ESCAPE TO GEORGETOWN PENANG

During our last two days in Malaysia, we opted to go North and do a quick stop over in Georgetown, the capital of Penang, a World UNESCO Heritage Site.

We took a sleeper train and arrived really early in Butterworth where in we had to wait for a ferry that would cross us to Georgetown.

Penang proved to be another highlight of this Malaysian trip and it was a pity that we didnt have enough days to explore the town. It has this distinct charm that I haven't experience before in Southeast Asia. I'd love to spend a week here knowing that it can recharge my creative juice.

The street scene is a great find for photography enthusiasts. It is very vibrant and is just full of that local flavor.

We even stumbled upon a Camera Museum that is a great treat for photographers.

Too bad that we had to cut the stopover short as our bus heading back to Kuala Lumpur had to leave in the afternoon. But again, I'd say that this overnight side trip was well worth it. Hopefully, I'll get the chance again to spend more time in Penang. Soon.

MALAYSIAN GETAWAY PART 2: PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

I was excited to go back to Kuala Lumpur, knowing that I missed a lot the last time that I was here.

Our hostel was near Chinatown and the Chinese influence was very apparent from the food to the look of the downtown. I stayed in a different part of the city before, and I must say that this part was more charming and I really did get to enjoy it a lot.

It was an early second day in Kuala Lumpur as we headed to the sacred Batu Caves. Foreign and local tourist find their way in Batu which is less than an hour away from the capital. The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. The limestone forming Batu Caves is said to be around 400 million years old.

That night,  we took a sleeper train on the way to Penang. I'll write another entry about it cause there were so many things to talk about that charming city.

That afternoon, we caught the last bus going back to Kuala Lumpur. The next morning, we just took it slow and explored the capital.  It was so difficult to explain, but I just love the eclectic vibe that the city brings. We also visited the iconic Petronas Tower. 

Eight days seems so short but we were able to visit a lot and we were able to explore the two sides of Malaysia. Seriously, it felt rushed and I'd want to do this trip again but maybe I'll spend more time in Penang, and I'll try to Visit Ipoh and Malacca, another Unesco World Heritage Site. Overall, it was a great summer trip.

MALAYSIAN GETAWAY PART 1: NORTHERN BORNEO

Malaysia was always on my "must" list to travel and explore. But the last time that  I was there, I only used it as a stopover on my way to Bangkok. So when the opportunity presented it self last summer, I took the chance and went on an 8 day trip with friends.


It was even better that we were able to do both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Malaysian Borneo) in the journey so that we were able to experience the different highlights that the two different islands had to offer.



First stop was Kotakinabalu, in Sabah. It was a very laidback town, more of a sleeper actually. But in its quaintness lies its charm. The hotel that we got was walking distance to Tanjung Aru,  the beach area.

The beach during the sunset was very cinematic. I could spend hours just watching the setting sun, that alone made the trip worth it. At night, a lot of the locals go there as well for the food market

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The second day, we found ourselves going to the Kotakinabalu Botanical Gardens. There was a stopover on the way where in we can take a picture of the famed Mount Kotakinabalu. We really wanted to do the mountain trek but it will take us 3 to 4 days and we didnt have the luxury of time. So, we settled for a photo-op.

Kotakinabalu Botanical Gardens was a refreshing trip. We seldom take for granted the times when we can commune with nature. The trip was worth it because not only did we get to learn a thing or two about the different flora and fauna of Sabah, we also got to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature that we dont get to do when we're busy working in the city.

We spent one more day in Kotakinabalu before flying to Kuala Lumpur, we visited Jessleton Point and other great stops along the way. We defintely had a great time, too bad we weren't able to hike Kinabalu but this was a great excuse to go back again in this part of this beautiful country.

Next stop... Peninsular Malaysia.