A whirlwind 1,000-km drive through southern Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - Filipinos, Malaysians, Thais, Indonesians, Singaporeans and a sole Bruneian wended their way 500 kilometers southwards near the coastline of peninsular Malaysia and back for six days.

The seemingly endless convoy of about 30 red Proton sedans taking off from Putrajaya administrative center was a spectacle on the road for other motorists, but no one was curious enough to inquire.

The road trip cum promotional program dubbed Malaysian Tourism Hunt reminds one of Americans' longed-for interstate trip. The travelers moved along endless landscaped highways eased by light traffic, nostalgic music and good company but this time aided with the tropical sun that refuses to set until 8:00 p.m.

Equipped with cameras and a drive to complete sporadic challenges designed to acquaint them with each locale, the pack of 76 travelers set out to get a taste of almost every other interesting spot along the way-- Sepang in Selangor, holiday destination Port Dickson, heritage state Malacca, small town Muar, a farm at Kluang, and finally big city Johor Bahru with a side trip to attractions in Nusajaya.

At every stop, welcoming residents would exhibit that ever-present smile Malaysians pride themselves of.

Their government is keen on branding Malaysia as a trendy fly-and-drive destination with car rentals readily available to wanderlust types with days to spare in search of locations with a balance of tradition and modernity.

The planned city of Putrajaya, where major federal agencies are seated was the perfect starting point for the trip. It not only boasts of architectural masterpieces such as the Melawati Palace and the Putra Mosque but also of bicycle-friendly streets secured with hidden cameras and wide open gardens and lawns to spend a slow leisure day in.

Port Dickson, serving as the Hamptons of Kuala Lumpur, is at least 61 kilometers from Putrajaya and 90 kilometers from the capital. Beachside developments hiding the sunset line the coast of the former British port area. Some unfinished buildings are also scattered around, left by their investors affected by the Asian credit bubble in the 90s.

Malaysian Army camp at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan as taken from Muzium Tentera Darat. Camille Diola

Next stop was the famed Malacca City where museums housed in old Dutch establishments flank brick-paved roads. Drivers of pedicabs adorned with giant plastic butterflies and flowers keep their eyes on the sidewalk hoping for tourists tired of walking the 304-square kilometer historic area.

Low, row commercial buildings are painted in uniform white, pink, blue, green, purple or yellow depending on which street in Muar town. It is the hub of the furniture industry but the street food, coffee and cheap goodies for pasalubong make it a restful midday stop.

Before proceeding to their final destination, the travelers took a quick detour to Kluang's UK Farm where wide meadows are a favorite pre-nuptial shoot venue. A beat-up open-air transport takes visitors around the expansive property which juggles a cafe, restaurant, inn, beer garden, activity centers including a goat-catching ground and goat raising facilities.

A goatherd watching over young ruminants at UK Farm in Kluang. Camille Diola

A couple of hours away is Johor Bahru, where the journey ends before the Hunt participants take a long, five-hour drive back to Putrajaya. JB, as locals call it, is at the tip of the peninsula and connected to Singapore by a lone causeway traversing the Johor Straits making for a dramatic scenery from the hotel room. Streets are ostensibly run by either Chinese or Malays whose stores and shops reflect their respective heritage.

Besides spending time in the city's developed shopping centers and night markets, visitors can take a quick ride to Legoland Malaysia pending to expand with a water park this year. Although largely a theme park for children, adults can take The Dragon train ride back to childhood or linger in admiration at Asian tourist spots recreated using the toy bricks.

Bolinao, Philippines as depicted with Lego blocks in Legoland Malaysia theme park. Camille Diola

And on the sixth day, the travelers finally took the long ride back to Putrajaya entering Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and along wide, interconnected highways. They stopped only for lunch at Tourism Malaysia's designated rest areas called Ayer Keroh offering budget spicy Malay and Indian dishes and Chinese-style noodles.

Some were returning home as winners from the exhausting challenges with free accommodation in hotels and flight tickets to other destinations. The rest, equally running tired, recalled the goal of the week-long journey: to spread the word that accessible southern Malaysia has a way of beckoning guests back for a more immersed, lingering stay.