KL KK and Penang
Malaysia – 2024
For our 2024 vacation Courtney and I went to Malaysia, along with Courtney’s parents, Brother and his partner Ami all to celebrate Jarryd’s (courtney’s brother) birthday.
Courtney and I packed quite light, sharing a suit case (my pelican 1615 case with single carry on back packs each.
The camera gear I took on this trip includes: my DJI mini 3 drone and Sony A7iv with a 55mm prime lens.
Our trip was only for 10 days, and we had 3 cities to cram in, so we were prepared for a lot of moving around, but with very comfortable stays at 5 star hotels which we had pre-booked.
Day 1 – Airplanes, Singapore Airport and KL
I took the last two hours off work so I could get home and relax before the 7 hour hauls. I cycled home after my last meeting of the day and felt the stress from work already melting off.
I landed home, showered and as all A type people proabbly do, jumped into my pre-pared airplane clothes, double checked all the checklists for what I had packed in each bag, and then prepared and contented I jumped on the couch and enjoyed a lemon cello in peace, and called my parents to chat.
Then enters Courtney (B Type Person). Who called me at about 5pm in a panic about all the tasks that we still had to do. So I had skulled my lemocello, and jumped to work on vsarious errands that needed to be done, and organised a pizza for dinner as we would be too short on time other wise.
By arond 6:10 we were in a Uber and on our way.
After a quick stop on the way to pick up some locks for our suit case and my last Big M before the trip, we arrived at the airport.
We then stood next to a day dreaming indian family for about 10 minutes, then realising we weren’t in line then joined the actual que.
A non-eventual flight and very boring stopover in Singapore later, and we were in Malaysia with only the lesson that we shouldn’t cheap out on flights agin. Stopovers are not fdun, and your time on this earth is more valuable than that.
We grabbed a local sim card from just outside the terminal, and were already impressed by how cheap things were in Malaysia. Found our bags abbondoned by the carousel and then headed the train station. At the station we did the math a realised that a Grab (their equiveant to Uber would be cheaper).
So we went through the rigmoroal of making an account with the local phone number, but then juggled back to our Aus sim cards for the banks to authenticate the use of our credit cards. Then jumped into the hour long drive to the hotel.
The driver was a bit miffed that we had 4 people and 3 bags, and hinted that we should have paid extra despite it all fitting easil into his SUV.
At the hotel it took a very long time to check in as Agoda had stuffed up the booking and the hotel staff were verry verry slow. So by the time we had our bags in our room, a shower it was around 2pm.
Kl is bustling place. We were staying in the KLCC (Kuala Lumpar City Centre). Large buidlings, constant traffic and people everywhere. There is a mono rail that seems to have a train pasinng by every minute, and a major shopping centre on every corner.
We wondered on past all the hustle, to a bunch of street stalls off a side street. We ate fresh fruits and drank from fresh coconuts which was delicious. We then ruined this great taste in our mouth by finishing off anf trialing jurians. Which aren’t that bad taste wise, by they smell pretty bad and have a awful meaty like texture.
With only realy time and energy for one place, we then took another grab to Little india (Brickfields).
Once again the Grab took a very long time to arrive, and the drive took even longer. We learnt that is just a standard around KL as Grab allows driver to accept multiple bookings at a time, and the traffic is horrendous. So getting around is never as easy as you would hope.
Little India was worth the trip however. It felt really authentic and like a small slice of India.
The streets were colourful, noisy and full of life. We strolled up and down and eventually sat down in slightly bigger plave that had eftops facilities.
We ate huge meals each with multiple drinks that was all delicous. the staff were very nice and talkative, and we enjoyed being very enthralled into the scene as the only tourist about.
Then we were blown away by the bill which was only 70 RBG. (about 25 dollars Australian. Not to keen on using the toilets (which was the only downside to the area) we jetted straight back to the hotel,
We then enjoyed some time in their members lounge (whcih was basically like a airport lounge with free drinks and food) as compliments for the teririble checkin experience, and had a earlr night.
Day 2 – KL Hop on Hop off Bus Routes – Bird Park, Miyu, Petronas towers and Chinatown.
