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Malaysia Travel Blogs

Credited nowhere near enough for its infectiously languid pace of life, Malaysia time arguably runs at least as slow as famously sleepy Laos a few hundred miles to the north. In fact, mediocre press is a bit of a theme for Malaysia, causing many folks on the regional travel circuit to pencil in just a few days to pass through - or even pass over - en-route to Singapore in the south or Thailand to the north.

Those that slow to take a peek, though, can't help but be reeled in. Malaysia, see, is positively dripping in culture, biodiversity and out-and-out natural beauty. Take time to hit the highlights and you'll soon be hastily re-jigging your itinerary (itineraries are for geeks, by the way) to accommodate the fortnight-or-so that you're going to
need in order to see just the very tip of the iceberg.

If you're in need of a poke in the right direction, here's a few pointers:

The truly stunning Perhentian Islands, with their coral reefs and refreshing lack of roads and other infrastructure (imagine how the more popular of the Thai islands might've looked 30 years ago, and you'll not be far off); Taman Negara National Park, one of the most absorbing places in all of South East Asia; the Cameron Highlands, with its tea plantations and breezy respite from the swelteringly moist lowlands; the old town charm of Penang island (try to ignore the Tesco); the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, featuring mountains, rainforest and apes (big orange ones called Orangutans); and the ethnic melting pot that is Kuala Lumpur, where 3 main cultures - Malay, Chinese and Indian - all get on just fine, albethey largely concentrated in their own micro-cultural districts.

Despite its colonial past and still strong ties to Britain, modern Malaysia's official religion is Islam, although freedom of worship is encouraged in the country's constitution and national holidays are observed for the main religious festival periods of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Talk about reasonable.

If you're in South East Asia, make time for Malaysia - don't just write it off as the 'baby pool' that some travel guides will have you believe it to be.

Highlights

 • Lazing on silky beaches on the Perhentian Islands
 • Sipping tea in the cool Cameron Highlands
 • World class diving at Sipadan
 • South-East Asia's highest Mountain - Mount Kinabalu
 • Hanging with the orange apes in Borneo
 • Munching street food and generally mixing it up in KL
 • Getting up close and personal with nature in Taman Negara
 • Blowing your budget on Langkawi
 • Soaking up the old skool charm of Malacca
 • Admiring the stunning twin peaks on Tioman Island

Tips and Hints

If it's tropical islands and pristine beaches you're after, go east between March and October, or west between November and February. Two distinct monsoon seasons hit each coast at pretty much opposite times of year, so you can always find sunny paradise on one coast when the other's getting a soaking.

It's worth knowing that the Perhentians are completely closed during the entire duration of the east coast wet season. Don't even bother trying. It's a shame to miss them, so if you can, try and rig it so that you can get to Malaysia outside of the east coast wet season. The Perhentians are definitely more backpacker friendly than their west coast counterparts, both in terms of price and fun factor.





Links: Malaysia Travel Blogs (all) | Malaysia Travel Photos | Malaysia Travel Forum | Hotels in Malaysia | Hostels in Malaysia | Cheap flights to Malaysia | Malaysia Facts | Map of Malaysia

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By kernowpete
November 8th 2009
Cameron Highlands,  Asia » Malaysia
Wow Its been awhile since I updated this, the last week abit have just shot by in a mass of crazyness and fun! Leaving KL was easy enough except the bus was over 30minutes late leaving and did not pull up in the correct place involved several of us running and then sitting for 1/2 hour going no where. Oh well not much change from Britain nothing ever runs on time there either! The Journey from KL to the Cameron highlands was fairly uneventful but had some beautiful scenery. You could tell when the Bus was getting near as it started [View Full Entry]

kernowpete - Pete Ball | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
575 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 13th 2009 | 63 Views | [diary=451612]


well.....what do you know? we're having problems with the Travelblog site yet again!!!!!! grrrrrrrr Hopefully you'll have got this far and are at least able to read the blog but the photos on page 2 don't work!!!!!!! we've put some of the photos on Picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/Desmo990/PerhentiansCameronHighlands?authkey=Gv1sRgCPuj87Xkipn3kAE# in the meantime, if anyone knows of a travel blog site that actually works? please let us know......... After all the excitem [View Full Entry]

Rossi46 - Anthony & Kathleen | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1940 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 48 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 4th 2009 | 31 Views | [diary=450601]

Perhentian (Coral Bay)
Fish under the jetty
Kota Bharu

By Melissaloca
November 4th 2009
The Last few days!! Asia » Malaysia
Leading up to me stupidly booking my flights to be stuck on a plane during Halloween (clearly we don't celebrate it at home) everyone thought we could celebrate a little earlier. The last 3 days i had left of Singapore, I spent in Malaysia :) Vig drove me up there in his very lovely car, as he was racing up at the KL F1 track and knew how much I was missing Luane. I learnt a few things along the way, like how to pay off a corrupt Malaysian cop and how to get away with speeding. We maxxed 267kmph on [View Full Entry]

