Penang is widely known for its flavorsome cuisine and massive street food scene. Chinese, Thai, Indian and Indonesian flavors fuse to produce a unique and palatable blend which reflects the multi-cultural nature of Penang.
Penang doesn't even attempt to rival Kuala Lumpur's shopping scene; however, what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in variety. Shoppers can scour the streets of Chinatown and Little India for one-of-a-kind pieces, or trawl the gleaming modern malls in search of a bargain designer catch. There is a lot of ground to cover on Penang's shopping turf.
Kuala Lumpur can seem like a contradiction in terms, as it manages to blend historic temples, colonial districts and ultra-modern shopping centers into one tantalizing traveler destination.
Shopping aficionados are in their element in Kuala Lumpur. This is the one-stop Southeast Asian shopping spot, with as many leviathan superstores as charming antique shops and old-world markets.
Kuala Lumpur lives up to Malaysia's reputation as a cultural melting pot. While the title of ‘local cuisine' goes to the Malay sector, there are just as many reasons to list Chinese, Indian and even Portuguese cuisine as early movers in the culinary field.
Penang is a city which not only embraces diversity, but celebrates it. The city's population consists of a varied mix of cultures and ethnicities, and each one has influenced the city significantly. This influence is reflected in every aspect of city life, from its cuisine to its art galleries.
Kuala Lumpur is overflowing with cosmopolitan activities that appeal to travelers from all walks of life. Whether it's shopping, clubbing, golfing or even exploring the outdoors, this city has something for everyone.
With its diverse mix of cultures, eclectic cuisine and beach-city status, Penang is a microcosm of Malaysia. Travelers who desire to experience Malaysia but have little time to tour the country, can take a wide angle shot of the country in Penang.
Penang offers visitors a rich blend of interesting architecture, religious and historical sights, and vibrant natural beauty. The historic Georgetown is an interesting place to wander around, its impressive colonial buildings making grand statements about the area's colorful past.
Penang is a relatively safe place for travel; however, as in all large cities, crime does exist. Bag snatching is common, but if visitors exercise caution and common sense they should face no problems. Valuables should never be on show and walking alone in deserted areas should be avoided.
Kuala Lumpur is multicultural and traveler-friendly, with a good mix of international and exotic character. Few cities have so many thriving groups of ethnic and religious minorities living under one banner, and visitors find the cultural mores as easy to navigate as the city's first-rate public transportation network.
More than a mere port-of-call for visitors to Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a world-class metropolis with an even mix of skyscrapers and colonial architecture. It epitomizes the Malaysian melting-pot with more sharp contrasts and cultural diversity than most cities can boast.
Many people arrive in Kuching on the weekend for a chance to browse for a bargain or two in the large and vibrant weekend market. Known as Pasar Minggu in the Malay language, this is a good place to witness traditional Malay life as everyone from the surrounding area turns up to buy, sell and trade goods.
Kuching is an extremely diverse city, large enough for Western-style dining and shopping but small enough to walk around. It has many diverse ethnic groups and traditions in a compact, easy to navigate destination. It's surrounded by natural wonder both jungle and marine wildlife is abundant.
There are a number of pretty gardens to wander in, complete with picturesque backdrops of the Bungo Mountains. Hong San Temple is an impressive example of Chinese temple art, while the Islamic Museum and the Sarawak Museum are good places to learn about the history and culture of this fascinating city.
The main clubbing district in Kuching is Padungan Road, which is located right in the center of the city, in the Chinatown district. As you might expect, the area is also full of Western-style bars catering for the trendy youngish drinker. Another venue, catering to a similar crowd while slightly less expensive, is Travillion in Petanak.
Kuching will not disappoint travelers who love vibrant cities. This large metropolis combines modern convenience with traditional charm and visitors will find plenty to see and do as they explore all that the city has to offer.
There are plenty of tempting treats waiting in Kuching for those who want to sink their teeth into something tasty. There are a good number of restaurants as well as cheap hawker stalls and a good place to eat is along the banks of the river where good food is combined with pretty scenery.
Since it stepped onto the Malaysian tourism scene in the 1990s, Langkawi has grown into one of the nation's leading resort destinations. With outstanding facilities, a rugged interior and some of the best beaches in the region, it's clear why tourists continue to come in greater numbers.
Langkawi has everything diners expect from an island resort. Fresh-caught seafood abounds, and culinary styles from all corners of the globe are likely to have today's fresh catch in common.
Despite enthusiastic resort development, Langkawi is overflowing with natural beauty. Tourists can spend the day relaxing on the beach, or they can join tours to visit outlying islands, hidden streams and waterfalls.
Langkawi is a streamlined tourist destination that knows how to take care of its guests. Visitors can dive into the local culture or retire to the beaches in seclusion. Facilities around Pentai Cenang are thorough, with everything to meet tourists' banking and shopping needs. Meanwhile, the remote backcountry is a short drive away by rental car.
The main entertainment options on Langkawi are activity based, and most of them capitalize on the region's natural beauty. The resorts offer full facilities and will happily book any activity you like, but there are just as many outlets for independent travelers.
In recent years, Langkawi eclipsed Penang as Malaysia's duty-free capital. Today, the entire island overflows with grand-scale duty-free malls offering some of the best prices Malaysia has to offer on alcohol, chocolates, tobacco, perfume and designer fashion.
A holiday in Malaysia can mean listening to raucous wildlife from your camp in a rainforest mountain hide, or a gentle snorkel with stripy surgeonfish off an island beach. Book a Malaysia hotel to discover a country where jungle and ocean wildlife thrives and temple pagodas and skyscrapers pierce city skies.