Hardcore foodie?
Scuba snob? These Malaysian getaways have everyone covered
By Simon Ostheimer
From the
cosmopolitan charm of Penang to the hippie getaway of the Perhentians, Malaysia embraces a diverse array of islands. Here, in no
particular order, we present our top 10.
While many backpacker haunts have become gentrified over time, the Perhentians have managed to retain their low-key vibe. |
They might not be
easy to get to, but the Perhentian islands off the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia have achieved iconic status on the
backpacker trail. And for good reason - the waters are so clean that you can snorkel right off the beach and still
see a diverse array of aquatic life. Fishermen turned
tour guides will also take you out in their small boat for a day trip to swim
with sharks and turtles. In the evening,
beach bars set up cushions on the sand as wandering fire artists do their
thing.
Where to stay: For
high-end lodgings, check out the Tuna Bay Island Resort. Budget hunters
should look up Abdul Chalet.
Getting there:
Regular buses leave from Hentian Putra bus station in Kuala Lumpur, taking nine hours. Alternatively,
fly from Kuala Lumpur's LCCT airport to Kota
Bharu, and then catch a taxi to the port town of Kuala Besut.
Tioman: An island
for flashpackers
The island of Tioman and the waters surrounding it are protected nature reserves, which has helped it retain its wild vibe. |
Although part of
the Malaysian state of Pahang, Tioman is actually reached from the Johor town
of Mersing.
There's also a direct ferry from Singapore. The island has two
claims to fame that continue to be hyped by media and marketers. One, the
dramatic topography of this teardrop-shaped isle in the South
China Sea was (supposedly) used as a backdrop for the 1958 movie
"South Pacific," while Time magazine named it one of the world's most
beautiful islands in the 1970s. Though it's now a
firm fixture on the tourist trail and has lost a little of its exotic mystique,
it retains - where many of its Southeast Asian contemporaries have lost theirs - the natural environment and wildlife that first made it famous. First among
animals, on land at least, are the giant monitor lizards that roam among the
kampungs (Malay for villages) in search of food. Don't worry, they avoid
humans. Most of the time.
Where to stay: They
don’t come more recommended than Bagus Place Retreat, winner of a 2012 Travellers’
Choice award from TripAdvisor. For a boutique experience, check out
JapaMala.
Getting there:
There are bus services from all over Malaysia to Mersing,; from here
it's a two-hour boat ride to the first jetty on the island. Tioman also has a
small airport, which Berjaya Airways flies to from Kuala
Lumpur and Singapore.
Langkawi: Best for
luxury
Don't worry, Langkawi has the same stunning beaches as the rest of these islands. We just thought you might be tired of looking at white sand. |
Located hard by the
border with Thailand,
Langkawi is part of the Malaysian state of Kedah, not Perlis which is in fact
directly adjacent. Famously, the
island was believed to have been cursed in 1819, when a woman named Mahsuri,
was put to death for alleged adultery. Before she died, she uttered the words,
“There shall be no peace and prosperity on this island for a period of seven
generations.” Two years later
Langkawi fell to the invading Thais, with much of its population subsequently
dying from starvation. The island was then indeed barren for a long time,
before Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamed - the colossus of Malaysian politics who
also built Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers
and the Sepang F1 circuit - decided to turn it into a resort island in 1986. He declared it a duty-free
island, and ever since then Langkawi's growth has been nothing short of
spectacular, with high-profile resorts dotting its sandy shores. The best way to
take it all in is on the 2,200-meter-long cable car, which rises some 710
meters above sea level. Interestingly, Mahsuri's husband and son moved to
Phuket after the Thai invasion, and it was on that island that her seventh
generation descendant was born - in the year 1986. Coincidence?
Where to stay: They
don’t come much more stylish - or eclectic - than Bon Ton, eight traditional
Malay homes set in a former coconut plantation. Or there’s always the Four
Seasons Resort Langkawi.
Getting there:
Langkawi has by far the best flight connections of any Malaysian island, with
dozens of daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Penang.
