Things to Do in Malaysia

Queen Victoria donated 5 acres of land to the local Thai community here, where in 1845 they built Wat Chayamangkalaram - a Thai buddhist temple.

The Temple is famed for the enormous gold buddha statue inside. The beautiful gold plated buddha lies 33m / 100 ft in length - his reclining position signifies absolute peace and freedom from the world at the point of enlightenment.

Most unusually, the Buddha's face, hands and feet are painted in rich pigments. Other interesting painted images and statues dot the temple and grounds.

A curious activity for a rainy day: if you have ever owned a cat or have been interested in the historical role cats have played in music, theater, advertising, mythology and ancient societies around the globe, then the Kuching Cat Museum might be of interest to you.

Located in the modern looking North City Hall building only ten minutes outside of the city center, you won't find a museum quite like the Kuching Cat Museum anywhere else in the world, an appropriate reality seeing as "kucing" is actually the Malay word for cat. With over 2,000 exhibits on display, artifacts range from a mummified cat from Egypt that is believed to be over 5,000 years old, to the world's only mounted specimen of the Bay Cat, a highly endangered wild cat that is endemic to the island of Borneo.

A separate exhibit is devoted to the five wild cats of Sarawak and Borneo, whereas other corners of the 1,035 square meter facility discuss various types of global cat food, the Broadway musical "Cats", and of course, a section devoted to "Hello Kitty" dolls.

Though entrance to the museum is free, all visitors still must pass through a doorway that, as you might have guessed, is through the mouth of an oversized cat. The Cat Museum is a hilarious place to visit for some, and completely lost on others.

Opened in 2008, the Islamic Civilization Park treats visitors to the perfect mix of education and entertainment. Five interactive monuments and 21 replicas of the world's most iconic Islamic structures pay homage to the influence of this culture and its people all across the globe. From the Al-Hambra Citadel in Spain to the Taj Mahal in India, visitors can take an international tour without leaving Terengganu. The 23-hectares park also includes a beautiful Crystal Mosque, constructed with crystal shine glass and reflective steel panels. Though many of the international replicas are still under construction, visitors say this impressive mosque still makes the park worth a trip. 

Thanks to the rising of sea levels at the end of the last ice age, what were once sandstone mountains connected to the mainland are now a collection of five tropical islands left piercing the surface just off the coastline of Kota Kinabalu. Comprised of the islands of Manukan, Gaya, Sapi, Mamutuk, and Sulug, these five forested islets make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, conveniently located an easy 20 minute speedboat ride from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

Though the reefs of the marine park aren’t quite as vibrant as those found down in Sipadan or Mabul in the southeastern corner of Sabah, the waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman nonetheless still teem with marine life such as blue spotted stingrays, mantis shrimp, and the occasional Hawksbill turtle, making them the most convenient options for Sabah visitors looking to snorkel or scuba dive the shallow waters directly off of Kota Kinabalu. Though Sabah is dealing with growing amounts of rubbish and marine debris, classifying the area as a national park and making efforts towards conservation are steps in the right direction for an area that, when combined with the white sand beaches, has tremendous potential for being one of the better regional excursions.

Pulau Gaya is the largest of the islands in the national park, and along with Manukan and Mamutik offers overnight eco-accommodations for visitors looking to escape the city for a night. Though the park headquarters is located on Pulau Gaya, it, too, is home to some downtrodden stilt villages which are considered unsafe by KK locals and visitors alike. Nonetheless, thousands of people annually make daytrips or overnight excursions into Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and leave satisfied with the tropical simplicity found within such a short distance of the thumping industrial capital.

An impressive six-tiered Chinese temple, Thean Hou Temple was opened in 1987 and is dedicated to Thean Hou, the heavenly mother.

It is the largest Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur and sits atop Robson’s Hill 6 mi (8 km) from the city center offering excellent views back over the city.

The prayer rooms are filled with bright golden statues and dedicated also to the Goddess of the Waterfront and the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy.

Below the main prayer rooms are hawker stalls and souvenir stalls while outside there is a Chinese medicinal herbs garden and a tortoise pond.

The celebrations at Chinese New Year are a riot of color and noise as revellers, wearing predominantly red (a lucky color), bang drums and clash symbols while watching the lions dance to ward off evil spirits.

George Town is known for its colonial heritage and old-world architecture, but travelers to this Penang destination will find a unique mix of Indian, Chinese, and Muslim cultures along its European streets. Call to prayer rings out daily and tasty dim sum stalls start selling their tasty snacks as the sun rises.