A Royal Klang in Selangor
You’re unlikely to make a beeline for this Malaysian misfit but its shabby rundown appearance hides echoes of a well-maintained heritage and royal history. At the northern end of the Straits of Malacca on the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsula, Port Klang is sheltered by surrounding islands and acts as the gateway to Malaysia’s most developed region, where the capital Kuala Lumpur lies 40 miles to the east. Since the 17th...
Langkawi – The Datai Bay Duo
Unless you sail, the only way you’ll get into Datai Bay and onto the beautiful white sand beach is to stay at one of the two exclusive resorts who ‘own’ it. Not only are these two exclusive resorts close to one another on the idyllic island of Langkawi but they share exclusive use of their very own cove and idyllic crescent beach, protected by its own coral reef. Langkawi, also known as the ‘Jewel of Kedah’ is...
Penang – Peranakan prism of East and West
Found throughout Malaysia and the Far East, Peranakans are native-born people of mixed local and foreign ancestry – none more so than in Penang, where the Straits-Chinese epitomise the eclectic mix of nationalities, ethnicities, religions and architecture to be found in this melting pot of East and West. We don’t think you’ll find a more kaleidoscopic reflection of culture anywhere. Peranakan means ‘child’ or descendant’ and mixes of...
You might look sideways at Crab Island
You might look sideways at Crab Island, Pulao Ketam – Kuala Lumpur If anyone suggests that you visit Pulau Ketam (literally ‘Crab Island’) when in Kuala Lumpur you’ll probably look at them askance if you’ve ever Googled it. At face value it’s a muddy backwater thirty minutes by ferry from the container port, Port Klang; has few facilities, no glitz or glamour and generally smells fishy! Strangely, this is also its attraction. As an...
