Penang and Kuala Lumpur are the cities we visited on mainland of Malaysia. We joined Penang from Koh Lipe, Thailand and it was definitely a change of pace. Koh Lipe was very much laid back small island feel, while Georgetown, Penang is a big old city with a rich history. Multiethnic; religious and culturally diverse, there is a lot going on here with an seemingly un-matching architecture left over from the days of Dutch and English colonialism and trading.
We spent our time in Penang mostly eating rich foods from the 3 main cultures that currently inhabit mainland Malaysia. Indian, Chinese and Malay. Three very distinct peoples and cuisines. Here we also visited the famous and very touristic Penang Hill for views of the city and activities such as the the skywalk in their a small preserved old growth forest. There are all kinds of kitschy things to do up here, but mostly people come for the best view of the city. Although, the smog does take away from the grandeur a bit, in my opinion. We also visited some old temples, lively markets and a national park along the water to see some wildlife. I want to add the food in Penang is delicious and I could go back for that reason alone.
From Penang we took a boat and bus to Kuala Lumpur which is the capital and largest city in the country. A mix of architecturally impressive, modern giants and old, dilapidated buildings everywhere. Of course we visited the tallest twin towers in the world with the highest skybridge. We also ventured out to the the largest Hindu cave temple about an hour outside the city. No small feat getting up that staircase! Again, we mostly ate our hearts out here in Kuala Lumpur and visited many of the different night markets full of delicious street food from the 3 main cultures.
Coming to Malaysia was a culture shock. It was one of my favorite culinary experiences, but also one of my greatest challenges as a nonreligious, westernized woman. I will keep my opinion on this subject short, and say that I am glad as a person, but especially as a woman, that I do not live in this nonsecular country. I do believe the people face deep oppression that is upheld by their government, enforced by men in power, and re-enforced under the guise of religion. This has created what to me is an acceptance of unacceptable behavior towards towards women and minorities, and beyond that a culture of “Big Brother” with loss of freedom and privacy for everyone. Coming to Malaysia, and especially the mainland made me face many of my biases, but also gave me great new perspective of my privilege. I try to visit every country with open eyes, and respect for differences of culture and if I’m being honest, it is sometimes a challenge to see beyond the context of my own life.
With that being said, I would still recommend people visit Malaysia. There is much to learn, see and eat here. In particular, Robin and I enjoyed our time on the Malaysian part of Borneo the most. You can see our adventure there on the next post. And I do mean adventure!
Check out our Malaysia mainland photos below:
Beautiful! You are so lucky to experience all the sites, cultures and foods!
Thank you 🙂