MALAYSIA

This south-eastern island country that borders Indonesia, Thailand and Signapore is home to almost 29 million people and the capital is Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is split up in two islands, one that  borders Thailand, Singapore and west Indonesia, while the other border east Indonesia. The local language is Malaysian and the currency is called Malaysian ringgit. The national flag resembles the American flag except for where the white stars are, there is a yellow sun and crescent moon. The national religion is mainly Islam but there are also a number of Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus and Christians.

In the city's capital, Kuala Lumpur, make the most of your stay by:

1. Break your neck looking up at the Petronas Towers. 

2. Take a ride up to the Genting Highlands for entertainment, hotels and Malaysia's only casino-it's on top of a mountain...whaaaaat.

3. Venture into the Batu Caves.

4. Get out of bed in the middle of the night (or just look from your hotel room) at the Kuala Lumpur Tower.

5. Make fish faces at the glass in the Aquaria KLCC. 

6. Be cautious not to get pecked on in the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park.

7. Feel the adrenaline rush at Cosmo's World.

8. Visit the National Mosque of Malaysia, Jamek Mosque or the Federal Territory Mosque.

9. Spend a gloomy day in the National Museum or the National History Museum. 

10. Work on your fitness, rather watch other people work on their fitness, at the many sports stadiums.

11. Wander over to the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple or the Thean Hou Temple.

12.'Ommmmmm' at the Buddhist Maha Vihara.

13. Climb the Bukit Tabur hill. 

14. Shop and get lost in Bukit Bintang.

15. Stop at each and every one of the little stands in Central Market.

16. Indulge in some banana-leaf dining at Raju. 

17. Visit the Islamic Arts Museum for a day of historic art. 

18. Get them to play that funky music or slow it down with some relaxing jazz at No Black Tie.

19. Little Italy? No, Little India!

20. Sleep in luxury at The Traders Hotel..and take a dip in the awesome pool!

Kuala Lumpur is not the only great thing about Malaysia, there are other places that scream 'come here, come here, you will enjoy it, promise!' These places include: 

1. Penang

2. Cameron Highland

3. Taman Negara: a rainforest where you can track elephants. Nothing more needs to be said. I can smell the fresh air and trees already.

4. Melaka: a Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish inspired city with beautiful architecture.

5. Sarawak and Sabah: climb the huuuuge mountain, eat great seafood and scuba dive in 'scuba diving heaven' at the Sipadan Island.

6. Pulau Redang, Perhentian, Kapas or Tioman: go snorkeling, scuba diving, explore the coral reefs and watch a beautiful sunset.

7. Langkawi: on this island, visit Eagle Square or the Perdana gallery.

8. Putrajaya: visit the lake or the botanic garden or visit the mosque. There are also nine bridges here that draw attention from tourists.

In Penang: 

1. Visit the Kek Lok Si temple.

2. Trek up Penang Hill.

3. Ward of winter paleness with tan at the Batu Ferringhi beach.

4. Take a stroll on the little Indian street.

5. Find out if there really are slithery snakes at Snake Temple.

6. Munch on some Penang local food: Asam Laksa (spicy and sour noodle soup); Hokkien Mee (prawn noodle); Koay Chap (duck noodle soup); Penang Char Koay Teow (fried flat rice noodle) or Chen (oyster omelette). 

6. 'Ooh and ahh' at the pretty architecture throughout Penang.

In the Cameron Highland: 

1. Go to a tea plantation and drink up!

2. Enjoy a meal on the river via a steamboat. 

3. Play golf...now, who would've thunk that?

4. Smell the variety of flowers and try not to prick your finger too hard against at the cactus plantation.

Honestly, after looking at some Malaysian food pictures, I am drooling. I love any type of Asian food (Thai is my absolute favorite) and my craving has now kicked in! I think I know what is for dinner tonight...Have any of you been to Malaysia? What do you recommend?

The next post will be on: Italy (I love me some Rome...and everything about/in that beautiful city).

Travel on wanderlusters!

ESTONIA

Many people have never even heard of Estonia or consider it to be a top travel destination and to be honest with you, I also did not know where this country was located until a few weeks ago. 

When I first start attending university, I met a girl, who is now a friend, that told me she was from Estonia. She has olive skin and dark hair, so, naturally I assumed that Estonia was somewhere down around the Mediterranean/Balkans region. However, to my surprise, I later found out that Estonia was actually near Scandinavia. I was completely mind-blown. 

I was looking at different countries throughout Europe that I will eventually venture off to and I discovered that Estonia was not in the southern region of Europe but in fact in the very northern region...maybe they should have taught us more about geography in high-school. If you are still unaware of Estonia's geographical location, it is just below Finland and borders Russia (to the east) and Latvia (to the south). Here, Sarah Palin could see Russia from her house. 

