tgnych

planning a 10-day wedding anniversary trip to Malaysia in Mar 2004.
Looking for advice on the not to be missed spots around the country but also even not more so looking for these unknown or less known ones that would transform this into 'the experience of a lifetime'.
We are interested by culture, sceneries and the Asian myth, as thi si smy wife's first contact w/ it.
We are 46y old.

Tangata

I have visited Malaysia a number of times and lived there for three months on assignment. Apart from Kuala Lumpur, the places that we most enjoyed were Malacca, unfortunately they seem to be spoiling it, but it is well worth a visit, Ipoh, Penang and the Cameron Highlands.

There are some stunning beaches on the East Coast, though we found that area less relaxed than the West Coast. In particular, the northeast is very conservative with a state Government that is fundamentalist. I am not suggesting that there is any need to be concerned, I am sure that you will not encounter any problems in that area.

Are you confining yourselves to peninsular Malaysia, or were you thinking of going across to Borneo? Unfortunately, we haven?t so far had an opportunity to do so.

tgnych

Thanks Tangata for your reply.
Well I wasn't actually thinking of Borneo but why not? My memory is failing a bit - what is there to be seen and how far is it from peninsular Malaysia?

Actually I am also wondering - are there any more appropriate destinations for a first contact with Asia? I am looking for Asian authenticity.

Thanks.

jacster

Hi there - I saw your original message and was going to say no trip to Malaysia is complete without a visit to Borneo - it will DEFINITELY make this the trip of a lifetime...; however, that does depend on how adventurous you are! Borneo has 2 main reasons to visit - wildlife and jungle trekking...the jungle is amazing and is one of the last places you can truly see how SE Asia used to look before all the deforestation occured...it is truly stunning once you get outside of the hideous main cities...once you have spent a couple of nights in the jungle you feel like you can take on anything! The dangers include the presence of wild animals (Elephants and Tigers still roam) and insects bigger than you are ever likely to see elsewhere...some species of moths for example grow bigger than 1 foot across! The spiders are equally enormous!! One of the highlights of my trip to Borneo was meeting Orangutans in the wild - these animals are almost extinct so it was really amazing seeing them in their natural habitat. There is also a great reserve trying to preserve these animals that is well worth a visit. The only problem will be timing your days right to get a flight to Borneo - it can be difficult although this may have improved since when I visited 4 years ago...

jacster

Oh - one other thing; you asked if Malaysia was a good place to start to get an authentic taste of SE Asia...Malaysia is definitely one of the most pleasant places to visit in the region - Singapore is incredibly sterile; Thailand is incredibly full-on - I think Malaysia is a good mix of the two. I have been to most of the countries in this region and think it makes one of the more interesting and most pleasant holidays...if you want a real culture shock, then Bangkok would be a better bet...there aren't many cities in the world like this one! The thing that make Asia so different to other parts of the world is the sensory explosion that hits you as soon as you enter the country...everywhere you go there are sights, smells, tastes and sounds bombarding you 24 hours, 7 days a week...mostly brought on by the poverty in most of these countries...it is not hidden and can be seen everywhere which for the first time visitor can be very hard to deal with. Malaysia is a poor country but the poverty is more hidden than in Thailand and Indonesia...

tgnych

I have been told about an exciting national park whose name/location I am trying to find.
I am told you reach the lodge or the hotel through a 3h river boat. It is tropical scenery, even including a canopy walk. It is on mainland.
Any hint about what it is and how I can find info about sightseeing, lodging, etc.

Tisler

Taman Negara is the name of the park on Peninsula Malaysia. It is on the eastern part of the peninsula. I've never been (only made it to KL, Penang, and Cameron Highlands) but hear amazing things about it. In theory you could cover some of the west coast highlights then go to Taman Negara and finish up on some of the eastern beaches like Langkawi.

I liked Malaysia alot. Not as in-your-face as Thailand (which I love for different reasons)and much more culturally engaging than Singapore. We actually flew into SIN, bussed to Johor Bahru (port town on tip of Malay peninsula), then rented a car and drove up to Penang and back down via the Cameron Highlands and tea plantations. The roads are straight and there is a new toll road that is extremely well-maintained.

Malaysia has such an interesting blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Muslim, Christian and colonial influences (you will see this in Penang and the Highlands). In some ways it is probably more diverse than other countries in the region.

Have a safe trip!

tgnych

pursuing the search, based on the useful info I have come up with the following list.
Can anyone comment, recommend best value for money car rental companies and nice hotels as well as time required for connecting between the various locations by car?
Penang (2 days)
Cameron Highlands (2 days)
Taman Negara (2 days)
Melaka (2 days)
KL (2.5 days)
how about Kota Bharu? is it a must? Better than Penang?
Thks,