if you know where to look, it’s possible to rediscover Malaysia all over again in a new light.
1. Malacca
In terms of a quick, fun, and wholesome trip, Malacca is probably your best bet. With its rich history, yummy food, exciting activities and generally laid back lifestyle, Malacca is a great destination that is only a 3 hour drive away.
Arguably the key attraction of Malacca is Jonkers’ Street, a street market that comes alive every weekend. Here, you can find tasty local treats, jewellery, clothes, souvenirs, and even random vintage items.
For food lovers, Malacca boasts quite an impressive food scene too. Once you’re done with shopping, you treat yourself to Kedai Kopi Chung Wah’s Chicken Rice Balls, or drop by a hipster cafe like The Daily Fix for some sumptuous waffles.
History buffs will enjoy places like the A’Famosa Fort and Christ Church, which were important sites during Malacca’s colonial history.
Recently, the Malacca River has seen a new lease of life, and visitors can check out the hip street murals painted by its shores. No wonder it was listed in Lonely Planet’s Top Asian Destinations to visit in 2017!
2. Kuala Lumpur
For those looking for a more urban getaway, you will find solace in Kuala Lumpur. It’s only a 1 hour flight away to the Malaysian capital city, which makes it perfect for a trip over the weekend.
While many know KL as Malaysia’s financial center, it’s actually jam packed with places to eat and things to do!
KL is a food paradise, and you can probably dedicate an entire day to food hunting in KL. From Village Park Nasi Lemak, Yeoh’s Bak Kut Teh, and Valentine’s Roti Canai, the options are endless.
For those with more refined tastebuds, many hipster cafes such as Coffee Societe and the Owls Cafe have been sprouting around in KL.
One unique thing about KL that allows it to stand out on this list is its nightlife scene. The Zouk in KL is known to be one of the craziest and most happening clubs in Asia, and it gives you the perfect opportunity to let loose and dance the night away.
Sightseeing wise, you can head down to the famous Petronas Twin Towers, which makes for great photos at night. Also, you could go up the KL Tower (not related to the Twin Towers) for a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
Alternatively, if you want a more thrilling and lively experience, do head down to Berjaya Times Square for its famous indoor theme park.
3. Langkawi
If you’re looking for a place to wind down and relax, then Langkawi is probably the destination for you.
Langkawi is known as the “Jewel of Kedah”, and it is not hard to see why it is one of the most popular beach destinations in Asia that’s only an hour plus flight away from Singapore.
Beach lovers will love Langkawi with its beautiful sunsets and fine sand. For a more lively and bustling experience, go to Pantai Cenang. If you go during the right time of the year, you can even catch surf-worthy waves!
That said, for those looking for a more serene and calming beach outing, head for Tanjong Rhu instead, where you can find limestone caves and generally less people.
Also, if you’re up for a day of adventure, head to the Langkawi Sky Bridge at the UNESCO Global Geopark Gunung Macincang for a wonderful view of the area, or check out their waterfalls!
Every beach getaway is not complete without good seafood. In Langkawi, seafood dining options are aplenty, but if you want a top notch seafood meal, you can probably check out Kapal Layar Restaurant and Orkid Kia.
4. Penang
When it comes to culture and food, nothing beats Penang as a travel destination in Malaysia. The culturally vibrant city is only an hour plus away from Singapore via plane, which makes it one of the most popular getaways for Singaporeans.
The streets in Georgetown are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means you are literally walking through history. It’s a heritage site for good reason, with its stunning and beautiful street murals which were created by Lithuainian artist Ernest Zacharevic.
Coupled with its amazingly preserved colonial architecture, a casual walk down the streets of Georgetown will be enough to provide you with plenty of photo taking opportunities.
When it comes to Penang, there’s one thing you definitely cannot avoid talking about – food. Penang is a food paradise, and that’s not exaggeration. At Penang, you can find a myriad of foods like Penang Assam Laksa, Penang Rojak, Mee Goreng, Nasi Kandar, and Chendol.
I could go on and on, but a food guide to Penang requires a separate article.
That said, one sector of underrated attractions in Penang is its various museums. There are all kinds of museums there, such as the Camera Museum, The Upside Down Museum, Phatamania, or even more traditional ones like the the Penang State Museum and the Batik Painting Museum.
5. Ipoh
While many people would call Ipoh the Penang-lite, they’re not completely wrong. That said, while you get a similar kind of experience from a weekend in Ipoh, it itself has it’s own unique travel flavour.
In fact, Ipoh turned plenty of heads when it made the list of Lonelyplanet’s Top Asian Destinations last year.
Like Penang, Ipoh is also known for its excellent food. Settle down for a hearty meal of satay, dim sum, curry mee, or chee cheong fan at one of Ipoh’s many famous street food eateries.
It’s also the birthplace of Ipoh Hor Fun and White Coffee, so do take the chance to try the real thing for yourself.
In addition, the same artist who painted Penang’s street murals has also done a similar set of murals titled the Art of Oldtown, which makes it a hidden treasure trove of Insta-worthy photo taking opportunities.
However, Ipoh’s activities are not just limited to the city. You can venture out to go caving at Gua Tempurung, spend a day at The Lost World of Tambun (a water theme park), or even visit the famous Sam Po Pong Temple.