Malaysia is a
country of contrasts, bathed in the warm tropical sun,
endowed with 3,000 kilometers of coastline, several historic
cities, a unique cultural mix, a string of cool hill
resorts, the world's oldest rainforest and even Southeast
Asia's highest mountain. Add to this a delightful fusion.
Geographically,
somewhat oddly, Malaysia comprises two distinct bodies of
land, politically joined in 1963 after independence from
Britain. The Malayan peninsula is the historic home of the
Malay people, today's heart and the population center of the
dynamic modern nation. East Malaysia claims the northern
edge of the huge, wild island of Borneo. Ethnically and
culturally, Malaysia is a fundamentally Malay country
overlaid with Chinese, Indian and British influences, and
possessing several indigenous tribal peoples such as the
Iban, Penan and Negrito.
Yet it preserves many traditional cultural
aspects dress, religion, food and architecture and retains
great natural beauty in beaches, forests, rivers and
mountains. Visiting Malaysia provides a step into a special
and distinctive world that can be done with ease and comfort
via high modern standards of transportation and
accommodation.
Holidaymakers love to head for the beach
first and forget their workday cares. Malaysia offers a huge
range of seaside relaxation running from luxurious
total-comfort resorts to deserted away-from-it-all beaches.
On the northwest coast of the peninsula sits the holiday
island of Langkawi, set on the Andaman Sea. In its myriad
coves and inlets, beside palm-fringed golden sand beaches,
Langkawi offers international-standard resort hotels and
simple chalet accommodation. For a bit of action, there are
water sports of all kinds, a fine golf course and duty-free
shopping. Especially easy to access, Langkawi has its own
international airport.
Farther down the coast lies Penang
Island and Batu Ferringhi's resort hotel-lined beach
with little offshore islands ideal for snorkeling and
diving, or cruising around. Penang has long been popular
with international tourists, as the large island offers many
attractions, including a hill resort, botanical gardens,
rainforest, typical Malay villages and the historic port
city of Georgetown. Farther south, in the Straits of
Malacca, lies the island of Pangkor, a popular getaway for
Malaysians with its many sandy bays and all kinds of
accommodation and diversions.
On the east coast, in an archipelago of 64
volcanic islands, sits Tioman Island. Blessed with miles of
soft white sand and swaying palms, with a forested,
mountainous interior where wild flowers grow in profusion
and cool waterfalls cascade down rocky slopes, Tioman
affords a paradise for everything from nature walks to sea
sports, or just plain lazing in the tropical sun. The states
of Pahang, Terengganu.
East Malaysia also boasts beach resorts
such as at Damai, near Kuching, with its brilliant white
sands and the Sarawak Cultural Village a museum of Sarawak's
ethnic cultures. The real highlight, however, comes from
diving in the waters off Labuan Island, famous for
underwater shipwrecks, and Sipadan Island, in the state of
Sabah.
With its wealth of natural environments,
Malaysia offers a plethora of adventure opportunities:
jungle trekking, white-water rafting, mountain and rock
climbing, great cave exploration, scuba diving, kayaking,
mountain biking and more. Throughout the country the
settings provide ideal adventure activities dense forests,
rapid rivers, craggy mountains, huge cave systems, bountiful
seas and kaleidoscopic coral reefs-plus abundant wildlife
and ancient indigenous peoples.
