A Malaysian Sojourn

I was just about a month old in the new job when I had the first interaction with a Malaysian, Nuramin Kok , short built with Chinese features and an ever smiling face. We were together for next two months discussing much besides the professional work! I could see a lot of Malaysia through his eyes and got a feel of the place. There are too many attractions in Malaysia yet the  five things I would like to  experience, are as follows:

Dataran Lang- Langkawi

1. An experience of travel by road from Kualalumpur to Langkawi: This is a long trip of about 12 hours which can be done in a bus from Puduraya Bus Terminal at Jalan Pudu  in KL to Kedah. The ride is fairly cheap. The buses are comfortable, which provide an opportunity to see the lovely countryside, the rubber plantations en route and get the pulse of the place. From Kedah to Langkawi is a boat ride through the crystal blue waters till the sight of Dataran Lang- A huge Eagle ( The Langkawi’s biggest man made attraction) appears in sight!

   

   Bukit Bintang- Kualalumpur

2. Shopping and Eating at Bukit Bintang : Bukit Bintang in Kualalumpur is a foodie’s paradise which offers a huge array of delectable foods. Barbecued meats, noodles and desserts are one of the best and cheapest in Jalan Alor a short walk from Bukit Bintang.  The other places where one can enjoy a very reasonably priced food to the classiest, are Sisters Crispy Popiah ; Teluk Intan Chee Cheung Fun , where Amy Ong serves a lovely oyster-and-peanut congee (rice porridge) and egg puddings; Stanley’s stall beside Amy’s serving delicious fish-head noodle soup sweetened with evaporated milk; and Bunn Choon for the creamy mini egg tarts .Dining in the Dark is a unique experience where only the aroma and taste of the food matter as focus is not on décor but the food and conversation around.

   

   Tioman Island

3. A Brush with Nature: There is a galore of places ranging from Nature’s trails to Rainforests abounding Malaysia. Some of the finest beaches like Tanjung Rhu in Langkawi with miles of un- spoilt white sand stretch. An experience which I would surely love to experience is a childhood dream to live like Robinson Crusoe on a deserted island and this can be best fulfilled on the lovely Tioman Island. According to a legend this island is the resting place of a beautiful dragon princess who was on her way from China to visit her prince in Singapore. She was so enamored by the beauty of the place that she decided to discontinue her journey and take the shape of an island. The place is perfect to scuba dive and see some amazing coral reefs besides marine life

   

   Malacca

4. Religious harmony of Malacca (or Melaka in Malay): The place is unique with a mix of population of Malay, Kristang (original Portuguese descendants), Chinese, Muslims, Dutch Eurasians ,Indians and a very small percentage of Sikhs too! Their places of worship coexist and they live in great harmony. There are museums and a Palace of Sultanate in the town. Besides Malacca, the Batu caves near Kualalumpur known for Lord Murugan’s statue and the annual festival of Thaipusam are well worth a visit.

   

   Georgetown-Penang

5. Step back into history: A country with a rich history can be best seen through a kaleidoscope by visiting Georgetown in Penang. The place was founded by British East India Company and Fort Cornwallis was built here. It has now a large number of banks and other institutions and is considered to be one of the most live able places in Malaysia! A walk through the streets of Georgetown is an experience in going through an era of colonial past and grandeur! No wonder the city has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Hawkers, Flea markets and malls dot all over the landscape. A Lovely Butterfly Park is unique to this city!

I realized that Malaysia is a true representative of Asia and is rightly tagged as ‘Truly Asia’ being a melting pot of different cultures and has become a power in its own right within the ASEAN region. It has its own unique identity starting with a very inviting airport which has a shuttle underground rail that takes through the airport main terminal to the departure/arrival, the famous Air Asia airlines, low cost airline hub at KLCC, a lovely network of Jalans (roads), sprawling markets, shopping centers and a huge number of tourist attractions, tasty national food, Nasi Lemak, and multi culture ethnicity. I long to visit this beautiful country!

PS 1. I am participating in the MalaysiaJao Blogathon Contest in association with BlogAdda.com.

     2. Images kind courtesy Google