For most Malaysians, the very mention of museums invokes the image of old buildings housing even older artefacts, attractive only to history buffs and the like.

However, this is no longer the case as the museums of the 21st century now welcome all age groups with fun and interesting exhibits.

Here are just a handful of unique museums scattered throughout the country. Have you visited any of these before?

1. Wonderfood Museum (Penang)

Food is at the forefront of Malaysian culture and for good reason, it’s part of everyone’s daily lives and it’s available 24/7.

Hence, it only makes sense that there be a museum dedicated to Malaysia’s beloved local delicacies located in the foodie haven of Penang.

This museum is home to numerous larger-than-life models of Penang hawker food, such as Hokkien mee, ice kacang, nasi kandar and Nyonya kuih.

For folks who want to walk away having learnt something new, the museum also teaches visitors about the history of Malaysian food and how culinary culture has evolved over time.

In addition to the colourful displays of food, the museum also has a section dedicated to global hunger, reminding Malaysians to appreciate what they sometimes take for granted.

2. Time Tunnel (Pahang)

For Malaysians born in the 1960s, the Malaysia of 2022 must seem radically different from the country they grew up in.

Those feeling the pangs of nostalgia will thus find themselves longing for their childhood days once they step into the Time Tunnel in Brinchang, Pahang.

Often visited by tourists heading towards Cameron Highlands, this tourist trap houses all sorts of memorabilia, artefacts and collectables from days long gone.

Established by local collector See Kok Shan, the Time Tunnel is a time capsule showing visitors what life was like back in Malaysia’s early years.

While older Malaysians can reminisce on how things were like back then, younger Malaysians can see and feel for themselves the lives their parents and grandparents led.

3. Ghost Museum (Penang)

Malaysians enjoy a good spooky story, especially when it involves things going bump in the night and raising goosebumps.

Penang’s Ghost Museum is, thus, meant to catalogue Malaysian tales of horror and the supernatural, while providing guests with a hair-raising experience.

Here, you can learn about all sorts of supernatural creatures which people genuinely believed in back in the day, and perhaps even now.

Fans of all things horror will likely find themselves at home here, as some of the exhibits are references to iconic movie ghosts.

And if you want a photograph for the memories, the museum also provides visitors with costumes to dress up as your favourite spooky ghost.

4. Kuching Cat Museum (Sarawak)

As kids, it was normal to have a little giggle or two at the name of Sarawak’s state capital, which shares a name with humanity’s feline overlords.

Residents of the city are quite aware of this, and they are proud of it too. The Kuching Cat Museum thus stands in honour of the city’s mascot animal.

Established in 1993, a large collection of some 2,000 bizarre and adorable cat-themed art and memorabilia await visitors here.

The museum has four galleries and for folks wishing to learn more about felines, there are exhibits on cats living in the jungles of Borneo.

Given many Malaysians’ fondness for cats, this is a place that every cat lover should make a pilgrimage to at least once.

5. Museum of Enduring Beauty (Melaka)

Beauty standards have changed over the ages, and what was once considered beautiful may now be thought of as bizarre.

Melaka has a museum dedicated to the beauty norms of ethnic groups from all over the world, some of which might seem rather agonising to endure.

The Museum of Enduring Beauty is actually one of the many mini-museums that make up Muzium Rakyat, with each occupying a separate floor.

Here, visitors can learn how different cultures perceive beauty – from tattoos to body piercings, and foot binding to neck rings.

Needless to say, perhaps by the time you’re done exploring all the museum has to offer, your daily makeup routine will feel like a breeze.