Chinese New Year in Malaysia: Jungle Trails, Temples & the Best Banh Mi Ever
For Chinese New Year 2024, we decided to do something different. No train rides within China, no big city crowds. We wanted out, somewhere new, but still warm and full of nature, flavor, and life. But where?
I went full planning mode. Hours of research into food scenes, climate, hiking trails, and cultural gems. I even made a PowerPoint presentation for my wife. And so, Malaysia became the lucky winner.
Kuala Lumpur: Temples, Towers & Monkey Encounters
We landed in Kuala Lumpur and checked into a decently central hotel, clean, convenient, nothing fancy. Actually I do not remember much about the Hotel, so it must have been neither outstanding nor awful. We knew the public holiday rush would hit soon, so we went straight for the highlights.
First stop: the Batu Caves. They’re every bit as impressive as you’d expect. A golden statue towering above a rainbow staircase, leading to a cool, echoing cave that feels sacred and ancient. We had a vegetarian meal at the temple nearby. Simple and tasty before we headed into the city center for a sunset stroll among colonial buildings and museums.
Dinner that night was Indian food near our hotel, rich curries and lots of garlic naan, soft naan, and spiced tea. Then we walked off the meal past night markets and glowing street stalls. We ended the evening at the foot of the Petronas Towers, lit up like twin beacons in the dark.
The next morning, we traded towers for trees. Taman Tugu Park was surprisingly wild, even though it’s right in the city. We took the long hiking trail and felt like jungle explorers until we turned a corner and came face-to-face with a family of monkeys blocking the path. They did not seem to care but we still ran through the crowd with closed eyes and panic.
Later that day, we visited the Blue Mosque which was calm, grand, and glowing under the sky. From there, we explored the Indian and Chinese quarters, sneaking into temples and tasting our way through food markets. Every meal seemed to top the last. More Indian food, more snacks, more local flavor.
On our third day, we kept it simple with a local breakfast in a nearby mall before heading out to hike again, this time farther from the city center. We followed a trail through jungle paths up to a small mountain where we found an outdoor gym. From there, we pushed on to a tiny waterfall and rested our legs, letting the sound of the water replace the city noise. That night, we ditched the local eats for something different: Spanish food and our first-ever paella. Worth it.
Ipoh: A Pause in the Journey
We missed the train to Ipoh, so we took the bus instead. To be honest, Ipoh didn’t win us over. It’s a popular stop on the way to the Cameron Highlands, but during Lunar New Year, the highlands were packed, so we skipped that.
We spent the first half-day doing not much at all. The next day, we wandered the old town, visited a smaller temple, tried some food and coffee, and wrapped it all up at a bustling night market. The food there made up for the slower pace. So much good street food, we could barely walk back to our hotel.
George Town, Penang: Food, Culture & One Unbeatable Sandwich
Then came George Town, and this is where the trip really hit its peak.
Right next to our hotel, we found a tiny shop selling what turned out to be the best banh mi we’ve ever had, and yes, we’ve been to Vietnam. We ate it three times in two and a half days.
Although George Town is not a dream to walk through due to almost no space for pedestrians outside the old City center. The old streets are full of charm: murals, hawker stalls, narrow alleys, temples, and colonial houses. On our first day, we just wandered. We visited Hean Boo Thean Kuan Yin Temple by the sea, where the views stretched wide across the water. At night, we feasted on Indian food again. Rich, warm, comforting.
The next day took us to Monkey Beach (but that’s a story for another time. Check our other article!). We ended the day, naturally, with more banh mi and a walk by the waterfront under a soft breeze.
On our final morning, we went up Penang Hill and visited Kek Lok Si Temple. It’s massive, peaceful, and perched high above the city with a giant Buddha statue watching over everything. The view across George Town from up there was the perfect send-off.
Back to Work, But Still Dreaming
Soon after, we had to head to the airport. Reality was calling, work waiting. But Malaysia had delivered: jungle hikes, monkey stand-offs, night markets, spicy food, calm temples, and a sandwich we’ll talk about for years.
Sometimes the best trips aren’t the ones with strict itineraries or famous landmarks. Sometimes it’s just you, a trail, a market, a meal, and someone to share it with.
