Rank the best places to visit in Malaysia

[IOP]

Especially for hiking & nature exploration, checking local food and culture, having fun. What may you advice?
Will be great if you may share as many nice places as you can.

Thanks.

[the lynx]

If those are your real deal maker, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu (both in Borneo side of Malaysia) are the best.

Malacca is decent but after hordes and hordes of tourists (and tourist traps), it get a little too commercialised (and it is not green enough to please your thirst for nature).

Penang Island is good (that's where I'm from) and it answers for most of your requirements above but you want more green than what it offers, just hop over to the peninsula for one hour's drive and enjoy Sedim (for world's highest canopy walk and waterfalls)

[sweetgazebo]

i can comment more on the local food and diving spots (as these 2 are my fav activities).

Local food - KL is huge (and has loads of great places to eat laksa (bangsar, lor mee (setapak), banana leaf rice (bangsar), nasi lemak (masjid india/taman tun (TTDI)), duck rice (chinatown), fish porridge (chinatown), prawn mee (brickfields), hennessy lor mee (setapak).

next to KL is pj - here there is this really famous thai spot "pink elephant" (have been around since the 80s, if i m not wrong and chef is from southern thai). somewhere in seapark there is this famous (and he's sold out in under 3 hours tues to suns) clay pot chicken rice. big portions and costs only MYR10.00. in pj town, there is a restaurant that's been around since the 70s serving chicken rice (again big portions - the chicken is well steamed and the rice is fluffy mixed with fragrant chicken stock)

just 45 mins fr pj is klang - famous for its bah kut teh (which is a hokkien dish. it's loads of pork swimming in a herbal soup served with garlic rice). Little India (in klang) serves a mean 'roti canai' (or pratha in singapore) with a variety of thosai (mung bean pancake) along with banana leaf rice. 15 mins fr klang is the port of klang and here at the esplanade there's a restaurant where you get to choose your fish (loads of variety) /prawns (also a variety) and cook it the way you want it. i would personally recommend their ikan bakar (the fish is tender) served with a sour sauce of chillies, lime and belacan (prawn paste).

if you are feeling really adventurous, take a 45 minute drive to kajang for the satay (bbq meat) - well barbequed (the meat is always tender) served with the peanut sauce (which has loads of peanuts in it).

in seremban, they have their siew paus (baked crusty buns with pork or chicken filling) and cendol (an indian dessert - which is shreds of green jelly (made out of pandan) swimming in pure coconut milk and served with a dose of 'gula malacca').

contrary to the prev post, i still find malacca and penang to be the best places for nyonya food (fusion of chinese, indian and malay and thai influences). penang's has more thai influence whilst malacca's nyonya food is more malay-centric.

now i guess you prob would have eaten a lot of cakes and pastries back home but should you visit bangsar shopping center there's this brilliant pastry shop 'just heavenly' which serves durian chocolate cake. if you love durian you will love this cake that this shop makes. again, he makes the best durian cake in town so he's normally sold out before 6pm (with the exception of sundays, no idea why). When i go back for my weekend family visit, this is my must-stop before heading back to singapore. I stock up on as many of the cakes as i possibly can carry as i just cannot, till date, find a decent durian chocolate cake in singapore. i tried once at paragon but it was 1 teeny tea-spoon scoop of durian wrapped in a heavily floury chocolate sponge and costs me $16!

as for diving, sipadan (off sabah coast) is still the best. the sea water is clear and the coral reefs are unspoilt. there are also spots off the coast of terengganu and perak that you can also go to.

[zzm9980]

And for those who aren't Singlish speakers for their first language like Gazebo:

KL is Kuala Lumpar
PJ is Petaling Jaya
Klang is actually Klang, not an abbreviation.

Most people probably know KL, but I had to look up PJ and Klang. I wasn't sure if Klang was an abbreviation or not.

[sweetgazebo]

that's helpful info zzm!

actually i m kinda too lazy to type the full word - i find it kinda mouthful

And for those who aren't Singlish speakers for their first language like Gazebo:

KL is Kuala Lumpar
PJ is Petaling Jaya
Klang is actually Klang, not an abbreviation.

