Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on 7th June that interstate travel will be allowed from 10th June onwards. Hearing this, many people have started planning and booking their vacay plans! However, if you’re still a little unsure about where to go, we hope that this will help you a little! Let’s start from the North!
Perlis
Spanning only 819 km², there’s really not much you can do in Perlis other than to take in the scenic views that it offers. The paddy fields, quaint village houses and a cafe cum art gallery will spruce up your Instagram feed. Pssst! There’s also a sunflower field here! But if you prefer nature, then why not pay the Perlis State Park or Gua Kelam a visit? You can also go to the Tuanku Syed Putra Bridge or the Kuala Perlis Jetty and admire the view at sunset.
Kedah
Most Malaysians have been to Kedah… for the cheap beers and wonderful seafood that Langkawi Island offers. However, many people do not know that mainland Kedah is quite a historical city and can give Melaka a run for its money! If you’re interested in visiting the historical sites, they are: Zahir Mosque, Balai Besar, Kedah State Museum & Fort Kuala Kedah. If you’re tired from all these sight-seeing, why not head to Alor Setar’s Chinatown that houses restored shophouses from the 1950s and grab a cup of coffee from Caffe Diem or Hai Kee Kedai Kopi.
Penang
Do we even have to talk about Penang and all its glorious food? Char kuey teow, asam laksa, cendol, nasi kandar and many, many more. All Malaysians know and crave for these flavours that can only be found exclusively on the island. For some family fun time, you can always go to the upside-down museum and grab a scoop of salted egg yolk oreo or white coffee ice cream!
Kelantan
Kelantan is a place of nature as it houses one-third of Taman Negara. In there you can do multiple activities such as canopy walking, jungle walking at night, boat cruising, fishing, cave exploration and many more. Speaking about boat cruising, you can also join a sunset cruise on Sungai Kelantan. Or if you want more than that, you could always check into Min House Camp where you can fish, dig clams, kayak and even watch fireflies! Other than that, you can also load up on Kelantan’s speciality, the Nasi Kerabu, their much-coveted batik pieces and hop onto a jungle train ride to….
Pahang
Pahang is home to many tourist spots in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands, Bukit Tinggi and even an elephant sanctuary! If you’re more of a beach person then Teluk Cempedak or Pantai Batu Hitam (yes, the rocks there are black) might be better. You can also climb Bukit Panorama to catch a beautiful sunrise. If you’re looking for a quiet relaxation spot then Bentong Hot Springs might be the right place for you, along with the resorts along the Cherating beach.
Terengganu
Terengganu is the state with some of the most picturesque islands in Malaysia such as Pulau Redang where you can see turtles (July/August). If you’re a scuba diver then Pulau Tenggol is a good choice but for snorkelling, Pulau Kapas may be better. Gem Island and Lang Tengah are better for couples or people searching for zen and relaxation!
Perak
Perak is normally seen as a pit stop on the way to Penang but that doesn’t mean that Perak has nothing to offer! From tambun pastries to duck leg noodles, Perak might be on par with Penang! For curious explorers, Kellie’s castle is a good place to stop by and explore. If you’re more of a scaredy cat (like me) but wants to explore, the Perak temple and other cave temples might be a good place to check out.
Selangor
One of the most known landmarks in Selangor is Batu Caves. If you haven’t gone there yet then you should definitely go and take in its beauty as it is even more breathtaking in reality. But if you want to have a bit of an adventure, why not go to Kuala Selangor to see fireflies? Other than that, you can also go to Sekinchan to make a wish on the wishing tree and take an awesome photo at the Sky Mirror.
Kuala Lumpur
Other than taking the typical photo at KLCC, there are quite a few things you can do in KL such as going up the KL Tower or going to the nearby KL Forest Eco Park for a little canopy walk. If you want to pet and feed some alpacas, why not go to Farm in The City? However, if you want to learn more things then going to the National Museum or the National Art Gallery will be fitting.
