Malaysia 2026
After two days in Bangkok, it was time to add another country to my daughter’s ever-growing list of visited countries, number 27 for this soon-to-be 8-year-old 🌏 For me, it was a return to Malaysia after 20 years, but with a twist: this time I was exploring two islands I’d never been to before.
We flew with AirAsia, the largest low-cost airline in Asia (and repeatedly voted the world’s best low-cost airline), via Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. From there, we grabbed a Grab to Tanjung Rhu, a peaceful beach about 20 km from the island’s main tourist areas. Known for its powdery white sand, limestone karsts, and crystal-clear water 🌊
Langkawi Island
Tanjung Rhu
For the next two nights, we stayed at the Tanjung Rhu Resort, a beautiful 5-star hotel that we got for CHF 130 per night. This is one of the things I love about travelling in Southeast Asia, you can occasionally treat yourself to a little luxury without needing to sell a kidney🤭
If you are a romantic, you can book a dinner on the empty beach to enjoy a nice meal and the sunset with your favorite person for CHF 110 🌅 I wish we would’ve done that 😍
I loved waking up to a chorus of birdsong and the sound of waves gently crashing on the shore, before heading to breakfast to feast on delicious tropical fruits and all sorts of other delicacies 🤤
how cute can you be? squirrel: yes
Tanjung Rhu Resort
it pays off to be off the grid
in my element
After a full day of doing absolutely nothing but lounging by the pool and swimming in the sea, we joined a tour to the Kilim Geoforest Park for just CHF 10 per person. Dating back around 500 million years, it’s one of Langkawi’s oldest natural treasures.
Cruising through the mangroves felt like entering another world, with towering limestone cliffs, winding waterways, and monkeys swinging through the trees 🐒 But the real highlight was watching Langkawi’s magnificent white-bellied sea eagles soaring overhead before swooping down to catch fish with incredible precision 🦅.
The only downer of the tour was our guide, who easily wins my award for the grumpiest guide ever. He barely explained anything, so I ended up asking AI instead. At one point, a Chinese lady asked him what eagles eat, and his answer was, “Google it if you want to know.” Safe to say, customer service wasn’t his strong suit 🤭
When we arrived at the bat cave 🦇, there was a warning sign about monkeys. As I was walking up the stairs, I suddenly felt something grab the strap of my backpack. I nearly jumped out of my skin before realizing it was, in fact, a monkey checking whether I had any snacks for him.
A little travel tip: if you’re travelling outside Europe, seriously consider getting the rabies vaccine before you go. Rabies is almost 100% fatal once symptoms develop, so it’s one of those things you really don’t want to take chances with😏
I have a love/hate relationship with monkeys
Pantai Cenang
In Pantai Cenang e checked into the Holiday Villa Beach Resort & Spa, a 4-star beachfront hotel for CHF 110 per night. After having a look around the hotel and pool area, I quickly realized it just wasn’t my kind of place. The atmosphere felt a bit too busy for my taste, so personally, I wouldn’t stay there again.
I usually prefer smaller, more charming boutique hotels or Airbnb‘s, but I couldn’t really find one in this area.
We did have fun making the most of the hotel facilities, working out in the gym blasting music because we were alone and playing tennis together (quickly realizing that it’s not our sport 🤭).
We also found a great little breakfast spot called Latitude 6, serving different kinds of matcha, delicious waffles, and pancakes. Definitely the kind of place that makes you happily start the day a little slower.
At night, they have fire shows on the beach, which I actually enjoyed… until the performers started coming into the crowd, spinning flaming sticks above people’s heads. I’m all for a bit of excitement, but my trust level for people swinging fire around above our heads is surprisingly low. Call me boring, but I prefer my eyebrows exactly where they are 🫣
One thing that is really important to me when we travel is that it’s not only about seeing new places, but also about teaching my daughter through experiences. I want her to understand the world beyond what she reads in books - to meet different people, see different realities, and learn empathy along the way.
In New York, for example, we did a project with homeless people, and here in Langkawi I found another opportunity. When I saw the amount of plastic that had washed up from the ocean onto the beach, I decided that every day we were there, we would spend some time cleaning it up.
I explained to her that plastic doesn’t biodegrade, but instead breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics, which can harm our oceans, ecosystems, and animals. Seeing the problem right in front of her made it much more real than simply hearing about it.
She immediately understood, was incredibly motivated, and helped like a true little trash hero 🌊🩵
The coolest part was seeing our small effort inspire others to help too. Together, we collected a lot of plastic that would have ended up back in the ocean.
Never underestimate a small act; it can inspire more people than you think.
fun me time
the trash we collected on the beach
we love Japanese food
breakfast goals
Unfortunately, the one thing I really wanted to do in Langkawi, the famous cable car and Sky Bridge with its incredible panoramic views over the island, was closed for maintenance. So instead, we headed to the Seven Wells Waterfall.
We started the day with some serious exercise: 1,287 steps up and down in 32 degrees and 90% humidity 🥵 Followed by a jungle hike to the Blue Lagoon, a beautiful little swimming spot with a waterfall in the middle of the jungle, where we could finally cool down after the climb.
Along the way, we got spooked by a tree root that looked suspiciously like a snake and gave us a little scare 🤭 Langkawi’s rainforest is full of life, from monkeys and colourful birds to monitor lizards and countless smaller creatures hiding among the trees. You never really know what you might discover around the next corner, which makes exploring the island even more exciting.
