It’s a bold claim to say that one country encompasses the world’s largest landmass, and the tourism slogan “Malaysia, Truly Asia” lives up to the hype. But what no tagline can capture is the sheer vibrancy of this multicultural peninsula, where devotees pray in temples dotted among the skyscrapers and mischievous “mafia” monkeys prey on unsuspecting tourists (more on this later).
Reasons to visit Malaysia
Located at the confluence of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, Malaysia is known as the “melting pot of Asia.” After centuries of trade and colonization, the population is primarily made up of three ethnic communities: Chinese, Indians and Malays.
For a taste of a rich mix of cultures, head to Kuala Lumpur. The sixth-most visited city in the world last year, Malaysia’s capital is a chaotic mix of sleek hotels and crumbling colonial buildings, Michelin-starred restaurants and food stalls, upscale shopping malls and open-air markets, and world-famous landmarks such as the Petronas Twin Towers.
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While Kuala Lumpur has some great green spaces, you’ll need to travel a little further to experience Malaysia’s tropical rainforests and golden beaches. Just an hour’s flight from the capital lies Langkawi, a chain of 99 islands off Malaysia’s northwestern coast. Also known as Langkawi, the main island is home to around 100,000 people, but that number is growing due to an increase in tourism.
Langkawi’s mangrove forests cover more than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres).
(Image provided by Marriott International)
But Langkawi isn’t over-developed: It was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2007, giving it a boost in geotourism, and local tour guides have plenty to show you through the island’s ancient jungles, mangrove labyrinths filled with sea caves and rock formations that are millions of years old.
And, of course, there’s the wildlife; the island is named after the reddish-brown (kawi) Steller’s sea eagles (lang) that rule the skies above. Other, less obvious, creatures to keep an eye out for are Langkawi’s throng of long-tailed brown macaques, nicknamed the “monkey mafia” by locals for their habit of snatching not just food but mobile phones too. Tip for targeted tourists: offer a piece of food to a gang of macaques with both hands to induce them to drop what they’ve stolen.
What to see and do
If visitors have their mobile phones with them, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur are packed with Instagram-worthy views.
The capital city also has much to offer nature lovers, with the 227-acre Lake Gardens in the city centre offering tranquil solitude. Just a short walk away is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, an enclosed aviary housing over 3,000 birds from over 200 species. The adjacent Butterfly Park, billed as the world’s largest and home to over 5,000 butterflies, offers even more to excite visitors.
Kuala Lumpur has set a new record with the Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers at 1,483 feet (452 meters). The towers’ observation decks offer unparalleled views of the city’s diverse architecture and distinctive neighbourhoods.
The most atmospheric area is Brickfields (also known as Little India), a maze of colourful shops and stalls selling saris, spices and garlands, packed with temples, churches and mosques. Relaxed restaurants serving quality food, including Malaysia’s national dish, nasi lemak (spicy coconut rice), are sure to satisfy your body as well as your soul.
Foodies will be equally pleased in Langkawi, where floating fish farms double as restaurants, allowing diners to choose meals still flopping out of the nets and tanks. These fish farms are popular stops on mangrove river cruise tours, and an experience no visitor should miss.
A mangrove cruise on the Kilim River is a great way to spot wildlife and learn about this delicate ecosystem.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
Highlights of a cruise through Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, one of the island’s three main protected areas, include hand-feeding stingrays and exploring limestone caves where hundreds of bats hang overhead (visitors are advised to keep their mouths closed when looking up to avoid eating their droppings).
Expert guides help cruisers get up close (but not too close) to the park’s many other animals, including crocodiles, kingfishers, otters and snakes, and visitors can also support conservation efforts by planting mangrove trees, which can store 10 times more carbon than forests.
A slightly less moralistic option is a sunset cruise around the archipelago, where you can cool off from the tropical heat in the bath-temperature Andaman Sea while sipping a cocktail. As well as water sports, it’s fun to watch the local fishermen’s dogs living their best life, swimming to the shores of the nearby islands to play.
The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is set amongst a cluster of skyscrapers beside Lake Gardens, the city’s largest park.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
Where to stay
Tourists looking to live the best life in Malaysia can also get off to a good start by checking into a St. Regis Hotel.
