I just returned from Malaysia, and honestly, I was surprised by how much there is to explore beyond Kuala Lumpur. Many people don’t really know where Malaysia is geographically, but once you arrive in Southeast Asia, you realize it’s the heart of everything. It’s located between Thailand and Indonesia, and although everyone passes through KL, the country has incredible attractions if you’re willing to move around a bit.

I arrived on Langkawi Island from Thailand, and it was one of those decisions that change a trip. The name comes from two words: helang (eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), named after an endemic eagle that has a 45-meter monument in Eagle Square. The beaches are beautiful, but what blew my mind was the cable car. You ascend 700 meters in 20 minutes, and from above, you see the entire geography of the island. There’s a 125-meter hanging bridge in the air that’s almost surreal.

Now, in terms of culture, Malaysia is fascinating. It’s a Muslim nation but with religious freedom, so you see women wearing Islamic veils walking alongside others with red bindis. The history of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonization has layered identities that you still see in the architecture and cuisine. In Langkawi, we visited Dream Forest, a nighttime experience where the forest lights up in 3D and giant figures from Malay mythology appear. It was surreal, honestly.

From Langkawi, I went down to Penang, which is completely different. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this island breathes Peranakan culture. That means descendants of Chinese immigrants married to locals who created their own identity. Pinang Peranakan Mansion is incredible: two floors full of antiques showing how they blended Chinese, British, and Malay influences. On Armenian and Ah Quee Streets, there’s street art combining murals with real objects, like a real motorcycle painted with a child.

Penang Hill was another highlight. A funicular takes you to a tropical rainforest hill where you can see thousands of plants, rare orchids, and carnivorous flowers. There are hanging hammocks to relax in. What no one tells you is to look up under the trees because monkeys will urinate on you without mercy. It was funny but also uncomfortable.

Then I visited Taman Negara National Park in the center of the country. It’s home to the Malaysian tiger made famous by Emilio Salgari in his Sandokan novels. The Canopy Walkway is the longest hanging bridge in the world: 530 meters long at 40 meters high. We walked across while the guide explained the properties of the plants. We also visited the Batek nomadic tribe, hunters living in palm leaf huts along the Tahan River. The bungur, gapis, and melembu trees are giants.

Kuala Lumpur changed completely in 1992 when Prime Minister Mahathir decided to modernize the country with the Petronas Towers. César Pelli won the design contest because he based it on the eight-pointed star of Islam. They opened in 1998 with 88 floors and 425 meters tall. They were the tallest buildings in the world for six years. They still remain the tallest twin towers. They’re located in KLCC, a huge complex with parks, shopping malls, and hotels.

Regarding cuisine, Jalan Alor is a must. A street market that opens at 6 PM until midnight, where I tried nasi goreng, laksa (spicy noodle soup), satay, and roti canai. Order everything without spice in Malay (ta pedás) because what’s mild for them can be quite strong for us.

Malaysia is definitely where the real Southeast Asia is. It’s not Thailand or Indonesia, but it has the best of both. Dream beaches, lush jungles, ancient cultures, and affordable prices. If you’re visiting this region, don’t overlook it.