New Year # 2 in Malaysia

Malaysia - another very different Asian experience, and most enjoyable of course.

I began my trip in Penang and had a good look around the island - enjoying the historic Georgetown, the hills and the beach. I loved the vibe of Georgetown with its historic homes and amazing street art. Photos of the Street Art

However, the location may not have been the best at this time of year due to its large Chinese population. Like Saigon, many of the shops and restaurants/hawker stalls were closed due to Chinese New Year. So, thank goodness for the Indian population and their amazing tandoori chicken and naan bread. 

The hawker centres that were open were amazing - if only I knew a little more about what to order.

And, there were so many food options and so little time. 

Kuala Lumpur is a curious place. It really didn’t grab me at first as it is such a hotchpotch of old and new, freeways and flyovers. It is also not a very walking friendly city and I must admit I was not always sure of my exact location!  Luckily, there are plenty of public transport options - train, light rail, monorail and bus and it was a delight to use a modern, efficient system.

The highlight of my stay was a heritage/food walking tour. The guide was so passionate about her city and also concerned about the changes that are occurring, all in the name of modernisation. As she stated, the country is developing due to oil and gas - not tourism. We enjoyed many sugary delights and it is no wonder the population has a large number of diabetics.

As well as the hawker/street food options, I have never seen so many fast food options.

I also enjoyed a trip to a Forestry Research Institute and did a lovely walk in the jungle, including an elevated canopy section. Back in town there is also some great parks and I enjoyed the butterfly park and orchid garden.

It must also be said I enjoyed the shopping and was very brave in venturing to MidValley MegaMall. My suitcase on the return journey had an interesting mix of goods - new shoes, mac products and supermarket items that are not available here in Saigon.

So, a great mix of relaxation, sightseeing and shopping!

Photos of Penang and KL