Twelve years ago, Kuala Terengganu felt like a sleepy seaside town with an eclectic array of storefronts and seemingly no visible town theme. It was real, raw, and unfamiliar. Beyond the Perhentian Islands, this part of Terengganu felt like secret handshake territory to me (at the time) and a little uncomfortable. Returning this year on […]
Squid, Sea Legs & Salty Boats: A Real Candat Sotong Experience
Curious about candat sotong? This Malaysian squid jigging tradition takes place every year off the coast of Kuala Terengganu during the annual Candat Sotong Festival, and throughout the squid season. After 10 years of wanting to join, I finally did have my first candat sotong experience. From rustic fishing boats to the real challenge of […]
Langkawi’s Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge Gets a Stunning Makeover
Known as the Kuala Sungai Melaka Bridge, as well as the Kuala Melaka Bridge, for years the slightly dated structure has also been lovingly referred to, by more than a few, as the “Ugly Pink Bridge” when used as a casual reference point. But now, the more or less twenty-five year old bridge is a […]
Langkawi Geopark: What To Know Before You Go
Hearing the words Langkawi Geopark may conjure up images of a stone age-style theme park or perhaps a rock garden of grand proportions, but those images would be completely erroneous. The Langkawi Geopark is the honorific moniker of the Langkawi archipelago in its entirety. That’s right, all 99 islands (104 at low tide). And depending […]
Sungai Petani, Malaysia to Betong, Thailand (What You Should Know Before You Go)
Getting from Sungai Petani, Malaysia to Betong, Thailand is relatively fast if you have all your ducks in a row. I did research ahead of time and had surprisingly few glitches in my overall plan. But! I did have a few glitches, so here you go with a basic plan based on my own personal […]
Best Langkawi Snorkeling is at Pulau Payar
Looking for the best Langkawi snorkeling options? About 35-kilometers from Langkawi’s main island is Pulau Payar Marine Park. Established in 1989, the cluster of four islands was the first official marine park in all of Malaysia, with Pulau Payar Island being the largest of the archipelago. The old, offshore dive platform is gone, but snorkeling […]
Baling, Kedah: First Time Visitors Mini Guide
I’d never heard of Baling before, but it didn’t take long for me to see the uniqueness of this remote district in Kedah, Malaysia. Baling has a vibe of confidence. The people of Baling are creative and industrious. Quiet role models doing their own thing and embracing with gusto what resources they have on hand. […]