Flavours of Malaysia - Destination Services

Flavours of Malaysia
Country: Malaysia
Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
ROUND-TRIP
Route:
Type of tour:
Round-trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang
Culture and gastronomy
Your tour designer
Steffanie Tan |E: [email protected] | T: (+60) 4 376 1101
TOUR OVERVIEW
Savour the very best Malaysia has to offer with this delicious 11-day gastronomic pilgrimage from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, the country’s
culinary capital. Reflecting Malaysia’s multicultural mix, the cuisine is a tantalising blend of Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes with a
healthy dose of European influences. Every day is a feast of the senses as you wander through fragrant markets and spice gardens, make
your very own delicacies at cookery workshops, munch on tasty street food and dine in the most renowned restaurants.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Chinatown: Stroll through the bustling Petaling Street for an
insight into the Kuala Lumpur’s thriving Chinese community
The high life: Dine in 23rd and 57th floor restaurants boasting
panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur’s futuristic skyline
Cooking classes: Pick your own fresh ingredients from the
morning market and then make your own Malay lunch
Kuala Lumpur: Visit the top sights and attractions in the capital
with a lifestyle and culture tour
Victorian values: Eat at colonial-era mansions in George Town
and see how the elite lived in the halcyon days of empire
Trishaw treats: Feast your way through George Town on a
trishaw, stopping at hawker’s stalls, bakeries and eateries
DON’T MISS!
Kuala Lumpur: Munch on some goreng
pisang – the deep-fried banana fritters
that are a local delicacy
Penang: Few of the mosques or churches
in the island can match the colour of Wat
Chayamangkalaram Thai Buddhist temple
George Town: Try Tambun biscuits, which
are flaky pastries filled with a sweet mung
bean paste fried with shallots
DAY BY DAY
D1 KUALA LUMPUR
Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you will be met at the arrivals hall by a representative and transferred to what will
be your accommodation for the next five nights, the five-star JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur. This exclusive hotel is located in what is popularly
known as the Golden Triangle, the main shopping and nightlife district. Facilities include a fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool,
whirlpool and sauna, and tennis courts. Once you have checked in and are all settled in, meet at the lobby for departure at 19:00 hours
to Bijan Bar & Restaurant in the leafy Bukit Ceylon district. Here you will enjoy a Malay set dinner (exclusive of drinks) in chic and
contemporary Asian surroundings. Dishes at Bijan mix traditional recipes with modern innovations, a fusion of forgotten favourites and
delicious new flavours and textures. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur.
D2 KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures with more than 130 languages, four main religions and three alphabets, and this diversity is evident
even within each constituent demographic. As you’ll learn over the coming days, ethnic Chinese make up about a quarter of the country’s
population – in Kuala Lumpur they account for more than 40% – but even they are extremely diverse. There are Hokkien, Cantonese,
Peranakan… each making an invaluable contribution to Malaysian society, culture and commerce. At 09:30 hours, you will be immersed
in KL’s vibrant Chinese scene with the start of Petaling Street Heritage Food Trail. For two-and-a-half hours, we will explore the beating
heart of the capital’s Chinatown, trawling the morning market and the side alleys where food stall hawkers and small restaurants have
been selling delicious street food for decades. The sights, sounds and scents of Chinatown will tickle your palate all morning long. During
this walk, you will gain an understanding of the different types of food and the traditions related to them, and sample a selection of
signature dishes, snacks and drinks. Once your appetite has been insatiably whetted, we’ll stop for a hawker’s lunch (exclusive of drinks)
in the lower ground floor of Lot 10 Hutong food court. This foodie’s paradise is home to more than 30 eateries, many of which have been
owned by the same families for generations. Each one offers a different dining experience, whether it is clay pot chicken rice, fried
oysters, beef ball noodles, roast duck, Hokkien noodles, kong tai Singapore prawn mee, soong kee beef noodles or Hainan chicken rice –
you will be spoiled for choice. After lunch, return to the hotel for a free afternoon, meeting again shortly before 19:00 hours to head off
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for dinner. This evening’s venue is Marini’s on 57, a modern restaurant serving traditional Italian dishes that are as spectacular as the
views from the 57th floor at the top of PETRONAS Tower 3. This slice of Italian heaven in the Kuala Lumpur sky boasts the best front row
views in town of the twin towers. Marini’s is the place to be and it has an unparalleled selection of pre-dinner cocktails and premium
whiskeys to savour after feasting on your Italian set dinner (exclusive of drinks). Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala
Lumpur.
