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    Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook)
    Ebook371 pages2 hours

    Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook)

    By Insight Guides

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    About this ebook

    Insight Pocket Guides: ideal itineraries and top travel tips in a pocket-sized package.

    Plan your trip, plan perfect days and discover how to get around - this pocket-sized guide is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do and see in Malaysia, from top attractions like the Petronas Twin Towers, to hidden gems, including Kinabalu Park. 

    ·       Compact, concise, and packed with essential information about Where to Go and What to Do, this is an ideal on-the-move companion when you're exploring Malaysia
    ·       Covers Top Ten Attractions, including George Town and Pulau Sipadan and Perfect Day itinerary suggestions
    ·       Offers an insightful overview of landscape, history and culture
    ·       Contains an invaluable pull-out map, and essential practical information on everything from Eating Out to Getting Around
    ·       Inspirational colour photography throughout
    ·       Sharp design and colour-coded sections make for an engaging reading experience

    About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps, as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInsight Guides
    Release dateMay 1, 2019
    ISBN9781789198195
    Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook)
    Author

    Insight Guides

    Insight Guides wherever possible uses local experts who provide insider know-how and share their love and knowledge of the destination.

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      Book preview

      Insight Guides Pocket Malaysia (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

      How To Use This E-Book

      Getting Around the e-Book

      This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Malaysia, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.

      The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Malaysia, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.

      In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

      Maps

      All key attractions and sights in Malaysia are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

      Images

      You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Malaysia. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.

      About Insight Guides

      Insight Guides have more than 40 years’ experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.

      Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.

      © 2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

      Malaysia’s Top 10 Attractions

      Top Attraction #1

      Jon Santa Cruz/Apa Publications

      Petronas Twin Towers

      A striking sight on Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #2

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Pulau Langkawi

      An island of beautiful beaches. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #3

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Melaka

      Explore the streets of this famous historic port city. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #4

      iStock

      Pulau Sipadan

      One of the world’s top dive sites. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #5

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Visiting a longhouse

      An experience not to be missed when travelling in Sarawak. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #6

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Taman Negara

      A national park of ancient rainforests and river rapids. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #7

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      George Town

      Its architecture ranges from colonial to Chinese. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #8

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Sanctuary

      Prepares once captive and orphaned animals for life in the wild. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #9

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      Kinabalu Park

      Superb scenery and fascinating flora and fauna. For more information, click here.

      Top Attraction #10

      Tourism Malaysia

      Gunung Api’s Pinnacles

      A mesmerising sight in Gunung Mulu National Park. For more information, click here.

      A Perfect Tour of Malaysia

      Day 1

      Kuala Lumpur

      Catch a taxi to Chat Masala (for more information, click here) for breakfast in Brickfields’ Little India. Head to Menara Kuala Lumpur for stunning city views then walk to Jalan Alor for lunch. Those with stamina can head to the Hindu shrine of Batu Caves. Return downtown to the Central Market for curio shopping, and for dinner, eat your way through Petaling Street’s night market.

      Day 2

      Highland retreat

      Take a bus to Cameron Highlands and have lunch at one of the roadside cafés. Visit the Sungai Palas Tea Centre for a factory tour. Enjoy panoramic views of the tea gardens from Sungai Palas café (for more information, click here), followed by a relaxing spa session at the Cameron Highlands Resort or a game of golf nearby, before dinner at The Smokehouse Restaurant (for more information, click here).

      Day 3

      Penang

      After breakfast at Yong Teng Café (for more information, click here) transfer to Penang Island by van. Hire a taxi for the rest of the day and head to Suffolk House for a tour of Penang’s first ‘Great House’. Dine in the ambience of a historical home (for more information, click here). Work off lunch by cycling around Balik Pulau’s idyllic fishing villages. Return to George Town and perhaps enjoy the nightlife at Upper Penang Road.

      Days 4 and 5

      Perhentian Islands

      Fly to Kota Bharu and catch a taxi to Kuala Besut jetty. Set foot on the palm-fringed islands of Perhentian Kecil and Besar. After lunch, relax on the beach or scuba dive. Next day, visit the other island for snorkelling or trail hiking. Return to Kota Bharu for Kelantanese cuisine at the night market.