Melissaloca - Melissa Riemer | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
594 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 15 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 4th 2009 | 141 Views | [diary=450578]

Photo 3
Pasta
My Girls

By Karen away
November 3rd 2009
In and around Kuching Asia » Malaysia » Sarawak
Sibu
Sibu
Swan city
I left Miri and headed for Sibu, there's not much to see or do, but its a good stop of point to get the ferry onwards to Kuching, otherwise it was an 18hr bus ride and i didn't fancy that! The ferry to Kuching was freezing, they set the aircon at arctic, luckily i had my bag with me so could dress accordingly! I've based myself at a really nice hostel here and have been going on overnight trips around the area, without having to lug my backpack with me, which has been great. Kuching's a really nice city with a [View Full Entry]

Karen away - Karen Browning | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
746 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 69 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 9th 2009 | 55 Views | [diary=450340]

Sibu
Kuching
Kuching

By Caro 1
November 3rd 2009
Hello from Penang Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu
Well what can I say about our time in Penang. We have rather indulged ourselves and all I can do is blame Anji!!!. The island of Penang’s history dates back to 1786 when it was seeded by the sultan to the British east India Company. Today it has around one million people , half of whom live in Georgetown the capital, and the state is one of 13 making up the federation of Malaysia. Having moved from our original hotel we have used this wonderful residence to the full. On our first day we walked for about 2 and half hours [View Full Entry]

Caro 1 - Caroline | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
565 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 29 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 4th 2009 | 149 Views | [diary=450482]

more hotel!
the pool
Taking "Tiffin"

Cherating turned out to be slightly more exciting than I have given it credit for. It was a quaint little surf town that the Lonely Planet described as "our first impression was that the town was dieing." We found a nice guest house more of a bungalow than anything and stuffed ourselves with amazing food! We enjoyed the beach, caught up on some emails, wandered around the small town and waited for Sheryl to meet up with her old school mate from Malaysia to go surfing! We met up with her school mate who set the ladies up on surf boards [View Full Entry]

nmcoulson - Nick Coulson | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1952 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 5th 2009 | 105 Views | [diary=450898]


By Ian Synclere
November 1st 2009
Slacker in Melacca Asia » Malaysia » Melaka
Melacca is an old ex colonial town on the west coast of Malaysia that overlooks the famous Melacca straights, a really important trade route since the 1400s. So as you might expect it has been controlled by various European powers - firstly the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally us lot! All this considered the town is something of a melting pot architecturally and cuturally. Anyway history lesson over! I am staying at a place called Shirah's Guesthouse owned by an Indian guys who calls himself Steve! We were greeted (Pontus and myself) with a beers and a joint and a [View Full Entry]

Ian Synclere - Ian Synclere | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
380 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 18 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 2nd 2009 | 122 Views | [diary=449886]

melaka china town
mega monsoon action
dressed up trishaws

From the 'office' in Vienna
From the 'office' in Vienna
a cold early arrival into VIE
I’m definitely getting into the swing of the airline lifestyle now. Nearly every pen I have has got some obscure hotel logo on it, and my notice board consists of many memos, reminders, phone numbers, etc scrawled on napkins from the galleys. My watch is always on the wrong time zone, my suitcase is never unpacked, my thighs are bruised from passenger’s elbows and I swear I have more currencies in my wallet than destinations we serve. I’m already at the stage of referring to the cities by their 3 letter codes and have almost forgotten my room number and which [View Full Entry]

RJF777 - Rob Farmer | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1905 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 22 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: November 22nd 2009 | 63 Views | [diary=455049]

Group photo
A little imagination was required
KLIA control tower

By Caro 1
October 31st 2009
Hi from Georgetown Penang Asia » Malaysia » Penang » George Town
We have been in Malaysia for 3 days now and what a fun packed time we have had!! Anji arrived in KL on Wednesday evening and we started as we meant to continue with a couple of glasses of white wine! Our hotel lobby is very grand though the rooms less so! Les also arrived in KL that night and we linked up with him on Thursday morning. LK is a compact city, very hot and humid and has grown from a prospectors town to the most prosperous city in Malaysia in just 150 years. It is monsoon season now so [View Full Entry]

Caro 1 - Caroline | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
730 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 31 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 31st 2009 | 164 Views | [diary=449622]

Our hotel lobby!
Finding our way around in KL
Looking for the Towers!

After spending a few days in Singapore we crossed the border into Malaysia. The first stop was Melaka which is an old historical town in the south of the country. We only spent two nights there as a stop over on the way to Kuala Lumpur but it was fun to spend a day walking around the town. We found a really good guesthouse to stay in which was extremely basic (outside shower & toilet, simple dorm room) but it was in a cool old building and had a great atmosphere to it (plus it only cost 2 pounds a night). [View Full Entry]

Dave S - David Skaife | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
738 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: October 30th 2009 | 117 Views | [diary=449385]

Petronas Towers
The clear blue water at Tioman Island