D3 KUALA LUMPUR
Today begins with a hands-on cooking experience that will have you licking your fingers in no time as we partake in a five-hour wok
course in the jungle outside Kuala Lumpur. Depart at 07:30 hours for the LaZat Cooking School in the lush Penchala Hills, where the
sound of roosters crowing and monkeys scampering in the rainforest is part of everyday life. Begin with a market tour to buy the fresh
ingredients for the class and then continue to the school for a jaunt through the exotic herb garden, where vital ingredients in Malay
cooking abound. Catch a scent of bird’s eye chili, turmeric plants, lemongrass, curry leaves and kaffir lime, and imagine how they would
spice up a dish. Then it’s time to try your hand in the kitchen, using traditional stone and wooden utensils in the modern kitchen under
the guidance of your expert instructor. After sweating it out in the kitchen, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The afternoon is
free. Meet shortly before 18:30 hours in the hotel to depart for the popular Noble Mansion restaurant to feast on an eight-course
Chinese dinner (exclusive of drinks). Dishes at Noble Mansion tend to be a modern take on traditional recipes, a policy which is matched
by the décor, where flowery upholstery, gilded ceilings and auspicious Chinese proverbs adorn shiny, black lacquered walls. Among the
house specialities are liver sausage in char siew roll, giant scallops, fresh water prawns, ocean grouper and seafood wok, and steamed
live Australian perch with chef’s special preserved radish. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur.
D4 KUALA LUMPUR (160km – 2.5 hrs)
You are what you eat and what better way to see how it applies to KL-ites than by getting to know them – and their food, of course –
with a full day Kuala Lumpur lifestyle and culture trail. After a leisurely breakfast, depart from the hotel at 09:00 hours for an interactive
experience, which will acquaint you with the capital, from the hidden gems to its most dazzling attractions. To enhance your enjoyment,
you will be given a ‘passport’, which will act as an agenda and guide with maps and clues during the trail as you carry out the prescribed
tasks and solve puzzles through 10 checkpoints in Kuala Lumpur. A certificate of completion will be presented with an exclusive printed
T-shirt to mark the completion of the activity. (Please wear light clothing comfortable and walking shoes or sandals. Bringing a hat and
drinking water is also advisable.)
So hop on the KL Light Railway Transit system and discover places like Kampung Baru (a Malay village) to sample traditional Malay cakes
and also to take a selfie with the iconic Kuala Lumpur City Centre in the background. Hop off at Brickfields and find yourself immersed in
the sights, sounds and scents of Little India, and head to Chow Kit to visit the largest wet market in Kuala Lumpur. Have fun tossing and
flipping roti canai (Indian flatbread) until they become transparently thin, making them light and crispy when fried. Challenge yourself to
‘pull’ teh tarik, Malaysia’s national beverage, without dripping a single drop on the floor. And along the way there are plenty of
opportunities to nibble on multicultural delicacies. From the fascinating experience of a local wet market to getting a beautiful henna
tattoo, you will come away with a memorable Malaysian experience from the morning leg. Take a break for lunch at Bombay Palace,
which has earned itself a reputation as the ‘culinary ambassador of India’. Here you can choose from a menu that features dishes from
many of India’s regions, with trained chefs turning out a range of northern specialities that feature anything from 20 to 40 herbs and
spices. The afternoon is free. Meet shortly before 19:00 hours in the hotel to depart for The Troika, an exclusive condominium, for dinner
at Cantaloupe. Located on the 23rd floor, this modern French restaurant serves classic favourites, with the occasional Malay inspiration
added by chef Christian Bauer. Dishes such foie gras satay, roast Wagyu sirloin and butter-poached lobster with fried beef tendon are
made with the utmost intricacy and innovation, and are full of rich flavours. This select dining experience is enhanced by the stunning
views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline, with the Twin Towers and KL Tower visible. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur.