We planned on waking up early, but this didn’t happen as the curtains I left open in hopes that the sun woul wake us up, Courtney closed. So we joined Wendy and David for breakfast around 10am. the breakfast at the hotel was impressive. Very learge offerngs of nice quailty buffets of western and asian breakfastes.
We had multiple helping and discussed a plan for the day. Which manly included using the hop on hop off bus, after some persuading as David wasn’t too sold on the bus.
The bus system was pretty great though in the end. It costs 60 RGB each for Courtney and I and half price for Wendy and David for being Seniors. The buses took us through two route which we first chose the garden route.
Our first stop only took 5 minutes becuase the bus driver took a quick break at the royal palace. Which was perfect because the small amount of sites here were easily mastered in this time being a guard in a horse, a guard not on a hore and a palace on a hill behind a gate. Which a car park for all the guests that aren’t allowed.
then the bus took us to the bird park. We spent about 2 hours walking around the bird park looking at akll the difernt birds in the huge aviary. It was quite nice and seemed like a reasonable amuont of space for mosts of the birds that were in pretty health.
We then went back to the bus stop only to discover the hop on and off bus waiting for us was actually broken down. So while the ext bus was 30 mins away we quickly strolled throug the orchard garens across the road.
Came back to the bus stop, cut in line beautifully and got on the next bus. There was annoying familiy of about 16 peopel trying to negotiate extra people onto the busy bus which made the take off take a while. But I really found pleasure watching the staff of the bus hold their grounds and say, “ahh well, what can you do”.
Eventually the familiy gave up, and the bus managed to take off.
After the Bird PArk we headed back to the transfer station, and then got onto the bus for the city loop. Here we took the bus to Miyu, whcih is a authentic Malasian village know for it’s old buildings and food. Once again we strolled up and down the street and settled in at a locally popular establishmenet. Courtney and I struggled to get a decent meal here as it was manly meat, but a milo drink washed down the average meal niceley.
We then jumped back onto the bus, and headed to the Petronus towers in search of a drink.
The towers were very impressive and great looking buildings. We wondered around and through them in serahc of a bar, but disovered it had a srrict dress code, so we went to cafe sport bar near by instead. Here they had a happy hour selling 15 RGB cocktails. Which is insane. THat like $5 AUD for a coktail.
We had three rounds and pizza and some chips here which got us into a great mood. Unfortuantley that mood was completely flipped by another experience usnig the GRab app, which took 30 minutes incuding one driver going past us and cancelling the fait to get the car. THis meant we arrived back too late to use the hotel pool.
We instea frshed up, and headed over the china town for dinner. Had dinner at a fusion / bar plavce with a verry funny waiter or trashed out his own resturants food (calling it frozen), and then after a quick walk up the market lanes, came back to the hotel. Everyone else went to bed, and I snuck into the closed hotek pool.
Internal flight # 1
Day 3 – Transit to Kota Kinabul
We woke up fairly late as our entire plans consisted of milling about the hotel, to enjoy the rooftop bar for one last time. I spent this eiather editing my photos or cooling off in the pool.
By around mid-day Couertney grabbed a Grab to the airport and after some diccufu;ties checking in with Asia Air, who considered my bag “oversized” purley because it looks weird to them, we landed in KK, and grabbed another Grab to our Hotel, The Hyatt Regency. We arrived fairly late, so just checked in, and immediatley went out for dinner.
On our walk to dinner we strolled up the beach adjacent road which was very livley, full of markets for both fish and grain and general food, and people just hanging around. Kota Kinabulu gives off a similiar vibe to Bali but feels a bit nicer and much safer.
We eventually arrived out our desired dinner spot which was a well reviewed Indinan Resturant. It was great, and managed to get a table outback that overlooked the bay. The food was North Indian which was a fu change from the SOuth Indina food we had previous days.
We then headed back to the hotel and had a early night becuase of a early start planned tomorrow.
Hike
Day 4 – Mount Kota Kinabalu
Our hike was booked through Amazing Borneo tours.
