hi all!
I've some questions about an upcoming trip, and added some background on myself that might help with the responses.

I'm heading to MY in March. I'm really and truly looking forward to the food, am not a big mall shopper, don't need to hit a beach unless it's really close, and am into arts, and local and other culture....I am thinking of a week...give or take a few days, in the country. Also, please keep in mind that I'm what you would call a "budget" traveller, so jetting off between places and staying at upscale places isn't in the cards right now.

Ok, here are the big questions:

1. Approximately how many days should I budget for KL? I'll be arriving on a Wednesday morning, but it looks like there is a great market in the Indian area on Saturday night....so want to know if it's worth staying for that? Also, I assume that KL should be my base for a day trip to Melaka...or, should I consider an overnight trip there?

2. Has anyone taken a day trip to the market at Temerloh from KL? Would it be worth staying an extra day (it's on Sunday) for that?

3. Approximately how many days in Penang? (I'm presently thinking of 3 to 4).

4. And, it's my first trip to MY. Should I try to get (as was suggested to me on another site) to Kota Bahru, or somewhere else in Kalatan state to see something other than the west coast?

Thanks in advance for any advice on these ridiculously open-ended questions. It WILL really help me to think about this trip!

ciao!

With just a week, choose two places. KL and Penang/Georgetown are fine. (I hope you are coming from someplace closeby so you don't have to deal with jetlag for just a week.) I understand that Malaysia has great (cheap) luxury buses, so that's probably the best way to travel. With just a week, I'm not sure it makes sense to try to fit in Melaka. It doesn't make sense to try to fit in another destination like Kota Barhu.

This is just an introductioon to the country, so take your time in the two places you choose.

thanks for your reply. I had to laugh, b/c I'm coming in from Baltimore! (however, with the six hour layover in Singapore, I'm hoping a shower and nap will revive before hitting KL...)

I'm also heading to Vietnam and Laos--both of which I've been to before (flying to BKK from Penang, then BKK to Chiang Rai, which may be worth a day?) then overland to Lao border..mostly staying around terrific Luang Prabang, then overland to Vn around Hue. I've a month to spend in the region, so I really could add a few days to Malaysia if there's something I really shouldn't miss!

again, thanks!

Ah, this is part of a larger trip.

I'd say that KL and Penang are a good intro to Malaysia. I recently returned from Borneo which was a really amazing experience, but it really doesn't fit your criteria for this trip.

thanks, Katie. Borneo sounds fascinating...but not for this time. (Plus, I just returned 2 wks ago from South America and I had a lot of nature....for me...different from Boreno, I know....)