Matador's Ultimate Guide to Malaysia

Incredible dive spots, luxury city life, and foodie-worthy cuisines ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Malaysia]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Malaysia Hi all, Split in two — one half just below Thailand, the other across the South China Sea sharing space with Indonesia and Brunei — [Malaysia]( gives the best of both worlds. One moment you're getting glamorous in the ultra-modern Kuala Lumpur; the next you're swimming in gorgeous clear waters and enjoying the island life.  Use the capital city as your home base and spend time in one of the world's most [gorgeous orchid botanical gardens]( or get a thrill by base jumping off the the Kuala Lumpur Tower. After [exploring the city]( make your way to the water for an epic diving adventure at '[Mermaid Island](. Visit the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple set into limestone. Eat your way through [Penang](. And while you're at it, brush up on your [Malaysian slang](. You'll want to be here as long as you can. [EXPLORE MALAYSIA]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [Kuala Lumpur]( Kuala Lumpur's Vast, Fast, Affordable Metro Is a Dream Ticket To the City With more than 100 stations, Kuala Lumpur has the second most extensive metro system in Southeast Asia. The good news is that the system is hyper-efficient and very affordable, and there is no need for a car during a trip to the city. Here are ten major Kuala Lumpur attractions, which you can easily access via the metro. [READ MORE]( [Penang]( Penang, Malaysia, Is the Most Underrated Foodie Capital of Southeast Asia Street food is an integral part of Southeast Asian culture, and if you don’t indulge your senses over cheap, delicious meals enjoyed on little plastic stools, you haven’t really experienced the region at all. The scene in Penang, Malaysia, is unique from more popular hubs like Singapore, where street vendors have been confined to a number of organized hawker centers throughout the city, and Bangkok, which appears to be headed in that direction. Here’s how to experience it like a local. [READ MORE]( [Bukit Bintang Neighborhood]( Glamour and Gluttony in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang Neighborhood Bukit Bintang means “Star Hill” in Malay. In Malaysia’s capital city, the term is synonymous with lively nightlife, blinding city lights, bustling crowds, and an excellent mix of street food and high-end dining, often right next to each other. The bright lights may be reminiscent of New York’s Times Square, but Bukit Bintang is more upscale and eclectic. Today, this is Kuala Lumpur’s most vibrant and happening neighborhood and an unmissable stop on any trip here. Here’s how to get the most out of Bukit Bintang. [READ MORE]( [Sipadan Island]( Stay at These Overwater Luxury Bungalows on a Less-Crowded Island A lesser-visited island in Southeast Asia, Sipadan Island in Malaysia is known for being a top dive spot and having an abundance of marine life. This luxury water village, the Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, is a perfect place to stay while here. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [Perhentian Islands]( How To Visit Malaysia's Laid-Back (and Affordable) Perhentian Islands The Perhentian Islands have remained mostly undeveloped for so long thanks to the challenge of reaching them, though it can be fairly straightforward with a little advance planning. [READ MORE]( [Mantanani Islands]( Malaysia’s ‘Mermaid Island’ Is a Diver’s Paradise Divers and non-divers alike will enjoy walking along white sand en route to turquoise waters with few other tourists around. If you’re visiting Southeast Asia, the Mantanani Islands are worth the stop despite being out of the way of the region’s cultural highlights. Here’s how to make the trip happen. [READ MORE]( [Borneo cat]( Looking for the World’s Most Elusive Wild Cats in Borneo Take a 10-day wildlife-watching trip to Borneo’s Deramakot Forest Reserve. Lying in the heart of the Malaysian state of Sabah, this selectively logged forest supports an impressive 75 percent of Sabah’s mammals, including all five species of Borneo’s wild cats (Borneo Bay cat, Sunda Clouded leopard, Marbled cat, Flat-headed cat and Sunda leopard cat). [READ MORE]( [The Taman Negara Canopy Walk]( The Scariest Bridges in the World You Can Walk on — If You Dare Malaysia's Taman Negara Canopy Walk makes the list. What started out as a way for biologists to get a tree-top view of their canopy-dwelling animal and plant subjects has now become one of the best ways to experience the flora and fauna of the oldest rainforest in the world. The Taman Negara Canopy Walk is a narrow, wooden path that leads you 530 meters (1738 feet) through dense greenery — the forest floor a heady 40 meters (130 feet) below — allowing intimate access to the megadiversity of Malaysia, which, in this rainforest, includes giant squirrels and a third of the world’s total bird species. [READ MORE]( [waterslide]( The World’s Longest Waterslide Takes You 3,645 Feet Through the Rainforest The rainforest of Penang, a northern Malaysian state known for its street food culture more than its theme parks, recently opened an attraction for the ages. The ESCAPE theme park has just debuted a 3,645-foot waterslide that sends riders cruising through the jungle and into the heart of the park on an inflatable tube. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [Rempah]( Rempah Is the ‘Mother Sauce’ of Malaysian Cuisine You Need To Know Like sambal oelek, rempah is a spice paste (in fact, rempah is the Malay word for spice). While it appears in Indonesian dishes, it really shines in the cuisine of Malaysia and Singapore, as well as that of the Peranakan people — descendants of Chinese people who immigrated to Indonesia and Malaysia. It’s one of the most basic and fundamental recipes in Malaysian cuisine. [READ MORE]( [Watermelon juice]( In Malaysia, You Can Drink Fresh Watermelon Juice Straight From the Rind Street sweets are just as ubiquitous, especially cendol, a dessert that consists of coconut milk, shaved ice, and palm sugar syrup topped with green jelly noodles and red beans. Beverages are no exception, including teh tarik, a black tea sweetened with condensed milk and shaken until frothy. But one of the simplest and most refreshing drinks you can easily track down on the streets of Malaysia are fresh fruit juices, such as the watermelon juice featured below. [READ MORE]( [Batu Caves]( Malaysia’s Famous Batu Caves Is All Rainbow When the 272 steps leading up to Malaysia’s famous Batu Caves received a rainbow makeover, Instagrammers flocked and tourists swooned. Temple authorities claim the rainbow-colored stairs are meant to welcome tourists and make Hindus feel more comfortable. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Infinity Pool]( [Forest escapes]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Custom]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States