ABC or ‘Air Batu Campur’ is easily one of the most popular desserts in Malaysia. It is shaved ice filled with a variety of condiments, such as red beans, groundnuts, creamed corn and colourful jelly, topped with sweetened condensed milk and sugar syrup.

Nasi Lemak is a perennial favourite consists of rice cooked in coconut milk and enhanced with spices such as ginger, star anise and cinnamon. This wholesome dish is served with fried anchovies, boiled eggs, a spicy sauce called sambal, fresh slices of cucumber and crunchy groundnuts.

Satay is Malaysian’s signature dish. It consists of skewers of meat, barbecued over a charcoal fire to give it the distinctive aroma. It is served with a thick peanut source, with cucumber and onion as a side.

Rendang is a thick, dry Malay dish that is made of beef or chicken. It is usually eaten with white or glutinous rice. Rendang is a must-have speciality during Eid

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a dish first prepared by the Chinese Malaysian immigrants from the Hainan province. The original dish consists of poached chicken served with oily rice enhanced with spices such as ginger and garlic, and ginger, chilli and soy sauce.

Yong Tau Foo is another Chinese delicacy which has been adopted and loved by Malaysian of all races. The original dish consists of tofu or bean curd stuffed with fish cakes then boiled in a fish soup. The modern version consists of a variety of vegetables stuffed with fish cakes. It can be eaten by itself or with steam rice or noodles

Mee Rebus is a noodle dish with a thick and fragrant gravy. The gravy is made of potatoes, curry powder, salted soybeans and peanuts. It comes complete with hard-boiled eggs and garnished with spring onions, shallots and chilli.

Char Kuay Teow is a type of flat noodles that are stir-fried over high heat with cockles, prawns and bean sprouts.

Nasi Briyani is a rich and satisfying dish, which consist of long rice grain, infused with saffron and turmeric. It is cooked together with chicken or lamb, creating a sense of aromatic flavours and tastes.

Rojak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad, which consists of cucumber, young mangoes, pineapple, turnip, deep-fried tofu and fritters served with a thick sauce made of shrimp paste

Rojak Mamak is the Indian Muslim’s version, which consists of prawn fritters, boiled potatoes, cuttlefish and hard-boiled eggs served with a peanut gravy.

Roti Chanai is a uniquely Malaysian version of the Indian paratha. It is a crispy pancake made from wheat flour, which can be enjoyed with any type of curry and dhal, or even just having it plain.

A Duty-Free Shopping Experience: Since 2011, Malaysia has been declared as a duty-free shopping destination. Visitors can find a great range of tax-exempted goods such as cosmetics, perfumes, handbags, gold and silverware, leather products, cameras, timepieces, phones, gadgets, jewellery and footwear. Popular duty-free zones include the Island of Langkawi, Labuan and Tioman, as well as international airports and border towns.

Glittering Luxury Malls: Malaysia’s upscale shopping malls are decked with leading international brands and designer labels. Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley have the biggest number of shopping malls. Many of the malls have award-winning features and attractions. KL’s premier shopping zone is the Bukit Bintang-KLCC area. Major malls here include Starhill Gallery, the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Suria KLCC, Sungai Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Fahrenheit88 and Lot 10. There are more malls in Garden Mid Valley area. In the suburbs, sprawling malls such as the Egyptian-themed Sunway Pyramid, 1-Utama Shopping Centre and the Curve offer a bewildering range of merchandise.

Street Markets and Bazaars: Enjoy a different kind of shopping at the street markets and bazaars. Find everything from unique Malaysian souvenirs, crafts to novelty items. Popular street markets in KL are Petaling Street, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Little India. You must also not forget the local night street markets (Pasar Malam) which open on specific days of the week at all areas in Malaysia.

A Collection of Crafts: Malaysia has an unbelievable range of crafts and souvenirs. Visit popular craft centres such as Central Market in KL to get these exquisite items

• Malaysian Batik is vibrant and colourful free-style hand-drawn or block prints fabric made from cotton or silk materials.
• Songket is a stunning traditional brocade with gold or silver tread-work. Once reserved for royalty, the songket is now a favourite choice for ceremonies and special occasions.
• Pewter traditionally made out of tin along with some other metals. It comes in many forms and can be used as decorative or kitchenware. The popular homegrown pewter brands include Royal Selangor.

Theme Parks: Malaysia has a variety of theme parks which offer fun and adventure for the whole family. There is the Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon located within Sunway Lagoon, Sunway which is a Nickelodeon inspired water park. Then there is the Legoland in Nusajaya, Johor and sharing the same location is the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and The Little Big Club at Puteri Habour Family Theme Park which offers rides and characters from the kiddy shows that you have once loved. Genting Highlands’ Twentieth Century Fox World is another attraction worth the wait, it will open to the public at the end of 2016.

Water Parks provide a refreshing respite from the country’s hot tropical weather. Beat the heat in the most fun and exciting ways at Sunway Lagoon, Desa Water Park, Wet World Shah Alam, and i-City Waterworld all located in the Greater KL Area. A’Famosa Resort is another water park which is located just two hours south of Melaka.

Rides, rides and more rides If you are looking just for rides, then there are a few parks with exciting rides just within the Greater KL area; e.g., Genting Highland Theme Park, Sunway Lagoon, and Berjaya Times Square