So they day started with a very early wake up call at 5:30 so we could be picked up from the lobby around 6 am.
From there the mini van picked up atwo more couples of people. A older british couple and two very sleepy Korean Girls, who despite the very rough road managed to constantly fall asleeep in between clashing heads with each other or the window, which provided Courtney and I some entertainment during the two hour drive.
Eventually the van peeled off the main (but very bumpy) road up a single lane road, passed multiple construction looking areas into the forrest.
The then dropped us off at the HQ of the mountain, where they signed us in, gave us our packed lunch and introduced us to Gabriel who was our guide.
Then they drove us a little further up the mountain to the start of the hike.
The hike started at around 2km high and was almost imediatley up hill.
We rested a few times for drinks, taking photos and having lunch, made slow but steady progress and eventually reached the base camp after about 4.5 hours of walking.
The total walk for the day was 6km, and about 1.5km up.
We also met a britsh Couple Natalie and H_____ on the way up who coincidentally were our room mate at the base camp in a four person dorm.
At base camp we paid for a hot milo, dealt with the difficulties of having no running water to wash, and watched the sunset.
After a final cup of tea, I headed up to our room to go to bed and was met with Natalie and Hank who just told me that they got engaged in the dorm room. Courtney came in a few moments later, and we congratualted them and laughed at why he chose the dorm room to do it, instead of the peak. Apprently he was just to anxious and wanted to get it done. They were verry happy and couldn’t sleep as a result. I slept very early and well until 1:15 am.
Hike continues
Day 5 – Mount Kota Kinabalu
We woke up at 1:15 at the instruction of our guide and from the ruccous from everyone else downstairs arriving for supper.
We were too tired to eat but had a cup of tea, and headed off around 2am.
The hike to the peak took around 3 hours, I felt terrible for the first hour as I had the flu and it took a while for the cold and flu tablets to kick in. We walked at the pace of our guide who timed it perfectly so we arrived just as first light was happening. We caught up with the English couple, took multiple photos at the chilly but beautiful scenes, and after an hour or so we headed back down.
We stopped again at the base camp to check out and have breakfast, and then began the long trek back down. It took ages and was very painful because our legs had turned to jelly. It took almost 5 hours to get back down and just as many stops as on the way up. We made it back around 1:30, said goodbye to Garbiel who pointed us towards the buffet lunch. There we quickly ate, laughed about how hard it was to go down the three steps between our table and the beffet lunch, and caught up with Henry and Natalie again.
Then the van dropped us back to our the Hotel Hyatt Regency by around 5pm. We were knacked and basically went straight to bed and got Jarryd to bring us some take away dinner which I barley ate.
Proboscis Monkeys and Fireflies
Day 6 – River Cruise Tour
We woke up with insanely stiff and sore legs. Managed to hobble down to breakfast and enjoyed the ability to carb load for the first time since being off the mountain.
The buffet breakfast at Hyatt was on par with the Royal Park in KL. During breakfast we learned about the plan David had already arranged for a River Cruise tour to see proboscis monkey and fireflies.
After brekfast we also wondered around town to figure out the best place to perfom some laundry and to get some pills from the pharmacy to help speed up the reovery of our legs.
We then went back to the hotel around 12pm for when we belived our tour van would pick us up, but learnt that the time was actually 1pm. So we ducked out for a quick bite to eat in between. We stressed the hell out of the waiter when she learnt of our time frame, but the amazingly got our order out with about 10 minutes. This didn’t go unaticed mainly becuse the staff conststantly boasted how they held up the kitchen for us, and how we should review them and state their names in the review. Which I did under the appreciate=ion and social duress.
Then back at the hotel again for the actual pickup, the driver immediately made a enemy out of my by saying I can’t put my foot up on a small step, (whcih was capryered and a place being stand anyways, then texted pretty muh the entire two hour drive.
His value was appriecated howerver once we arrived and he negotited a mich cheaper price for ys than any other tours were recieving. The tour started with a buffeet lunch, which none of needed as we already scoffed a high paced, well reviewed lunch earlier and we sat under the verandahs with fans blasting waiting for something to happen.