      Day 6

      Kota Bharu culture

      Soak in the sights and sounds of Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, the central market that sells everything, including brunch. Visit the War Memorial Museum or catch a performance at the Cultural Centre. Fly to KL International Airport and while waiting there for your flight to Miri, enjoy a foot massage and dinner.

      Day 7

      Gunung Mulu National Park

      Fly to the World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu National Park and discover the canopy walkway. Explore the enormous caves before watching the famous bat exodus.

      Day 8

      Kota Kinabalu

      Return to Miri for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Go island-hopping at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park or visit the longhouses of the Heritage Village. After browsing the Handicraft Market by the waterfront, head up to Signal Hill Observatory for a gorgeous sunset.

      Day 9

      Rafting the Padas

      Get a train from Tanjung Aru to Beaufort. Change trains to Pangi and from there enjoy some white-water rafting. Return to Kota Kinbalu for a late dinner at the beachside Coast Restaurant and Bar (for more information, click here).

      Table of Contents

      Malaysia’s Top 10 Attractions

      Top Attraction #1

      Top Attraction #2

      Top Attraction #3

      Top Attraction #4

      Top Attraction #5

      Top Attraction #6

      Top Attraction #7

      Top Attraction #8

      Top Attraction #9

      Top Attraction #10

      A Perfect Tour of Malaysia

      Introduction

      Nature’s Supremacy

      Many and Diverse Peoples

      Religious Tolerance

      A Brief History

      The Indian era

      The glory of Melaka

      Portuguese conquest

      The Dutch take over

      British rule

      The ‘White Rajahs’ of Borneo

      The early 20th century

      Japanese occupation

      The ‘Emergency’

      Independence

      The 21st century

      Historical Landmarks

      Where To Go

      The Centre

      Kuala Lumpur

      The Historic Centre

      Near the Old Railway Station

      Taman Botani Perdana (Perdana Botanical Gardens)

      Chinatown

      Northeast of the historic centre

      Markets

      Selangor

      Petaling Jaya and Sunway City

      Batu Caves

      Templer Park

      FRIM

      Kuala Selangor

      Putrajaya

      Day trips from Kuala Lumpur

      Genting Highlands

      Fraser’s Hill

      The Northwest

      Perak

      Ipoh

      Day Trips from Ipoh

      Tambun

      Cameron Highlands

      Papan

      Gopeng and surroundings

      Kuala Kangsar

      Belum-Temengor Forest Complex

      Taiping

      Perak’s coastline

      Pulau Pangkor

      Penang

      George Town

      Colonial Heritage Walk

      Nanyang Heritage Sites

      Street of Harmony Walk

      Historic Enclave Walk

      Southwest of George Town

      Western Penang island

      Northwest of George Town

      Kedah

      Pulau Langkawi

      Perlis

      The East Coast and Interior

      Kelantan

      Kota Bharu

      Around Kota Bharu

      The Beaches

      Terengganu

      The Islands

      Kuala Terengganu

      Around Kuala Terengganu

      Rantau Abang

      Kuala Dungun and Points South

      Pahang

      The Coast

      Kuantan

      Sungai Lembing

      Pekan

      Lanchang

      Taman Negara

      Forest Trails

      Flora and Fauna

      Tasik Bera

      Pulau Tioman

      The South

      Negeri Sembilan

      Seremban

      Sri Menanti

      Port Dickson

      Melaka

      St Paul’s Hill Civic Zone

      Residential and Commercial Zone

      The Chitty Village

      The Portuguese Settlement

      Chinatown

      Bukit Cina

      Johor

      South of Melaka

      The Endau-Rompin National Park

      Johor Bahru

      Johor’s southern coastline

      Desaru and the islands north

      East Malaysia

      Sarawak

      Kuching

      Around Kuching

      Bako National Park

      Visiting a Longhouse

      Niah National Park

      Gunung Mulu National Park

      Sabah

      Kota Kinabalu

      The Coral Islands

      Around Kota Kinabalu

      Kinabalu Park

      Poring Hot Springs

      Sandakan

      The Lower Kinabatangan River Basin

      The Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre

      Turtle Islands Marine Park

      West of Lahad Datu

      Southeast islands of Sabah

      What To Do

      Shopping

      What to buy

      Entertainment

      Nightlife

      Traditional dance and theatre

      Sports

      Water sports

      Other sports

      Traditional Malay sports

      Calendar of Events

      Eating Out

      What to Eat

      Malay cuisine

      Chinese cuisine

      Nyonya cuisine

      Indian cuisine

      Drinks

      Reading the Menu

      To Help You Order…

      …and Read the Menu

      Restaurants

      Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya

      Perak

      Cameron Highlands

      Penang

      Langkawi

      Perlis

      Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang

      Negeri Sembilan

      Melaka

      Johor Bahru

      Kuching

      Miri

      Kota Kinabalu

      A–Z Travel Tips

      A

      Accommodation (see also Budgeting for Your Trip)

