5 Reasons You Need to Add This Malaysian Archipelago to Your Bucket List

Traditional Malaysian cuisine merges influences of Chinese, Indian, and Malay food, and it's seriously delicious. For an authentic and memorable dining experience, book a table at The Gulai House. The restaurant is set in the jungle, and you'll get to experience a customary Malaysian hand-wash ritual before eating off of banana leaves and handmade ceramics. The night we were there, there were monkeys swinging in the trees surrounding the open-air restaurant and wild boars running around by the entryway.

We found that everyone we encountered in Malaysia was eager to share their culture and knowledge of their surroundings — it's a very warm and inclusive vibe.