Penang

Strewn across the northern Malaysian coast and Penang Island in the swells of the Malaccan Straits, this hi-tech state is one of the focal points of the new, forward-moving Southeast Asia. It is home to more computer firms, electronics companies and micro-chip giants than anywhere else in the country and boasts all the neon-lit skyscrapers in Georgetown to prove it. But there’s also plenty more to this old colonial enclave than just transistors and switches; there are beaches too, as well as Georgetown’s sprawling historical districts, tight-knit lanes, and palatial Chinese complexes built to mirror the ancient dynasties, all clustering around its UNESCO-attested heart of Armenian Street and Little India. Shopping enthusiasts should ask their Penang tourist guide for tips on the night bazaars and flea markets that pop up ad hoc right across the city, while foodies will want to do the rounds of Indian eateries and head to sample Malaysia’s best dim sum. Beach lovers will want to take a jaunt along the north coast, where the unspoiled stretches of Teluk Duyung, Pantai Kerachut and Teluk Kampi rest against the blue of the Malaccan Strait.