Eating
In Malacca we stayed in China Town where it was possible to buy pork won ton soup and other pork dishes; and in a courtyard off our street locals were preparing a suckling pig for Chinese New Year. But in our hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Penang we could not get real breakfast bacon, nor was pork served in the various Chinese Restaurants that we ate in in those cities.
Those of my readers who have read my report on India will know that I can't eat food heavily spiced with chilli. Unfortunately in Malaysia this unpleasant culinary fashion has spread, presumably with the Indian migrants. This makes a significant part of the Malayan menu inedible for me. On the other hand Wendy loves chilli. But in the Chinese restaurants the food is very good and fresh chilli is sparingly used, and easily picked out with chopsticks. Additional chilli is available if required.
The good thing was that breakfast at most of our hotels was vast and covered every taste; provided it didn't include pork. Malaysia is one of the last places I would recommend for a culinary experience. But it does beat India; at least you are not denied beef and can avoid the chilli.
I know it's boring and conservative but I prefer France, Italy or Spain; even Greece or Turkey; for a good food experience. Vietnam and China are also a lot more exciting from a culinary point of view; you can get pork, beef and duck, in addition to vegetables, fish, chicken and 'mutton'; actually they will eat almost anything that was once alive; as well as some not yet dead.