When poet British Rudyard Kipling said, “East is east, West is west and never the twain shall meet,” Malaysia was still a backwater colony of Mother England. Little did he know that 20 years after his passing away, this Asian country will challenge his popular dictum by making east meet west, and the old meet the new.
Situated on the main Southeast Asian peninsula, Malaysia is a melting pot of Malay, Chinese and Indian races, and a host of ethnic groups lending credence to its claim to fame—being “Truly Asia”. This neighboring country of ours, which has a very strong resemblance to our race and culture, has fascinated hordes of Filipino globe-trotters so much so that they have become among the top ten sources of tourists.
Kuala Lumpur (KL) is the gateway to this enchanting nation of 25 million people and the country’s business and transport hub. Literally meaning “muddy river,” KL was just that—a swampy village by the confluence of Gombak and Klang Rivers when Malaysia gained independence in 1957.
Half a century later, it has morphed into a dynamic metropolis—the proud home to a towering skyline, a shopping and entertainment haven, and fashion and culinary capital—attributes that tickle the fancy of more than quarter of a million Pinoy travel bugs annually.
The ultra-modern Kuala Lumpur International Airport stands majestically in the midst of a palm forest 75 kilometers away from downtown and is regarded among Asia’s best airports. Inspired by Malay and Islamic architecture, the award-winning airport creates a lasting impression to visitors with its spic and span and state-of-the-art features.
Transfers are a breeze with the spacious tourist buses and the high-speed KL Express trains which move passengers to the world-class KL Sentral land transport hub in the heart of the city. Intra-city travel can be done in a jiffy by bus or the interconnected urban railway system.
A must-see in the city is the 421-meter Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower), the world’s fourth highest telecommunications tower sitting on a hill park called Bukit Nanas or “Pineapple Hill.” Its observation deck affords visitors an unobstructed view of the city and a vantage point in gazing at Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin buildings.
Visitors can dine in fashion at Seri Angkasa Fine Dining Restaurant while marveling at the breathtaking cityscape as the floor makes a 360-degree revolution.
Another must-visit is the KL City Centre, a sprawling commercial, recreation and entertainment complex at the base of the Petronas Towers. Menara KL and Petronas provide Malaysians something to look up to, quite literally, as they symbolize the country’s aspirations to be a world-class city by 2020.
Kuala Lumpur is an eclectic mix as buildings sport a unique blend of English and Islamic motifs. The city’s colorful diversity is evident in the urban landscape dotted by Malay, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian influences. Culture vultures should not miss the Muzium Negara (National Museum), the Islamic Arts Museum, the Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, the Heritage Station, and the National Art Gallery.
The core of the city is the Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) where independence was proclaimed on August 31, 1957, and has since been the venue of national celebrations. Surrounding it are his-toric edifices which make for an interesting heritage walk. Across it is the Sultan Abdul Samad, a Moorish-inspired, British-era government building which was once Malaysia’s signature tourist landmark in the pre-Petronas era.
Bargain hunters can shop till they drop with the amazingly low prices of souvenir items, tin miniature landmarks, local chocolates, coffee and tea brands at the Central Market or the Jalan Petaling fleamarket across the street. For high-end shopping, Malaysia holds at least three mega shopping carnivals annually which are most-awaited by Asian mall rats.
City of the future
Lying in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur is Putrajaya, the new administrative capital named after the country’s founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. Built from the tin mines of Selangor state, Putrajaya is a master-planned, futuristic city dubbed as a “garden city” because of its tree-lined roads and manicured lawns.
Magnificently themed bridges, ornate lampposts, landscaped open spaces, Arabic-inspired edifices, gigantic government buildings which include the Parliament, and a man-made lake adorn this federal territory. On lazy afternoons, you can cruise on Putrajaya Lake and ride into the sunset aboard a motor boat. On special occasions, you can watch spectacular fireworks displays light up the evening sky.
