09/24/2025
Why Malaysia is a destination that I plan to visit many times...
My honest thoughts about visiting Malaysia start with this: one of the most fun trips I did in 2025 was heading over here. From the moment I landed in Kuala Lumpur, I was honestly blown away. I think what immediately struck me was the massive buildings and just how modern the city felt. I had a feeling it would be impressive, but I couldn’t believe how vertical the skyline was with skyscrapers everywhere, lit up at night, making it feel like a futuristic city. At the same time, the cost of living in KL was one of the best parts. I went to a really nice restaurant inside a high-end shopping mall and had a full dinner for only $10 bucks. That mix of affordability and modern comfort is something that had me thinking “Should I move here?”
And then, of course, the people. Malaysians are calm, hospitable, and so welcoming. Anytime I needed recommendations or suggestions, people were excited to share their culture with me. They genuinely seemed happy to have foreigners visiting their country, and nearly everyone I interacted with spoke such great English. That made it so much easier to connect and learn. Another thing that stood out was how Malaysia is such a melting pot of cultures — Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences all blending together. That mix doesn’t just show up in the food, but in the social norms and everyday way of living, which creates a really unique atmosphere.
Now, I do think Malaysia doesn’t get as much attention as places like Thailand or Singapore, and I think that’s simply because fewer people have been here to spread the word. But in reality, it has all the offerings you could want: incredible islands like Langkawi, jungle escapes like Perak, glamping, and at the same time, city life with every modern convenience you’d want. The differentiation point? It’s cost of living is much lower than its neighbor Singapore. I honestly believe the tourism market here is going to explode (even more than it already has) once more travelers get a taste of it. (Every vlogger friend of mine that has been LOVED it, and this says a lot!)
Before coming, I already had some expectations because I knew Malaysians from college. They were always upbeat, fun, and full of energy so I was excited to see what their culture was like firsthand. My expectations were definitely met and then exceeded. Experiencing KL and Ipoh, I couldn’t help but think to myself: as a digital nomad, I could 100% live here. That’s how cool of a place it is.
Let me share you a bit on what I did each day of my trip.
DAY 1 – Exploring KL & Experiencing the Independence Day Parade
It couldn’t have been planned better. I arrived in Kuala Lumpur on August 31, which happened to be Malaysia’s Independence Day. That meant my very first morning started with a huge parade in the heart of the city. Later in the afternoon, an airshow filled the sky, and on my way out, I saw the King himself cruising by with the Prime Minister. To witness that kind of energy on my first day was unreal.
After the festivities, I checked out the heart of downtown: Independence Square, the River of Life, and Chinatown before heading up to the top of the Petronas Twin Towers for those iconic views.
Moving into the early evening, it was my first opportunity to try out a proper Malaysian meal over at Lot 10 Hutong. And I ended the night strolling through Bukit Bintang, one of the most luxurious districts in KL.
After exploring for a bit, I headed back to my hotel, the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, located right in the heart of the district of Bukit Bintang. What amazed me was that while the Ritz is a symbol of luxury worldwide, here in Kuala Lumpur the price of a room is far more affordable than what you’d find in most other major cities. That makes the idea of indulging in a five-star stay much more accessible, allowing more travelers to experience this level of comfort without stretching their budgets!
DAY 2 – Malaysian Cooking Class & Visiting Selangor
The day started with a Malaysian cooking class at LaZat. This was my first time I had ever joined in on a cooking class. I was a bit intimidated by the concept of cooking, at first, due to previous experience of being an expert chef at frozen pizzas and pasta, but… after a few hours with the team at LaZat and some fun and immersive discussions, I was shocked with what the final results were. The three dishes we cooked were: Char Kway Teow, a smoky stir-fried noodle dish loaded with prawns and bursting with flavor. Then we made Rendang Ayam, a slow-cooked chicken curry rich with spices and coconut milk that melted in your mouth. Let’s just say I went overboard with the chili in my version of some of the dishes we had cooked; I made mine triple the spice level! And for dessert, we finished with Onde-Onde, little pandan rice balls filled with palm sugar that pop with sweetness when you bite into them.
Overall, the class was something that I will always remember as a highlight of Malaysia because of the time we invested into making such exotic meals. While I had heard of some of these dishes before, I never realized what it actually took and how much goes into these various entrees. I can confidently say, this will not be my last cooking class!
From there, I made my way out to Selangor to visit the Blue Mosque, which happens to be the biggest mosque in the country. It shows the unbelievable level of detail and architecture which is something everyone should witness if you are in the KL area.
That evening, I checked into the colonial-era Majestic Hotel in KL. The staff had showed me around this historical hotel which had this hybrid of old world living and modern luxury.
From my room, I had a front-row view of Merdeka 118, the second tallest tower in the world. Not a bad way to wrap up the day.
DAY 3 – The adventurous side of Malaysia (Selangor) – just outside of KL
Today was a big day, and I mean big because of all the adrenaline we chased.
We kicked things off with outdoor rock climbing over on the other side of Batu Caves at the Gua Damai Extreme Park. While it was my first time doing outdoor rock-climbing, I was pleasantly surprised how well I did. After, we squeezed through narrow passages inside one of Selangor’s caves in that same park.
