TRAVEL: The charm of Malaysia explored

Over the course of my journey, I discovered that Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu are two sides of Malaysia’s magic; one vibrant and modern, the other calm and naturally stunning.

For Kenyan passport holders, you don’t need a visa, only a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

My adventure began in Langkawi then to Kuala Lumpur, a city alive with energy, before leading me to Kota Kinabalu thanks to AirAsia.

Since November, the airline has launched a direct flight from Nairobi to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It prides itself as a low-cost airline, flying people to Southeast Asia.

MODERN, TRADITION BALANCE

The capital of Malaysia welcomed me with her special energy. From the twinkling bright towers to the River of Life at night, this city is bursting with life.

My first night created the perfect atmosphere: dinner followed by a moonlight photo shoot at the Petronas Twin Towers at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

This is tallest twin towers in the world, standing at 452 metres with 88 floors.

The next morning, I headed to the free-entry Batu Caves, which is a sacred site for Hindus, showcasing the murugan statue, the Hindu god of war. The statue stands at 43 metres tall, which makes it the tallest murugan in the world, and took over three years to complete.

This was an absolute adventure and a physical one at that. Here, I climbed the famous 272 steps painted in rainbow colours, which lead to the main temple.

The site is also home to playful monkeys, who are notorious for snatching people’s belongings.

I passed by Merdeka Square, also known as Dataran Merdeka, to learn about the history of Kuala Lumpur and marvel at the colonial charm of the Sultan AbdilSamad house.

I later tried my hand at ‘Do It Yourself’ tinsmithing at the Royal Selangor, a tradition that connects Malaysia’s past and present.

While exploring the city’s central market, I browsed from shop to shop, which were selling handicrafts and local souvenirs.

COASTAL PARADISE

I boarded an AirAsia flight to Kota Kinabalu, which is the gateway to Sabah’s beautiful landscapes, from the busy city’s atmosphere to the quietness of the Coast.

My encounter with the local culture began at the Mari Mari Cultural Village, where I learnt about Sabah’s national heritage.

The village showcases the traditional lifestyle, architecture and customs of five major ethnic groups from Sabah, namely Rungus, Bajau, Murut, Lundayeh and Dusun.

I explored replicas of each tribe’s traditional homes reflecting their adaptation to Sabah’s environment. I watched traditional dances and music performed by local people after being treated to traditional high tea and local meals.

The Mari Mari village aims to preserve the traditions of Sabah’s indigenous people for future generations, thus, creating a bridge between past and present.

The next day, we set sail for Manukam Island, which is in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, to see the crystal clear waters. With water sports and plenty of time to relax, this is the ultimate island getaway.

Kota Kinabalu reminded me of the beauty that lies in simplicity and connection to nature. 

TAKEAWAY

Both cities provided me a perfect balance of urban life and natural serenity. Malaysia truly lives up to its reputation as a land of contrasts, offering something for every traveller.