The most pleasant surprise of the trip, so far.

We landed in Kuala Lumpur (aka KL), the capital of Malaysia, about 3 weeks ago. We weren’t sure what to expect. A few people we know have travelled here. Some liked it and stayed for a few days, others really liked and stayed longer. There’s a lot to explore and we had about a 6 week window before heading to Africa. We decided to spend that time checking out Malaysia and what it has to offer. After being here for 3 weeks I can say it’s probably one of the best kept secrets of international travel. It’s not as hyped as Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam but I’m going to do my best to hype it here for you.

The country. We got off the plane and made our way through immigration. It was an easy, hassle free process. Malaysia welcomes Americans with a free 90 day tourist visa, no forms to fill out, no long lines. You just show up and enjoy. Geographically the country occupies the southern portion of a big peninsula, with Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south. To the east lies the very large island of Borneo, which is half Malaysia, half Indonesia, and a tiny bit Brunei. There are modern cities, beaches, islands, mountains and more. When you exit the airport terminal you’ll find yourself in a mall, with a hotel, and access to a modern, high-speed, non-stop train that will take you right into KL Sentral, the transportation center of the city, in exactly 28 minutes.

At KL Sentral there are connections to the modern subway and skytrain rails that will wish you anywhere in the city. I am super impressed with the public transportation system. We ride the city subway and skytrain lines around KL. It’s clean, fast, affordable and really quick and easy to navigate. There is also a railway system to take you to different parts of the country. We took a fast train (140km/hr.) to Penang, a popular island to the north. The trip took 4.5 hours. We spent a week in Penang exploring the national park there along with the city of George Town. Tomorrow we head to Borneo, the eastern island portion of the country. In the meantime we’re loving spending time in the capital, KL, and exploring everything it has to offer.

The people. One of the most striking things about Malaysia is the people. Not so much the mix of mostly Muslim with some Chinese and Indian populations, but the friendliness of the people. It became apparent to us after just a day or 2 in Malaysia that everyone is really friendly, warm, engaging and welcoming. From the person at the train ticket counter, to the clerk in the convenient store, to the Grab driver, to the server at your restaurant, to your Airbnb host – they are all ready and happy to help. The bonus is everyone speaks English. The more time we spend here, the more we’re convinced that the friendliness is something in their culture.

The food. Where do I begin? We’ve found more vegetarian and vegan options in Malaysia than anywhere else we’ve been so far. The food options are the most diverse anywhere. There’s an India and Chinese influence in Malaysian cuisine and they’ve adapted it for the veg and vegan crowd. We’ve had everything from local treats at the night markets to gourmet vegan dishes that were just fantastic. There’s even a “Little India” section in KL with all the usual offerings and veg restaurants that offer veg variations of traditional Malaysian dishes. And they’re delicious.

The cost. Another bonus here too. Travelling is inexpensive. Trains, planes, and taxis are a bargain. Sometimes we’ve paid only $1.25 USD for a ride to dinner or to the supermarket. Food is affordable. A few bags of groceries is $20. Dinner for 2 runs about $15 in a nice place with great food. A quick meal can be had for $2. Accommodations run about $20-$30 per night for a really decent place. An nice 2BR apartment can be had for $300-$800 a month depending on location. You can get your teeth cleaned for around $22. I had some minor cosmetic dentistry done on 4 teeth for under $90 total.

The weather. Another bonus here too. It’s usually around 90 during the day and sunny – all year long – month after month. It really doesn’t get hotter or cooler than that. It rains occasionally but it’s over quickly.

Overall Malaysia has been a pleasant surprise. It’s an easy, comfortable place to be. We’ll be here until mid July, moving onto Africa until mid August, then heading to South America (I think). We’ll keep you posted.