We decided to “hop” across to Malaysia from the Philippines for a couple of weeks – what became apparent really quickly was how much more developed the country was. Getting from A to B was much easier as the infrastructure was in place, cars everywhere instead of scooters and discipline on roads and at traffic lights…. a real novelty after the Philippines.
We landed in Kuala Lumpur and spent around 5 days in the city. The humidity was at times difficult to bear but there was a lot to see and we were pleased we took a more civilised stay in an AirBnB that had superb views across the KL and Petronas Towers and very reasonably priced.
From KL, we travelled by bus up to Penang. Again, the temperatures and humidity were challenging, especially on the day that we decided (soon to be discovered rather foolishly) to climb Penang Hill at midday…. a 5km very steep hike to the top during the equinox when the temperature peaked at 42 degrees. Views at the top were stunning but this was a very difficult and testing climb. The same day, we visited the Botanic Gardens and then took the scooter to Kek Lok Si Temple – the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia and an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists across the whole of South East Asia – absolutely worth a visit to see the Goddess of Mercy statue in all her glory.
From Penang, we travelled across into Georgetown, infamous for its street food and street art. We both liked the feel here and the hostel facilities were good.
The penultimate stop in Malaysia was by flight across to Langkawai. We’d heard about the special sunsets on the beach and the very laid back lifestyle. This location would suit those who love their beaches but in our view, it was one of the most expensive times during our 2019 travels and too touristy for us.
The final location in Malaysia was by flight down to Borneo. Summing up Malaysia….. civilised, colourful, expensive, modern and hot.