Epic Tet Getaway: The Malaysia Days

Sunset on Penang

After a two-day stint working at TRAFFIC’s regional office in Malaysia, just outside the capital of Kuala Lumpur, I left my business-class luxury at the Armada hotel and headed into the city to a cheap Chinatown hostel. I spent a few days wandering the city on my own and with a Canadian couple I met at the hostel. Kayla (a friend from home) arrived on Saturday night, groggy-headed but cheerful after her 27 hour flight from NY. The next morning we saw the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple built into natural limestone caves outside the city, then headed north to the island of Penang off the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.

Penang has beaches and the historic city of Georgetown. The night we arrived also happened to be the last night of the Chinese New Year, so there was a big parade at midnight and we shared some sago tea with the locals at the community temple.
A temple on Penang

After a few days of historic walks and beach sunsets, we headed back to the mainland for a trip into the Cameron Highlands, about 4 hours north of KL. The region is filled with rolling mountains, criss-crossed by tea and strawberry plantations and offered a much-appreciated respite from the heat of KL and Penang. Unfortunately, we didn’t see too much of the place because we spent the whole first day in bed with fever and aches.

At the Big Red Strawberry Farm in the Highlands

The next day, after a brief taxi ride up the highest mountain for breathtaking views, we hopped on a bus and headed back to KL where I met up with my Gaelic Football team for a tournament and Kayla prepared for the long trip back home.