Two Weeks in Lesbian Malaysia – Our Taste for Life

Two Weeks in Lesbian Malaysia - Our Taste for Life

2 Weeks in Lesbian Malaysia – The Best Malaysia Itinerary

2 weeks in lesbian Malaysia is a good amount of time to appreciate all this beautiful country has to offer. In this guide, I’ll be sharing a recommended two-week Malaysia Itinerary, including the best places to visit, where to eat, sleep, & party, as well as all of our top tips for visiting.

When it comes to the best South East Asia travel destinations, Malaysia is a country that rarely makes the hotlist. Sure, it might not be as wild as Thailand or as trendy as Bali, but after spending quite some time backpacking in Malaysia, I can confidently say that it is fiercely underrated.

The thing we love most about Malaysia is its diversity. It is a cultural melting pot, and the multi-ethnic influence of Malay, Indian, Chinese and European concocts a culture (and cuisine) unlike no other in the region. There’s also an abundance of things to see and do. From pulsating urban cities and charming heritage towns to sweeping rainforests and pristine islands, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Gay Malaka, Malaysia – Keep Calm and Wander

Gay Malaka, Malaysia - Keep Calm and Wander

I did a self-guided Malaka Walking Tour as soon as I arrived in the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage city. I had a whole day to spare, so I decided to do it on my own. The blistering sun didn’t really dissuade me from walking. Having a hat and bottled water were enough for me. But, if you can afford, experience being “chauffeured” around with one of the colorful rickshaws. It would be a fun thing to do in gay Malaka.

Where to start? Well, I began at the heart of the postcard-perfect old town. I know that’s where the crowd goes, but you can’t avoid tourists wherever you go. Besides, it’s always good to start a walking tour at the heart of history, right?

The order of these places are based on how I discovered them. You can exactly follow the route in order to save time. You’re welcome.

Gay Malaka – Stadthuys

In Dutch, this building means “City Hall” and it’s been standing there since 1650. There’s a museum inside if you are into that sort of thing. One of the first things you’ll notice is its red structure – and so are the rest of the other old buildings around. Thus, they also call it “Red Square.”

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Melaka Walking Tour – Keep Calm and Wander

Malaka Walking Tour - Keep Calm and Wander

I did a self-guided Melaka Walking Tour as soon as I arrived in the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage city. I had a whole day to spare, so I decided to do it on my own. The blistering sun didn’t really dissuade me from walking. Having a hat and bottled water were enough for me. But, if you can afford, experience being “chauffeured” around with one of the colorful rickshaws. It would be a fun thing to do in Melaka.

Take a Melaka Walking Tour

Where to start? Well, I began at the heart of the postcard-perfect old town. I know that’s where the crowd goes, but you can’t avoid tourists wherever you go. Besides, it’s always good to start a walking tour at the heart of history, right? 😉

The order of these places are based on how I discovered them. You can exactly follow the route in order to save time. You’re welcome.

Stadythus: In Dutch, this building means “City Hall” and it’s been standing there since 1650. There’s a museum inside if you are into that sort of thing. One of the first things you’ll notice is its red structure – and so are the rest of the other old buildings around. Thus, they also call it “Red Square.”

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Putrajaya Walking Tour – Keep Calm and Wander

Putrajaya Walking Tour - Keep Calm and Wander

This short Putrajaya walking tour is not really the kind of tour you’d like to join. I did it without a tour guide nor a map on hand. I did it because I like walking and I want to see what’s beyond the Putra Masjid, a landmark you shouldn’t miss. When I got out of the Pink Mosque, I walked across the street and onto the huge square.

From the square, I walked closer to the country’s impressive Legislative Building. There must be no session that day because the surrounding areas were so quiet. Aside from its well-manicured gardens, you’ll also see a huge sculpture of a hand. I tried to get closer to find its description but didn’t find one.

Near the Legislative Building is a long bridge. I walked across it, enjoying the lake views.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Gay Langkawi, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

Lankawi, Malaysia - Deposit Photos

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, located in the state of Kedah, 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia near the Thai border. For years, Langkawi has developed a reputation of being more liberal and relaxed than mainland Malaysia, thanks largely to its status as a duty-free haven…a win for tourism in Malaysia!

We visited Malaysia for 2 weeks, trying out the different hotels and bars on the island, which we summarise in this detailed gay guide to the island. Whilst the island maintains a more relaxed approach compared to mainlanders, this is still very much part of an extremely conservative country, with all the anti-gay sentiments that compliment it. We explore this in more detail below, but our big takeaway tip for LGBTQ travellers to gay Langkawi is that you will have an awesome time here, but we recommend avoiding any PDAs to be on the safe side.

Is Gay Langkawi Safe?

Yes, but…!

On the one side, it’s easy to dismiss Langkawi as a dangerous place you shouldn’t set foot on – it is after all part of a country that criminalises homosexuality and had a local newspaper publishing a ridiculous article about how to “spot” gay people! (In case you’re wondering, if you’ve got a beard, abs and wear branded clothes, then you’re bound for gay jail!)

Yet on the other side, Langkawi is well known for not only being more relaxed than mainland Malaysia, but thanks to tourism, the island is very international. There are many people from all around the world living/working in Langkawi, a large proportion of who are members of the LGBTQ community. Islanders are therefore used to seeing people from all walks of life.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - The Nomadic Boys

Kool-krazy-kat-Kota-Kinabalu, the capital and gateway of Malaysia’s Sabah region on Borneo island. This is the city where treks up to Borneo’s highest mountain (Mount Kinabalu) begin, the tropical waters of the Gaya islands are right on your doorstep, lots of different magnificent experiences can be found, and, the coolest nickname ever for a city: KK!

