Jeremy's recent trip to Malaysia & Cambodia

My trip to Malaysia started with the lunchtime direct departure to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines. I’d heard a lot about the airline's high levels of customer service and they did not disappoint with their generous economy seat pitch making the 12 hour flight feel very comfortable. We connected to a domestic Malaysian Airlines flight to the East coast hub of Kuala Terengganu.
Having previously spent time touring most of Peninsula Malaysia, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from the East coast which is unspoilt and considered the “real” Malaysia. The influence of the various colonial powers that have passed through the country over the years has not quite made it to the East coast hence you have the feeling of a genuine Malaysian cultural experience.

Although I’d been to these parts before the focus of this trip was the islands off the coast which I had not previously seen and which had a reputation for some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Again I was not to be disappointed.

From Kuala Terengganu it was a short coach ride followed by a 1 hour boat ride before we arrived at the island paradise of Redang. 

We checked in and immediately headed for the beach with a dip in the sea being a great way to relax after the long flight. Redang is a small island with a handful of resorts and our home for 2 nights was The Sari Pacifica, a new small luxury boutique property. Redang is surrounded by coral with a large array of colourful tropical fish, eels and rays and great access for snorkelers directly from the beach making it a very family friendly destination. 

During our time here we had a day trip out to the much smaller Lang Tengah Island which really was like having your own private island paradise with not another boat in sight. I’ve spent time snorkelling at The Great  Barrier Reef and in The Pacific and I’d have to say the quality of the coral and the ease of access make Malaysia as good as any destination for beginners or experienced divers alike.

Our third Island destination was Sibu Island which is further south and only actually a 2 hour road transfer from Singapore followed by a 45 minute sea transfer. Again we stayed at The Sari Pacifica and spent time relaxing by the pool and swimming in the beautiful warm tropical waters. The highlight of the time on Sibu Island has to be a boat trip out to a floating fishing village situated several miles away from the island. 

These “villages” are communities on stilts which rise up out of the water. We stopped to buy dinner and I have to say the quality and freshness of the fish was superb as was the cuisine throughout the trip. Overall our time on the East coast was over all too quickly. As we embarked on our 5 hour coach journey to Kuala Lumpur I left with a feeling that this was definitely a part of the world I’d like to re-visit and the beauty of the East coast of Peninsula Malaysia was on a par with any other beach destination within South East Asia. 

Following a brief overnight in Kuala Lumpur I said good bye to the group and headed off on the early morning flight to the island of Langkawi. Langkawi is on the much more developed West coast of the peninsula and is a large island with a network of roads and tourist infrastructure in place. This island is all about “flopping and dropping” with a vast selection of resorts on offer. My home for my brief stay was the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Langkawi which is situated on the north shore of the island. 

My Upper Melaleuca room afforded astounding views of the ocean and bay opposite.  The Four Seasons brand is a byword for quality and service and this particular resort is no exception. The attention to detail, style, general ambience and the quality of the fit and finish of the resort is second to none. 

If you are looking for the perfect resort on the perfect island you will not go far wrong with The Four Seasons and Langkawi! It’s also a very family friendly and safe destination with a huge selection of activities available such as sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and trekking.

Next up was another very early morning flight but this time to a new country, Cambodia. 

The Kingdom of Cambodia is just a short flight from most of the major hubs in South East Asia making adding a side trip to this region practical and affordable especially considering the range of discounted airfares now available. My destination was Siem Reap, access point for the famous Angkor Wat Temple complex. I’d wanted to visit this region for 10 years but somehow never got round to it so was pretty excited as the flight touched down. I was met upon arrival by our local partners Buffalo Tours who thankfully had an air conditioned car waiting! On the brief journey to the centre of town we discussed our touring arrangements and agreed to head out to the temple area after lunch. 

This gave me time to check in and explore my hotel, The Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. This beautiful 4 star property is built in the French Colonial style with Asian influences making it an unusual boutique choice. I had the Ming Suite with traditional Chinese touches such as antique wooden pillows on the bed and a fresh pot of green tea every time you return to the room. This property was a great base for Siem Reap, being centrally located with an enticing salt water pool perfect for relaxing in after a day of trekking around the temples.

The temples of Angkor Wat are everything you expect them to be and more. Mostly built around 1000 years ago there are several temple sights in different areas which vary in distance from Siem Reap. The closest are approx 20 minutes drive away with the furthest being around an hours drive. The most famous is Angkor Wat itself. 

I had 2 days in which to explore this area and using a specialist Tour Operator is really the only way to get the most out of this type of trip. Local guides have the finest local knowledge and know which temple complex will be busy at any given time. 

An  example of this my visit to Banteay Srei, known as the pink temple due to the colour of the stone and the intricate nature of the carvings. This temple, although better known, is on a smaller scale to some of the others and is generally regarded as having sculptures of a higher standard. My guide organized things so we arrived here just after sunrise. As we approached the temple complex from the road I could tell there was the infrastructure here for large coach groups with facilities such as shops and toilets etc. At this time of the day I had the temple completely to myself and wondering around this intimate temple just after sunrise is one of the most memorable and moving experiences of my whole trip. 

I think a side trip to Cambodia as part of a longer South East Asian trip is a great way to finish a holiday and one I would highly recommend.  Feel free to contact me to discuss your own plans if you are considering your own trip to this very special part of the world.

Jeremy Webster