Penang: Food and heritage
Dusk falls over Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang's capital, Georgetown. |
The Pearl of the Orient has a
long and illustrious history. "Discovered" by Captain Francis
Light in 1786, Prince of Wales island, as it once was known, was for a long
time one of the jewels of the British empire. Alongside Melaka
and Singapore it was known
as one of the Straits Settlements, a string of outposts that dominated the sea
trade between India and the
rest of Asia. However, its
importance gradually waned over the centuries, before it was rediscovered as a
holiday destination and reinvented as an IT hub. Today, the
island is proudly parading its past - the UNESCO status granted to historic Georgetown in 2008
guarantees that. But its greatest
attraction is its street food - from Penang
laksa off Macalister Road
to banana leaf in Little India to seafood on Gurney Drive - you'll find it all here. Alongside a raft of
improvements designed to attract even more visitors, including investment in
public transport, a tree planting program, pedestrianization schemes and a
schedule of new cultural festivals and fairs, this magnificent island - only
slightly smaller than Singapore - is once again making its mark on the world stage.
Where to stay:
Since 1948, the recently restored Lone Pine sits serenely on the north
shore of the island, while for city digs look no further than the Hotel Penaga,
heritage buildings in the heart of town. Attracting a lot of attention among
luxury lovers is the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, a restored colonial
property.
Getting there:
Flights from around the world land at Penang International
Airport. From there,
inexpensive taxis can transport you to destinations around the island, or you
can catch the airport bus into town.
Labuan: An isle of bankers
Clear waters, white sands and offshore banks. What everyone looks for in an island. |
Located off the
coast of East Malaysia,
sandwiched between Sarawak and Sabah, Labuan is one of three Federal Territories
(the others are Kuala Lumpur
and Putrajaya). Its special status as an international offshore financial
centre and free trade zone has allowed it to attract outside investment from
the financial sector (some 6,500 offshore companies are based here). Long-term, the
Malaysian government envisions the island as becoming one of the world’s major
offshore business centres, akin to the Middle Eastern hubs of Dubai
or Bahrain. While it has some
way to go to achieve similar status, the nation has a track record of dreaming
big and making it happen - the Petronas
Towers and annual F1 race
attest to that. If you’re not
involved in the financial services, there are other reasons to visit such as
wreck diving. Over the years, numerous ships were sunk in the shallow waters
off Labuan, making it ideal for novice divers.
These are simply known as the American, Australian, Blue Water and Cement
Wreck. There is also a
well-tended War Cemetery, where an annual remembrance
ceremony is held for some 3,900 Allied soldiers who died during in World War
II.
Where to stay: For
both service and quality, it’s a close toss-up between the Tiara Labuan and the
Grand Dorsett.
Getting there:
There are daily flights to Labuan Airport from Kuala Lumpur,
Miri in Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
There is also an air-conditionied ferry to Brunei.
Layang-Layang:
Isolation guaranteed
Would you call this an island? Layang-Layang's isolation makes it one of Asia's best diving experiences. |
Little more than a
coral reef with a runway, the tiny island
of Layang-Layang is located some 300
kilometers northwest of the Sabah capital of
Kota Kinabalu (KK), the state to which it belongs. A creation of the
Malaysian Navy, which reclaimed land from the sea in order to state the
nation’s sovereignty over the Spratlys, that South China Sea island group also
claimed whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Surrounded by
pristine waters that drop to 2,000 meters, Layang-Layang is often ranked as one
of the top 10 dive sites in the world due to its remarkable array of marine
life. Due to the Navy's
presence, the coral reef has been spared the explosive damage caused by
dynamite fishing and other destructive practices, leading to underwater
visibility of more than 40 meters. Particularly of
note are the schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, which can sometimes number
in the hundreds, though you can also expect to see manta rays, dolphins,
barracuda and turtles.
Where to stay: Easy
one to answer. At the only game in town, the traditional-styled Layang Layang
Island Resort run by the Avillion group.
Getting there: The
only way in and out is on a charter flight from Kota Kinbalu, with the price
included in the various packages offered by the only place to stay on the
island.
Sipadan: For
hard-core divers
At the end of 2002,
following a long dispute with Indonesia,
the International Court of Justice ruled that the island of Sipadan
was Malaysian. The country, and
the state of Sabah which it is part of, have
reason to be relieved. Sipadan is often rated as the world’s best dive site,
with a location in the centre of the planet’s most bio-diverse marine habitat. In order to protect
the fragile ecosystem, in 2004 the government ordered all of the dive resorts
off the island, banned night dives and set a limit of 120 divers per day. The move worked, as
the surrounding waters continue to teem with life. It's home to 3,000 species
of fish, hundreds of species of coral, an abundance of rays and sharks and
large populations of green and hawksbill turtles - so much so there is a
famous turtle tomb, an underwater labyrinth that has drowned many of the
unfortunate sea creatures.