When I saw my friend the day after my little discovery, I told her about my mix-up and she starting laughing claiming that it must have been her dark skin and hair that threw me off. So very true. 

Well, now I know where Estonia really is, therefore I can properly give you guys information and things to do when you visit. I'm laughing at myself now thinking about the reaction I would've had if I did not know where it actually was before googling the pictures and seeing mostly snow-filled images on the screen.

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, a Russian-looking city with some old architecture and then some modern architecture. Parts of Tallinn, and surrounding cities/towns/villages, look like they are literally straight out of a medieval ages movie. I would not be surprised if some of the movies/shows that portray that time period were actually filmed in this country. 

Estonia's primary language is Estonian but you will also come across plenty of Russian and Ukrainian speakers, seeing as Russia is right next door. There are also recognized languages in this country by the names of Voro and Setu. About 1,300,000 people live in this middle-ages inspired country.

So, you are going up north to visit Estonia and you want to see the capital, Tallinn. Here's what you have to do there: 

1. Get holy at the St. Mary's Cathedral. 

2. Visit Toompea. 

3. Attempt to walk through Lahemaa National Park. 

4. Look at the cute animals in the Tallinn Zoo. 

5. Visit Kiek in de Kok...hm.

6. Get holy, once again, in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. 

7. Take one too many pictures at the beautiful Kadriorg Palace. 

8. Stroll around Town Hall Square after visiting Tallinn Town Hall. 

9. Spend a rainy day at either the Estonian Maritime Museum, Estonian History Museum, Museum of Occupations or the Estonian Open Air Museum.

10. Get sprayed in the face by the Jägala Waterfalls or the Valaste Waterfalls.

11. Breathe in nature at Karula National Park or Matsula National Park. 

12. Smell the flowers at the Tallinn Botanic Garden.

13. Do some good ole vintage shopping in the many vintage shops around the city.

14. Sit down and relax with a cup of coffee in a cozy coffee shop.

15. Go kayaking, canoeing, sailing or fishing for a relaxing day off land. 

16. Go on a military off road adventure. 

17. Go back in time in Old Town and walk on St. Catherine's Passage.

18. Listen to some good music at the Song Festival Grounds.

19. Watch a movie on the roof at Katusekino.

20. Enjoy the breeze while walking through Kadriorg Park.

For those of you traveling to the more southern area of Estonia, visit Tartu, Estonia's second largest city. If you visit Tartu, be sure to: 

1. Spend a cloudy day in the Estonian National Museum.

2. Pass through Supilinn (a neighborhood).

3. Visit the Ahja River.

4. Visit the ruin Tartu Cathedral that overlooks Tartu.

5. Visit the Student's Lock-up, which has some pretty interesting meaning/history to it's name.

6. Take the kids to the Toy Museum, or just be a kid again for several hours.

7. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Cafe Wilde.

8. Grab a slice of pizza for lunch at La Dolce Vita before visiting the Observatory.

9. Go back to school at Tartu University that was founded in 1632 by a Swedish  king.

10. Relax at the Emajõe Ärikeskus Sauna.

11. Visit a brewery and drink a glass of brew at A Le Coq Beer Museum.

12. Go crazy wild at Tartu's best nightclub, Club Tallinn.

13. Grab a delicious meal at Maalim or authentic Estonian food at Gruusia Saatkond.

14. Take the boy(s) to the Tartu Sports Museum. 

Just south of Tallinn and the south-eastern area of Estonia is Pärnu. This is a beach town with an adorable down-town area. Here's what you have to do in Estonia's Summer Capital: 

1. Get your swimsuit on and run to Rannapark (the beach park) and Vallikäär.

2. Go back to the medieval ages at the Red Tower and Tallinna Gates.

3. Get holy in the Eliisabet and Jekateriina Churches.

4. Kick back to some blues and jazz at Jazz Cafe.

5. Take a gander at new art in the Pärnu New Art Museum.

6. See the 17th century cojoined houses.

7. Grab some authentic Russian food at Trahter Postipoiss. 

8. Go back over the last 11,000 years in the Pärnu Museum.

9. Party the night away at Club Tallinn.

10. Take the family to Ranna Park (amusement park).

11. See a show while eating dinner or a snack at Endla Theatre.

12. Visit a Russian empress-inspired church, Catherine Church.

13. Eat some authentic Estonian food after a long day at the beach at Kadri.

14. Close your eyes and thank the pastry gods for strudel at Ellen Bakery.

15. Watch a folk show at Nooruse Maja Cultural Centre.

There you have Estonia in a few simple sentences. Are you planning on visiting Estonia or have you ever been? What do you recommend?

The next post will be on: Malaysia in Southern Asia!

Travel on wanderlusters!