Penang is a foodies dream. And even if your sole purpose for travelling isn’t eating your way around the world, I promise you’ll be won over by the food of George Town.
Photo friendly – Penang
We were excited about Penang even before we got there, hearing from multiple people how cool this place is. An island just off the west coast of northern Malaysia, Penang is joined to the mainland via bridge and functions as it’s own big city. While the main tourist attraction has to be the UNESCO listed city that is George Town, Penang also offers beaches and amazing street food that are worth the stop alone.
A respite from the sweat – Cameron Highlands
We used Cameron Highlands as a stop over on our way to Penang, enjoyed the cooler climes, the slower pace of life and change of scenery it offered. We only spent two nights and one full day here and found that to be more than enough for us. If you’re planning on doing a rainforest trek, you’ll probably need a little longer.
Where to eat and drink in Kuala Lumpur
These are some of the awesome food and drink options we found/were recommended. We also suggest you try some other Malaysia specialties- Char Kway Teow, Marmite Pork and Salted Egg Squid.
- Kuala Lumpur
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Good tips help you find those cool spots – Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, a large westernised city with so many things to do, so much to see and most importantly, so much to eat. We had three full days here and were determined to make the most of our time, armed with a list of ‘must do’s’ from a friend who used to live there, so helpful by the way.
Finding Orangutans in Bukit Lawang
We had decided before we left New Zealand that while we were going to try and be as flexible as possible with our plans, there were some ‘must do’s’ that we weren’t going to compromise on, even if it was a little pricey or out of the way. Seeing Orangutans in the North Sumatran jungle was definitely one of those.
Things to do in Ubud
As the art and cultural hub in Bali, there’s plenty to keep yourself entertained in Ubud for a good couple of days. Here’s what we did.
Ubud
We spent 3 nights just outside Ubud, then a further three nights in the heart of the town. Unless you’re planning on spending some time at a yoga retreat or finding yourself a detox centre, 3 days here should be plenty to explore the town and the countryside.
Where to eat and drink on Gili Air
Where we were staying was handy to the strip of bars and restaurants on the right side of the island. I would recommend a similar location, giving you all the choices for lunch, dinner and drinks. But one of the things we loved most about the island, was the simple and delicious food options you could get right on the beach, or from a cart on the side of the road. A hawker on the beach offering mango and pineapple was an incredible experience, while the corn on the cob rivalled that offered only on Gili T.
How to keep yourself entertained on Gili Air
Given Gili Air is set up as the less hectic of the Gilis you’ll spend most of your time relaxing, and not doing much else. As much as we like sitting on the beach, reclining in a lounger, it’s nice to see a bit of where you’re staying, so we did some walking and cycling too. The bars along the right side of the island all seem to have loungers, but some you’ll have to pay for, others will let you use if you’re purchasing food and drink. You’ll find loungers on the Gili’s are at least half the price of Bali.