I am fascinated by Malaysia. The people, the landscape and the food are all some of the best I have experienced in my travels. Hopefully my next trip to Malaysia will see me tick off one or some of the following…

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Living in one of the most isolated cities in the world comes with its benefits. Here in Perth, we are blessed with amazing weather with at least 9 months of sunshine (at least) a year. We also happen to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And, we are just a stone’s throw away from the delights of South East Asia. Bali is a mere 3.5 hour flight from home, and Kuala Lumpur (a major international stop over for airlines like Malaysia Airlines) just 5.5 hours.

Over the years, I have stopped in Malaysia a total of 4 times. Once on a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) stop over to London, another as a stop over to Cambodia, and twice to actually stay and explore with AirAsia.

(Friendly tip, if you’re a fan of MAS, you can find fantastic MAS online promotions via Traveloka)

Malaysia’s capital – Kuala Lumpur – is a busy city, thick with culture.

I love Kuala Lumpur. It is warm and sticky, the people are as friendly as ever, and Malaysian cuisine is up there as one of my favourites. There is so much to do in Kuala Lumpur city itself, that you would be forgiven for not exploring further. After a total spend of a few days in the city, as well as a few days on the gorgeous island of Langkawi, I am ready to see more of Malaysia. My next visit I aim to tick off at least one of the following…

BORNEO

Borneo has been on my hit list ever since I can remember. Growing up (and still to this day) I was obsessed with Orangutans. When I say obsessed, I mean I may actually break down if I get to be within a few metres of one. Borneo is one of only two places where the endangered orangutan can still be found in the wild. Being endangered, there are a lot of organisations set up in Borneo to help rehabilitate and foster orangutans that have been mistreated or orphaned. It has always been my dream to spend a week or so volunteering at one of these shelters.

Outside of the orangutan experiences, Borneo looks to be a pretty incredible place. Naturally, the rainforests are thick and the nature experiences out of this world. As just one of the many islands in the Malaysian archipelago, the beaches in Borneo are also absolutely pristine.

PENANG

Penang has always been popular with tourists heading to Malaysia. I have flown over Penang before, and I have always been intrigued by the state separated by sea. Compared to Langkawi, Penang is far more built up. Even though it’s a faster paced lifestyle, you can escape to one of the 9 surrounding islets for more solitude. Pulau Jerejak is the largest of the islets and offers things like adventure trails and secluded beaches.

Being more urban, you can find a lot of great bars and modern murals dotted throughout Penang. But that isn’t to say that you can’t still find gorgeous heritage buildings, stunning beaches, incredible hawker food and cute little neighbourhoods! There is also a beautiful national park worth a hike, and a new theme park for the adventure junkies out there!

PORT DICKSON

Every time I fly in to Malaysia, I spy what appears to be a hotel in the shape of a hibiscus on the water. What appears to be a hibiscus shaped hotel on the water is indeed just that – the Lexis Hibiscus in Port Dickson! I have been fascinated by this resort ever since I spied it from the sky. It is like a little bit of the Maldives has found a home in Malaysia.

It is no secret how badly I want to get to the Maldives. In the meantime, if I can head somewhere similar and closer – why wouldn’t I?!

From the sky, Port Dickson itself looks stunning. Turquoise water, lush rainforests and what appears to be a small town center. Perfection. And, being only 45 minutes from the airport, it makes a great stop over destination if you want to be coastal instead of in busy KL city.

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