Introducing Malaysia
Malaysia is really like two countries in one, cleaved in half by the South China Sea. The peninsula is a multicultural buffet of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours while Borneo hosts a wild jungle smorgasbord of orang-utans, granite peaks and remote tribes. Within and throughout these two very different regions are an impressive variety of microcosms ranging from the space-age high-rises of Kuala Lumpur to the smiling longhouse villages of Sarawak and the calm, powdery beaches of the Perhentian Islands. And did we mention the food? Malaysia (particularly along the peninsular west coast) has one of the best assortments of delicious cuisines in the world.
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Start with Chinese–Malay 'Nonya' fare, move on to Indian banana leaf curries, Chinese buffets, spicy Malay food stalls and even some impressive Western food. Yet despite all the pockets of ethnicities, religions, landscapes and the sometimes-great distances between them, the beauty of Malaysia lies in the fusion of it all, into a country that is one of the safest, most stable and easiest to manage in Southeast Asia.
Last updated: Dec 31, 2009
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Malaysia
Our Top Picks For Malaysia
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1 Pulau Langkawi
Splash out on the luxury resorts of this gorgeous island group
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2 Penang
Relive the colonial days in Georgetown taking tiffin at the E&O
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3 Kota Bharu
Meet traditional kite and shadow puppet makers and feast at Malaysia's best night market
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4 Cameron Highlands
Visit tea plantations and take pleasant walks in the cool highlands
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5 Pulau Perhentian
Relax and revive on these two blissful white-sand fringed islands
Fast Facts about Malaysia
- Capital Kuala Lumpur
- International telephone code 60
- Languages Bahasa Melayu (official), Chinese (Hakka and Hokkien dialects), Tamil, English
- Currency Malaysian ringgit (RM)
- Phrases selamat pagi (good morning), terima kasi (thank you)
- Population 24,821,300
- Malaysian heroes: Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. Father of Malaysian independence and first Prime Minister in 1957.
Related Groups
Our favourite Malaysia Blogs (beta)
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The Coolest Fairground Worker Ever?
Blog: Travels with a Nine Year Old - 30 July 2010
Of all the places in which to find a “UK Funfair”, complete with British registration plates on the lorries, Bintulu, Sarawak, would come pretty low on my list. Thailand? Quite possibly. Peninsular Malaysia? Conceivably. Borneo? Nuh-uh. Now, the nine year old and I love funfairs. The neon. The colour. The adrenaline rush. The cheesy music. [...]
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Malaysia International Dive Expo 2010 MIDE at PWTC
Blog: Malaysia Asia - 30 July 2010
Malaysia International Dive Expo 2010 MIDE at PWTC will be held from 30th July to 1st Aug 2010. This year's MIDE will promise over 100 exhibitors from various countries showcasing their unique items for the dive industry. Professionals from dive travel resorts, destinations, live-aboard dive operators, dive equipment and accessories manufacturers, wholesalers, exporters, retailers, underwater
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Cherating Beach - Picture of the week
Blog: Malaysia Asia - 29 July 2010
Cherating Beach - Picture of the week. This was taken at Kampung Cherating in northern Pahang during one of my beach explorations around Malaysia. Kampung Cherating is a popular holiday place with locals and also foreigners. The beach here is pretty much peaceful and quiet where you can enjoy the local village (kampung) lifestyle and there are a number of hotels and resorts along this beautiful
