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Malaysia - introduction
Malaysia, which celebrated 50 years of independence in 2007, is one of the rising stars of South-East Asian tourism, a nation looking to the future while cherishing the ways of the past. Centuries of trade combined with a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and tribal influence have created a mix of peoples and culture that make it a colourful and intriguing place to visit.
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History
The British were relatively late arrivals to the region in the late 18th century, following Portuguese and later Dutch settlement, but they played a key role following the European wars of the 1790s and, in particular, the defeat of the Netherlands by France in 1795. The Federated Malay States were created in 1895, and remained under British colonial control until the Japanese invasion of 1942.
After Japanese defeat in 1945, the 11 states were once again incorporated as British Protectorates and, in 1948, became the Federation of Malaya. In 1963, the Federation of Malaya merged with Singapore and the former British colonies of Sarawak and Sabah, on north Borneo, to form modern Malaysia. Singapore seceded to become an independent state in its own right in 1965, leaving Malaysia in its present form.
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Cities
Kuala Lumpur - the capital
George Town - the cultural and cuisine capital of Penang
Johor Bahru - capital of Johor, and gateway to Singapore
Kuantan - capital of Pahang, and commercial centre of the east coast
Kota Kinabalu - capital of Sabah, and the largest city in East Malaysia
Kuching - capital of Sarawak
Malacca (Melaka) - the historical city of Malaysia
Miri - the resort city of Sarawak and gateway to UNESCO World Heritage Site Gunung Mulu National Park
Putrajaya - the administrative centre of Malaysia, known for its lavish buildings, bridges and man-made lakes
Langkawi - Known as the Geo-city of the Langkawi archipelago, the island destination is good for relaxation with many eco-friendly up-market resorts to choice from.
Ipoh - Located in between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the former tin-mining town is a "must-stop" for overland tours either for lunch or sightseeing.
Kota Bahru - capital of Kelantan state which has the strongest Muslim influence. Peaceful with colouful morning markets.
Kuala Terengganu - Capital of Terengganu state in the East Coast. Rich Malay culture and the place where giant turtles come ashore to lay eggs.
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Weather
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Tropical without extremely high temperatures. Days are very warm and often humid, while nights are fairly cool. The main rainy season in the east runs between November and February, while August is the wettest period on the west coast.
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East Malaysia has heavy rains (November to February) in Sabah and in Sarawak. However, it is difficult to generalise about the country's climate, as rainfall differs on the east and west coasts according to the prevailing monsoon winds (northeast or southwest). Average daytime temperatures in Kuala Lumpur are around 27°C (82°F) year round. |
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To do
• Sightseeing - Due to Malaysia's rich history and mixed culture, there are many interesting tours in every location to choice from, ranging from city to farms and countryside.
• Overland Tours - The best way to explore Malaysia's ethnic diversity and plantations from lowland to highlands.
Scuba diving
The most popular spots are the islands off the East Coast of peninsular Malaysia (Perhentian, Redang, Tioman and many more), although the dive season is limited to April to September. However, the most famous dive site – often ranked among the best in the world – is Sipadan in at the easternmost tip of Malaysian Borneo, and there are many other less well known sites like Layang Layang.
Whitewater rafting
Many national parks in Malaysia, where you can find anything from tame Grade I to incredibly difficult and dangerous Grade V rapids.
Jungle Trekking
The oldest rainforest in the world is located in Malaysia, along with 25 other national parks. The best treks are in Taman Negara and Borneo.
Self-drive
Due to Malaysia's good highways stretching from Johore (border to Singapore)in the south to Bukit Kayu Hitam (border to Thailand) in the north, self-drive holiday is always a great way of seeing the country.
Shopping
Kuala Lumpur is fast becoming one of the best shopping cities in South East Asia, with great shopping facilities. Penang is not far behind.
Food Trails
Malaysia's mixed culture produces many variety of food. Penang, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh are known food havens.
mountain climbing - The most popular is Mt.Kinabalu which at nearly 8000m is the highest in South East Asia. Others are Mt Tahan, Frasers hill and Penang hill.
Golfing
There are about 200 golf-courses in Malaysia, many are internationally designed. Though mostly private clubs, they welcome visitors and charge nominal green fees.
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Map
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Photo gallery
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