Putrajaya (& Cyberjaya)
Putrajaya looks like one of those towns that you built in tycoon games as it has many beautiful and out-of-the-world buildings. You can also go on a hot air balloon ride for a superb view of the city. If you’re looking for more extreme activities, why not go for stand-up paddling, flyboarding or blasting through the water with a jetpack at the Putrajaya lake? If you want to, maybe you can also ride a horse at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park! If you’re searching for something to do at night, why not go shopping at a 24-hour Bookxcess in Tamarind Square, Cyberjaya?
Negeri Sembilan
Seremban is where most people go for a weekend food trip! Pork intestines congee, beef tripes noodles and siew paus remain as one of the most popular food items people turn to when in Seremban. But if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can always go for some wood-fired pizza in Kuala Pilah. You can also walk around the Seremban town to spot some pretty cool murals! To cool yourself off, you can go to The Store (Jalan Tuanku Munawir) and look for an Indian uncle and his little stall outdoors for probably one of the best cendol ever. For nasi lemak on par with Village Park’s, Acu’s is an extremely good choice.
Melaka
Every Malaysian has probably been to Melaka once or twice in their lifetime. It is no Penang but their food is quite good as well! After visiting the Baba & Nyonya Museum, what about actually sampling some of their heavenly kuihs and laksa? Other than that, don’t forget to buy a buttload of gula melaka and ginger/coconut candy for all your relatives. Top off your Melaka experience with some fresh Longkang Siham!
Johor
We’re onto the final state in Peninsular Malaysia! Johor is home to the one and only Legoland in Malaysia so you better check it out when you’re there! If you’re looking for something different, what about going to a century-old bakery that is still using wood fire ovens to bake their pastries? To disconnect from the world, go to Pulau Rawa where there are no TVs or telephone lines. For your last stop, visit the Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple in Malaysia where everything glitters iridescently!
Sarawak
Oh where to start, there are just so many things to eat in Sarawak! For the best Sarawak laksa and kolo mee, try going to Choon Hui cafe. If you want to try some really nice indigenous food and also the famous tuak, then this restaurant will be great for you. Also, check out some intricate tribal jewellery that the stores along the Kuching waterfront sell. Don’t forget to buy kek lapis Sarawak (we recommend lumut!), pepper for your family and maybe some pepper candy to trick your friends from the same stores! If you’re there during the weekends, you must check out Satok market for some peculiar fruits and maybe even avocados!
Labuan
DUTY-FREE BOOZE and chocolates because Labuan is a duty-free island, YASSS! If you’re more of a diver, you can dive down and explore some shipwrecks! Or… if you prefer to have both your feet on your ground, then you might want to explore some secret beaches. These beaches are only 10 minutes away from the Labuan Port and the sand feels unbelievable!
Sabah
Onto our last state in Malaysia! Sabah is definitely a beautiful state with tons of islands for you to go snorkelling and island hopping. Many people go to the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park as there’s even a 250m zip line for you to get between the Gaya and Sapi islands. Pulau Tiga was first featured in the show, Survivor and you can have a volcanic mud bath for glowy skin! But do you know that you can also spot the Milky Way in some rural areas in Sabah? The areas with low light pollution are Kota Belud, Kundasang, Tawau, Kudat and Lahad Datu. For some serious Instagramable places, they would be Kundasang, the Bohey Dulang island and the northernmost point of Borneo. Like Pahang, Sabah also has hot springs and they are found in Ranau. Many people go there to relax after climbing Mount Kinabalu.
Alright, that wraps up the whole list! Tell us if we’ve missed out anything! Although the MCO has been relaxed into the RMCO, remember to always keep your hygiene levels up and to socially distance. Also, when we’re travelling, make sure to keep the places clean as it is our responsibility! Remember to always be extra respectful when visiting religious. Tell us in the comments where you will be going soon and share with us more hidden gems!
Also read: 9 Lesser-Known Gems Of Nature In KL And Selangor To Visit This Weekend