Whilst most travellers will skip out KK, using it just as a transport hub to enter/leave Sabah, we think you should spend a few nights here. We visited KK during our trip around Malaysia and loved it. It’s a relaxed, modern place that offers so much. It also has a large LGBTQ community and sometimes even a gay bar – ie it closes/reopens a lot (more on this below)!

We’ve put together all our findings from our trip in and around gay Kota Kinabalu in this article. We’ve included important practical safety tips for LGBTQ travellers, gay friendly hotels we tried/loved, queer friendly hangouts and some of our favourite things to do which we hope inspires you.

Is Kota Kinabalu safe for gay travellers?

On the whole, yes, but as long as you’re careful to avoid PDAs. Malaysia is not on par with some of the places in the Middle East, but it’s obviously no Bangkok here!

In relation to progressive LGBTQ rights in Malaysia, there are none at all. There is even a horrible archaic anti-gay law which carries with it a 20-year imprisonment as well as caning, fines and/or deportation! The reality is that the anti-gay law of Malaysia is rarely ever enforced, particularly against foreigners. However, this gives you an idea of how society regards homosexuality and therefore why it’s best to avoid PDAs.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Penang – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Penang - The Nomadic Boys

Penang is one big fat foodie paradise in Southeast Asia. Honestly, we were blown away by the many culinary prizes available here…Asam Laksa, Wanton Noodles, Hokkien Prawn Noodles, Char Koay Teow…Penang is one place we’d definitely rush back to just for the food!

Penang is also famous for its street art murals, particularly in the UNESCO listed cutesy colonial-era capital, George Town. And the biggest surprise of all, despite being a small island of less than 2 million, in a country where homosexuality is a crime(!), there is even a gay scene!

We visited Penang as part of our big trip around Malaysia and totally fell in love. We were told by both Malaysians and fellow travellers that Penang is a not-to-miss highlight of the country and oh boy were they right! We ended up extending our trip in Penang from a few days to two full weeks. Based on our firsthand experience, we’ve put together our gay guide to Penang setting out the best gay friendly hotels, hangouts, foodie tips, and more.

Is Penang safe for gay travellers?

For the most part, yes…as long as you’re careful and avoid any PDAsIt’s not as bad as the Middle East here, but it certainly ain’t no Barcelona, Bangkok or gay Berlin!!

There is a large LGBTQ community in Penang, both locals and foreigners, living and working quite openly. Penang is after all a touristic hub with a large international population, so people are more likely to be diverse, tolerant and open-minded here compared to other parts of the country.

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

10 Facts About Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

Malaysia - The Nomadic Boys

Malaysians are obsessed with food. And we totally get it – the entire country is a non-stop feast of delicious food. There are legit 5 meal times in Malaysia – breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and supper.

Beyond the foodie paradise that is Malaysia, we discovered a lot about this magnificent and super diverse country during our 3-month trip here as a gay couple. But the one uniting thing about all Malaysians is their immense pride in their food! Every Malaysian has strong opinions about where to find the best laksa or from which city you can find the tastiest rendang!

A word of warning to our fellow LGBTQ travellers – it is illegal to be gay in Malaysia. It is an Islamic influenced country, so homosexuality is very much taboo. Therefore it goes without saying you should avoid any acts of activism or public displays of affection here. But having said that, despite the awful anti-gay law, there is a fabulous large LGBTQ community throughout the country, especially in Kuala Lumpur, with a small and underground gay scene. We made a lot of local gay friends throughout Malaysia who we love dearly. It is through their eyes we discovered the gay scene of the country and also the more unique facets of Malaysian culture, which forms the backbone of this article.

These are our 10 interesting facts about Malaysia:

Malaysians Are Obsessed With Food

As foodies, this is one of our favourite interesting facts about Malaysia. Everywhere across the country you’ll find hawker stalls selling a range of delicious freshly made foods like laksa, Indian inspired roti canai, the national dish: nasi lemak, and so much more. The entire country is a haven for foodies, particularly Penang which is a melting pot for Indian, Chinese and Southeast influences.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Malaysia’s Petronas Towers – Keep Calm and Wander

Malaysia's Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are identical towers that are synonymous to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. They’re the most iconic skyscrapers and architectural wonders in the city’s skyline. No visit in KL without a glimpse of these silver-colored twins.

The first time I saw them eons ago, I thought they resembled a rocket, ready to launch in space. 😉

Standing at 1,483 feet, the towers have 88 habitable floors. They are finished off with a pyramid-like structure topped with a thin steel spire.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails – Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Travel: Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails - Our Taste for Life

If you’re looking for reliable information in regards to hiking the Bukit Tabur West or Bukit Tabur East trails in Kuala Lumpur, you’ve come to the right place. We successfully completed this hike in late 2019, despite warnings online of closures, needing permits and other misleading information. This blog post aims to provide all the accurate information you’ll need ahead of hiking Bukit Tabur, including how to get there, safety precautions, important things to know and more.

Kuala Lumpur Hiking Trails

When you think of Kuala Lumpur, the last thing that comes to mind is hiking and nature. The modern metropolis is famed for its towering skyscrapers, vibrant culture, and religious temples. But on our 3rd or 4th visit to the city, we were keen to discover something new. That’s when our local friend Ben suggested hiking.

As it turns out, there are several hiking trails in and around Kuala Lumpur. Some of the hiking trails are relatively easy and suitable for beginners. Others, like Bukit Tabur West & Bukit Tabur East, are harder and slightly more precarious.

So with this in mind, let’s get to preparing you for hiking Bukit Tabur. We encourage you to read through the entire article, as there’s a lot of safety information in here that you need to know in advance. Stay safe people!

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Malaysia Lesbian Travel Resources