Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and if you’re looking for the perfect place for a weekend getaway with perhaps your Valentine, here are some suggestions:
1. Cameron Highlands
Stroll through the rolling tea plantations, or have hot cuppa and scones at the tea house at Sungai Palas and Boh Tea Gardens. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Just a relaxing three and a half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, there is much to see and do at this popular Malaysian hill station that has maintained its charm since colonial days. Head to the Sungai Palas and Boh Tea Gardens where there is an exhibition hall where you can learn about the history of tea planting in Malaysia, a souvenir-cum-tea shop, and also a cafe, where you can have a cuppa and some hot scones. .
Other interesting sites include the Cameron Highlands Rose Centre at Kea Farm, near Brinchang; and several strawberry farms. For those who enjoy nature, explore Lata Iskandar Waterfall in Brinchang; or Robinson Waterfall in Tanah Rata; and Gunung Irau mossy forest which has been likened to the set of Lord Of The Rings.
2. Langkawi
Relax on the beach and enjoy the glorious sunsets in Langkawi. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Rohan Waghmare
Idyllic island life but with all the urban amenities, what more could you ask for? It’s fairly easy to find your way around the island, and you have the option of biking around the island if you prefer. Motorbikes and bicycles can be easily rented too. Take a cable car up to the Langkawi Sky Bridge where you can enjoy an exhilarating view of the island. At such a height, it might be cold and windy … but, all the more reason to huddle up!
Visit Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls (Seven Wells Waterfalls), with its series of seven interconnected waterfall pools. It’s a 45-minute hike up to the top, or you can always pause at one of the lower pools to take a dip. Visit Laman Padi, a rice garden and museum in Pantai Cenang, and learn how rice is cultivated and harvested as a guide takes you around, For those who like shopping, Langkawi is a famous duty-free island, and you can get booze, perfumes and chocolates at great prices. In the evenings, go on a romantic sunset cruise, rest and relax by the beach or pool, or enjoy a spa.
3. Ipoh
Kellie’s Castle, a lavish but unfinished mansion initiated by a Scotsman in the 1900s, is a 20-minute drive from Ipoh. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
There’s much to see and do in Ipoh, just a two and a half hour drive from KL – from exploring Old Town Ipoh, enjoying the street art; savouring its local delicacies like dimsum, Ipoh chicken rice with beansprouts, and Ipoh sar hor fun (flat rice noodles in soup); to shopping for vintage accessories and exotic handicrafts.
Just 20 minutes away, is Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah, an uncompleted mansion built by a Scottish planter William Kellie Smith, for his wife and son. However, the castle is still a popular tourist spot to this day, and it was also the filming site of the movie Anna And The King. Other popular spots to visit are Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village, Ipoh’s very own version of Guilin, China, with its deep green lake surrounded by limestone hills; Lang Mountain which is recreational park with a tranquil lake where you can go on a boat ride, and a watch tower where you can take in the entire scenic surroundings.
4. Port Dickson
Catch the romantic sunset at Port Dickson. Filepic
Just an hour and a half (slightly above 90km) away from KL is the seaside town of Port Dickson. This idyllic town still maintains its charm despite modernisation, and there are many luxury resorts as well as beachside chalets to choose from to spend your romantic evenings. But, besides lounging by the pool or on the beach, the town does offer some interesting spots with photo opportunities. You can visit the Alive Art Gallery or Upside Down Art Gallery; Army Museum; and Cape Rachado where you can walk uphill to view the lighthouse. You can also enjoy some seafood in town or along the coastal areas.
5. Kuala Lumpur
image: https://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/str2_minglovemalaysia_6_mingteoh.jpg
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Shiva Kumar Khanal
But, if you don’t feel like driving out of town, you can always try a staycation. Book an urban retreat in one of the city’s many luxurious hotels where you can enjoy some couple time. Lounge by the poolside, select from extravagant buffets, enjoy a spa. Or, if you prefer, you can go on a city tour. Go for a stroll in the magnificent Orchid Garden located at the highest point of the Perdana Botanical Garden. It houses over 800 species of orchids, and about 6,000 orchids altogether. And, if you didn’t buy your date flowers, you can even purchase some here.
It has been said that chocolate is the food for lovers. What better way to explore this than to visit the Beryl’s Chocolate Museum where you can learn how chocolates are made. And if you’re feeling creative, how about trying your hand at batik painting at the Jadi Batek Gallery? How romantic it would be to bring home a batik pareo and you and your loved one hand-painted together?
You can’t stay in town without visiting the Petronas Twin Towers. The view is especially spectacular from the KLCC park, viewed at night. If you prefer a view from above, you can even enjoy a romantic dinner at the Menara KL’s revolving restaurant, or if you’re more adventurous, Dinner in the Sky at Matic, where you’d literally be fine-dining up in the sky.
Source: https://www.star2.com/travel/malaysia/2017/02/10/5-places-in-malaysia-for-a-romantic-valentine-getaway/#eyz8k1r80yshVF3K.99
