Girlfriend Nicola and I planned our holiday round the wedding of Nicola’s step-brother Mark to Li Choo. They met at university in Nottingham and ten of us travelled to Li Choo’s home town in Malaysia for the ceremony.
Our grand adventure started with a city break in Kuala Lumpur. I’ve never been further east than Cyprus and truly didn’t know what to expect. KL is busy, built-up and so very clean. We explored cool designer shops and markets full of hustle and bustle. Our Traders Hotel is in front of the Petronas Towers - a spectacular 452 metres/1482 feet high. When the Towers were built ten years ago they were the highest in the world. Fantastic views!
Next was the idyllic tropical island of Langkawi where we wallowed in luxury by the beach. We had five days of classic chill-out: white sand, palm trees, clear water and the most hospitable people I have ever met. We were waited on hand and foot. Evenings are very quiet on the island.
After Langkawi we flew to Miri for the wedding. Lichoo’s family house is built on stilts and the whole village was invited to the house for the ceremony. We all then moved to the local restaurant for a sumptuous banquet and karaoke. 800 people applauded my Hey Jude. Unforgettable. The family’s generosity was overwhelming.
Later we hired a minibus for the two-hour drive over the border and into the rainforests of Brunei. We stayed at the 5* Empire Hotel and Country Club. It was built by the Sultan and felt like 7* to me. So much marble and gold. The hotel has its own beach, a floodlit 18-hole golf course, a cinema and a bowling alley. Service was top class. Two of our party went on to Borneo to see the orangutans…. That’ll be a must for me next time.
This trip was like lots of different holidays in one. My most impressive site was the Petronas Towers lit up at night. And I was bowled over by how clean everything was. But the highlight of the whole trip has to be the people. I have never known generosity, hospitality and service like it.
I Lost My Heart Articles
Some of the content of the magazine refers to flights or prices from the UK. At Travel Counsellors Ireland we can source flights from Ireland and provide full quotes in Euros. Please call me for latest availability and prices.
