Magnificent Malaysia

Next stop…Malaysia! A long, hot and slightly unpleasant ferry ride from the beach on Koh Lipe, Thailand took us to the Malaysian island of Langkawi. Langkawi is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Malaysia and known for it’s laid back, relaxed vibe. We only had a short time in Langkawi so we made the most of it with an action packed morning seeing some of the local sights followed by a relaxing afternoon at the pool sipping prosecco.

Our first stop was the Langkawi Skybridge, ranked among the world’s longest curved suspension bridges. We took a cable car ride up to the bridge and observatory and then another back down. The bridge offered amazing (and somewhat terrifying) views over Langkawi. Our ticket included admission to another 3D imagine museum Art in Paradise so we stopped in for a bit for those who missed out on our first visit (in Chiang Mai) while Reece was in hospital. Once back to our hotel we rested and relaxed, chatting by the pool until the sun set.

Langkawi

The following morning we reluctantly bid adieu to our friends – we had so much fun and many, many laughs together – and headed to the Langkawi airport for our brief flight to Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival we were greeted by our prearranged driver, Azmi.

Azmi was very enthusiastic and eager to show us around. We were all a bit tired from our travels but since we knew we likely wouldn’t be back in this part of the world any time soon, off we went. First to PetraJaya, a city south of Kuala Lumpur known for the rose coloured granite Putra Mosque and the green domed Persians Putra, home to the Prime Minister’s offices.

Next up was a visit to the Batu Caves, located just outside of Kuala Lumpur. There are 3 main caves featuring Hindu temples and shrines. There is a massive statue of a Hindu god at the entrance and 272 monkey laden steps up to the caves, which offer a great view of the city skyline.

Our cave visit was followed by a quick visit to the Istana Negara, the official residence of the monarch of Malaysia. We didn’t realize at the time but our guide pointed out that the king was riding his bike around the grounds while we were there. Apparently he is very well liked and down to earth.

We also made a brief stop at the National Memorial, a monument that commemorates those who died during World War II and the Malaysian Emergency (1948-1960).

Kuala Lumpur is a very busy city – traffic was heavy! – but also very aesthetic, clean and orderly. The skyline is gorgeous with stunning, architectural achievements that all seem to belong and compliment each other.

The day was capped off by dinner and a stroll through a night food market before crashing at our hotel for some much needed rest. The market was probably our favourite in Asia so far, with many different and colourful foods to admire (although we were hesitant to try some things, uncertain as to what there were).

Malaysian market finds

The following day was one that had been in the planning for quite some time. When David was in dental school some 20 years ago he had 3 classmates from Malaysia. They had lost touch over the years but after some assistance from the Dalhousie dental alumni association he was able to track them down, reconnect and plan a visit to catch up.

With our trusty driver at the wheel we reunited with one of David’s classmates and headed for a day trip to the UNESCO world heritage city of Melaka.

Our day included at stop at Mini Malaysia and ASEAN Cultural Park, where we visited traditional Malaysian homes and learned some traditional games, dances and handicrafts.

Once in Melaka we took a memorable tuk tuk tour, a walk through China Town, a tradition meal and a visit to a local market before heading back to Kuala Lumpur. Special thanks to our friend and guide Safura for organizing the day and sharing her local knowledge.

Ironically and much to our surprise the very same night we had planned to be in Kuala Lumpur a Dalhousie dental alumni reception was planned at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel . This was a great opportunity to meet and visit with fellow alumni and even the current Dean of Dentistry. It was a great night!

The following day we purposely booked an afternoon departure from Malaysia to allow us extra time to explore. We started with an in depth tour of the dental school, where Safura teaches and then sadly had to say our goodbyes to her.

We had also prebooked a visit to the famous Petronas Twin Towers. The towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world. Our tour took us by elevator up 42 floors to the skybridge and then up another 44 floors to the observation deck on floor 86, which offered amazing views over the city.

The towers were a great way to cap off our visit to the spectacular country – one that surprised us with it’s modern beauty and kind, generous people.

Next stop…. a day in Singapore!

With Love,

The Travelling Babins

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet” – Rachel Wolchin