Malaysia is more beautiful beyond Kuala Lumpur (Blog series 1 of 3)

By Jerome Balinton

Our neighbor country, Malaysia, has a lot of beautiful places to offer outside its capital city. If you are up for arts, ruins of history, temples, and a chilly weather to break free from the demands of life, stepping outside Kuala Lumpur is definitely the answer.

The long way drive we took to popular and less-known places outside Kuala Lumpur was all worth it. The destinations, the bonding with my love Clydie and our (crazy) friends Lea (@meadowonthewall) and Neil (@nneilangelique), and the hassle-free trip prepared by Malphi Travel and Tours, Co., the agency that arranged our itinerary made our trip really memorable.

Travelling to Malaysia is convenient, for as long as valid travel documents like itinerary, return ticket, and valid passport, and of course financial resources are available. Getting entry to Malaysia is easy because the Philippines has diplomatic ties with Malaysia. Being a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Filipino nationals travelling to Malaysia can get tourist visa upon arrival which is really helpful for travelers – one factor on the boom of tourism industry in Southeast Asia region aside from the increased operations of budget carrier, such as Cebu Pacific, to these countries.

Thanks to Instagram, we knew that Malaysia is more beautiful beyond Kuala Lumpur – and our five-day tour proved it right! Big thanks also to our friend Lea (@meadownonthewall) who is one of the top 10 Instragrammers to follow in the Philippines, for finding and recommending the places that we visited.

On top of our list was the Ipoh Old Town in Perak. Located to the north of Kuala Lumpur, reaching Ipoh took us about three hours from KL by a private car.

Reaching the old town of Ipoh takes roughly three hours; it would be good to leave KL early in the morning to have enough time touring Ipoh.

Ipoh is less-known for most Filipino travelers. Upon hearing Malaysia, top destinations in mind are the famous Petronas Tower in KL – which is majestic and beautiful – no argue with that, and the consistently-packed Penang Hill.

But, not so many people knew that there are other equally beautiful places, and worth the time and penny to visit. And Ipoh is one of those I highly recommend.

Ipoh is an old, laid-back town which is rich in history, and trade and commerce. It is distinct for its trail of century-old buildings, relaxing ambiance, shops and boutiques, and street arts. Ipoh is also known for its temples, and colonial-era castles like the Kellie’s castle. Of course, let’s not forget that being one of the cradles of civilization, Ipoh or Malaysia, in general is known for its rich cuisine – Malay, Chinese, or Indian, name it.

Ipoh is known not only for its white coffee. Ipoh also prides itself of a well-designed urban planning. It has embraced modernization to keep up with the demands of times, but invested a lot on keeping its heritage intact like in the case of a short, narrow strip called Concubine Lane.

The marker that welcomes tourists upon entering Concubine Lane.

This short strip was used to be home of concubines in the colonial-era.

It’s an alley of century-old, mostly Chinese buildings. These buildings were rehabilitated and now serve as different restaurants and hip boutiques and shops. The first thing I thought when I read the name ‘Concubine Lane’ on a hanging marker was that these could be the hang-out area of concubines so many years ago. And my guess was close to the real story behind the name.

I read somewhere that houses in this short, narrow strip was used to be home for the mistresses of rich merchants like the Chinese, and some elite British officers – thus, this street was called as such. And when the British returned to their country, these houses were just left standing on its old location.

Aside from the Concubine Lane, there are also other old buildings that were rehabilitated and turned to government or private buildings, or shops. We visited Plan B, a compound of restaurants and shops not so far from the Concubine Lane. Inside Plan B are ruins of old buildings – most part of the compound is already built of new structures, but you can still feel nostalgic upon seeing ruins that were integrated to new, modern buildings. We enjoyed doing crazy photoshoots using the ruins and ailing wall paints as background.

This is one of the ruins frequented by tourists inside the famous compound of Plan B.

This is our favorite spot inside Plan B — it is also ruins that is perfect for photoshoot. Photo by Lea Galimba (IG: @meadowonthewall)

I think I have a love affair with old buildings, or heritage in general – and it is only just now that it sunk on me. I remember writing a lot of heritage stories when I was still working as a print journalist for a national daily in the Philippines.

Photo by Lea Galimba (IG: @meadowonthewall)

Going back to Ipoh – perhaps, I’m curious and enjoy thinking about the stories behind every building and structure, how it witnessed history unfolded, and how it became a part of history. These century-old buildings are the tangible manifestation of history – and I think investing on keeping their stories alive is worth the government and private sector’s resources. The Philippines has a lot to learn from Malaysia on keeping heritage alive in the midst of modernization.

Photo by Lea Galimba (IG: @meadowonthewall)

Our favorite street art in Ipoh where love of and for a mother is shown. Photo by Lea Galimba (IG: @meadowonthewall)

Our friends Lea and Neil

Ipoh Old Town is also known for its street arts that depict filial and romantic love, community spirit, and belief. The wall paintings are a few meters high, and clearly visible on the messages that the art is trying to convey. Every art is Instagrammable! Avid Instagrammers shall really enjoy posing and taking pictures. My favorite spot was where three paintings show a mother’s love to her children, and son’s care and love to his old mother. Malaysians are also family-oriented people.

We also visited Ling Sen Tong, a Chinese temple that was built at the foot of a stone mountain. I love seeing Chinese temples – testament of the Chinese rich belief.

