10 days in Malaysia - A Digital Nomad's Guide

As digital nomads, we need reasons to go to new destinations. Our 4th anniversary trip took us to Malaysia in February, for a 10 days travel with work. Here's a detailed account of our journey, with tips and highlights for fellow digital nomads.

Arrival in Kuala Lumpur

We landed in Kuala Lumpur, and good news for Indian travelers – the visa is free! Just fill out the digital arrival card and have it checked at immigration.

First Destination: Penang

The Journey

Our first stop was Penang, a heritage city rich in history and culture. However, we made a rookie mistake by not booking our bus in advance, ending up taking a cab from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, which cost us nearly 10,000 INR/ $119. This would have been a very convenient cheap train journey from Kuala to Penang (approx: 1450 INR per ticket/ $17 per ticket) but since we did not book the ticket in advance we had to get a taxi.

Accommodation

In Penang, we stayed for 3 days at a charming heritage hotel (Hotel Penaga) located in the heart of the city and on Hutton road (Cost 9000 INR for 2 days/ $110 for 2 days). The central location made it easy to explore the vibrant old streets, which blend historical charm with urban convenience.

Food and Cafes

We were impressed by the quick service at every café we visited. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Cafe Pinwheel - Really good sphagetti pasta and coffee.

2. Cafe Wheeler's - Amazing quick service and taste

3. Founders cafe - A new cafe with great ambience with very average food

Sightseeing

Our self-guided city tour included:

• George Town

• Chew Jetty

• Little India

• Fort Cornwallis
  

On the second day, we visited Penang Hill via the funicular ride, a highlight of our trip. The 3-4 hour guided tour covered the hill's key sites. The per head tickets were 2500 INR.

1. Penang Hill Funicular Train

2. The Habitat Penang Hill

3. Cliff Cafe / Astaka Bukit Bendera

4. David Brown's Restaurant

5. Monkey Cup Garden

6. Owl Museum

7. Kopi Hutan

8. Curtis Crest Top treewalk

We also explored several Buddhist temples, adding a spiritual dimension to our journey.

Relaxation

Foot reflexology is a must-try in Penang and throughout Malaysia. After long days of walking, we indulged in this relaxing treatment almost every evening. The rainy weather added to the soothing experience.

Work Setup

The internet in Penang was decent, making it easy for us to work from our hotel at night.

Tip: 

• Try booking the trains for the inter-state transfer as they are super convenient and pocket-friendly. since, they get booked pretty fast you need to plan the booking in advance.

• A city tour on cycle can be a fun time at Penang. we couldn't do it because of the time limitations.

Second Destination: Langkawi

Arrival and Atmosphere

Langkawi, known for its serene beaches, greeted us with humidity and tranquility. It was quiet since it was just after the Chinese New Year.

Accommodation

We stayed at a beautiful resort (Frangipani Beach Resort) with a private beach, a common feature in Langkawi (Cost 27000 INR for 3 days). You can go for any resort in that belt as almost all are worthy experience. Finding public beaches was challenging, but the exclusivity added to the charm.

Anniversary Celebration

We celebrated our anniversary at Tanjung Rhu Resort, famous for its stunning sunsets and a ,must visit places in Langkawi. From our vantage point, we could see the islands of Thailand across the horizon. We enjoyed a beachside dinner on the beach, costing 12,000 INR. The four-course meal, private beach space, and dedicated butler made it worth every penny.

Sightseeing

The first half of the day started with our Langkawi half day tour included: We booked a private tour 4000 INR per head. However there are many shared tours which costs around 200-2500 INR per head.

• Mangrove Boat Tour

• Island Hopping

• Bat Cave

• Fish Farm

• Andaman Sea

• Crocodile Cave

• Kilim Geological Forest

The next day we stepped outside and went to Atma Alam Batik Art Village, the local batik art studio. Finally we headed to the Ritz calton seaside restaurant and enjoyed the sunset at the infinity pool, which was an experience in it's own. We stayed on the beach and worked the whole day and with the most beautoiful sunset we wrapped our last day at Langkawi.

Cuisine

Malaysian cuisine, with its South Indian Kerala influences, delighted our taste buds. Nasi lemak became our favorite dish throughout the trip.

Tip: Since the best beach view resorts are costly here, you can stay at an affordable one and spend the daytime and evenings at the restaurants and beaches of the costly resorts.

Final Destination: Kuala Lumpur

Arrival and Accommodation

Kuala Lumpur, one of the greenest capital cities we've seen, was our final stop. We spent 3 days in Kuala Lumpur and were impressed by the friendliness of the locals. The city, with its skyscrapers, delicious food, and welcoming people, left a lasting impression on us.We stayed at Mingle Highstreet, a boutique hostel with excellent Wi-Fi, perfect for working digital nomads.

Then we stayed at

Exploring the City

We stayed in the city center, making it easy to walk to main tourist spots. The older side of the city offered a different charm. The hostel community manager took us to a morning walk tour of the botanical garden and explained us the relevance of the nearby areas.

• Perdana Botanical Gardens

• Sultan Abdul Samad Building

• River of Life

• Jamek Mosque

• National Mosque (Masjid Negara)

• Central Eye Market Kuala Lumpur - Good for souvenier and local shopping

• Petaling Street Market.

The second day we headed to the Batu Caves which was an hour drive from the city and witnessed:

• Kanching rainforest waterfall - a small hike

• Climbed 272 colorful steps of Batu Caves and the temple inside was mesmerizing.

The final day we shifted to Jalan area as new part of the city provided an incredible view of the Petronas Towers from our glass-walled Airbnb (Penthouse on 34) room just for it's view.

The third was about the city tour and we stepped out in the evening:

• The petronas - twin tower

• The malls around petronas - There are quite a few good malls around

Food and Cafes

We were stunned at the perfect coffee and food at every cafe that we went. Since we stayed at Minglestreet at jalan Alor, there were a good amount of cafes nearby. Actually it's worth taking a stop at any cafe and grab some good coffee and work with high speed internet. Some of our favourites were:

• Feeka Coffee Roasters

• Mingle Cafe

• Timothy cafe - Best nasi lemak platter

• LOKL cafe
  

Tip: Try to witness the Petronas at night as it is immensely gorgeous at night.

It's worth witnessing the River of Life at night too as the lightning show is exclusive.

Key Highlights of Our Malaysia Trip

• Great Food: The blend of local and Indian flavors was delightful.

• Art and Craft: Batik art was at best.

• Quick Service: Every café and restaurant we visited offered prompt service.

• Affordable Living: Malaysia is budget-friendly for travelers.

• Good Internet/Wifi: Reliable connectivity even in cafes made working remotely easy.

• Natural Beauty: The scenic landscapes, especially in Langkawi and Penang, were breathtaking.

• Massage and foot refloxology - Most of the places were great

• Urban Convenience and friendly locals: Kuala Lumpur’s modern amenities and vibrant city life.
  

Our anniversary trip to Malaysia was a perfect blend of work and leisure, offering beautiful experiences and valuable lessons for digital nomads. Whether you’re exploring heritage cities or relaxing on serene islands, Malaysia has something for every traveler.