D5 KUALA LUMPUR
Enjoy the day at your own leisure in the multicultural metropolis that is Kuala Lumpur. This city of more than 1.6 million inhabitants
is not even two centuries old but what it lacks in history is more than compensated by what it offers as a vision of the city of the
future. The options (not included) are myriad: you can hop on the monorail and meander between t he skyscrapers, alighting to
explore districts such as Brickfields, popularly known as Little India, or must-see locations such as the art deco Central Market and
the National Mosque, a magnificent example of 1960s religious architecture surrounded by lush landscaped gardens. Perhaps head
to Jalan Alor, an area renowned for its savoury street food, or to the ‘Golden Triangle’, the capital’s shopping and entertainment hub.
Almost on the doorstep of the hotel are the PETRONAS Twin Towers, which rise to a dizzying height of 452 metres above the city. The
twin towers are linked by a double-decker sky bridge at 170 metres and there’s a viewing platform in the 86th storey, which is at 360
metres. The views, needless to say, are breathtaking. Nearby is the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, where the 421-metre-high Kuala
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Lumpur Tower is located. It has an observation deck and revolving restaurant, which allows for dramatic 360° view of the city 's skyline
while enjoying a meal. Perhaps you could head to the northern neighbourhood of Setapak Jaya for a tour of the Royal Selangor Visitor
Centre. The company has been manufacturing the finest pewter products since 1885 and is today the largest of its kind in the world,
making more than 70 items from aerators to wine glasses, with almost 90 different ranges featuring designs from classical to modern.
Explore the dazzling exhibition chronicling the company’s growth and witness the production process first hand. Overnight on a bedand-breakfast basis in Kuala Lumpur.
D6 KUALA LUMPUR – PENANG (330km – 4 hrs)
Meet at the lobby after breakfast for departure at 09:00 hours to the charming island of Penang, which is in the Andaman Sea. Enjoy a
pleasant drive towards Malaysia’s north-western coast, crossing three states along the way. Pass through beautiful, pastoral countryside
with palm oil and rubber plantations and the dramatic Cameron Highlands on the horizon to the right. Cross the Selatan Strait to Penang
via the 13.5km-long Penang Bridge, an awe-inspiring feat of engineering, and continue to the north of the island, arriving at about 13:00
hours for check-in at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, your accommodation for the next five nights. The afternoon is free for
you to relax in the luxurious surroundings of the resort or venture out at your own leisure. Set in a stunning location, hemmed in by
verdant woodlands and a 2km-long golden beach, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa is a veritable Garden of Eden, with centuryold trees rising above you and lush foliage dropping to the green, grassy ground. Lounge by the pool or sip a refreshing drink from the
poolside bar, or go for a stroll on the strand and savour this moment of sheer bliss. Meet at the lobby for departure at 19:00 hours to
head out to George Town and taste some of the local hawkers’ street food, which is renowned throughout Malaysia. Tuck into Penang’s
tantalising national dish, char koay teow (fried flat rice noodles) or indulge in other mouth-watering local favourites such as the sizzling
satay, fragrant chicken rice, fried oysters, laksa (rice noodles with spicy, sour broth) and prawn noodles. Overnight on a bed-andbreakfast basis in Penang.
