There's been a lot of travelling threads that are popping up lately, and I figured it would be a good idea to include a travelling guide for all CP'ers, a sort of one stop thread that details all sorts of stuff that we can look forward to should we travel to that destination.
This is what I propose. If there is something that is particularly interesting, such as food, the location, or the people, just detail the interest by bolding it (like what I did). Preferably the location first.
So the destination I will be travelling to is Malaysia. I'm heading there in 3 weeks and here are a few things I think will benefit CP'ers to know.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Capital city of Malaysia. This is the place to be. You will find everything from a robust nightlife, authentic malaysian cuisine, and shopping. Everyone who makes a trip to Malaysia should stay in KL for at least a couple of nights. Here are the things to expect when you're in KL
Food
You must try the hawker food stands. This is where most of malaysia's well known dishes are served. Everything from Nasi Lemak (rice in banana leaf served with spicy sauce and dried fish fry), cha kway teow (fried flat noodles), to Penang Laksa (spicy noodle soup). You can also get famous east indian dishes such as Roti canai.
This isn't to say KL doesn't include food from all over the world. As a matter of fact, if you can think of it, they will most likely have it. I was surprise to learn they have a couple of "Bolero" like restaurants in KL.
Almost everyone I have ever spoke to said the best dishes in the world are in Malaysia. You'll need to judge for yourself, but IMO this isn't far from the truth.
Nightlife
The clubs in Malaysia are nothing like the clubs we have in Calgary. As a matter of fact, the clubs in malaysia are more European influenced and have a wide array of DJs from all over the world. The clubs that are the most popular are Zouk and The Beach, often hiring live acts to perform. KL's chinatown is also famous for their night market. This is where you hunt for bargains and knockoffs. You can also enjoy the shadow puppet acts called Wayang Kulit (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang_kulit#Wayang_kulit).
Hotels
Best hotel I can comment on has got to be the Corus hotel. It is extremely close to the twin towers, it is a 4 star hotel with all the amenities, and the price is far more reasonable than others. However, not really like it matters much, since the exchange rate really benefit us canadians. If you want to stay at nice 5 star hotel, you're probably looking to pay around $100-$120cdn a night (not bad for living it up for a couple of nights).
Shopping
In the Petronas twin towers (KLCC) there's a mall called the Suria. This is by far Malaysia's premier mall. For the luxury freaks, this mall is heaven. Though this isn't the most popular mall in KL. That honor belongs to the Mid-Valley Mega Mall.
Place to visit
The Batu Caves is located north of Kuala Lumpur city and is actually part of Selangor state. The large limestone hill is shaped like one big mound, where the middle part holds the main cavern with 272 steps leading up to its entrance. Predominantly a religious site of worship for Hindus, the main cave has a few altars and statues. Walking past them will lead you to an opening in the roof of the hill, where sunlight filters in through into the cave.
Along the way up the steps, there is another cave, which is called the 'Dark Cave'. This is a cave with restricted access as it holds a diverse range of fauna, such as spiders, bats and snakes. However, there are tours available to enter and explore the 2-km Dark Cave. While exploring Batu Caves, do watch out for naughty monkeys that will brazenly nick your bags for food when you look away.
The National Museum or Muzium Negara is located just outside the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, and is Malaysia's main museum. The building itself is a mix of traditional Malay and modern architecture, built in 1963. Outside, a restored old railway train greets visitors along with other old transportation vehicles such as the very first Proton Saga car, bullock carts and a vintage automobile.
The museum consists of two wings that house a variety of exhibits, dioramas and galleries which include historical relics and artifacts, cultural items, arts and handicrafts, flora and fauna, weapons and currencies. From time to time, there are special theme exhibitions to educate and enthrall visitors.
The National Art Gallery located along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin was established in the former Majestic hotel, which itself is a historical building built in 1932. It houses a number of galleries that range from permanent exhibits to temporary ones. The permanent collection amounts to over 2,500 art pieces, featuring the work of local and international artists. From time to time, educational programmes, workshops, competitions and seminars are organised.
I think this is good for now. I'll include a guide later for Malaysia's Penang Island.