      Airports (see also Getting There)

      B

      Budgeting for Your Trip

      C

      Camping

      Car Hire (see also Driving)

      Climate

      Clothing (see also Religion)

      Crime and Safety (see also Emergencies and Police)

      D

      Disabled Travellers

      Driving (see also Transport)

      E

      Electricity

      Embassies and Consulates

      Emergencies (see also Crime and Safety)

      G

      Getting There (see also Airports)

      Guides and tours

      H

      Health and Medical Care

      L

      Language

      LGBTQ Travellers

      M

      Maps

      Media

      Money

      O

      Opening times

      P

      Police (see also Crime and Safety)

      Post Offices

      Public Holidays

      R

      Religion

      T

      Taxes

      Telephones

      Time Zones

      Tipping

      Toilets

      Tourist Information (Maklumat Pelancong)

      Transport (see also Driving)

      V

      Visas and Entry Requirements

      W

      Websites and Internet Access

      Y

      Youth Hostels

      Recommended Hotels

      Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya

      Perak

      Cameron Highlands

      Penang

      Langkawi

      Perlis

      Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang

      Negeri Sembilan

      Melaka

      Johor Bahru

      Kuching

      Miri

      Kota Kinabalu

      Introduction

      The Kuala Lumpur skyline from Kampung Baru

      James Tye/Apa Publications

      As Malaysia continues resolutely into the modern age, it remains, culturally and historically, a rich, multi-layered blend of traditions fuelled by a modern, busy and outward-looking economy. From sandy beaches, broad rivers and deep forests, to the rising skyscrapers and wide expressways of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is set to exceed visitors’ expectations.

      Facts and figures

      Peninsular and East Malaysia together cover a total area of 329,759 sq km (127,317 sq miles). The peninsula is 750km (466 miles) long and about 350km (218 miles) at its widest point. It is only two-thirds the size of East Malaysia. Some four-fifths of Malaysia was originally covered by rainforest. Of the many rivers, the peninsula’s longest is the Pahang, at 475km (295 miles). In East Malaysia, the longest river is the Rajang, at 563km (350 miles).

      In the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is about the size of Japan and has a population of over 30 million. The country is divided into two major regions: the peninsula, bordered by Thailand, the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea; and East Malaysia, whose two states, Sarawak and Sabah, are located on the island of Borneo, 800km (500 miles) across the South China Sea. Sarawak and Sabah are vast regions of forests, rivers and mountains bordering the Indonesian state of Kalimantan and the sultanate of Brunei. Industry and urban society are concentrated on the peninsula, especially on the west coast, while East Malaysia is dominated by rainforests. The two regions share a hot, humid climate, but differ greatly in their population density and urban development.

      Malaysia’s relative wealth is reflected in the excellent road and rail networks along the peninsula’s west coast. Its per capita income is one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

      Five Kinds of Forest

      Variations in soil, slope and altitude give rise to five kinds of forest:

      Mangrove forest. Mangrove trees and shrubs grow on coastal marshland in the brackish zone between the sea and fresh water. An associated species is the low, trunkless nipa palm, whose fronds have traditionally been used as roofing material for coastal huts.

      Freshwater swamp. Abundant fruit trees in the fertile alluvium of river plains attract prolific wildlife. Where swamp gives way to dry land, you may see the fascinating, monstrous strangler-figs.

      Dipterocarp forest. Named after the two-winged fruit borne by many of the forest’s tallest trees, this dry-land rainforest is what you will see most frequently from just above sea level up to an altitude of 900m (3,000ft).

      Heath forest. Poor soil on the flat terrain leading to foothills or on sandy mountain ridges produces only low, stunted trees with thick leaves.

      Montane forest. At 1,200m (4,000ft) and above in large mountain ranges, or as low as 600m (2,000ft) on small isolated mountains, the large trees and liana creepers give way to myrtle, laurel and oak trees.

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