Gecko Guesthouse is one of the original backpacker-type guesthouses in Langkawi’s Pantai Cenang. It’s conveniently located a short walk from  Jalan Pantai Cenang, the main thoroughfare that runs parallel to Cenang Beach seaside. Originally built in the early 1990s, it was purchased by its present proprietor in 2003 and upgraded, yet has kept its old … read the full post

A vegetarian friend recently asked for a meat- and fish-free char kuay teow at one of Penang’s hawker stalls. Minus the prawns, cockles, pork fat, prawn paste and Chinese sausage, the result was an uninspiring mess of noodles and a few beansprouts in a bland brown sauce. Perhaps the experiment was ill-advised, but there is … read the full post

As the state with the highest proportion of Chinese in Malaysia, Penang pulls out all the stops for its Lunar New Year, when the whole island resounds to the bangs of firecrackers and the beat of the lion dancers’ drums. Penang’s strong Chinese heritage makes it one of the best places outside China to experience … read the full post

Rice museums may not be big on your list of things to do in Southeast Asia, but if you’re travelling through Langkawi, a visit to Museum Laman Padi (Rice Garden Museum) is worth it. The island of Langkawi is part of Kedah, a state known as the rice-bowl of Malaysia and the highest producer of … read the full post

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival where devotees pierce their flesh and carry colourful kavadi to show their devotion to Lord Murugan. If that doesn’t sound dramatic enough, in Kuala Lumpur it takes place at the spectacular Batu Caves. Here are some images from Thaipusam 2013 (yesterday). It’s estimated that more than a million people — … read the full post

Across Southeast Asia, bargaining with taxi drivers is often a necessary part of the travelling experience, and can range from being mildly annoying to severely inconvenient. So imagine your relief when you arrive in Penang and find ‘THIS IS A METERED TAXI. HAGGLING IS PROHIBITED’ plastered all over the sides of the red-and-white taxis. Easy, … read the full post

Pantai Tengah’s Jalan Teluk Baru offers an assortment of small restaurants displaying signs of their particular days of glory. It’s almost safe to say that the older and more weathered the sign, the more staying power that particular restaurant has had among the competition and probably a good ‘sign’, so to speak. And although finding inexpensive … read the full post

Mulu is very much the flagship tourist destination of Sarawak, and for good reason: it is breathtakingly beautiful in parts. However, it would be wise to realise a few things before going as a healthy dose of managing expectations will contribute to the enjoyment of your trip to Mulu. The food, although not the worse, … read the full post

As the culinary capital of Malaysia, Penang is quite literally bursting with flavour. Many of its famous dishes have almost become synonymous with the island itself, but none more so than Penang laksa, which found international fame in 2011 when it came seventh on the CNN ‘World’s Fifty Most Delicious Foods‘ list. Otherwise known as … read the full post

What’s the best time of year to travel to Langkawi, weather-wise? That all depends on what you like to do. The Langkawi archipelago of 104 islands is just off the northwest coast of the Malaysian peninsula and creates the entrance to the Melaka Straits. The Indonesian island of Sumatra forms the western barrier of the … read the full post