I took my drone for a quick flight while waiting, handing a werid moment when a a couple of the girls from Japanese high school tour tried talking to me, and were either stuffing up their english or flirting with myself, who was bemused and uncomfortable by the exchange.
Eventually the tours began, they loaded us along into a 15 person boat and started crusing up the river, stopping various times to look at proboscis monkeys, a rare bird and a woodpecker.
The monley’s were a bit too far away for me to capture on my 50mm lens, but watching them was great to see regardless.
the boats then took us back for a buffeet dinner, were we had some curries and rice, and then oncxe the sun had set took us for a much shorter ride up ther iver to look at the fireflies. The firles aren’t much to look at, besides just twinkling lights that look like basic christmas lights, but the sound of the revier at night was excellent.
We then took the long drive back to the hotel, and pretty much all went to bed straight away afterwards. On the drive back I saw a building on fire, but everyone else was in the van asleep and with the driver already distracted enough by his tect messages, I just kept it too myself.
Overall the tour was pretty good, but considering it was 2 hours away so required 4 hours of driving out of the day, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Island Hoping
Day 7 – Manukan and Mamutik Island
Our legs were somehow even more stiff and sore waking up today. Managed to shuffle down to breakfast and once again carb loaded up and made plans with Wendy and David to do the island hoping tour.
They had already done this while we were doing our hike, but Wendy and David were happy to do it again, and Jarryd and Amy were happy to peel off and do their own thing.
We walked down to the Jetty’s to begin the confusing process of getting onto a boat. you are first directed by the guys on the outsife (who I’m sure are just funelling you into a company they make money from), at the first counter we paid, and then went out the back to a random shed to grab the snorkels we hired, and then to a differnt area to wait for a particular person who would then direct us to our boat.
The boats were a heap of fun because they absolutely hammered across the bay, getting air on the waves, splashing water over the side and throwing around the tourists.
The first island we got off at was Manukan. We immediatley walked up the beach to where we could see the edge of the reef and swam out and spent around 2 hours snorleing and looking at all the various fish. There was atleast 100 speciese of fish around, incluidng parrot fish, blue tangs and clown fish. The Clown fish were particularly amaing as the mother or father clown fish would swim out towards you to scare you off away from it’s anenomi and baby clown fish. It got right in front of the my eyes, nad you do find yourself backing off to this tiny orange fish out of respect for it’s tenancity.
Unfortunatley in all the excistment I snorkeling around for hours, I sunburnt my back to a bright red state that was painful for pretty mych the rest of the trip. Taking advnatge of Malaysia’s lax persceptions rules, I had cortney constantly rubing in over the counter cortisol cream and went through a cactus farm worth of agave soothing rubs every chance we could.
At 2pm we caught the boat again to Mamutik island. This island was much smaller and felt alot more resort driven. We grabbed some snacks and a beer from the milk bar like store, and then (with my shirt on this time) went snorkelling again. There was much less coral in the shallows of this beach, but after swimming out fairly far we found a coral reef similiar in size to Manukan’s. On this beach however we saw a lot more sting rays, and a eel that had burried itself.
By around 4pm we took the last boat back to the mainland. This boat driver was racing another boat for sure, and completley drenched us all again. I manged to pull my rain cover over my camera gear in time, but given this I’d recommend leaving your valuables at hoe for this trip.
Back on the mainland we headed back to the hotel, I grabbed a shower and Courtney went down to the pool. When I joined them at the pool later after a cold shower for my back, we all had cocktails at the bar, and after being bored by what was on the menu taught the staff how take whisky sours which was wrongly missing on their menus. David suggested they use a particulary peaty whisky and it was the best drink I had on the trip.
Everyone else went back upstairs to get readsy and David and I got stuck into a few more cocktails. We then went out for dinner, everyone else went to a seafood resturant, so Courtney and I peeled off the mexican place that had a few more options for us.
After dinner we all met up again, and everyone else went off to get a massage and David and I went to a bar.
