This Wednesday, I’m off to Malaysia and Thailand in SE Asia! The purpose of the trip is to attend a travel creators conference called TBEX Asia (Travel Blog Exchange: Asia edition) which will take place in Phuket, Thailand from November 15th to November 18th, 2022.

I went to SE Asia in 2013, however, I skipped over going to Malaysia; so I decided a while back during my planning for this trip to Thailand that I would do what I could to visit this country I missed out on seeing all those years ago. I’ve been to Thailand twice already, but I know very little about Malaysia and I am excited to learn all I can over the few days that I’m there.

Malaysia and Thailand

Malaysia

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country located on the Malay Peninsula and parts of the island of Borneo. The country is known for its beaches, rainforests, and multicultural cuisine. Malaysia is a popular tourist destination, offering a variety of activities and attractions for visitors. From the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur to the pristine beaches of the Malaysian islands, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Malaysia.

Malaysia has been a place I’ve been looking to visit for a very long time. Nine years ago, I had a six-month backpacking trip that took me through China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Eventually ending in Hawaii where I celebrated the wedding of my best friend and his lovely wife. My only real plans were how I was getting in and out of China to Vietnam and onward through SE Asia. Other than that, I made up my plans as I went, which led me to spend more time than I expected in Thailand. This in turn was why I skipped over Malaysia. I was sad to make that decision, but I had a lot of places to see at the time. I can’t wait to finally experience Malaysia after all these years!

Thailand

Thailand is often called the “Land of Smiles” because of the friendly and welcoming nature of the Thai people. It is a great place to visit if you are looking for an amazing cultural experience. The country is rich in history and there are many interesting temples and monuments to explore. The food in Thailand is also very delicious and there are many different dishes to try. The beaches in Thailand are some of the best in the world and there are many activities to enjoy such as swimming, snorkeling, and windsurfing. Thailand is a great place to visit for anyone who is looking for an amazing and unique experience.

Thailand is a place I’ve already been to twice before. It is one of my favorite countries to go to. The last time was in 2018 primarily spent on the island of Koh Chang. Before that was in 2013 which ended in Phuket. The same place I’ll start my time in Thailand this time around. From what I recall (and what I wrote) it wasn’t my favorite place, so here’s hoping that things have changed and that it will be a thrill. It is worth noticing that the last time I was there was during my backpacker budget days, and though I’m still frugal, I splurge a lot more on the things that bring me comfort and joy.

TBEX Asia 2021 2022

The conference I’m attending is called TBEX Asia, and originally I was supposed to attend it in 2021, however, there were some things going on in the world that required the conference to be pushed back to the end of 2022. I’m not upset about that as it allowed for places around the world to be opened much more and people to feel better about being around others. That all sounds good to me!

TBEX

TBEX is the largest conference and community of travel creators, and influencers in the world.

TBEX is a travel conference that is generally hosted by a city that is looking for content creators. The conference is attended by locations or companies looking for content creators as well as content creators themselves. It isn’t just to connect these two groups, there are also a number of speakers sharing how they got into the space, so it is a great opportunity to learn from others.

I first attended one of the TBEX conferences in 2018 in Corning, New York. I had the pleasure of meeting so many people in the travel creation space that I’m still connected with today. I’ll tell ya, Corning, New York is a wonderful location in the middle of New York. Get out of the big city and go check it out. The Finger Lakes area, just north of Corning is a beautiful area to enjoy a lot of wine and relaxation!

My second conference with TBEX was in Billings, Montana in 2019. I had never been to Montana before this and can definitely see the charm of why people go to visit. Another conference where I was able to meet more creators who I see creating beautiful content today.

Without TBEX, I’m don’t think I would have taken the time to go to either of these cities anytime soon.

Why I Go To TBEX

You may be wondering why it is that I go to TBEX. I figure I should give a little explanation.

Though I have this blog, and an Instagram handle (@JasonGetsAround), I don’t consider myself a content creator. That is why I go…because I want to be a content creator. I want to learn to better share this amazing world that I experience, with you, my readers. To inspire you to get out there and see what this beautiful world has to offer if you just take that first leap and say yes to travel.

