Malaysia: Food, Culture, Countryside, Wildlife…
Melaka
Malaysia is divided into 2 big islands.
- One long straight below Thailand and above Indonesia, with Kuala Lumpur as capital, other cities and small islands around.
- The other island is Borneo located in the North East of the main island. Borneo is divided in 2 countries: Malaysia, in the north and Indonesia, in the South.
Melaka or Malaca, is an old city colonized by Portuguese. Situated in between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Night market, cheap beers, clean cheap hostel to meet traveller buddies, yummy Indian food.
The 5 top things to see in Melaca
- A Famosa: This iconic fortress is one of the oldest European architectural remains in Southeast Asia. Built by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Melaka’s colonial past.
- St. Paul’s Hill: Ascend this historic hill to explore St. Paul’s Church, a centuries-old church originally built by the Portuguese and later used as a burial site for several notable figures. The hilltop offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area.
- Jonker Street: Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Jonker Street, a bustling thoroughfare known for its colorful shophouses, lively night markets, and eclectic mix of shops selling antiques, souvenirs, and local delicacies.
- Melaka River Cruise: Take a leisurely cruise along the Melaka River to admire the city’s historic waterfront, lined with beautifully restored buildings, street art, and bustling cafes. The cruise provides a unique perspective of Melaka’s cultural heritage and architectural landmarks.
- Cheng Hoon Teng Temple: Explore one of the oldest and most important Chinese temples in Malaysia, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Dating back to the 17th century, this ornate temple features intricate architecture, decorative carvings, and serene courtyards dedicated to various Chinese deities.
What are the best food and drinks to try in Malaysia?
- Nasi Goreng
- Sate Lilit
- Ayam Betutu
- Babi Guling
- Lawar
- Sambal Matah
- Balinese Coffee
- Teh Botol
- Arak
- Es Campur
Kula Lumpur
Wander in China Town, in the food and night markets, gaze at the Twin Towers, enjoy a massage… On a day try, about 1 h out of Kuala Lumpur, access the Batu Caves by train to meet the giants and huge statues, mid-Human / mid-Monkeys. These stone sculptures inside the rock cave at the bottom of the waterfall, are telling different stories about life. At another side of the place, around a hundred stairs allow you to reach the top of the mountain. A temple is built inside deep down the upper cave. You will need to walk around a population of monkeys jumping down the trees and playing around.
Batu Caves
Cameron Highland
Bornéo
Kutching, the cat city!
No public transport from the airport to the city, but you can find a public bus if you walk 15min on the left side going out of the airport. Nice city to stay for 1 or 2 days. Really nice people, bars, food and accommodation at Gibbons: clean room and free breakfast with Kawa, a local speciality (coconut paste to spread on toast). The local owner is a really helpful lot to organize your visits in a cheap way with public buses and explain everything about the different National Parks.
Encounter with Nature, Waterfall and Wild Animals.
Observe the monkeys family playing together, mother holding a baby and climbing around the tree, the Proboscis Monkey, his particularity is to have a long nose.
An overnight(s) in the national park is possible and recommended especially if you want to hike and take connection with nature.
Trails well indicated with km and hours (the time is one way you have to count double for your return). Different types of monkeys and Probosci’s type. They will be around the main restaurant, so if your main reason is to see them, you won’t need to walk too much.
Be careful of the monkeys, they can be aggressive, but if you stay still when they are approaching you, they won’t hurt you. They are smart and curious, they can jump on you, lick your skin to get the salty taste, or open your bag to look inside if anything interesting and straight after closing it and running away… Further on a trail, there is a little river to have a bath, a beach where local people might be there to give you a ride around with their boat, be careful, crocodile might be around, and the access to the beach might be prohibited.
Meet with the Orangutans for their breakfast and lunch time at the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, accessible by public bus and only few kilometer away from Kutching city. It’s only open 2h in the morning and 2 in the afternoon and there is pretty much anything else to see around.
