Continent: South East Asia
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Years I Visited: 2015, 2017
Malaysia is quite literally a country of two halves. Explore the Peninsular for cool cities like KL and Penang, some nice beaches as well as truly sublime food. If you’re after something more wild, head for Borneo for some of the most jaw-dropping wildlife experiences in the whole continent.
My Malaysia Highlights
Here’s where I got to in Malaysia. Click the destination name for related blog posts.
I ended up staying here much longer than planned due to an evasive passport, but who’s complaining when you’re in Malaysia’s food capital? The food here is to die for, but Penang also has plenty to offer in terms of culture and natural sights.
KL is a buzzing metropolis and if you’re a fan of huge, sweeping cities with plenty of hidden (and not so hidden) gems, this is for you. The food here is also sublime and there are one or two great day trips to quieter places nearby too.
To the west of Malaysian Borneo, the state of Sarawak boasts lush rainforests, an ace orangutan sanctuary and the pleasant city of Kuching which has got a wonderfully weird cat museum if you like that sort of thing.
Malaysia’s other state on Borneo is Sabah. Its capital KK has got a great vibe and is a gateway to some beautiful islands. Sublime beaches can be in Sabah too, though the true highlight is getting lost on the Kinabatangan river on a sensational jungle safari.