D7 PENANG
Penang is considered the culinary capital of Malaysia and nowhere is the diversity of dishes and range of flavours more evident than in
its beautiful capital, George Town. You don’t walk its streets – you devour them. Every corner you turn is a new gastronomic adventure,
with hawkers selling delicious street food. The Indian food is heavily inspired by southern Indian Tamil cuisine while the Chinese food
blends Cantonese recipes with the autochthonous Peranakan (also known as Nyonya) kitchen. Depart the resort at 09:00 hours for a
four-hour heritage and traditional food trail, stopping en route to try popular breakfasts such as apom manis (Indian crepes made with
coconut milk) and apam balik (Malaysian peanut pancakes) which are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It won’t be long
before we visit a biscuit shop to check out the fare such as mee ko (pink-coloured tortoise-shaped buns) which were traditionally eaten
on birthdays or festivals and are now eaten all the time, either plain, toasted or fried with eggs like French toast. By this stage, we’ll have
munched our way right into central George Town, where we head to the Maliia Bakery, which since 1928 has been baking the best roti
Benggali (Indian bread) in town. The crust is chewy but the crumb inside is pillow-soft .The bread can be dipped in coffee or spread with
butter or coconut jam. We pick up the pace as we hop on trishaws to go and meet Uncle Lim, a local legend who for half a century has
been making hand-made poh piah spring rolls.
Next on the menu, if you can find the space in your tummy, are the long and crispy dough fritters known as Chinese cruller, which are a
popular breakfast. There’s time for one more foodie fixture before lunch, when we stop at Leong Chee Kee Biscuits. This family-run
bakery in the backstreets of Chinatown is renowned for its coconut tarts, egg cakes and pepper biscuits. We now head to the leafy
suburbs to enjoy lunch at a venue steeped in history. Suffolk House is a restaurant located in the immaculately restored Georgian
mansion built by the founder of the British colony of Penang. Savour a Western set lunch in the charming old world surrounds decorated
with period furniture redolent of the sophistication and elegance of colonial Malaya. After lunch, return to the hotel for a free afternoon,
meeting again shortly before 19:00 hours to head off for dinner. This evening we have on the table a Peranakan set dinner (exclusive of
drinks) at Kebaya Restaurant in the Seven Terraces boutique hotel, which is located in a row of beautifully renovated 19th century AngloChinese townhouses. The menu is a blend of classic Indo and Straits Chinese dishes, prepared with innovative French cooking techniques
that add new twists to local staples such fresh chillies, shallots, garlic, kaffir lime, turmeric and ginger. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast
basis in Penang.
D8 PENANG
Today we’re cooking up a storm at the amazing Tropical Spice Garden with a four-hour cookery class. Depart the hotel at 09:00 hours
for this beautiful complex overlooking the Strait of Malacca. Before the lesson starts, there’s a guided tour of the spice terraces and a pit
stop to relax over a steaming cup of herbal tea sweetened with stevia leaves. Then it’s off to the kitchen, where you will soon be engulfed
in a cloud of fragrant aromas. Once everything has been prepared, you can savour the fruits of your labour at The Pavilion (exclusive of
drinks). After lunch, return to the hotel for a free afternoon, meeting again shortly before 19:00 hours to head off for dinner (exclusive
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of drinks) at BTB & Restaurant. Located in ChinaHouse – a compound of three heritage houses linked by an open-air courtyard – it serves
modern Western dishes influenced by Asian and Middle Eastern flavours. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Penang.
D9 PENANG
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the resort and relax for the rest of the morning as the day’s activities don’t begin until midday. Meet at the
lobby to depart for a fascinating tour that focuses on George Town’s Peranakan heritage and a rather more modern and unusual addition
to its cultural scene. Visit the magnificent Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, which stands defiantly as a symbol of Penang’s past while modern
buildings go up around it. This impressive indigo-coloured villa was built by a Chinese merchant in the late 19th century and boasts aweinspiring decoration – interior and exterior – which is the labour of master craftsmen brought in from China who used materials such as
porcelain, cast iron, teak and clay tiles. After decades of gradual decline, it underwent a remarkable restoration in the late Nineties, which
was so thorough that it won the inaugural Most Excellent UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award in 2000. Today, its 38 rooms,
five courtyards, seven staircases and 220 windows offer a wonderfully atmospheric insight into the halcyon days of colonial George Town.
Lunch (exclusive of drinks) will be at the mansion’s restaurant, which serves refined modern Cantonese cuisine.
