GODYEARS: March 2014

Unrelenting...

March 29, 2014
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Thank you for dropping by...

March 22, 2014
59 Comments

Off to Malaysia? Check out these awesome places.

Very few countries are truly blessed with the amalgamation of such rich and diverse cultures and landscapes as Malaysia. Unlike so many other nations in today’s world, Malaysia has always embraced its diversity and even celebrated it via its “Truly Asia” catch phrase. That welcoming nature which it has preserved across generations has always made it a personal favourite among my dream destinations. Of course, there is another more personal reason behind it but I’ll come to that later.

Let’s be clear on some things at the very beginning. When I go for a holiday, I want to relax and enjoy the place. You will not find me indulging in anything akin to rock-climbing or chasing after wild animals! Nope, take me to your beaches, my dear friend, for I must find me a hammock to lie down and sip my pina coladas.

That's what you call 'crystal clear'

For this purpose, I would definitely rate Palau Langkawi as a spot to tick on my itinerary. A duty free island, “the Jewel of Kedah” is a favourite for many because it has everything you want. Mystery lovers would do well to read up or hear from locals about the history behind “the mysterious island” while wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the three geoforest parks where you can see animals as diverse as the last of the dinosaurs (the monitor lizards) or just have some fun with the swimming macaque monkeys (Any resemblance to me is purely coincidental.)
Of course, Langkawi’s many crystal clear beaches and pristine white sand are the main destination area for a romantic evening with Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah considered the best in terms of a combination of privacy and fun with hotels and bars.

While I’m a fan of fine dining, I never miss the opportunity to try street food while traveling and Malaysia has always been famous for serving some of the best flavours in that regard, haven’t they? Walk down the stalls of Georgetown in Penang and you will something truly heartening. Oh, I’m not referring to the yummy dishes alone, I’m referring to that amazing mix of all ethnicities that is so visible in the influences of the food on display. Malay, Thai, Indian, Chinese… all those wonderful food cultures and the flavours specific to them meet here and by God, it is heavenly. Cooked fresh and served to lakhs of people everyday, it’s easy to get confused as you walk down the array of stalls and your stomach starts demanding his pound(s) of food. Dishes I have on my personal agenda include:

Char koay teow - authentic stir-fried rice noodles, street food style.
Har gow - shrimp dumplings.
Chee cheong fun - rice flour rolls filled with barbecued pork.
Mai gai - Rice with chicken, black mushroom and savoury Chinese sausage.
Bak-kut-teh. A breakfast meal, it consists of a rich pork and herbal broth brewed for hours, then served with pork ribs, mushrooms, tofu and fried dough.
Satay.
Malay nasi campur - mixed rice topped with various meats, vegetables, peanuts, eggs and fried-shrimp.