All hail the short king.
Gunung Serapi Waterfall hike
Kubah National Park refers to it simply as “The Waterfall”. Google maps lists it as Gunung Serapi Waterfall. Waterfalls of Malaysia dubs it Kubah Falls. Though it’s part of Sungai Rayu (Rayu River), calling it Rayu Waterfall risks confusing it with rapids of the same name further downstream. Whatever name you identify it by, this under-rated gem should be called upon when in Kuching.
Durian Hill hike
Can a single geographic location have 2 names depending on how you got there? That seems to be the case with Durian Hill … or should I say Bukit Bandar Utama?
Rafflesia hike
There’s a single flower that beats out all the bouquets. It grows not in Holland but here in Malaysia, and if you’re fortunate and it’s in bloom, a hike to see this wondrous marvel in Lojing Kelantan can be accomplished in half a day.
Galeri Rumah Lat @ Batu Gajah
Few Malaysians can lay claim to being a national treasure; one of Malaysia’s most universally beloved comic artists, Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, otherwise known as Lat, deservingly fits the bill.
Gunung Alai hike
The milky way by night, a blanket of clouds in the morning and an ethereal landscape by day; Gunung Alai serves up views, 24-7.
Pio Kopi @ Kampung Sumpitan, Lenggong
There’s something magical about slow travel, the quaint towns and local coffee shops…. As development tightens its grip and gentrification rolls on there’s a ticking clock on such experiences. That said, with great guilt I often hanker for a bougie latte.
Ban Loong Hotel @ Ipoh
Any property I choose to stay at has to be conducive to sleep. Location, location, location not so much. Ban Loong Hotel in the heritage district of Ipoh is a boutique stay that pairs both of qualities without compromising either.
Seri Makhota Waterfall
Standing alone at the base of the Seri Makhota waterfall in Rompin State Park, I wondered what eyes were on me. Could Tok Belang Besar, a forest spirit of Jakun mythology that takes the form of a tiger be watching me from a rocky perch high above the falls?
CoffeeNuts @ Langkawi
If I were to ask you where the best coffee in Langkawi is to be found, chances are you’ll answer somewhere on Pantai Cenang. It’s a good guestimate; the beachside strip has the highest concentration of cafes and restaurants on the island. But … you’d be wrong.
POKOK KELAPA 