MALAYSIA
About Malaysia
Malaysia does not have the grand, ancient ruins of neighbouring
Thailand, but its rich
cultural heritage is apparent, both in its traditional kampung
(village) areas and in its commitment to religious plurality.
The dominant cultural force has undoubtedly been Islam, but the
country's diverse population of indigenous Malays, Chinese and
Indians has spawned a fabulous juxtaposition of mosques, temples
and churches, a panoply of festivals and a wonderful mixture of
cuisines. In addition, Malaysia boasts fine beaches, as well as
some of the world's oldest tropical rainforest and most spectacular
cave systems.
Your first impressions of Malaysia's hi-tech, fast-growing west-coast
capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL), are likely to be of a vibrant and
colourful, if crowded, place. Traditionally, people have stayed
just long enough to think about their next destination, but there
are good reasons to stay a little longer: accommodation is plentiful
and cheap, the food is excellent and its streets safe and friendly.
Less than three hours' journey south lies the birthplace of Malay
civilization, Melaka , a must on anybody's itinerary, while north
up the coast is the first British settlement, the island of Penang
, and its very appealing capital, Georgetown. For a taste of Old
England and lots of walks, head for the hill station of the Cameron
Highlands .
North of Penang, the premier tourist destination is Pulau Langkawi
, a popular duty-free island. Routes down the Peninsula's east
coast are more relaxing, with stops at the sleepy mainland kampung
like Cherating and the stunning islands of Pulau Perhentian and
Pulau Tioman. The state capitals of Kota Bharu , near the northeastern
Thai border, and Kuala Terengganu , further south, are showcases
for the best of Malay crafts and performing arts, while the unsullied
tropical rainforests of Taman Negara National Park offer trails,
animal hides, a high canopy walkway and waterfalls.
Across the sea from the Peninsula are the Bornean states of Sarawak
and Sabah. For most travellers, their first taste of Sarawak is
Kuching, the old colonial capital, and then the Iban longhouses
of the Batang Ai and Batang Lupar river systems, or the Bidayuh
communities closer to the Kalimantan border. The best time to
visit is in late May-early June when the Iban and the Bidayuh
celebrate their harvest festivals with ribald parties to which
everyone is invited. Sibu, much further to the north, is another
starting point for more visits to other Iban longhouses and the
idyllic Pelagus Rapids region. In the north of the state, Gunung
Mulu National Park is the principal destination, its extraordinary
razor-sharp limestone needles providing demanding climbing and
its deep, cathedral-shaped caves awe-inspiring.
The main reason for a trip to Sabah is to conquer the 4101-metre
granite peak of Mount Kinabalu , though the lively modern capital
Kota Kinabalu and its offshore islands have their moments, too.
Beyond this, Sabah is worth a visit for its wildlife, including
turtles, orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills, while oceanic
Pulau Sipadan has a host of sharks, fish and turtles, as well
as one of the world's top coral reef dives.
Temperatures in Malaysia constantly hover around 30°C (22°C
in highland areas), and humidity is high all year round. The major
distinction in the seasons is marked by the arrival of the monsoon,
which brings heavy and prolonged downpours to the east coast of
Peninsular Malaysia, the northeastern part of Sabah, and the western
end of Sarawak from November to February; boats to most of the
islands do not run during the height of the monsoon. The Peninsula's
west coast experiences fewer major thunderstorms during the months
of April and May. The ideal time to visit is between April and
October, avoiding the worst of the rains.
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