Korean Job Discussion Forums

billinkorea · Joined: 13 Jun 2005

Im planning a trip to Malaysia at the end of January. Ill be arriving in Kuala Lumpar but my friend is travelling from Singapore. We are basically looking to chill out on some beaches and do some diving. My question is simple whats been others experiences? Where do you reccomend?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

articulate_ink · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:06 am Post subject:

I've been to Malaysia twice, but it's been a few years, and I've spent a total of about a month there. Give KL a couple of days: it's not the most exciting city on earth but it's easy to get around, inexpensive, and there's fun to be had. Amazing food, too. I'm a big fan of Penang, which is an island city up north near the Thai border. The beaches are great, the city has some amazing restaurants, and none of it's too expensive. Malacca isn't a beach community but it's only an hour and a half south of KL, it's lovely, and it's not overrun with tourists. It's one of Asia's better-kept secrets. If you've got time, I've heard great things about the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia as well as East Malaysia over on Borneo.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I am also heading to Malaysia. Leaving in 17 days (yes I am counting). The east coast of Malaysia is absolutely gorgeous, so a friend tells me, but after some searching, I found that January is the rainy season for the east coast, so looks like we will be sticking to the north and west so we get some nice beaches. However, we're also gonna hit Singapore by bus, so we may get to see some nice country side. Also, there is a great national park in the middle of peninsular Malaysia and it has lots of jungle hiking and monkeys, which are both interesting to me.

I hope it's a great trip.

deessell · Joined: 08 Jun 2005

I found it quite hard to find quality priced accomodation around the $20 us a dollar range. Maybe I am too cheap or have been holidaying in Thailand and Vietnam to much. I found Malaysia a little more pricey than some other countries.

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

As someone else said, it is the monsoon season on the east coast, so you should stick to the west. Langkawi is the most developed beach resort area on that side. There is another island fairly close to KL that's less built up but as nice IMO (blocking on the name). You might want to PM lemon because he lives nearby (somewhere on borneo i believe) and has spent quite a bit of time in Malaysia.

mswiftansan · Joined: 01 Sep 2005

I went to the perithians (sp?) about 5 years ago and it was wicked. Lots of awsome people, awsome food and supposedly great diving. Very popular and resonably priced. There's two islands and I think it was the north island that we went to...but they're on the east side of the peninsula. Have fun!

ed1980 · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Goyang

anyone know of a good travel agent for cheap flights to Malaysia ?

ChimpumCallao · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: your mom

go to lankawi i guess...but for the hassle of going there id just do phuket as its prettier, cheaper (really!), and has more natural beauty.

if i were you i'd wait for the east coast to end monsoon season as that is where the true beauty is...especially with georgeous beaches and islands.

also, KL sucks a fat nut and is a pointless city unless you REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYY have to see the batu caves (VERY cool) and the towers (which are totally out of place in such a lame underdeveloped city).

so if you have to go now...id do, georgetown, penang, some rainforest, and lankawi.

skookum · Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Then there is the Cameron Highlands. If you like the high country, this is mainly what there is along that line in Malaysia. (except Gunung Kinabalu in Sabah.)

It's been a while since I was there. We went out walking one day - as we headed into the jungle a local called out "Awas! Harimau...." (Beware of the tigers.) It wasn't till late in the afternoon that we realized we were not where we thought we were. Finally thought we had figured out our location and headed back toward civilization. We raced through the increasing darkness until we hadda acknowledge we wouldn't get out that night. We pushed over some banana plants and piled up the leaves and buried ourselves in among them. Not too uncomfortable, we did get some sleep, and no "harimau." (Actually there was an American [a Bangkok bar owner] that was eaten by tigers up there many years ago, but it's not likely that any of the big cats are left there now.)

In the morning we continued and came out to a farm clearing in only a half hour, and the road not long after that.

Lots of hiking trails around there.

Other options - Go up the rivers around Grik and Kroh to see one of the more unpopulated parts of the West side.... The Borneo half has lots of interest but it's a ways to go and more expensive. Other than that, previous posters have covered the interesting parts pretty well.