Malaysia Overview

Overview

Said to be the third richest country in Southeast Asia, and continually booming in terms of economic growth, Malaysia is a thin peninsula jutting out towards Indonesia, linked by a bridge to Singapore at its end. It is highly multi-cultural and well worth a visit, or even a longer stay.

An Islamic country which has a huge Chinese population, as well as Indians and other smaller minorities. Kuala Lumpur, known as KL, is the capital, situated to the middle-west of the country. Although fairly westernised, with fast food outlets, high rise hotels, bars, restaurants and big air-conditioned shopping malls, it is still steeped in tradition. The streets are still lined with markets and food stalls, also known as hawker stalls, and many of the attractions, such as Chinatown, Merdeka Square and Little India, demonstrate the multiculturalism that still flourishes. Other recommended places and buildings to visit include the Lake Gardens and the Petronas Towers.

Moving north of KL, you come across more colonial history, in the form of the island of Penang, with old colonial buildings and a Chinatown in its capital of Georgetown. Further inland there are the Cameron Highlands, where cooler temperatures and green countryside provide a taste of Old England.

Further north, there is Kota Bahru and Kuala Terengganu, near the northeastern Thai border, where the best Malay traditions, craft production and performing arts can be found. Moving down the east coast, you come across Cherating, just north of Kuantan. Slightly touristy, it is still a good place to unwind and relax, batik printing and wind-surfing should be taken in the itinerary at some point.

However, for complete holiday-ing and relaxing, I recommend Mersing. From there you can head out to the islands, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Tinggi are just some to visit. From snorkelling to diving, there is still plenty of marine wildlife to see (turtles, sharks, beautifully coloured fish, and dolphins that play by the bow of the boat as it travels across the sea). Most islands now also boast luxuries such as air- conditioning, electricity and running water, from high-end prices to the backpacker's price range, and thus Mersing is a must on the Malaysia map, a gateway to sandy beaches and blue seas.

Since Malaysia is also a tropical country, for those seeking the real tropics, Endau Rompin National Park is good for lowland tropical rainforest, with rich flora and fauna. You can go trekking, mountain climbing and rafting but it's better to book a tour as permits can be hard to obtain.

Other towns worth a visit are of course, Melaka, on the west coast, with its red bricks and handicrafts to be picked up in the town. With Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese heritage, there is plenty to see. A river trip is also fascinating, seeing the mixture of old and new, as the government attempts to bring Melaka into a purely tourist town.

Finally, Batu Pahat is a personal favourite. A Chinese town, with nothing special particularly, except for the fact that it is the best place for which to cross from east to west or vice versa. A trip up to Minyak Beku is also worthwhile, with the sounds from the estuary and villages floating up to the lighthouse. South of Batu Pahat lie pineapple plantations and all along the long and windy road to Mersing, they are sold beside the road and can be bought for practically nothing.

From this part of Malaysia, Singapore beckons, as it is so close, but being a different country, does not belong in this summary of Malaysia.