Most people probably know KL, but I had to look up PJ and Klang. I wasn't sure if Klang was an abbreviation or not.

[IOP]

Thanks, Guys.

I do like to visit Malaysia and very happy to see how it is growing every year.
Also, unlike Indonesia, I don't need a visa..... that is why I don't visit Indonesia and they don't get my money )))

[BillyB]

If those are your real deal maker, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu (both in Borneo side of Malaysia) are the best.

Malacca is decent but after hordes and hordes of tourists (and tourist traps), it get a little too commercialised (and it is not green enough to please your thirst for nature).

Penang Island is good (that's where I'm from) and it answers for most of your requirements above but you want more green than what it offers, just hop over to the peninsula for one hour's drive and enjoy Sedim (for world's highest canopy walk and waterfalls)

+1. Hop over to East Malaysia for nature-based adventures.........

Believe it or not, Malaysia actually has two Islands!

[JR8]

+1. Hop over to East Malaysia for nature-based adventures.........

Agreed. Shame about the ecological rape that is palm-oil but it still has areas that are not wrecked and Kuching and KK and area are great.

Believe it or not, Malaysia actually has two Islands!

Oh aye. Well there's the Borneo bits, and what's the second island again Bunter?

[the lynx]

+1. Hop over to East Malaysia for nature-based adventures.........

Agreed. Shame about the ecological rape that is palm-oil but it still has areas that are not wrecked and Kuching and KK and area are great.

Believe it or not, Malaysia actually has two Islands!

Oh aye. Well there's the Borneo bits, and what's the second island again Bunter?

Interesting, I do not know that we have TWO islands only...

[x9200]

Thanks, Guys.

I do like to visit Malaysia and very happy to see how it is growing every year.
Also, unlike Indonesia, I don't need a visa..... that is why I don't visit Indonesia and they don't get my money )))

No VOA (visa on arrival) for your country?

[zzm9980]

So here's a question on Borneo.

If you had a long weekend, and only time for Kuching or KK, which would you prefer?

One caveat: I'd have a 1yr old with me, so long jungle treks are out. I'd still love as much outdoor stuff as can be reasonably accomplished via private taxi or a tour group though.

[sweetgazebo]

kk (or kota kinabalu ) but last i was told kk has gotten worse than kl - dirty, polluted.

......

If you had a long weekend, and only time for Kuching or KK, which would you prefer?

One caveat: I'd have a 1yr old with me, so long jungle treks are out. I'd still love as much outdoor stuff as can be reasonably accomplished via private taxi or a tour group though.

[poodlek]

Thanks, Guys.

I do like to visit Malaysia and very happy to see how it is growing every year.
Also, unlike Indonesia, I don't need a visa..... that is why I don't visit Indonesia and they don't get my money )))

No VOA (visa on arrival) for your country?

VOA for us three, but as it's $40 each per trip, Mr. K prefers Malaysia also.

[the lynx]

So here's a question on Borneo.

If you had a long weekend, and only time for Kuching or KK, which would you prefer?

One caveat: I'd have a 1yr old with me, so long jungle treks are out. I'd still love as much outdoor stuff as can be reasonably accomplished via private taxi or a tour group though.

Both are still ok. People specifically go to KK because of Mount Kinabalu, the highest summit in Borneo, or for island hopping in marine park off coast, and also duty-free Labuan island.

Kuching, boasting a higher number of tribes and natives, prides itself in cultural treasure so Sarawak Cultural Village is the best in the country. And it has Bako national park and Damai beach close to Santubong island. And oh, museums.

I think you should bring your kid to Kuching, target your trip with Rainforest World Music Festival. Your kid will have fun with additional music bit and workshops in the cultural village.

[Strong Eagle]

I've done some great caving, white water rafting, and waterfall rappelling in western Malaysia near Ipoh and Go Peng. Cave was real good. Not for the faint of heart or those who have claustrophobia. All enjoyable. Let me know if you want details.