Blast from the past
Less than an hour’s drive from Putrajaya is the historic city of Malacca where the first colonial settlements were founded by Portuguese explorers because of its strategic location. Declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2008, this coastal city is home to thousands of ancestral homes that have been restored or converted into quaint boutique hotels, kopitiam (local coffee shops), art galleries, and tourist shops.
It was also here that independence from British rule was first announced in 1956 before being finally proclaimed a year later. A museum now proudly stands where the Tunku made the momentous announcement of self-rule. Relive the nostalgic days of this “living museum” aboard its “time machines”—the flower-bedecked trishaw or the river barge—and you will be enraptured by the city’s old world charm. Pink Dutch buildings, the ruins of the iconic A Famosa fortress, Malay-Chinese “Peranakan” houses, religious shrines—all of which has an interesting story to tell. Another option is to tour the heritage village on foot so you can smell the flowers by the wayside and take snapshots of postcard-pretty sites. Malacca is so alluring that you won’t mind walking under the heat of the sun.
Entertainment city in the sky
An hour’s drive north of Kuala Lumpur is Genting Highlands, a family-oriented recreation and gaming enclave which is a top day trip destination for foreign and local tourists alike. Straddling the mountains of Selangor and Pahang states, it boasts casinos, theme parks, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters, and a cluster of hotels and private villas with an aggregate of 10,000 rooms, including lavish hotel suites which offer breathtaking views.
Tourists should ride the 3-kilometer cable car for an exhilarating view of the mountain ranges and the centuries-old tropical rainforests down below. The five-minute ride is the longest and fastest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Delightful dining
Going hungry is the last thing that can happen to a visitor in Malaysia, with the plethora of dining options that suits all budgets and taste buds. Malaysian cuisine embraces the Malay, Chinese, Indian and regional culinary traditions. Its signature dishes—rendang, sambal, char koay teow, satay can take foodies to a gastronomic adventure that will provide them the spice of life, quite literally.
For a sampler of authentic Malay cuisine, a dinner at Seri Melayu is a must. Not only do they offer sumptuous food, the restaurant also treats diners to a visual and musical treat with native songs and dances to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Nyonya cuisine, a tasty fusion of Malay and Chinese food abounds in major cities, especially in Malacca where it originated. Because of geographical proximity, dishes inevitably bear Thai, Singaporean, and Indonesian influences.
Italian, French, Spanish, Mediterranean, Persian, and Arabic food are also a common sight to cater to tourists who sorely miss their home cooked meals. Because of its “halal” food, Malaysia is an ideal dining haven for vacationing Arabs and Asian Muslims.
The more daring can sink their teeth on street food in the side walk hawkers offering cheap and tasty delights that have become a staple to budget-conscious locals and tourists. Cooking and eating are such national pastimes that Malaysia takes the extra mile to invite people from all over the world to its newly incepted Citrarasa international food festival.
Truly Asia
Other than these well-known tourist magnets, Malaysia is truly a total hideaway that captures the entire breadth of the Asian soul. Travel back in time in the historic city of Georgetown in Penang, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and adjudged as among the world’s most livable cities.
Shut yourself from the big city and commune with nature in Cameron Highlands and Perak. Let time stop in the vast pastoral lands of Negeri Sembilan and Kedah. Frolic in the fine-sand beaches and underwater wonders of Langkawi and Terengganu. Explore the majestic Islamic sultanates of Johor and Kelantan. In eastern Malaysia, the states of Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo Island are a true-blue adventurer’s dream destinations with their enchanting lush tropical rainforests, wondrous wildlife, towering mountains, exotic tribes, and world-class marinas.
Laze in laid-back Labuan, Borneo’s “Garden Island”, international offshore financial center and watersports capital. Rudyard Kipling must be turning in his grave as Malaysia has proven him wrong this land that is truly Asia, east meets west—in perfect harmony.
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Tags: kuala lumpur international airport, peninsula malaysia, pinoy travel, southeast asian peninsula