Districts In Malaysia

District: Bentong, Pahang Towns in the district: Bentong Town , Karak , Bukit Tinggi , Manchis , Telemong Last time I was there: June 2025 The story: We’d never really explored this part of Pahang before, so a spontaneous day trip to Bentong it was. The mission: food and a bit of history. First stop -- the legendary Lemang To’ki , serving lemang with rendang every single day. It lived up to the hype -- the lemang , rendang , and ayam bakar were all superb. Then it was on to Bentong Gallery , housed in beautifully restored century-old shophouses once owned by Loke Yew , offering a free, fascinating glimpse into the town’s past. We also visited Masjid Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah , and since it was durian season , naturally -- we had to indulge. Heading home, we made a stop for coffee up in the hills of Janda Baik -- and since it was a weekday, we had the place almost entirely to ourselves. A delicious, easy-going day out in Bentong.

District: Hulu Selangor , Selangor Towns in the district: Kuala Kubu Bharu , Serendah , Batang Kali , Kerling , Rasa , Ulu Yam , Bukit Beruntung , and others  Last time I was there: November 2024 The story: One of my favourite drives is heading north through Hulu Selangor -- a route filled with lush greenery and a relaxed, old-town vibe. I still remember my first visit to Kuala Kubu Bharu : smooth roads, scenic hills, and that unmistakable small-town charm. The “new” Kuala Kubu was actually rebuilt in 1926 after the original town was destroyed by a dam burst -- a story that adds even more character to this peaceful place. Our first stop was Taman Tasik Milenium , a serene lake park that locals adore. With its cool breeze and picture-perfect scenery, you’d be tempted to say, “Macam New Zealand!” If it wasn’t 80 km from home, we’d be here every weekend. For sure! But the true gem of the trip was Ampang Pecah , a tranquil dam site with cascading waters and breathtaking views -- the...

District: Alor Gajah, Melaka Towns in the district: Alor Gajah , Masjid Tanah , Kuala Sungai Baru , Lubok China , Rembia Last time I was there : December 2022 The story: We were in Port Dickson that day when I decided to drive further down to Melaka . Oh yes, indeed. So we took a slow and steady drive on the coastal route via Pasir Panjang , all the way to Pengkalan Balak . We got down at the beach area and enjoyed the view quite a bit while having some keropok .   Then on the way back up, we turned on Google Maps and decided to have lunch at an asam pedas place near Kampung Kuala Linggi .  After a stopover for Zohor at the local masjid, we stumbled upon an old Dutch fort called Fort Supai ! We were literally the only ones there, so it was a little creepy-- but the views of the Straits were fantastic.  It was eerily beautiful. Armies used to launch cannons from here, and now it’s just there, standing silent with a thousand and one stories to be uncovered. Then we dr...

District: Kota Tinggi, Johor Towns in the district: Bandar Kota Tinggi , Pekan Sungai Rengit , Pekan Teluk Sengat , Pekan Sedili Besar , and others Last time I was there: December 2020 The story: I didn’t travel much growing up, but apart from Singapore, Kota Tinggi was the other place we used to go to visit my auntie’s family. And when you’re in Kota, the famous waterfall was the place to be! Ah, I can still picture the clear, clean waters cascading down the mountain. We used to spend almost the whole day there, chomping down sardine sandwiches and epok-epok in between all the fun and games in the ice-cold water! The last time I was in the district was during a road trip from JB to Desaru  back in 2020. I took the fam to the beach, slurped down some boat noodles for lunch, and rounded off the day with coffee and cake at the proudly Johorean SDS Bakery & Cafe.

  District: Labuan, Federal Territory of Labuan Towns in the district: Victoria (Bandar Labuan), Tanjung Aru , Layang-Layangan , Rancha-Rancha , Batu Manikar , and others Last time I was there: 1998/1999 The story: Yup, it was way back when I was still serving in the judiciary. I was part of the entourage of my boss, the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court , on an official visit to the court office in Labuan. Can’t recall much else -- we stayed at the Sheraton (if memory serves), and I had my meals at the hotel and the nearby food stalls . No photos, no selfies -- just faint memories of an island that was calm and tidy. Maybe it’s time for a proper return trip soon, with more makan and fewer meetings this time.