Malaysia truly Asia, routinely keeps flashing on the television making one desire to take a holiday there and we did just the same. We wanted to witness the diversity that Malaysia tourism offers. So we started our travel with Kuala Lumpur- the heart of Malaysia. It breathes life. It’s relatively a modern city, high rise buildings, range of hotels, shopping malls, pubs make it a lively city. When you are in KL, a must do on the list is the Petronas twin tower and the KL tower. Capturing the beauty of the magnificent tower could be a herculean task though. The illuminated twin tower at night acts like a pole star and can guide your route in the darkness. KL is also a shopper’s paradise. Various shopping centers surround the twin tower but if you are looking for a one stop reasonable shopping place then the Times Square at Bukit Bintang is the place where you can find everything under one roof and you can shop comfortably. All the shops here have price boards making it easy to decide which shop you should visit first according to your budget. The shops also offer heavy discounts on all products to attract the tourists throughout the year. If you are looking for a more traditional market or if you want to buy souvenirs then central market is the place and yes the China market and Little India are also close by. If you are a nature lover or travelling with kids then, you can visit the Aquarium and the National bird park. The park is like a mini rainforest where all the birds are seen in their natural environment. The dancing peacocks welcome you every now and then and the well-trained birds in the show, capture your heart and are an attraction for the tourists. The Tamilian population is huge in KL and thus there are numerous South Indian temples. The biggest and well known Hindu temple is the one situated in the Batu Caves about half an hour drive from KL. The temple gets its name from the Batu river that flows close by. A huge golden idol of Murugan stands tall at the entrance. There are about 272 steps that lead to a beautifully lit limestone cave where numerous small temples of other Hindu Gods are located. During Thaipusam festival, huge processions are held here. The temple is surrounded by numerous vegetarian restaurants which serve cheap and authentic Indian food. You can also feed pigeons around the temple but one has to be careful of the monkeys which can be a nuisance.
From KL we moved to Ipoh. The dense palm plantations on roadsides and mountains add beauty to the surrounding as well as act as a major source of oil. Malaysia is one of the major exporters of palm oil. Talking about Ipoh. It is a rather laid back city known for its lush jungles, densely covered green mountains and limestone caves. We choose to stay at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, a place where you can relax and enjoy the life of medieval period. This hideaway resort has limestone hills amidst the rainforest, rejuvenating geothermal hot springs, natural caves and cascading waterfalls. It’s a perfect getaway to forget all the stresses of life and worldly problems. Even the ears are on a vacation here as there is no honking and hustle and bustle of people. What you hear is soothing valley music and sound of flowing water everywhere in the resort. We just surrendered ourselves to the absolute serenity and harmony of the beautifully landscaped resort.
You can start your day by practicing yoga or simply relax and find inner peace in a sound free meditation cave. The resonating sound of “OM” as you chant is a delight to the ears. Geothermal hot springs dipping pools here are a must try. The hot water from the natural springs has a therapeutic effect on the body and relaxes your senses. The steam cave here is a natural sauna where you can burn some fat. It’s marvelous to see how the steam occupies the whole cave and calms your mind and body alike. If you feel the body temperature is rising then you can opt for an ice bath in a cold water dipping pool. Ah what a freezing experience. That’s not all, one can have a natural pedicure at the fish pool where these tiny fishes come and feast on your feet and remove the dead cells while you enjoy the tingling sensation and relax. The Wellness spa offers a variety of massages. You feel like an ancient king when you are pampering your body to these heavenly luxuries. Each experience at the retreat is different and better than the previous. In the afternoon you can relax in the comfort of your villas which are again different. You have your own open air private pools and Jacuzzis where you can control the temperatures. Spending the night in the hot water jacuzzi looking at the sky and mountains is one amazing experience. As it gets darker it gets a little scary. The gigantic dark mountains look down upon you and the absolute silence is frightening. But the buggy service comes to your rescue and makes commuting easy. A must visit place is the Jeffs Cellar, even if you are a non drinker you must have a glimpse of this wonderfully lit natural limestone cave. It’s simply spectacular and out of the world. Once you are done with the facilities at the retreat one can go for short jungle walk on wooden trails in the surrounding tropical rainforest area. A variety of green ferns, palms and climbers are a soothing sight. The trail leads to The Lost World of Tambun which is a theme park and provides great rides and entertainment activities. Petting Zoo is another attraction just adjacent to the retreat. When at Ipoh one must try Pomelo a juicy citrus fruit which is a specialty of the Tambun region.
So after having a one of a kind relaxing holiday at Ipoh we moved to Penang. We got down at Butterworth Bus station and the taxi took us from the main land to the island. We stayed at Batu Ferringhi on the north coast which is known for its white sandy beaches, luxurious hotels and restaurants. It has a very lively night market, where locals set up tents and temporary shops along the road side. Another place recommended for visit is George Town which is a UNESCO world heritage site. We took the road map and the free shuttle to the town but we were not able to locate the second world war houses as well as 19th century churches, temples, mosques and colonial buildings which the area is known for. Taking a guided tour would be a better idea if you are a history lover. Fort Conrwallis is another attraction as it one of the oldest European structures in Penang but all the glory of the fort is lost and it’s disappointing to go all the way to the place and find just an outer fort wall. One can click pictures in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower which gives a glimpse of Penang’s British colonial history and witness the sunset over the seafront at Esplanade. One could go to Penang Hill or simply take a Riksha ride around the town. Commuting in George Town is a difficult task. The streets are small and traffic is huge especially in the evening when street food hawkers capture the place. We happened to witness the Yosakoi Parade which is a Japanese dance festival where the participants dress in traditional Japanese costumes or iconic Ninja characters and perform. Over all Penang doesn’t have much to offer as portrayed in the brochures for Malaysia. From Penang multiple cruises sail to nearby destinations. Most tourist prefer to take the cruise to Thai islands like Phuket and Krabi. Overall Malaysia truly Asia lives up to its name, it is culturally rich and geographically diverse. Lankawi, Genting Highlands, Comeron Highlands are some other popular destinations. Thus tourists keep coming to Malaysia and witness the beauty of the country in a new way every time they visit. We had a great time; you can visit and have it too.
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