On the way back down, we stopped at the different swimming holes along the waterfall and turned the smooth rocks into our own natural water slides. We were having the best time until a monkey decided to remind everyone who was really in charge of the jungle, stealing a phone from someone’s bag and making a quick getaway😅
getting our steps in
monkey business
the blue lagoon in the middle of the jungle
forever a sunset lover
fire shows are very common as entertainment at night
each plate was 70 cents
Pantai Cenang Beach
chiips in Asia be like...
the Langkawi Eagle
Penang Island
Batu Ferringi
It was time to head to the second island on our itinerary: Penang. Since the direct ferry between Langkawi and Penang was discontinued a few years ago, we hopped on a 25-minute AirAsia flight instead, which cost just CHF 35 per person.
AirAsia surprised us by celebrating a child’s birthday on board. There was singing, a little gift, applause from the whole cabin… the full birthday package at 30,000 feet. 🥳
Landing in Penang felt like entering a completely different world. We had swapped Langkawi’s laid-back island vibe for a bustling city with high-rises, busy streets, and a lot more energy.
Often considered one of Malaysia’s cultural and historical gems, Penang is also famous as the country’s food capital. As a foodie, I was excited to see if it would live up to its reputation.
One of the things I find most fascinating about Malaysia is its cultural diversity. The population is mainly made up of Malays, Chinese, and Indians, all of whom have shaped the country’s traditions, food, and everyday life.
Islam is the official religion, and you’ll hear the call to prayer echoing through many towns and cities. At the same time, Malaysia is home to large Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian communities, making it common to see mosques, Chinese temples, and colourful Hindu shrines all within a short distance of each other.
I had booked the 5-star PARKROYAL Penang Resort for CHF 130 per night in Batu Ferringhi, Penang’s most popular beach resort area on the island’s northern coast. Batu Ferringhi is known for its long sandy beach, relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful sunsets.
The beautiful pool area is surrounded by lush tropical gardens filled with palm trees and exotic plants, creating a peaceful oasis right by the beach. As someone who loves tropical greenery, this was easily one of the most beautiful hotel settings I’ve ever stayed in. The best part? You could even spot dusky leaf monkeys swinging through the trees around the resort, making it feel like you were staying right in the middle of nature 🐒🌴
Of course, the first thing we wanted to do was check out the beautiful beach right in front of the hotel. It looked like the perfect place to relax… until I noticed a man who immediately made me feel uneasy. He was wearing long sleeves despite the tropical heat, ripped jeans, had long rugged hair, and kept staring at us.
We walked further down the beach, stopped at the water sports centre for a few minutes, and then settled by the water so my daughter could play in the sand while I was only a few metres away in the water. When I looked back, I saw the same man approaching her. It was obvious he had followed us. She instinctively walked over to a woman nearby, and I immediately ran over.
He just stood there, staring at me. I grabbed my daughter, and we left. When I realized he was following us back towards our hotel, we went straight to security. I didn’t confront him because his backpack was wide open, and I didn’t want to take any chances.
I think the hardest part of being a mum is finding the balance between giving my daughter the freedom and independence she needs to grow, while knowing how fucked up the world can be. Moments like this reinforce all my fears.
Navigating that balance is incredibly hard… All I can do is talk openly about the dangers, teach her to trust her instincts, and trust mine too.
Thankfully, that unsettling encounter didn’t ruin our time in Penang. The next day, we hopped on a boat to Monkey Beach in Penang National Park. For the first hour, we had the entire beach almost to ourselves. We went for a swim, relaxed on the sand, and watched the monkeys play in the trees around us.
Parkroyal Resort Penang
in my element
Asian proposals hit different
the cue to stay in bed
dusky leaf monkey, so cute
Monkey Beach
CHF 6 for EVERYTHING
monkeys just wanna have fun
awwww
jungleing around
eat. sleep. coconut. repeat.
best breakfast buffet
One thing worth knowing about Langkawi and Penang is that, because they lie along the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, the water isn’t the crystal-clear turquoise you might find on some nearby Thai islands. That said, both islands make up for it with incredible nature, wildlife, culture, and food.
The rest of our time in Batu Ferringhi was all about slowing down. We spent our days relaxing by the pool, sipping fresh coconuts, eating way too much ice cream, treating ourselves to massages, and indulging in one of the best breakfast buffets of the trip. There were live stations for pancakes, omelettes, and roti canai, alongside fresh tropical fruit, different kinds of noodles, fragrant curries, and plenty of other delicious treats. Let’s just say… we definitely never started the day hungry 🤭
I even managed to squeeze in a few workouts at the hotel gym, which came with the best view, while my daughter was happily making new friends at the kids’ club. Definitely a win-win for both of us.🥳
George Town
The last two days of our Malaysia trip were spent in George Town, Penang’s vibrant capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chinese shophouses, Indian temples, Malay traditions, and British colonial history all come together here, giving the city a unique character unlike anywhere else we visited.
The highlight was hopping into a trishaw and exploring George Town’s famous street art. It was such a fun way to get around, and almost every corner revealed another colourful mural or creative steel-wire sculpture. The whole city felt like one giant open-air art gallery.
5th Avenue Hotel in George Town for 80 bucks per night
houses and buildings in George Town, Penang, feature a rich mix of British Colonial, Chinese Vernacular and Early Modern Style
UNESCO World Heritrage
we did a Trishaw Tour and it was totally worth it
George Town, famous for its street art
posers gonna pose, haters gonna hate hahaha
not gonna appologize
durian, the forbidden fruit
more Japanese food, because why not
gym sesssion with my mini me
the bridge to the mainland of Malaysia from Penang Island
Looking back, I’m happy we finally got to explore Langkawi and Penang. Every country has its own charm, and Malaysia gave us beautiful nature, great food, and some unforgettable experiences.
After visiting almost every country in Southeast Asia, Thailand still holds the number one spot in my heart 😍 But that’s the beauty of travelling; you don’t have to fall in love with every destination to appreciate what makes it special.
Now it was time to head back to Bangkok for one last stop before flying home ✈️