Malaysia is located in the south-east of Asia, and consists of the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and a number of smaller island groups. It borders Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia. There are approximately 30 million people living in Malaysia. Two of the most popular tourist areas in Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, and here you meet two worlds in the same city: on the one hand, the city is still inspired by its long history, and you can still see original Malay wooden houses from the late 1800s.
On the other hand, the city became a metropolis, where small houses sit side by side with high-rise buildings that will give you a sore neck if you have to see the top of them all.
Petronas Tower
One must-see place in Kuala Lumpur are the Petronas Towers, two of the world’s tallest buildings and the tallest twin towers. From the skybridge of the towers you have a great view of the whole city.
SHOPPING
Another must-see in the city is the colorful Chinatown, which is full of small shops and restaurants. All in all, Kuala Lumpur offers plenty of opportunities to get your shopping fix, as the city is packed with various markets, shops, and shopping malls.
Malaysia also has countless options for getting the perfect dress or suit tailored – visit Lord’s Tailor, in Bangsar Shopping Centre, for example.
HOTELS IN KUALA LUMPUR
Finding a hotel in Kuala Lumpur is no problem, the city is full of accommodation options, whether you’re looking for a luxury hotel or a hostel, you’re sure to find the right place in Kuala Lumpur.
You can find anything from hotels that cost 50 USD per night, to hotels that cost several hundred dollars per night.
According to TripAdvisor, the best hotel in Kuala Lumpur is the Shangri-La Hotel, where a night costs around 160 USD. Hotels include views of the Petronas Towers.
Traveling to Langkawi
If you want to indulge in Malaysia’s stunning scenery, Langkawi is definitely worth a visit.
Langkawi is an archipelago of more than 90 islands, and the area has some of the best beaches you’ll find anywhere in Malaysia. The archipelago is particularly popular with divers, as the clear waters are great for snorkeling and scuba diving.
If you’re not afraid of heights, the Langkawi Sky Bridge is a must. The bridge is more than 120 meters long and sits 700 meters above sea level. From the bridge, you have a great view of the reindeer forest and many of the islands in the area.
Accommodation in Langkawi
Just like in Kuala Lumpur, finding a place to stay is no problem.
However, the area is a little more expensive than the rest of the country. For example, if you choose to stay at The Datai Hotel, you could easily end up paying over 300 USD for a night. However, the hotel is absolutely fantastic and well worth the price.
The Datai is located in the middle of the jungle and right on the beach, so you get a wealth of nature mixed with nice luxury.
Malaysian food
Malaysian food is very spicy and uses a lot of chilies. Malaysian cuisine is inspired by a mix of Asian and Indian cuisine, and coconut plays an important role, both grated coconut and coconut milk. As in other parts of Asia, rice is eaten a lot with the meal, as well as roti canai, which is a super tasty form of flatbread.
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF IN MALAYSIA
When you travel to Malaysia, there are some things you need to remember.
Firstly, you should be very careful with your belongings, as bag thefts are not uncommon, unfortunately.
Especially in Kuala Lumpur, be aware of pickpockets on motorbikes. If you do, it’s better to let go of your bag than hold on to it, as you risk being dragged down the street.
Secondly, be careful if you use your credit card, as fraud is unfortunately part of everyday life.
Although you can’t really protect yourself against fraud, you can take some precautions, you can avoid using your card in small shops.
If you are afraid that someone has misused your credit card, it is very important that you call your bank as soon as possible.
CLIMATE IN MALAYSIA
Malaysia is located in the equatorial region, which means that the climate is hot and humid many months of the year.
It also means that Malaysia is almost always warm, so you can easily visit in winter. The average temperature is 26°C throughout the year.
However, be aware that the country’s location means you’ll experience monsoon rains from time to time.
As Kuala Lumpur is protected by mountains in almost every direction, this means that the city is often a little colder than the rest of the country. The mountains also mean that Kuala Lumpur isn’t as plagued by monsoon winds as other parts of the country.
MALAYSIAN CURRENCY
Malay currency is called Ringgit. 1 Ringgit is converted approximately to 0,24 USD. In Malaysia, you can pay with the most popular credit cards, such as Mastercard and Visa.