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Published: February 16th 2023
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The advertising slogan has us believe that Malaysia is indeed truly Asia, but the continent is indeed so vast that there might never be one Asian nation which truly defines the continent it is situated in. This was a repeat visit to an already-familiar destination, and also constitued the longest stay (20 nights) in any one nation on the world tour, so clearly, it had to amount to something pretty substantial. Kicking off the proceedings was a 2-night stay in the nation's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and a several-times familiar city which does, I concede, tend to develop and improve palpably with each successive visit. On this occasion, the lodgings of choice was a downtown condominium, and a reasonably-priced budget option within easy reach of some of the city's hotspots. Back in 1997, Kuala Lumpur was very much a city in transition, and a large portion of that potential has been fulfilled, with the kind of features which make it a whole lot more complete. The evening Chinatown market down Petaling street is something of an institution, though the Indian cultural aspects do tend to shine through in no small measure, making it something of a melting pot of mostly Asian
cultural tweaks. The twin Petronas towers are as iconic a KL sight as you could possibly get, and the KL monorail is one of the more modern aspects of the city which have enabled it to compete with more forward-thinking Asian capital cities. Moving on from KL, and heading for the nation's cultural capital city, Melaka, and it is clear that this city has undergone a few phases, but kept all of the best cultural aspects firmly in place. Wall art here simply abounds, and the river is a major Melaka feature, but the Dutch occupation left a clear legacy, as is evident from the allure of the city centre. Jonker walking street blends the best of Chinese, Malay and Dutch culture into a seamless whole, and the city's shopping and dining scene are well-represented for a city of its size. On the museum front, it is worth pointing out that many of these are more of 'indoor attractions' than out and out museums showcasing artefacts, and favourites include the Upside Down House and the rather creepy Ghost museum. Yet another monorail makes its presence known here, though this time, the reality is one of a grimmer sign-of-the-times nature, in
the shape of the abandoned monorail theme park, a project which (excuse the pun) never got fully off the ground, and now has left a legacy in the form of a disused monorail network. On the southern tip of Malaysia lies the city of Johor Bahru, which is the gateway to Malaysia, coming from Singapore, and a city with a few standout features including a Chinatown, an expansive shopping mall, and clear city views of neighbouring Singapore. If you're looking to be entertained in this precise area, then look no further than a day out at Legoland Malaysia, where adults and kids alike can revel in the large array of attractions, ranging from the theme park-esque rides, to shows, and hands-on lego construction areas where you put your creative skills to the test. Penang island, situated in north-western Malaysia, is an island with a certain amount of history and significance attached to it, and 25 years separate this traveller's 2 visits. Not normally one to find fault with development and evolution of any place, it seemed that you might possibly make an exception for Batu Ferringhi, the island's chief beach resort, as the majority of business appeared to have closed
down, leaving the place a sorry-looking ghost town, and somehow a 'shell' of its former self, despite the developments over the past two and a half decades. Perhaps a major rethink is required here to turn the town's fortunes around again. Georgetown, conversely, is more of an urban zone than it once was, and has taken on board features which qualify it as a great gourmet destination with an attractive set of credentials to boot, and offers a truly splendid day trip in the form of a visit to the stunning temple complex that is Air Itam, where 'Malaysia, truly Asia' does seem like a fitting description. Flying south to the island of Borneo, and a stay in Kuching in the Malaysian territory of Sarawak is the most substantial city you will find on the island, with a few mightily unique features which somehow make it look like a city like none other. A day trip to nearby Bako National Park for a spot of trekking is a highly recommended excursion, and may indeed provide you with the impetus to journey further afield to see life in Borneo through the eyes of an Orang-Utan, so to speak. The final spot visited in Malaysia happened to be the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and though the city itself may not appear to have too unique a character, there are terrific excursions to outlying islands which are well worth seeking out, along with a few mosques and pagodas in peripheral areas which are worthy of space on your digital camera's memory card. All in all, this was a worthwhile inclusion to the world tour, as the nation does appear to have a fair number of vital boxes ticked - food culture, museums, excursion options, affordability, and more besides. I may not be back in Malaysia for quite a long while to come, though, but this time around, it proved to be an episode with enough positive substance about it to not be declined the length of stay at the party it had been invited to.
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