After lunch, visit the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, which is just over a kilometre away. Its immaculately preserved jade-green façade
immediately marks it out from the earthier state of its surroundings. This historic house museum preserves the Victorian ornamentation
of the home of a prominent ethnic Chinese merchant from the late 19th century. The Peranakans are assimilated ethnic Chinese who
have lived in Malaysia for centuries – in Penang they account for almost half of the population. This lavishly decorated mansion boasts
more than 1,000 pieces of antiques and collectibles, and features an eclectic design, incorporating Chinese carved-wood panels, English
ceramic floor tiles and Scottish cast iron balustrades, balconies and railings. Refreshments of Chinese tea and local Chinese cakes will be
serve at the mansion. Back on the street, expect to happen upon evocative and eye-catching – and often three-dimensional – murals
painted on walls and street furniture such as phone booths. It’s not graffiti but rather a ground-breaking and thought-provoking project,
known as Mirrors of George Town, which was part of the 2012 George Town Festival. The murals, which depict humorous paintings of
subjects such as children at play, toys, animals and other surreal images, are the handiwork of young Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic.
After the rawness of the street art, we’re back to lavish luxury for a sensational evening dinner (exclusive of drinks) at the dazzling dining
room in Macalister Mansion, a restored century-old colonial mansion. The eclectic décor of the mansion is sure to provide as much
conversation as the excellent modern cuisine, made from the finest quality ingredients. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Penang.
D10 PENANG
The last full day in Penang is free for you to enjoy all to yourself. You can while away the time relaxing by the stunning pool at ShangriLa’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, swim in the warm waters of the Andaman Sea or explore Penang on your own. The island boasts a wealth
of attractions from the natural majesty of Penang National Park to manmade marvels such as Kek Lok Si Temple – which blends Burmese,
Thai and Chinese Buddhist architecture. Maybe you enjoy a fun and entertaining interlude at the Made in Penang Interactive Museum in
George Town. This surreal gallery exhibits humorous and irreverent three-dimensional art as well as historical showcases of miniature
dioramas depicting Penang’s history and its early settlements. Also worth a detour is St George’s Church, a pristine white Anglican place
of worship that is perhaps one of the best examples of Palladian architecture to be found in south-east Asia. With its manicured front
lawn, complete with gazebo, it’s a little piece of England in the heart of George Town. Altogether more rustic is the earthy Chew Jetty, a
bustling waterfront area of ‘homes on stilts’, which form a water village dating back to the early Chinese immigrants. In contrast, the
hard-hitting War Museum offers an insight into the darkest chapter of Penang’s recent history. One of George Town’s hidden gems is the
Penang Hill railway, a funicular line, which plies a scenic 2km-long route from the suburb of Air Itam to Penang Hill. It lies at 823 metres
above sea level and offers wonderful panoramic views of the capital, the Strait of Malacca and mainland Malaysia in the horizon. Lunch
and dinner at own expense. Overnight on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Penang.
D11 PENANG
Savour one final breakfast at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and enjoy the its facilities until it’s time to leave for the airport for
your onward flight.
*****END OF SERVICES*****
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INCLUDED
Tour guide:

Operated with English-speaking driver-guide
Accommodation:

Five nights in a deluxe room on a bed-and-breakfast basis at the five-star JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur

Five nights is a Rasa superior room on a bed-and-breakfast basis in the Rasa Wing of the five-star Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang
Resort and Spa in Penang
Meals:

Eight dinners and six lunches
Transport:

Air-conditioned transportation for transfers and tours on a private basis as stated in the programme
Entrance fees and activities:

All entrance fees as indicated: Petaling Street Heritage Food Trail, LaZat Cooking School, Kuala Lumpur lifestyle and culture trail
with T-shirt, George Town heritage and traditional food trail, Suffolk House, Tropical Spice Garden cookery class, Cheong Fatt Tze
Mansion and Pinang Peranakan Mansion
NOT INCLUDED






Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme
Gratuity for driver and guide
Optional tours
Activities during free time on Day 5 and Day 10
Compulsory festival/peak season surcharges if stated separately
International or domestic flight tickets and airport taxes or visa fees
RECOMMENDATIONS
Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Malaysia. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short
skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting places of worship, religious or official buildings. Shoes should be removed before entering a
temple or private house. Sun protection, sun glasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay
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