Between adventures, I fueled up with a banana leaf meal: rice, curries, and vegetables all served on a giant banana leaf, and it was just a few bucks. In the afternoon, I climbed the 272 colorful steps up to Batu Caves, where monkeys roam all around.
The adventurous day did not end here. After a short rest in between, I met up with Kelvin for a Vespa food tour of KL via “Vespalicious.” Riding through the city at night on a scooter while stopping at food stalls and hidden corners gave me a whole new perspective of the city. We got to experience Malaysia after dark which has its own personality (and not to mention, it is very photogenic)!
DAY 4 – Heading to Ipoh in Perak – the nature state
The day started bright and early as we caught the $12 electric train to Ipoh which took just over two hours. It was affordable and comfortable. It didn’t take long to get the feel that Ipoh itself had a much more laid-back vibe compared to KL. It is a smaller city which gives it its’ own special charm.
We explored the city on foot, sampled some local white coffee and snacks, and then headed out to Tasik Cermin aka Mirror Lake. This is easily one of the most beautiful sights you can see out here.
There are adventure activities for anyone – we had to try out the ATVs and zip around the trails for a bit. And after, we had explored a cave that opened into this hidden lake surrounded by limestone cliffs but the interesting part is we took a boat to get through this narrow cave.
Later in the evening, I stayed at The Haven, a residence style resort perched in the mountains. My room was on the 21st floor with a view that made it feel like I was in the middle of a painting. And as someone who typically prefers sun over rain, this place changed that for me. I got a nice Malaysia rain shower in the afternoon and the place looked like something out of the Avatar movie.
DAY 5 – The adventurous side of Ipoh (Glamping & Cave Exploration)
Waking up in the forest while being this high in up felt like a dream. The only way to start it was with a coffee looking out over Ipoh.
After checking out, we headed over to a place that I did not expect to find in Malaysia. Kellie’s Castle, a mysterious Scottish castle that looks totally out of place in the Malaysian jungle. It was a juxtaposition of Malaysian nature and foreign architecture with quite the story behind it.
After that, the adventures started to begin. We explored Gua Tempurung, a massive cave system with chambers so big they felt like underground bunkers almost. And for lunch, we tried out the Malaysian version of “Fast Food” which was insane what jus $3 can get you. It was cheap yet very delicious street food.
Later, we checked into a glamping site known as Gopeng Glamping where my tent sat right in the middle of the forest. I rode ATVs deep into the jungle, watched a fire show, and fell asleep to the sounds of nature and my AC unit that was inside of the tent! Don’t forget, we aren’t camping, we are GLAMPING!
DAY 6 – Whitewater Rapids & Luxury Ipoh
The morning started with a quick cup of Kopi (aka Coffee) and then it was time to hit the river. I joined a big group of other travelers for some beginner level whitewater rafting, which cost about $20 for several hours of fun.
We paddled hard through rapids, got soaked, and had some time to meet some of the others who were traveling and exploring Malaysia.
Afterwards, I headed back to Ipoh to stay at the AC Hotel. I spent the evening getting a little content done in their coworking space, then played sports in their recreation area, and ended the day with easily my favorite meal of the whole trip at Luk Yu Tea House. We tasted so many different things on the menu, I felt like just in this one meal I had experienced Malaysia’s entire cuisine!
DAY 7 – Train back to KL and Final moments
For my last day, I took the electric train back into KL and set out to see everything I had missed earlier in the week. That included a trip up the KL Tower for panoramic views, walking through KLCC Park, checking out Kasturi Walk and Central Market a little more in depth, and just enjoying the city one last time on foot. It was the perfect way to wrap up a packed week in Malaysia.
And since I had a relatively early flight, I was able to take the KL airport train over to the hotel the night before and stay over at the Sama Sama airport hotel which literally had a bridge connecting the hotel to the airport. Another moment I was really impressed with the overall connectivity through transportation and infrastructure that I had witnessed all over Malaysia.
My Closing Thoughts
Looking back, the biggest surprise of my trip was just how much the country had to offer. I mean, in KL alone you can immerse yourself in Chinatown, then walk a little further and suddenly you’re in Little India, and then experience the Malay side of the culture. These three worlds all exist together while still holding onto their own unique identities. I never realized Malaysia was such a powerful melting pot, and it gave me a whole new perspective on the region.
The most memorable moment for me was definitely the cooking class. I’m not exactly known for my kitchen skills, and I went a little rogue by tripling the amount of spice in my dish. When my instructor tried it, I wasn’t sure what her reaction would be but she actually laughed and told me she might need to add my version of the recipe to future classes. That moment stuck with me because it showed how much fun and connection can come from simply sharing food and culture.
The biggest takeaway I had leaving Malaysia is that this country deserves more than a week. It needs at least 14 days if you want to do it properly. I only managed to explore KL and Ipoh, and they were both incredible, but next time I’d definitely add Penang, Borneo, and Langkawi to my itinerary. That way you’d get the full range: city life, jungle, islands, and everything in between.
So if you’re planning a trip to Southeast Asia, I’d say don’t just stop at Thailand or Singapore, prioritize Malaysia and make sure it’s part of your itinerary. This country is truly a window into Asia, where you see so many influences from the countries around it while still experiencing the uniqueness of the Malaysian people. It’s the ultimate combination of everything: affordability, diversity, hospitality, and adventure.