The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur combines grandeur with a commanding location overlooking the Lake Gardens in the transport hub of Central District. Reflecting the city’s multicultural identity, the 48-storey hotel blends Asian aesthetics with Art Deco style, featuring acres of gleaming marble and soaring ceilings topped with crystal chandeliers.
The high ceilings allow for a daily champagne sabre ceremony at sundown, just like at other St. Regis hotels. Inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte, who would open champagne with a sabre upon victory or defeat, the hotel’s bottle-chopping fun allows guests to enjoy complimentary drinks and even take on the sabre challenge — but only if they’re, presumably, sober.
The ritual was one of a series introduced by John Jacob Astor IV, founder of the St. Regis hotel chain and later perished with the Titanic. Astor’s other innovations included 24-hour butler service to attend to guests’ every need, from unpacking luggage to delivering morning coffee.
The hotel’s suites and bathrooms offer spectacular views of Kuala Lumpur.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
The rooms are similarly top-notch, with modern amenities like floor-to-ceiling windows and high-tech toilets with electronic bidets and seat warmers (don’t judge it until you try it). On a more upscale note, the hotel’s appeal also includes an impressive collection of artwork by luminaries like Andy Warhol and Terry O’Neill.
Dining is another attraction at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, which has seven restaurants and bars, including a sushi restaurant overseen by three-star Michelin chef Takashi Saito.
The Brasserie has a French café atmosphere and serves an incredible menu that fuses vibrant European and Malaysian flavours.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
The hotel’s largest restaurant is The Brasserie, which serves French and Mediterranean cuisine as well as a very generous breakfast buffet – the only thing not on the menu is durian, a very smelly Malaysian fruit that is banned in most public establishments.
The hotel’s spa leaves the sweetest scent in the air, and you can relax with a bespoke massage after working up a sweat in the rooftop pool or adjacent gym. With all these amenities, it’s no wonder some people choose to live here permanently: The hotel’s first 21 floors house 208 rooms, while the upper floors are filled with residences for regular “guests,” including families with pets.
The St. Regis Langkawi faces the turquoise Andaman Sea
(Image provided by Marriott International)
Unfortunately for travellers looking to sell back home, there are no residential options at the St. Regis Langkawi, but few would miss a stay at this idyllic island hideaway nestled between the rainforest and the sea, just a short drive from Langkawi’s main city of Kuah.
The hotel’s overall atmosphere is laid-back and glamorous, with grand, light-filled spaces filled with local artwork and a colour scheme influenced by the sea and island flora.
Beachside hotel suites are a haven of luxury and comfort
(Image provided by Marriott International)
These themes continue in the hotel’s 85 spacious suites and Kayuputih, a fine-dining restaurant built on stilts over the water next to the hotel’s private beach. Designed by top architect Bill Bensley, Kayuputih (Indonesian for “white tree”) resembles the world’s most luxurious beach hut, with teak pillars and antiques galore inside, and an outdoor deck perfect for sipping cocktails as the sun sets.
Kayuputi Restaurant, designed by Bill Bensley, is reminiscent of an art collector’s vacation home.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
In the morning, head to L’Orangerie, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, where the St. Regis team also earns top marks for its extensive breakfast buffet.
But for a quintessential island experience, it’s hard to beat the beachfront Pantai Grill, where you can sit at a table on the golden sand and enjoy a barbecue feast of juicy charcoal-grilled meats and seafood.
Just metres from the shore, Pantai Grill serves delicious wood-fired cuisine.
(Image provided by Marriott International)
The St. Regis Langkawi also offers services to cater to all your desires, including a hair salon, spa, gym, boutiques, a ballroom and nightly live music at the bar. A range of activities are also available, from paddle boarding and kayaking to wine tasting and batik painting.
Of course, some guests will want to relax in the seaside infinity pool, but as with Malaysia in general, the beauty of this place lies in “endless possibilities,” as one of the country’s tourism slogans puts it. Just beware the monkeys.
Kari Wilkin was a guest at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur and the St. Regis Langkawi
Room rates at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, 6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, 50470 Malaysia, start from GBP 176/USD 223 (double room). Room rates at The St. Regis Langkawi, Jalan Pantai Beringin, Langkawi, 07000 Malaysia, start from GBP 221/USD 280 (double room). For more information, visit marriott.com.
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