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We tried to visit Kellie’s Castle – unfortunately we arrived late, that’s why we were not able to enter the premise. The site closes at around 6:00 o’clock in the evening. But the castle was visible from the highway – so we were still able to take some photos.

Next destination we visited was the Cameron Highlands – it’s my favorite. From the word itself, Cameron is located in the highlands of Malaysia. It has a chilly, truly relaxing, and laid-back weather which made it my favorite. More on this on the next blog.

We are planning to return to Malaysia to visit more places like in Ipoh. A five-day tour is really not enough.

Our trip to Malaysia would never be convenient without the assistance of Malphi Travel and Tours Co., a Malaysia-based, Filipina-owned travel and tour agency. Our trip was arranged according to our requests, according to the places that we wanted to visit. But take note also that they have standard packages available. One of the things that I really love about Malphi Travel and Tours Co., is that we were treated like a family starting on our arrival at KL and even up until now. It was never difficult to transact with them because being Filipinos we share the same culture, language, and common understanding. Thanks again, Malphi Travel and Tours, Co!

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By Lea Galimba 

Did you ever have that one thing you crave so much you cannot wait to have it?

Did you ever feel the kind of wanting so strong you could almost taste it?

I have been dreaming about this mountain for so long. Back then, I did not understand the strong desire to know it and to explore it. All I know is that I wanted it so much that I was willing to wait for months. When you want something so badly, you wait. No matter how hard it will be. You wait until it is ready for you. And the fact that I waited for months speaks volume.

There‘s just something about this mountain. I climbed mountains in the past and believe me, I love all of them but nothing draws me this hard before. It is maybe because someone told me I’ll love it and that I believed him or maybe because of its name.

The author at the edge of a mountain as she watches the sun rays tear the blanket of clouds over the mountain ranges.

To see it with my own eyes, to feel its grass beneath my feet, to breathe in its pine-scented smell made me swoon.  To say that it was beautiful is an understatement because it was more than that. It was magical. Every single detail. Every slope. Every curve. Every edge. Everything about it is beautiful.

I still cannot wrap my head around how this mountain welcomed me with open arms, how I instantly felt I belong there, how I marveled the possibility of being lost and being suspended in time and how easily it made me forget all my troubles and my shortcomings while I was on it. Until now, after climbing more mountains than I expected, I still cannot believe that something can hold such power over me.

Lately, some people would come up to me and tell me they like to see me after a climb. They would say that I look happy and content. Maybe because I really do feel happy and content when I climb. Mountains are my hiding place. It’s their company I would seek when I want solace.  It is their embrace I would long for when I need silence. It is their whispers that I would like to listen to when I want to have a talk with my heart and my mind.

Total disclosure: I am a sunset kind of girl. I will never get tired of watching it for I like how the sun casts a soft golden color into the sky when it is about to set. I may prefer sunsets but when you’re in the mountains, the rising and the setting of the sun are equally humbling experiences. There is something addicting about it. It is like you’ve finally found the last piece of a puzzle only to realize that the image is more beautiful than what you have imagined it to be; more vibrant. More fitting.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if getting through the pain is as graceful as the dancing clouds and as colorful as the sun casts golden rays as it take a rest for a new day? PHOTO BY LEA GALIMBA

And then, there came our first foggy night.

It was dark, chilly, and quiet. Lying awake, not saying anything and just absorbing everything has always been a favorite moment of mine. After a couple of hours, we opened up our tent and there it was – – displayed in a clear sky are millions of shining stars. I was, once again, blown away.

I was so into it; the stars, the stillness of the night, the chilly air, that it took me a few minutes to realized that I was holding someone’s hand. I knew that something‘s amiss. It doesn’t felt that way before. I never held someone’s hand that way since that fateful day. This time, holding that hand, I did not cringe. It didn’t remind me of the past. It, instead, reminded me of my present.

And then it struck me: it doesn’t hurt anymore. I don’t feel the pain from the past any longer. The realization was too abrupt, too sudden that I felt my head spinning. Wearing my heart on my sleeve in the open is something I promised myself not to do but in that moment, I was willing to break my own rule. I was more than willing to risk everything.

I would always choose to steal this kind of sight — a sight of peace, a sight of happiness. PHOTO BY LEA GALIMBA

I stole one embrace just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.  Still, no pain. No punched-in-the-gut feeling. No guilt. And for once, I did not feel the necessity to flee as fast as I possibly can and hide. I stayed there, my eyes closed, still holding his hand.  My senses were so alive I can hear his heart beating. Listening to it was like draping an emergency blanket on myself when I cannot take the cold anymore. The sound was so comforting I thought it was the most beautiful music I have ever listened to. And then it dawned on me:

I am free. I am healed. I got through it. Not over it but through it. And it felt good.

Watching the stars, holding his hand and listening to the beat of our hearts, it felt like my whole life came in sync with the mountain’s breathing. It felt wonderful. It also made me want to burst into tears because now, I know I already have something to lose. For things don’t get lost if they don’t have value. And that, right there, is too valuable for me.

It not only reminds me that I am finally healed; it tells me that I can take risks again. It makes me want to break some of my rules and be happy about it because it meant I wasn’t scared anymore. That it doesn’t hurt where it was supposed to be painful before. And most importantly, I have found my right way home.

For home is not a place. Home is that one person who can make you feel whole while looking at the scars from your past.  Home is when your heart feels like on the verge of bursting because when you look into his eyes, you don’t see your broken and battered self; but instead, you see someone beautiful. Someone who is almost resurrected.