Malaysia fuses together the best of Asia for an authentic and unforgettable tropical break. Here lastminute lovely Louise shares her top picks on why Malaysia NEEDS to be your next OS holiday destination.
Malaysia is littered with palm-fringed beaches and blissful islands (I know, sounds dreadful, who would want to holiday there??). Whilst beach-side accommodation ranges from eco-friendly to large-scale glamour, most hotels pride themselves on providing an authentic Malay experience with a gentle service and elegant furnishings. Beach bliss plus chic accommodation minus the Bintang singlet equals holiday heaven.
Where to go for…
– Resort pools and tropical romance – Langkawi
– Getting off the beaten track and incredible diving opportunities – Perhentian Islands or Sipaden Island, Sabah
– Emerald waters and celeb spotting – Pangkor Laut
Tropical beach selfie, Pangkor Laut Island Resort
Sunset over Emerald Bay, Pangkor Laut
Snorkelling at Mabul Island, Sabah
2. Shopping in KL
From big mall shopping to local market scavenging – the Malaysians shop from morning to night and when in KL you should too. Plus with the current red hot exchange rate you can justify those extra pair of heels (seriously, they’re like really cheap).
Where to go for…
– Market trinkets, bargains and *cough* designer fakes – Petaling Street, China Town
– US and UK high street brands – Pavilion Mall, Butik Bintang (Check out: Forever21, Topshop, H&M, Zara, Nike)
– High end designer clobber – Suria KLCC (Marc Jacobs, Gucci etc)
– Shoes – Malaysian brands Charles & Keith and Vincci (Hot tip: C&K have an outlet at KL airport if you NEED to make any last minute purchases)
The result of a day’s hard work. So proud.
3. Food glorious food!
Pack the stretchy pants – Malaysia’s gourmet scene is so good you’ll be reaching for an extra spoonful at every meal. With a multicultural population you can take your taste buds on an exciting tour of Asia and sample Malay, Indian, Thai and Chinese cuisines. Plus there are heaps of tropical fruits and local sweet delicacies to fill the holes in between meals. Mmmm.
Malay hawker street food
A traditional Indian curry with chilli prawns, lentil dhal, spicy okra, mild vegetarian curry, rice and popadoms – all served on a banana leaf.
Chinese fish and sweetcorn soup served with green tea
Pomelo & lemongrass mocktail (Pomelo – a native fruit to SE Asia and tastes like a mild grapefruit)
If you have an appetite for a gourmet-cation you must visit Malaysia’s epicurean centre – Penang. Read about lastminute lovely Nihal’s hunger Penangs here.
4. Nightlife in KL
The party police have done a good job keeping KL’s sizzling night-time scene under wraps – the capital’s cool kids like to have fun with a capital F. And they’ve made best use of KL’s glitzy skyscrapers by housing a number of swanky sky-high bars. At the dizzying heights (and certainly after a few dirty martinis) you feel like you can almost reach out and touch the stunning skyline.
Where to go for:
• Private booths, cocktails and (say what?!) an indoor pool – SkyBar, Traders Hotel
• Chic outdoor skydeck and a DJ spinning tunes until the early hours – Marini’s on 57, Petronas Tower 3
Try not to fall in the pool at SkyBar
The stunning Petronas Twin Towers – as seen from SkyBar
Dance under the Petronas towers at Marini’s on 57
5. Eco-adventure
Malaysia is home to the world’s most ancient rainforest and with that comes a diverse array of wildlife including monkeys, tigers, snakes and orangutans. Channel your inner adventurer and get closer to nature.
Where to go for:
• Meeting the Orangutans – Kabili-Sepilok Nature Reserve, Sabah
• Rainforest trekking – Kinabalu Park, Sabah (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Taman Negara and Cameron Highlands
• Rainforest river safaris – Kinabatangan River, Sabah
Forest near Kuching, Sarawak
If you’re short of time (or fancy something a little tamer) The Lost World of Tambun near Ipoh has animal, activity and water parks that give you a flavour of the county’s eco-adventure.
I saw this handsome cat up close at Lost World of Tambun (note: Tigers are native to the Malay jungle but these creatures are extremely shy so you would be EXTREMELY lucky to see one – good luck!)
Zip wire jungle fun