Travel in Malaysia from the borders of Singapore through Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi. New Tourism, Culture, Lifestyle and Boutique Travel. Independent Guide to Travel in Malaysia.
This post is not in protest of hippies and food snobs. I am an actual fan of McDonalds in Asia. Ethics or whatever aside I love their tasty burgers. I could eat Big Macs for a week and not get bored of them. No I have no idea what they are made of and I …
On my first trip to Borneo (2007) I envisaged jungle adventures bashing through rain forests surrounded by exotic birds and wildlife as a modern-day explorer. Things aren’t really like that. Eco-tourism is still tourism, and many of the experiences are packaged and spoon-fed. I otherwise booked everything independently; flights, hotels and travel, yet failed to …
Every visit to Malaysia begins with a Mamak Restaurant. I chose where to eat then centre travels from there. Priority comes with 24 hour eating and some of the best Indian food outside of India. Malaysia Mamak Restaurants (or mamak stalls, mamak restorans) are roadside eateries selling Malay Indian food. The word Mamak defines a …
By lazy calculations I find from Bangkok it can be cheaper flying to Langkawi for a holiday than to southern Thai islands by bus or train. At least it can be for boozers. This can be done by offsetting the cost of flights with cheap alcohol at Langkawi Duty Free. Langkawi is a booze paradise. …
Jalan Alor Food Street is the eating Mecca of Kuala Lumpur. Thousands of foods, hundreds of menus and an endless sprawl of roadside restaurants. It is easily in contention for my favourite feasting spot in Southeast Asia. Probably not the foodie’s choice but to be honest I am far from a Foodie. Foodie suggests a refined …
For Thaipusam I opt for simple scenes in a quiet location. I choose to avoid the sensationalised circus at Waterfall Temple. I enjoy a quiet Thaipusam in Georgetown Penang watching intimate family gatherings at Little India’s Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple. Throughout the day small gatherings and ceremonies take place in front of the temple before a …
Where I come from Carlsberg Special Brew is synonymous with park bench and back alley boozing. It tastes like “rocket fuel” and is branded a drink for drunks due to its hefty 8.8% alcohol content. It is hard to find higher in the UK. In Malaysia Carlsberg Special Brew is tame. An average beer. Drink …
So far I have managed to avoid the crowds and mayhem of Thaipusam. On Thaipusam Day I opted for more intimate and local ceremonies in Georgetown, Penang. I skipped the first-day chariot procession (Thaipusam Eve or chetty pusam) and am now opting for the less crowded third day of Thaipusam. Like the first day only …
Tiptoeing through puddles of pubes in the hostel’s shared bathroom toilet. This week I am a backpacker. With expensive European travels two months ahead I have forced myself to cut costs by booking a tiny one-bed guestroom in a Georgetown Hostel ($16US). I am new to hostel life in Southeast Asia. Currently in Penang Malaysia for …
For travel from Penang to Langkawi by Boat the boats leave the mainland pier daily at 08.30AM and 14:00PM from Georgetown’s Swettenham Pier found near Fort Cornwallis in the east port area of Georgetown (directions here). One way is 60RM and it takes 2h30mins to 3 hours with the earlier stopping at Pulau Payar. Full …