Malaysia

9 days in Malaysia where I enjoyed artsy George Town, the vast tea fields around Cameron Highlands and bustling Kuala Lumpur. These were the last days on my trip through South East Asia.

^{Data from OpenStreetMap – Published under ODbL}

This trip is part of my 3 months South East Asia trip.
Click here to go back…

Penang

07 December 2019

Today, I flew from Banda Aceh (Sumatra, Indonesia) to Penang from 11:20 – 14:30. I was picked up at my hostel in Banda Aceh by a driver and got some good breakfast toasts at the airport before departure.

Penang (Pulau Pinang) is a state which consists of a 292 km² island that lays just off the northwest coast off Peninsular Malaysia and a short land strip on the mainland. Its capitol George Town is located in the North East of the island

In George Town, I had booked two nights at the Ryokan Muntri Boutique Hostel where I arrived in the afternoon.

I grabbed some good food at Ee Beng Vegetarian food and explored the beautiful city and its wall art. It was a bit Christmassy every here and there in the city, some groups were singing Christmas songs on the street for example. I also figured out how to get to Cameron Highland by bus (5-6 hours, RM 50).

In the evening, I had dinner at Wheeler’s.

08 December 2019

Today morning, I took a bus to Penang National Park, which lies 20 km West of the city on the North Western edge of the island.

I walked around the national park which was unfortunately pretty dirty with a lot of rubbish and the paths in a sad condition. It was nevertheless really enjoyable.

In the afternoon, I visited the Hin Market where I did some strolling through the handicraft stalls and some souvenir shopping. I also got henna done on my hand.

Afterwards, I walked around the city, got some good dinner and headed back to the hostel. I enjoy this city a lot. It is really relaxed, I feel good with the other tourists around which has me not watched constantly by others.

A collection of the fabulous food I had today: 😀

Cameron Highlands

09 December 2019

In the morning, I donated my dark green pants to a girl from the hostel 😀 After being washed too hot a couple of times, it just did not fit me anymore hahaha

Then I strolled around the city once more before heading off to the mainland.

Around noon, I took a bus to the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. At 12:15 p.m., the bus left to Tanah Rata (Cameron Highland), where I arrived around 6:45 p.m.

I checked in to Fathers’ Guesthouse and had some good dinner in the evening just around in the village. The village itself is again quite touristy. But as said before – I don’t mind it after having been the center of attention for quite a long time as a solo-travelling woman.

(Hiking) map of Cameron Highland

10 December 2019

In the morning, I rented a scooter to explore the beautiful Cameron Highlands.

I headed off to the Boh Tea Plantation South of the city, where I was surrounded by beautiful tea fields! I put on music on my phone, switched on the speakers and put it in the front of my scooter. What a wonderful feeling – I felt so free. I had some tea (of course!) and cake at the restaurant there and walked around in the area (you can hike up a small hill behind the center to the Boh View Point). It was very foggy which gave the scenery a mystic look.

I made my way back through Tanah Rata and drove all the way to the north to the Boh Tea Centre.

I stopped way too often to take some pictures. It was so beautiful. I had tea and cake once more 😀 What a life right?

Then I headed back to Tanah Rata again.

I enjoyed this day so much – surrounded by so much green and with my own scooter.

In the afternoon, I had dinner at Misokimchi and went for a bit souvenir shopping around the village.

11 December 2019

Today, I left again to visit the Boh Tea Plantation in the south by scooter.

In the afternoon, I got some food at Misokimchi again. Then I was exhausted and relaxed quite long at my guesthouse before getting dinner at the Mossy Forest Café.

Kuala Lumpur

12 December 2019

Today, I took the bus at 8:30 a.m. to Kuala Lumpur where I arrived around noon. From Kuala Lumpur main station, I had to take the train to my hostel “Back Home Kuala Lumpur Hostel”.

In the afternoon, I went to the beautiful Mingle Café and then explored the area and especially the mall around KLCC until it got dark.

The Petronas Twin Towers (Menara Berkembar Petronas) are 88 storey tall skyscrapers which were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 until 2004. At night, I found them especially stunning since they simply looked like a negative photo taken. There was also a small light and music show in the evening at 8 p.m. just in the park at the towers.

Afterwards, I went to the Heli Lounge Bar – a bar on a rooftop with a great view above the city.

13 December 2019

In the morning, I went to the Batu caves (by train). It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India and dedicated to Lord Murugan.

I watched a traditional event (maybe a wedding?) in one of the temples in front of the caves.

I then went up the stairs to the cave. The stairs are surrounded by many macaques that like to steal things from visitors. Inside the cave, there is the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. If you walk further up, you can see the sky and some bats when looking up.

I also went to the temples that are located at the bottom of the cave (Ramayana Cave and Sri Alarmel Mangai Samedha Sri Venkatajalapathi Temple).

I then went to the Alamanda Shopping Centre in the south of the city around noon.

After a break at my hostel, I grabbed lunch at the Geographer café and the Mingle café.

Later that day, I went to the Jelatek Night Market with a group from the hostel. We could try different kinds of food including Durian and grabbed some dinner to go which we ate back at the hostel.

14 December 2019

Today is my last day of my South East Asia trip! I only strolled around the city and enjoyed myself. I visited Chinatown, the Central Market, Petaling Street Market and simply walked back and forth with short stops at the hostel 😀

There was a street festival which is why there was a lot of action on the street.

Especially the lighting around the Masjid Jamek and Muzium Tekstil at night I enjoyed a lot.

15 December 2019

Today, I’m heading home! Nooooo.

Around noon, I got an ear piercing at Zoo Tattoo & Body Piercing. I ate lunch at the LOKL Coffee Co and then headed off to the airport by taxi in heavy rain.