Located about an hour and a half’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, the coastal town of Port Dickson was a booming tourist spot in the 1980s to 1990s. It lost much of its shine after the Asian financial crisis – but still retains a certain laidback charm that makes it a semi-popular weekend getaway for locals (one that doesn’t involve hopping onto a plane to tourist traps like Penang and Langkawi!)

The Hubs and I had no plans so we randomly decided to drive to PD after Saturday brunch. It took longer than expected to get there in my tiny car, but it was all good. Ever since embracing the idea of not rushing to see everything on trips, travelling has become much more relaxing and enjoyable.

So without further ado, here is our ‘slow’ travel itinerary!

PORT DICKSON ARMY MUSEUM

Housed within the Port Dickson military base, the Port Dickson Army Museum (Muzium Tentera Darat) boasts one of the best collections of military equipment, vehicles, and paraphernalia in Malaysia – including decommissioned tanks, helicopters, and real weaponry.

The place looks deceptively small from the outside because it’s located on a slope, but once you’re in, there are several buildings spread across the courtyard (which also has a memorial fountain), with close to a dozen galleries to explore – each chronicling a part of Malaysia’s military history.

Aside from events from the last 100 years such as World War II and the Japanese occupation of Malaya, there’s also a gallery dedicated to the Malacca sultanate (complete with a wooden ship replica), and local freedom fighters from the 18th and 19th centuries who fought against British rule.

One of the highlights for me is an underground passageway that runs underneath the museum’s main building, which is modeled after communist hideouts. During the Malayan emergency in the 1940s which lasted until the 1960s, communist guerilla fighters often spent months, even years, in the hills, hiding out in jungles and digging elaborate tunnel systems to act as air raid shelters as they were bombarded by British Malayan and Commonwealth forces. Conditions were horrific to say the least, as the corridors were often dark, dank, and wet, and its occupants suffered disease, malnutrition, and festering wounds. Sometimes the weak walls would also collapse, burying people beneath them.

We spent around three hours at the museum, and wrapped up just in time for closing. Best part of it all? Entry to the museum is completely FREE.

PORT DICKSON WATERFRONT

It was 5PM by the time we finished at the PD Army Museum. Our next stop was PD Waterfront, a relatively new development which houses a stretch of modern restaurants, cafes, and entertainment outlets facing the sea. As we drove along the coast, we caught glimpses of beach and sunlight sparkling on blue-green water, the views mostly shielded by old resorts, trees, and shrubs.

The sun was still high when we got to PD Waterfront, but it wasn’t too hot, so we strolled to the furthest point along the paved route. The beach along the PD waterfront is rocky rather than sandy, and while the water is relatively clean, bathing in it is not encouraged. It’s good for fishing though, as we saw many anglers with their rods set up near the rocks.

The sun only sets around 7-ish in West Malaysia, so we had lots of time to kill. Popped into the 7-11 for some snacks, then found a cozy spot to chow down, listen to the calming lap of waves against the rocks, and watch ships bobbing on the horizon. There seems to be a lack of bins around the area, but that’s no excuse to litter – keep your garbage with you until you find one!

Food options aplenty around the PD Waterfront – including this open air food truck area offering a variety of dishes, from char kuey teow, fried noodles, rice, burgers, and more. If you’re not comfortable with outdoor dining, there’s also a McDonald’s and Starbucks here.

I was craving something soupy, so we ended up at Do Do Do Tangkak Beef Noodles restaurant instead.

Nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of beef soup with the cooling sea breeze in your face! The owner here is very courteous and accommodating; the food was excellent as well. I opted to just get the soup without the noodles, since I had snacks earlier.

After dinner, we strolled a bit more – the sun had started setting by then, casting a lazy glow over the sea as boats puttered their way back to the mainland. Children ran around flying kites, blowing soap bubbles, and spinning colourful toys into the air, while families rode around on tandem bikes.

The view was beautiful – it was worth waiting for sunset! It was late by the time we got home, but I felt refreshed from the short trip, even though we did not get much sight seeing in.

For those who prefer to pack in more sights, PD has a lot of spots to visit such as the Cape Rachado Lighthouse, the Kota Lukut historic fort, Wan Loong Temple, the PD Ostrich Farm, as well as the Alive 3D art gallery. And of course, tonnes of seafood restaurants!

GETTING TO PORT DICKSON

There are no direct public transportation routes from KL to PD, but you can take a bus from KL Sentral or the TBS Bus terminal to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan’s capital, and from there hop on to a local bus (T30A) going to PD. This is an affordable option that costs less than RM20. By car you’ll be taking the North-South Highway, and later on the Seremban-Port Dickson highway to get into town.

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