I’ve been to many travel conferences, not just TBEX, and they have led me to meet some amazing travel creators I aspire to be one like day. I love the idea of being a travel creator and an influencer of a sort, however, for now, I’m a big dreamer who has now been to forty countries (37 in the last decade!) and has learned a slew of useful information. This is my way to better share it with you and all the other people who may come across my content!

Getting to Malaysia

Without going into too much detail, my flight to Malaysia will be on EVA Air departing from LA on 11/9 with a brief layover in Taiwan. Since I’m going over the international dateline and it’ll be fifteen hours ahead, I’ll arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 11/11/2022. I’m losing a whole day! However, I’ll make up for it on the return! In total, it’ll be around 27 hours for me to get there: 2h20m from Portland to LA (LAX) on Delta, 3h40m layover, 14h35m from LAX to Taipei (TPE), 1h20m layover, then 4h50m TPE to Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Here’s hoping that my flight from LAX to TPE is on time, as I don’t have a long time before my next flight!

Experiencing Malaysia

I am planning to arrive in Kuala Lumpur around 11 am on 11/11/2022 (look at all those elevens!). I am narrowing down where I want to stay and what it is I want to experience while there. With only a few days before I need to get to Phuket, I don’t have a lot of time to explore this large country that spans two very large islands with a large body of water in between. With that in mind, I’m only going to stay near the capital of this country. Thankfully, I arrive on a Friday, so I won’t have to work too much during the majority of the time I am here in Malaysia.

Here are a number of experiences I hope to make happen during my short stay:

• Batu Caves
• Petronas Twin Towers
• Chinatown
• Merdeka Square
• Central Market Kuala Lumpur
• Perdana Botanical Garden
• National Mosque (Masjid Negara)
• National Monument
• Instana Negara
• Thean Hou Temple

Considering Penang

I’m considering that I’ll spend two days in Kuala Lumpur, and then if I have it in me I will head North to Penang. I have heard from a friend that it is beautiful there and that I shouldn’t miss it. The problem is getting there and continuing onward. Using Rome2Rio, it looks like it’ll take around 5h30m on a bus from Kuala Lumpur. There is a flight, however, it is still 2h30m and would require a lot more time at an airport and it will take away from being able to see this country on the ground. The bus is also only $9 USD supposedly!

As much as I want to go to Penang, I’m not sure it is worth all the extra travel time it would take for me to get there and then onward to Phuket. With 2.5-5.5 hours to get there, and then 3-12.5 hours (3h10m flight or 12h30m bus) to get to Phuket from Penang, I’m not sure I have the time or the patience to make it happen this time around. That’s a lot of time considering that a flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Phuket would take me 3h30m and give me an extra day to explore the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding area.

That all being said, there is an option to take a few ferries from Penang to Phuket over 11h45m for $150 USD! This seems like a beautiful way to travel, even if it would be a LONG time on ships with likely few opportunities or places to sleep.

Accommodations in Kuala Lumpur

There are numerous places to stay in Kuala Lumpur, so narrowing it down has been difficult. I am still working on where I want to stay! Mainly because I’m not sure if I’ll be in Kuala Lumpur for two or three nights yet.

Here are a number of them I am considering, any of these places would be just fine:

• InterContinental Kuala Lumpur ($120/nt) (Maps)
• Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur ($150/nt) (Maps)
• Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur ($99/nt) (Maps)
• The Suites @ Time Square ($50/nt) (Maps)
• de King Boutique Hotel KLCC ($35/nt) (Maps)

I believe I’ll book a place for two nights and let the trip guide me on whether I stay that last night at the property I choose or stay somewhere else entirely!

The Get Around

Though I wish I had more time to spend in Malaysia, I’m excited for getting my first taste of the place. My plans are still being finalized, and that is all good with me! Thankfully I have my accommodations set in Phuket, so I don’t need to worry about those plans until I get there. I just have to focus on experiencing Malaysia. I am not sure how much I’ll be posting to my blog, so please, head on over to my Instagram (@jasongetsaround) where I’ll be adding pictures and sharing stories!