I suggested we try and find a hidden speakeasy bar called Tampai. It was very hidden indeed, google took us to the front door adress, and before we gace up we decided to look around the back in the alleyway behind; this also had no signing or further clues. Just about to give up we heard a voice call out “are you looking for the bar?” Which came from another patron who had just stpepped outside to have a smoke.
We climbed the stairs and entered the unmarked door to a very contempoary modern looking emopty bar. The quiliaty of the docrations and the cocktails we received made us feel like we were back in a Melbourne speakeasy, just with interesting cocktails feauring rice wine and all Borneo made ingrediants.
The cocktails were also huge, so we only managed to have two before calling it a night. The bar tender also shouted us a few shots as we left so we could try the rice wines straight.
We then headed back and had a fairly early night as we were flying out failry early the next day.
Internal flight 2
Day 8 – KK to Penang
Sore legs, sunburnt and still slightly sick, I’d felt better, and certainly in better standings for flights and things like “wearing ackpacks”.
Grumpy and feeling sorry for myself we had a early brekfast, and then caught a grab out to the airport around 8am.
Checkin process was fine this time, (apprently our lugage had returned to normal – not oversize size again). I carried my back around like a lost child holding a teddy bear to avoid it sitting on my back, then sat leaning forward so my back avoided the plains seat for the whole journey. Luckily it was only a two hour flight.
When we landed in Penang David’s friend Chandra called him who was a Penang local that Wendy and David had be-frineded years ago. He and his wife Sally inststed to pick us up from the airport. We jumped into their cars and the took us back to our hotels, via a few personal sites they wanted to show us, (their home, and workplaces). We checked in the Eastern Oriential Hotel which was the most impressive hotel I’d ever stay at. It was a old colonnial building, that was huge, and beuatful in ever spot. All the staff were highly trained in being assistants to any whim you needed, and the place had 2 magicifent pools, and 3 differnt bars / resturants. All that offered a buffet brekfast eaxch day, and one which offered a free canaopy between six and seven.
We relaxed in our rooms and then went to canpoys at six. Afterwwards we went down to a “hawker MArlket” which is kind of like a mix between a food court and a night market. there wasn’t much for Courtney and to eat so we peeled off and fond a resturant called creative Vegetarian.
The Grande Vege was excellent. Extremely modern, with a entirely Vegan and Lowfode map menu, pop art like colour with virbant blue and red decor, and the food was excellent. Insanely flavoursome considering it didn’t have any Garlic or Onions.
After Dinner Courtney and I just went back to relax in our hotel for the evening.
Day 9 – Penang – Local lunch and around the town.
The breakfast at the E and O was excellent. This time instead of Dosa’s made ready, it was parotta’s with either cheese, egg or desrt options cooked through.
We had a huge breakfast, and then headed to a art market. Chandra picked us up from the Hotel and dropped us off at the market which was in a old bud depot.
We walked down the road to stock up on cortisol cream for my blistering back, and a ATM to get some Ringet out. On the way back we stopped in a vintage store which had some really nice clothes. I bought two shirts and Courtney grabbed a jacket and a bag.
We then walked around the craft market, I took photos of the murals, grabbed a cocktail and got chatting to a ex-pat who was a doccumentary maker, who was at a store selling jewlery made from plates that were recovered from a old dutch boat in the 1600s.
They way the track down and figure out where the boats are was really interesting and you can read more about their work here:
After the market Chandra picked us up and took us to his sporting club for lunch with Sally. his sports was really impressive. It was a private club with guards at the gate and front doors, all set out within a old converted hospital, there was a high end wine tasting area, bar down stairs new to a beautfiful pool, a huge amount of grass and synthetic tennis courts and hockey courts in the distance. Upstairs was a excellent Chinese restaurant that we ate at with a bottle of wine that Chandra brought. We had a nice meal, then went down stairs to the bar for some drinks.
Chandra and Sandra then dropped us back at the E and O in time to relax before grabbing canopays. Wendy and David wanted to skip dinner as they were full from the canopys and the large lunch.
So Courtney Jarryd Ami and I went out for dinnner in little India. We went to place that was on the michellion star recommended list. It was another exellent indian dinning experience. We over ordered as ususal but the total bill was less than 30 dollars per couple.
