
PHOTO SOURCE: Pixabay.com
If you had trips planned for 2020, chances are they were either cancelled or you were simply unable to take them due to the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic. This is a shame and many of us have experienced disappointment. But don’t let things get you down for too long. There’s always opportunity to travel in the future and there’s a good chance that you could get travelling next year if the vaccine on the horizon comes to fruition. Now, when planning a trip it can be easy to go for common and popular destinations – the places that everybody goes. But why not think outside the box a little and consider an alternative trip? Heading somewhere a little different can open your eyes to a whole other side of the world. You might be exposed to new cultures. You could hear new languages. You could try new cuisines. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can ease yourself and your family into these situations for an enjoyable and new experience. Now, one destination that doesn’t tend to get enough tourism for what it is is Malaysia. Malaysia has a whole lot to offer all sorts of travellers. From young solo travellers to families with kids. So, let’s take a moment to talk through planning your trip, things to do and places to see!
Planning Your Trip
Of course, for many of us, Malaysia isn’t all too close. This is likely to be a pretty big trip and, as a result, it’s going to take a fair amount of planning. So, why not start planning now? Then you can make sure that everything is organised and that all of your plans are laid out well in advance. If you need any special arrangements to be made on your flights, in your accommodation, or in any other aspect of your trip, you can make sure that it is in place well before you arrive. This can mean choosing your accommodation – whether that’s an apartment in Kuala Lumpur or a house in emporis kota damansara. It can mean arranging your flights – whether it’s possible to go direct or whether you want to break things up with stops and transfers. You can arrange transport – whether you opt for public transport or arrange to hire a vehicle while you’re away. Put simply, the more organised you are, the better.
Choosing Where to Visit
Where you can visit depends on how long you’re willing to be away on your trip, and where you personally want to visit. Malaysia has a whole lot to offer and there are countless things you could and places you could see while you’re away. Here are just a few key destinations that you might want to add to your travel bucket list and consider for this trip to Malaysia.
If you’re going to visit Malaysia, chances are you’ve considered visiting its capital, Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is huge, spanning 243 square kilometres and providing a home to over 1.5 million people. The main place to visit in Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Twin Towers. These huge towers dominate Kuala Lumpur’s skyline and have a huge skywalk that you can look out across the city from. If this ticks all of your boxes, you could also check out Kuala Lumpur Tower. This second huge tower also has an observation deck and a sky deck.

PHOTO SOURCE: Pixabay.com
Penang
If you’re looking for cultural diversity, Penang may well be the place to go. This Malaysian state has a mainland named Seberang Perai, as well as an island, named Penang Island. A huge mix of culture in Penang falls down to colonization over the years. Some key areas to keep an eye out for include:
- Fort Cornwallis
- Khoo Kongsi
- Kapitan Keling Mosque
- Tropical Spice Gardens
Borneo
For a completely alternative trip, why not consider Borneo? Generally speaking, Borneo is a place that wildlife lovers visit. Why? Well it is packed with species you might not see in other places in the world! Borneo is an island that lies within Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago. It is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as Indonesian Kalimantan, and the small nation of Brunei. As you can imagine, this means that the island is a hub of culture, with different traditions coming from different places. Perhaps the main appeal of this island is its rainforests. To be specific, they are ancient equatorial rainforests. These rainforests are home to all sorts of animals. It’s often considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world. If you visit Borneo, you open a world of potential where you could see hundreds of thousands of different species, ranging from mammals to reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and fish. The animal that the most tourists want to see? The Orangutan. Native to Borneo, the Orangutan is a stand out primate with its unique face shape and ginger hair. Other popular mammals to look out for include the Proboscis Monkey, the Bornean Slow Loris, Pygmy Squirrels, Pygmy Elephants, the Sunda Otter-Civet and many more.
Sure, a trip to Malaysia may seem pretty big. But when better to plan it? Many of us have a whole lot more time on our hands right now and this could be put to productive use. Take some of the above information and advice into consideration and see whether it can make planning your own trip a little easier. Make it your own. Add all the things you want to do and see. Leave room in your itinerary for rest breaks and relaxation breaks. This should all help you to plan the best and most enjoyable trip you possibly can. After the tough year that many of us have already had, it’s definitely worth the effort and, chances are, you really deserve it!

Sunset in Borneo. PHOTO SOURCE – Pixabay.com