Text and photographs by Aaron Dalton

It was only a week I spent in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Penang, but the diverse cultures, modest people and picturesque cityscapes had deftly charmed their way into my heart.

From KL's glittery new shopping malls to its incense-heavy Chinese temples; from the staggering majesty of the Hindu Batu Caves complex to the peaceful patterns of the mosques; from the hectic traffic on the streets to the smooth monorail gliding overhead, I fell hard for Malaysia's beauty.

Everywhere I witnessed the people's pursuit of excellence - the world's tallest twin skyscrapers in the Petronas Twin Towers, and one of the longest bridges in the Penang Bridge. And yet Malaysians carried a certain grace and modesty about them.

The Malaysian government says it aims to achieve a "developed" status by the year 2020, but the locals I met often refused to believe Malaysia was on her way to attaining the city-status of New York or London. They were looking to the West as a model and ironically, I, as a visitor from the West, was looking at them with admiration.

I did not have time to soak it all up. I was too caught up by the bustle of Kuala Lumpur and Penang - the museums, parks, gardens, and not to mention the food. The food! From a 13-course feast at Lafite restaurant in Shangri-La's Kuala Lumpur hotel that featured pearls of green apple essence, to a simple fish dinner that we ate with our hands at a roadside stop overlooking Penang Bridge.

Of course, what I have described only scratches the surface of Malaysia's attractions. I have not mentioned her myriad festivals, where different ethnic groups unite in a harmonious fashion to celebrate and rejoice in each other's rituals and ceremonies. I have not discussed the world-class diving of Sipadan, the orangutan-filled jungles of Sabah and Sarawak, the majestic peak of Mount Kinabalu, or the sandy beaches of Langkawi.

As the sun set over the water heralding the end of my visit, I could only hope to be back soon to savour another warm sunrise overlooking the Straits of Malacca.

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Aaron Dalton is based in New York City. His writing (www.imaginationwins.com) has appeared in numerous publications including The Los Angeles Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, Modern Bride, AsiaSpa and elsewhere. Limited-edition versions of his artwork can be found online at www.daltonpix.com. Contact him at aaron@daltonpix.com.