New Year, New Travels: Malaysians Share Their Favourite Destinations to Makan Angin This CNY!

Travelling is arguably one of the best ways to broaden your perspective and knowledge of other cultures and, for some, even allow time for personal reflection as you grow as an individual. You don’t even need a huge budget as you can find plenty of deals on various travel activities online today. Plus, CNY is near! So, there’s bound to be loads of special promos including one where you can save up to RM88 on exciting activities too — read till the end to find out more 😉

From the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Forests in Kyoto to the picturesque Balinese temples, these Malaysians share their favourite travel destinations. Here are their stories.

 

1. The dream vacation in Japan 

Visiting Japan has been a dream of mine ever since I was in high school which I was fortunate enough to go on with a buddy of mine in 2017. From the tranquilness of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and magical splendour of the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, to the Tokyo Imperial Palace, we saw it all!

Pro-tip, the best way to travel in Japan is by using their world-class train system. Not only was it a fuss-free experience but it was the most affordable and convenient option too, especially if you have the Japan Rail Pass. This includes unlimited rides on JR Line Shinkansen (bullet trains), express trains, local trains, monorail travel, JR buses, and including the Miyajima ferry. This is the best option if you’re planning to tour the whole of Japan.

Alternatively, if you’re only planning on visiting cities in the Kansai region, opt for either the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass (my friend and I chose this) or the JR West Kansai Pass which are both cheaper options if you’re only visiting the places the pass covers. So, plan carefully.

Another tip when visiting tourist hotspots would be to go early in the morning. I can’t tell you enough how crowded places like the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest get later during the day. Plus, going in the morning ensures you’ll get to capture the soft morning light, making your photos even more IG-worthy! 

– James Chong, 25, Penang. 

 

2. Bali’s fascinating landmarks and mouthwatering street foods

What keeps me going back to Bali is undeniably its vibrant local culture, unique landmarks, and pristine beaches — not JUST its party scene, mind you. My family and I were well-aware of how photo-worthy all the Balinese temples are, hence we spent a lot of time “temple running” from one to the other.

My favourites have got to be our tour to Tanah Lot and Uluwatu which you can easily book on Klook. Aside from the temples themselves, the grounds are a perfect place to capture scenic views!

Uluwatu is what stood out the most for me as it offered a commanding view of the ocean AND one of the best sunsets I’ve seen to date! Not to mention, there is also the Kecak Fire Dance to look forward to, a traditional dance that depicts a scene from the Ramayana. Watching the performers clad in traditional wear swirl flames while chanting some mysterious words was a memorable experience, to say the least.

The food in Bali won’t disappoint too! If you’re looking for one of the best Babi Guling spots around Bali, I’d recommend checking out Babi Guling Selingsing Bu Suci. It’s a little far out from town, but we knew it’d be worth the journey just by how local everything was as only a few tourists were around! 

– Samantha Joan, 27, Penang. 

 

3. Exploring Singapore’s best photo spots

I think Singapore is a pretty underrated destination, especially by us Malaysians. Aside from doing the usual touristy stuff such as visiting Universal Studios Singapore and Gardens by the Bay, both super memorable visits mind you, I also visited a few hidden gems and spent most of my time photographing and conversing with the locals. What surprised me was how familiar everything felt which instantly made me more comfortable in my surroundings.

If you’re passionate about photography, here are some of my favourite photo spots:

• Explore Chinatown to capture the daily life of the locals and unique landmarks such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple which is based on Tang Dynasty architecture. There is also a museum within that contains priceless artefacts.
• Visit Haji Lane at night for IG-worthy neon sign portraits. There are plenty of pubs and stores nearby so it’s a good place for street photography.
• Walk along the Helix bridge which is popular for its unique architecture and views of the Marina Bay area. If you stand at one end of the bridge and compose your shot properly, you can capture the bridge with the iconic Marina Bay Sands in the background too!

Another must-visit is the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, an interactive museum of art, science, space, and so on. There was even a Disney exhibition where I got to see how Disney movies were made through original hand sketches, coloured drawings, and animation. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

– Steve Soosay, 24, Subang Jaya. 

 

4. Savouring Penang’s mouthwatering foods and exploring its heritage sites

Penang is like a second home to me as it was (and still is) the go-to holiday destination for family reunions.  There are PLENTY of things to do such as explore heritage sites and visit nature parks like The Habitat on Penang Hill, for instance.

One of the highlights of my recent trip was a visit to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion where I got an exciting history lesson on the heritage of the Peranakans. My family is of Peranakan heritage, so learning more about my cultural heritage was an eye-opening experience for me. The mansion itself is a recreation of a typical 19th century Baba-Nyonya home and used to be the residence of a wealthy Penang merchant. In it, you’ll find plenty of valuables ranging from jewellery, expensive silks, priceless antiques, and much more. It’s truly a sight to behold!

Of course, no trip to Penang would be complete without eating all the delicious food! Some of my personal recommendations are the fried oyster at Joo Hoi Cafe, Nasi Kandar Tajuddin Hussain for their delicious ayam ros, and a popular local wan tan mee spot along Lebuh Acheh (the shop is located across Son & Dad Barbershop).

– Sheralyn Tan, KL, 25. 

 

5. Immersing in Hanoi’s gorgeous views and historical landmarks

Visiting Hanoi was a real eye-opener particularly because I personally got to see how hard-working the locals are! Everything was so fast-paced where everyone was hustling hard to earn a living.

Tourism is booming and that’s no surprise considering the abundance of breathtaking views, historical landmarks, delicious street food, and affordable shopping the city offers! What more can you ask for? The highlight of my trip was going on a day tour to Ha Long Bay which I easily booked on Klook.

It was an unforgettable experience kayaking around the picturesque fishing villages and majestic rock formations. I even got to discover a few magical caves like the Thien Cung Cave.

Aside from that, I had an amazing time delving into Vietnam’s past at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and devouring all of the best street foods I could find at the Old Quarter of Hanoi. If you aren’t daring enough to head out on your own, there is also the option of going on a food tour where you’ll be introduced to some of the best street foods around by an experienced guide.

– Lee Ling Kwan, 26, Sungai Petani. 

Wow! All these travel stories are making us itch to go on a vacay ourselves. Well, if you’re planning on doing just that, you can’t go wrong by using Klook, just like what all these Malaysian travellers did! Just Klook it lah!

What’s more,  Klook is offering 50% off on selected activities including sitewide discounts this CNY — there’s no better time to makan angin wei!

Here are the activities that will be getting a 50% discount:

• 17th January 2020: Singapore Night Safari, Tokyo Tower Observatory, and  N Seoul Tower Observatory
• 24th January 2020: JR West Kansai Pass, Adventure Ticket at Desaru Coast, and Phuket Fantasea
• 31st January 2020: Lotte World, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands and Ocean Park Hong Kong

Note that three activities will be released weekly on Friday at 12pm, discounts are limited to one ticket per user, and to the first 100 checkouts only!

In addition to these deals, Klook is having 8% sitewide discounts (capped at RM88) on ALL activities. Find out more here.

Wah! Awesome right? So, what are you waiting for? Jom makan angin with Klook this Chinese New Year!

For more updates on future deals from Klook be sure to follow their Instagram and Facebook page.