Spend rainy days visiting museums, like the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching. — Sarawak Tourism Board
As the nursery rhyme goes: “Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.” That will soon be the general opinion among Malaysians in affected areas when the northeast monsoon hits.
The season typically brings heavy rainfall to Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, from November to March.
But don’t let the rain, well ... rain on your parade. As long as you don’t do recreational activities outdoors, like island hopping or picnics at waterfalls, you can still have fun on rainy days.
That said, not all outdoor water activities are strictly prohibited either. Some activities are actually best done during the monsoon season (as unbelievable as this sounds).
Relax at resorts
Beach resorts tend to have lower occupancy during rainy seasons, making them perfect for staycations if avoiding throngs of tourists is top on your priority list.
Fewer crowds, less waiting time, more relaxing overall – staff too will be more attentive as they have less to juggle.
Johor boasts plenty of luxury resorts that you wouldn’t mind splurging on, as you know there would lower chances of being dissatisfied, as per the aforementioned reasons.
Some might have indoor activities, such as tie-dyeing, cooking classes or batik painting, or even spa offers so you can truly unwind.
Explore local markets
Support the local community by purchasing souvenirs, be it in food or craft form, at the local markets. Pasar Payang in Terengganu, Pasar Siti Khadijah in Kelantan and Anjung Kinabalu in Sabah are some of the covered markets that can be easily explored on rainy days.
Sheltered from the elements, you can spend hours wandering through each section and having your meals at the food stalls. It’s a fun way to learn about the local culture, whichever state you’re visiting.
Snacks, for example, can differ by state: lekor would feature more prominently in Terengganu, akok in Kelantan and amplang in Sabah.
Shop at local markets, like Pasar Payang in Terengganu, to support the local community. — FARID WAHAB/The Star
Visit museums
While not all museums in Malaysia offer free admission, most only require entrance fees from as low as RM2 for adults. This makes it an indoor activity that you can do even on a limited budget.
Take your time perusing each exhibit, learning about our country’s or a particular state’s culture and history. The bigger the museum, the more time you can spend there.
Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, Sarawak is a good example. It might be a little pricier than average at RM10 per person, but it has five stories to explore, featuring interactive displays that are fun for both children and adults.
The museum also has a small playground to keep younger children entertained.
Go fish
Provided you are an experienced angler, going near large bodies of water during monsoon is an acceptable action. Hardcore anglers would love Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, as the season brings about plenty of giant snakeheads (fans of Jeremy Wade’s River Monsters would be very familiar with this fish).
So prevalent is “monsoon fishing” here, it’s also become the venue for the International Monsoon Casting Tournament, which is usually held in December.
Surf the waves
Again, this is only to be done if you’re highly experienced. It might seem contradictory to enter the sea when it’s at its roughest, but these big waves create exactly the conducive environment for surfing.
Cherating in Pahang is a top destination for this. The beach here is so famed for its monsoon waves that it’s also become the venue for various surfing competitions, including the Cherating International Surfing Competition, which is supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, and Tourism Pahang.