We wondered around the streets a bit more, and then headed back to the hotel for a early night.
Day 10 – Penang Hill and Courtney’s Birthday dinner.
After breakfast, we all grabbed a six seater grab over to Penang Hill besides Ami who was feeling unwell.
The line was very small so we just grabbed the regular pass for the funicular. It was only 30 rinnget each which is amazing value considering the views and the infrastructure required. up the top we wondered around and then paid another 17 Ringet each to go to the Habitat.
The Habitat was a great walk both at grond level and over cable suspension bridges, we saw butterflies, various birds and two types of squirrels.
After the walk we headed back down, took ages to get a grab tring both 1 6 seater and 2 four seaters. Eventually I managed to book a four seater but it was a six seater when it arrived so we got lucky and all piled in.
We caught the grab to a place called Luxalicous were Ami was joining us. But when we arrived it was closed despite it’s google hours. We then wondered the streets looking for somthing else eventually finding a pae that was set up by an Australian influencers. It had asisan fusion dishes, bagels, and ciimal rolls. To everyone suprise it was really nice, and the air con was a welcome setting to sit in.
Wendy and David then went back to the hotel to get ready, and the rest of us wondered around the streets to see a few shops. We brought a few small presents for my parents and freids, and a boutique table runner for ourselves at a placew called Nara.
Then we went back and got ready for dinner atanother ichellion star recommended resturant whcih I had booked called Ill Bacaro. Wendy and David were having a tiff so we walked off aheads unsure if they were eveb joing us and composing excusses for their absence at dinner with their friends Chandra and Sally. However they calmed down and Chandra and Sally eneded up picking them up and taking them to the resturant.
Ill Bacaro was excellent, it was the first Itlian food I had had all trip so I gorged myself with a gnocci dish and a full pizza.
After dinner we went off and found a secret bar that Ami and Jarryd knew about, and everyone else went to a more bar local to the E and O. The bar was at the back of a clothes shop in the old store room, it had nice cocktails and was really trendy given the crowd there. We just had one drink and then headed back to the hotel to call it a night.
Day 11 – Drive to the country and over the bridges.
Once again buffet breakfast in the hotel, then Chandra came by again to take us on a drive. He also leant us his spare car which I drove.
I tailed behind Chandra who was very hard to follow, never indicating, constantly drifting across lanes, making U-turns constantly as he missed turns, and erratically turning off highways.
The drive out was excellent, seeing the scenario of George town disappear and tropical farm side similar to Borneo replace it. Along with winding drivers over large hills, we eventually arrived at a wet market. We were confused why Chandra had taken us here, because we throughout we were going to a Nutmeg farm. Evetualy we wondered through the closing / closed wet market / market and to a stall selling white nutmeg juice. We tried nutmeg juice which was really sour and tasty. Chandra also pointed out the single Nutmeg tree that the stall used.
This was all nice but a bit differnt from what we were expecing. i asked Chandra baout a farmland a bit up the road but Chandra felt that we wouldn’t have time. We then drove on to a Juran farm but unfortunatley it was closed, and then stopped at a small fishing village and fishmarket. I took a quick drone flight of the village next to the sea, and saw a very stange looking cat that was very fridnly.
Then Chandra drove us back to his golf club, for a drink and desrts.
After the drink we drove onto the bridges that connected penang island to the mainland. The bridges were very improssive but unfortuantley very smoggy so the views weren’t amazing. At this point everyone was a bit sick of driving but half way across a 24km bridge meant it was still a long way back. We drove and drove and drove for almost a full hour and then back across the other brdige and left the spare car at Chandra’s house. Then we went back to the E and O to freshen up and then walk to a local bar / indian resturant for lunch the Chandra and Sally had arranged. The also suprised Courtney with a birthday cake.
After the meal we had a shower at the E and O, grabbed our bags and Chadra drove us back to the airport.
A fairly uneventual flight and 1 hour stop over in Signapore later we were home, and drespressed about the thoght of working tomorrow.