Multicultural Discoveries from Malaysia to Thailand

Nicknamed the Garden City, Singapore stretches across Malaysia's southern-most region. Experience the vibrant hustle and bustle of this city-state for yourself at the Marina Bay. No too far away is the historic centre, offering up a unique smorgasbord of neoclassical buildings and contemporary towers. Decked out in topiary, the pavements of Orchard Road are also home to countless shopping centres. The colourful markets in Chinatown and Little India are the perfect opportunity to quell hunger pangs in a hawker centre, one of the city's traditional snack bars. Between the two districts, get a slice of history with a trip to the Raffles dock. It was here that Englishman Sir Raffles, the founder of the city, is said to have arrived one fateful day in January 1819.

Lying along the shores of the eponymous Strait, Malacca City has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A witness of the maritime traffic between Asia and the West, the city is inextricably linked to the trade of spices and silk. This cultural oasis will show you the history of a fascinating ancient civilisation, the Baba Nyonya, the descendants of Chinese immigrants who married Malay women. In a Peranakan house in Chinatown, you will discover the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum, which reproduces the interior of a traditional elegant home from the 19th century. The Baba Nyonya were wealthy traders who liked to indulge their taste for sumptuous furniture made from teak and mother-of-pearl, rare jewels and silk brocade.

The country’s busiest commercial port, Port Klang was a royal capital before being colonised by the British in 1870. Near the Royal Palace, you’ll be able to admire the blend of Art deco and oriental style of the Sultan Suleiman Mosque. Completed in 1933, its conception resulted from a collaborative effort with the British and its concrete structure is particularly original for the time. Located around 30 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur, Port Klang is the ideal gateway for visiting the vibrant capital of Malaysia.

The leading British trading post of the Far East in the 19th century, this tiny island has a unique atmosphere of both East and West. Known as the “Pearl of the East” in the past, for its many trades of spice, fabrics, and tin, Penang has become one of the most sought-after destinations in Malaysia. George Town, its capital, is home to an extremely rich historical heritage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to discover the Blue Mansion, a real architectural marvel that blends traditional Chinese style with eastern elements.

Langkawi Island or Pulau Langkawi, also known as the “Malaysian paradise”, is the largest island in the eponymous archipelago. Composed of a group of 104 mostly uninhabited islands sitting atop the Andaman Sea, the archipelago, listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark, is brimming with natural wonders. Vast beaches of white sand line the contours of this island. Inland, it features jungle-covered hills, picturesque rice fields, ancient rock formations, and spectacular mountain peaks. The island is also home to several factories processing gamat, a sea cucumber used to produce a cream sought after for its medicinal and cosmetic virtues.

In the district of Ko Lanta in southern Thailand, Koh Rok island is actually two uninhabited twin islands, Koh Rok Nok and Koh Rok Nai. In the heart of a protected national park, Koh Rok Nok presents authentic scenery with lush vegetation, unusual coral reefs and surprising cliffs. At the island’s magnificent, crystal-clear beaches in the east, you will be able to have a wonderful time swimming or discovering the underwater world, brimming with myriad, rather friendly colourful fish.

A small island preserved from mass tourism, Ko Kradan has no villages, no shops, no cash machines. Only a few bungalows by the sea accommodate visitors. With its long white sandy beach bathing in the clear waters of the Andaman Sea, its deep jungle and its underwater world teeming with fauna and coral reefs, it is one of the jewels of the Hat Chao Mai National Park.

North of the island of Phuket, the Phang Nga province in southern Thailand is a protected national park since 1981. It is one of the wildest regions in Thailand, with vast stretches of lush old-growth forest, stunning waterfalls and sublime fine-sand beaches. Phang Nga is a province that is rich in traditions and natural beauty. Its bay offers a landscape of limestone karsts that seem to be balancing on the water. It is also home to the island nicknamed “James Bond island”, as an homage to the film Man with the Golden Gun, and to the island of Panyi, an unusual floating village with over 200 houses built on stilts and connected by wooden walkways.

Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, also known as the pearl of the Andaman, has majestic landscapes enhanced by a magnificent colour palette. Its lively, eponymous capital abounds with beautiful 19th-century houses, with embellished façades, and with markets where fruits and vegetables rival each other for flavours amidst street food stalls emanating appetising aromas. Although Phuket is a much appreciated tourist destination, it has still managed to preserve a few pieces of paradise off the beaten track. The charming shores, surrounded by hills with a thick covering of tropical vegetation, and the white sandy beaches make for an idyllic setting, while the underwater life provides a permanent show.