Perak

Malaysia

Boys riding in a paper plane. This piece and a handful of others are throughout the historic Ipoh city area. The city has signs with the locations of the street art, making it very easy to find. Below each piece is a gold or silver plate telling you the name of the piece and where the others are located. Super handy if you are looking for them specifically!

This sleepy fishing village is a really cool place to see. Near the tiny market in the middle of the village is a concrete walking/scooter bridge that crosses the river. This is where I took this photo and is the best place to see the heart of the village.

This is the museum for the Lenggong Valley World Heritage Sites. Not surprising if you know Malaysia, but it is very hard to figure out where this is. This is the real location of the museum despite what Google will tell you. The museum is interesting but we could not figure out how to find the actual, real cave sites. We even searched using the coordinates provided on the UNESCO site but had no luck. It is rumored that you can set up a car to take you to all 4 sites from the museum. As of May 2015, here were no maps of the sites for you to take or anyone who spoke English to help you. Gorgeous drive to the museum though with a lot of cool (non UNESCO) things to do.

Explore ancient limestone caves, visit spectacular royal palaces and sunbathe on unspoiled sandy stretches in the country’s fourth-largest state.

Perak is known for its intriguing architectural gems, labyrinthine caves and unspoiled jungle terrain. Its capital city reveals the history of the region, while other towns contain pagodas, parks and zoos. Try the excellent fusion cuisines in the cities and travel to an idyllic island.

Visit fascinating attractions in historic Kuala Kangsar. It holds the Istana Iskandariah palace of the Sultan of Perak and the Ubudiah Mosque. Wander around the Taiping Lake Gardens in nearby Taiping.

Get a sense of local culture with a stay in the state capital, Ipoh. See its most impressive sights, such as Kellie’s Castle, a never-finished structure built by a Scottish businessman. Explore markets and try local delicacies combining Malay, Indian and Chinese influences. A popular dish is ipoh sar hor, consisting of prawns, chicken and noodles.

Head to the ocean for excellent seafood served at the coastal stalls in Lumut. Enjoy the year-round tropical climate at the beach and take a trip to scenic Marina Island. Visit during the dry season, in June and July.

Just across the water is picturesque Pangkor Island, one of the most visited parts of the state by vacationers. Choose from luxury lodgings, spend time in the sleepy fishing villages and go scuba diving and snorkeling in the clear water.

Travel inland to appreciate the state’s eclectic terrain. Board a river cruise with a guide in Belum Temenggor forest reserve, perhaps the world’s oldest rainforest. The large and unspoiled area contains tigers, rhinos and over 3,000 flowering plant species. Travel south to one of the country’s largest limestone caves, Tempurung Cave. Continue south to relax in Sungai Klah Hot Springs Park.

Find Perak on the western part of mainland Malaysia. Take a train or internal flight from Kuala Lumpur, which is 170 miles (270 kilometers) south of Taiping. Get around the state on the paved roads via buses.

Perak is an exotic blend of rainforest, sophisticated towns and sunny beaches with seafood stalls.