Where to stay: As
you are not allowed to stay on Sipadan itself, stay close by at the Sipadan
Kapalai Dive Resort built on stilts over the water or Sipadan Pom Pom Resort.
Getting there: It’s
a 55-minute flight from Kota Kinbalu to the town of Tawau,
an hour’s drive to the even smaller township
of Semporna, and then a
40-minute speedboat ride.
Redang: For a
"Summer Holiday"
If you get tired of white beaches, Redang has plenty of wildlife, including monkeys, deer and monitor lizards. |
The Redang
archipelago actually consists of nine islands, namely Lima,
Paku Besar, Paku Kecil, Kerengga Besar, Kerengga Kecil, Ekor Tebu, Ling, Pinang and Redang itself. Together, they form
a marine park situated 45 kilometers off the east Peninsular Malaysia state of
Terengganu. Unlike its close
cousins, the backpacker-filled Perhentian islands to the north, Redang is very
much an upmarket destination, with mostly resort accommodation on offer. Accordingly, the
island also has its own airport, served by Berjaya Air, which since 2004 has
flown daily to Kuala Lumpur’s Subang Airport
and Singapore’s
Changi. With excellently
preserved coral, the main attractions of Redang are snorkeling, diving and the
crystal clear waters. You’ll need to
stick close to the shoreline regardless, as the interior is mostly impassable,
apart from a road that connects the airport with the coast. In 2000, the island
was the setting for Hong Kong movie
"Summer Holiday," which featured Cantopop star Sammi Cheng and
Taiwanese heartthrob Richie Ren. The success of the film led to a sudden influx
of tourists.
Where to stay: The
same company that owns the only airport and airline to fly in, also has the
best place to stay, The Taaras, by Berjaya. However, film fans should head to
the Laguna Redang Island Resort, where the colourful souvenir shop was a key
setting in the movie "Summer Holiday."
Getting there: If
you don’t want to pay to fly in directly, the alternative is to fly to Kuala
Terengganu, and then continue by car and take a ferry from the port of Merang.
Rawa: For a weekend
break
Not all of us have opportunities to stay in a sultan's lair. Rawa is the next best thing. |
There aren’t many
chances to stay on a Sultan’s private island. Rawa is one. Owned by the family
of the Sultanate of Johor, Rawa is a small island 16 kilometers off the east
coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Only two resorts
hug its white-sand fringed west coast, which is accessible by boat from the
mainland port of Mersing (also the departure point for
more distant Tioman). Because of this
exclusivity, Rawa attracts tourists looking for a more secluded vacation. While
the west coast is postcard perfect, the rest of the shoreline consists of
inaccessible, dramatic rocky cliffs that plunge directly into the sea. To check these out,
take the easy way and rent a canoe or hike up steep steps to the summit of the
island, from where you have vantages of the eastern shore, the coast of Johor
and the other 12 small islands that make up the Johor Marine
Park. As your choice of
accommodation is limited - it can often fill up quick with young Singaporeans
looking for a weekend getaway - so book up early.
Where to stay:
There are only two places to stay on the island: Rawa Island Resort or the
smaller Alang’s Rawa.
Getting there: From
Kuala Lumpur, catch a bus or drive to Mersing, from where regular ferries
depart. Note that during low season (November to March), ferry frequency can
drop sharply.
Pangkor: Loved by locals
Tiny Pulau Pangkor lies off Perak on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. |
Despite measuring
just eight square kilometres, Pulau Pangkor (pulau is the Malay word for
island) is one of the most popular beach getaways in Malaysia - among locals, that is. Pangkor is one of
the country's most accessible islands, yet it is overwhelmingly the preserve of
Malaysians, who head there every long weekend for a little rest and relaxation. There is little in
terms of nightlife but instead you'll find uncrowded sandy beaches, a huge
variety of amazing local cuisine and friendly people.
Where to stay: For
a splurge, book a sea villa at the exclusive Pangkor
Laut resort. This stunning one-of-a-kind property, part of the YTL
group of hotels, has a small island all to itself. Or, try the Pangkor
Island Beach Resort.
Getting there: There
are direct flights to the island from Subang's Sultan
Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
via Kuala Lumpur, or it's a 30 minute ferry ride
from the town of Lumut.
Source :
http://travel.cnn.com
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