Review by Barb & Ron Kroll

Travel Guide Book Title:

Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang
(Lonely Planet) ISBN 978-1741044850 1741044855

Theme:

Lonely Planet's guide to KL, Penang Island and Melaka, Malaysia, helps visitors discover what to see and do, where to stay and eat, and how to get around, with maps, weather, prices, opening hours and a Bahasa Malaysia to English translation guide.

Sample Items:

Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Penang lists top ten festivals and events. Thaipusam, for example, is held in January/February at Batu Caves as well as Waterfall Hilltop Temple and Nattukotai Chettiar Temple in Penang. Hindu pilgrims prepare themselves with a month of prayer, abstaining from sex and eating vegetarian diets. They pull wire kavadi cages in a procession, by attaching them to their skin with hooks. Pilgrims claim they feel no pain because the piercings take place while they're in a trance.

The Food and Drink chapter describes Malaysian food specialties like lontong (rice cooked in banana leaf-lined bamboo tubes), rojak pasembor (Malay salad with prawn fritters, coconut dumplings, tofu, cucumber and turnip) and teh halia (ginger tea). Eating and drinking highlights include a Nonya cuisine cooking course in Melaka.

Among the unique experiences listed is a roller coaster ride in the Berjaya Times Square shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

Climate charts depict annual temperatures and rainfall in Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown and Melaka.

Notable Elements:

Introduced by the British, tiffin, or snacking between meals, is a part of Malaysian culture. Readers learn that roti canai is a delicious snack of fried unleavened bread, served with rich and spicy sauces. Nasi lemak, rice in coconut cream, with dried anchovies and peanuts, is cooked and served, wrapped in banana leaves.

The Mamak Restaurants sidebar describes cheap Indian-Muslim hawker stalls in KL, e.g., Devi's Corner and Lotus Hotel. Mamak food specialties include hariyali tikka (spiced chicken with mint cooked in a tandoor oven) and nasi kandar (Penang-style steamed rice).

A glossary, in the 268-page Malaysia guide book, defines Malaysian terms like dato' or datuk (grandfather, a male title of distinction), pasar malam (night market) and warung (small eating stalls).

Tone / Style:

Well-organized and detailed, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Penang can be used for planning a vacation, as well as a guide during a Malaysia trip.

For example, the Melaka section begins with population (688,694), highlights (e.g., trishaw rides), Internet access (e.g., Surf Zone), history, orientation with city map, followed by descriptions of sights (e.g., Stadthuys), including hours, prices and contact information. Sidebars provide information on the pirate prince Parameswara, the Chinese descendants Baba (men) and Nonya (women), who intermingled with the Malaysians, and the top ten ways to enjoy Melaka's Chinatown. A two-day itinerary in Melaka City includes tasting local foods, a walking tour to see the Sultanate Palace and Jonker's Walk Night Market, for snacks and shopping.

Hotels range from guest houses, like the Number Twenty Guesthouse, to budget accommodations, such as Samudera Backpacker's Hostel. Restaurants span the spectrum from Low Yong Mow, in Chinatown, to the Newton Food Court hawker center, near Mahkota Parade Shopping Complex.

Information on day trips from Melaka specify distance and attractions. For example, Ayer Keroh, 15 kilometers northeast of Melaka, is home to the Melaka Zoo, the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary and Taman Mini Malaysia theme park.

Visuals:

Color photos illustrate Melaka, KL and Penang attractions like Nonya food, Khoo Kongsi Temple and the Thaipusam Hindu festival. Detailed, monochrome street maps locate hotels, restaurants, shops, bars, bus stations and tourist attractions. A useful route map depicts the KL subway, train and monorail systems, with stations.

Contents:

• On the road
• Highlights
• Destination Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Penang
• Getting started
• History
• The culture
• Food & Drink
• Environment
• Activities
• Kuala Lumpur
  • History
  • Orientation
  • Information
  • Dangers and annoyances
  • Sights
  • Activities
    • Walking tours
    • Quirky Kuala Lumpur
    • Courses
    • Kuala Lumpur for children
    • Tours
    • Festivals and events
    • Volunteering
    • Sleeping
    • Eating
    • Drinking
    • Entertainment
    • Shopping
    • Getting there and away
    • Getting around
  • Around Kuala Lumpur
    • South of Kuala Lumpur
    • North of Kuala Lumpur
• Melaka
  • Melaka City
    • History
    • Orientation
    • Information
    • Sights
    • Activities
    • Walking tour
    • Courses
    • Melaka for children
    • Wacky Melaka
    • Tours
    • Festivals and events
    • Sleeping
    • Eating
    • Drinking & Entertainment
    • Shopping
    • Getting there and away
    • Getting around
  • Around Melaka
    • Ayer Keroh
    • Pulau Besar
    • Alor Gajah
    • Tanjung Bidara
• Penang
  • History
  • Orientation
  • Festivals and events
  • Getting there and away
  • Getting around
  • Georgetown
    • History
    • Orientation
    • Information
    • Dangers and annoyances
    • Sights
    • Activities
    • Walking tours
    • Courses
    • Georgetown for children
    • Peculiar Penang
    • Tours
    • Volunteering
    • Sleeping
    • Eating
    • Drinking
    • Entertainment
    • Shopping
    • Getting there and away
    • Getting around
  • The Rest of the Island
    • Penang Hill
    • Kek Lok Si Temple
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah
    • Bukit Jambul Orchid & Hibiscus Garden & Reptile House
    • Pulau Jerejak
    • Snake Temple
    • Southern fishing villages
    • Balik Pulau
    • Sungai Pinang to Pantai Acheh
    • Titi Kerawang
    • Teluk Bahang & around
    • Batu Ferringhi
    • Tanjung Tokong
    • Tanjung Bungah & Pulau Tikus
  • Seberang Perai
    • Butterworth
    • Pulau Aman
• Directory
• Transport
• Health
• Language
• Glossary
• Behind the Scenes
• World Time Zones
• Map Legend

Authors:

Joe Bindloss (Kuala Lumpur) and Celeste Brash (Melaka and Penang), with contributions from Dr. Trish Batchelor and Robyn Eckhardt

 
Return to Travel Index

More things to see and do in Malaysia:

Penang Malaysia Hawker Stalls

Ramadan and Hari Raya in Malaysia

Borneo Holiday in Sarawak Malaysia Longhouses

Borneo Adventure and Cultural Experience

Malaysia Travel Guide