Southeast Asia is a popular tourist destination, boasting beautiful beaches, warm tropical weather, diverse cuisines that have enthralled foodies from around the world, and megalopolis cities like Jakarta, Manila, and Bangkok. However, if you want to escape crowded cities, wild beach parties, and tourist traps, take a detour to the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan.

Negeri Sembilan translates to the “State of the Nine.” Before the colonial years in Malaysia, the state was settled by the Minangkabau around the 14th century, a matrilineal people from West Sumatra (Indonesia) who divided Negeri Sembilan into nine chiefdoms or nagari (Minangkabau word for chiefdom).

Negeri Sembilan is usually a state that global tourists avoid when visiting Malaysia, opting for the capital Kuala Lumpur, and states like Kedah, Penang, Pahang, and Perak because of their proximity to the beautiful island beaches of Pulau Tioman, Pulau Pangkor, and Langkawi.

The state can’t rival the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur or the serenity of Malaysia’s island paradise escapes, however, if you love unique cultures, architecture, cuisine, and colonial history, this Malaysian west coast state will be a travel experience unlike any other.

Seremban, the capital of Negeri Sembilan is a great place to start. It’s an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur via the North-South highway and its downtown core is littered with colonial British buildings from the early 20th century. The majority of these buildings are still in use and house some of the city’s most popular restaurants like Simla Curry Leaf Restaurant and Haji Shariff Cendol.

It will also be hard to miss the unique concave roofs at the Wisma Negeri (State Guesthouse/Government Center) and the Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan (State Museum). The curved roof structure with multi-tiered gables is said to be influenced by the horns of water buffaloes, an animal considered sacred in Minangkabau culture.

Many homes in the countryside of Negeri Sembilan still feature these unique roof structures. Traditionally, these homes or bigger structures called Rumah Gadang were communal homes run by the matriarch in the family and passed down from mother to daughter.

For an even deeper dive into Minangkabau culture, you’ll have to travel 40 minutes from Seremban to Kuala Klawang in the district of Jelebu via the Pantai highway and Route 86. The Muzium Adat (Customs Museum) in Kuala Klawang is a great introductory resource to this unique matrilineal culture.

One of the more defining features of the Minangkabau customary laws or Adat Perpatih, is the practice of democracy when electing its chiefs and kings. The Minangkabau monarchy, however, practices a patriarchal succession.

The district of Jelebu is also rich in colonial history. During British rule in Negeri Sembilan, it produced some of the world’s best quality rubber and tin. Jelebu is littered with former tin mining lakes and towns, and its countryside is relatively untouched by modernity.

Once you’ve had your fill of history and culture, you can dive into the nature sites Jelebu has to offer with either a hike to Negeri Sembilan’s tallest peak, Mount Besar Hantu (1462m), or trek into the Pasoh Caves, which are a limestone cave complex that dates all the way back to the Paleolithic age.

If a hike or cave adventure is not your jam, you can drive about an hour South of Route 86 to Port Dickson, where you can sunbathe or swim on one of its many beaches. Port Dickson is also known for its farmer’s and night markets where you can enjoy local dishes like gulai (curry), ayam bakar (burnt/barbecue chicken), ayam balado (chili pepper chicken), ayam bumbu ( spiced chicken), or ikan bakar (burnt/barbecue fish).

The beaches of Port Dickson may not compare to island getaways like Koh Lanta in Thailand, Boracay in the Philippines, or Bali in Indonesia. However, you are guaranteed to find spots that aren’t crowded and one should always be grateful when experiencing warm tropical sands and salt water.

To cap a getaway trip to the state of Negeri Sembilan, you have to make one more trip to Seremban to enjoy the city’s famous dishes, Seremban Siew Siew Pow and Hakka Mee. Seremban Siew Pow is a crunchy, light, and flaky baked pastry bun usually filled with pork meat. Empayar Seremban Siew Pow or Kedai Siew Pau Asia are the best places to enjoy this Seremban original.

Hakka Mee, also said to have originated in Seremban is a simple yellow noodle dish tossed in pork gravy and topped with minced pork. You can enjoy a bowl or two of this dish at Tow Kee Hakka Noodles which can be found at the Pasar Besar Seremban (Seremban’s Big Market). As a bonus, all these meals on your trip to Negeri Sembilan will cost less than 5 US dollars.

So, the next time you don’t want to do what the masses do in Southeast Asia and want to fill the void in your life with cultures unheard of in the majority of the world, a place that is a complete U-turn from cool tourist routes, setting you apart when it comes to travel stories, you have to let your curiosity guide you to Negeri Sembilan.