About Malaysia

Located at the Southeast region of Asia, Malaysia is a country which is the home to a multi-racial community. Malaysia is made up of thirteen states and has three federal territories. Malaysia is considered as one of the many countries in Asia which is frequented by thousands of tourists annually. The breath-taking landscapes and islands are among the top attractions in Malaysia that keeps visitors coming. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, also attracts many local and foreign tourists as it is the place for shopping, dining and delving into the multi-ethnic community of the people here. In fact, the number of tourists who comes each year is so huge in number that Malaysia is the 11th most visited country in the world.

Malaysia has a tropical climate of a temperature ranging from 20 to 30 celcius. Malaysia is a humid place as it is in close proximity to waters. The climate in most places in Malaysia is hot and dry with an exception for highland areas. During the monsoon season, the coastline of Peninsular of Malaysia is most affected. The rainy season starts from September to December on the West Coast while in East Coast heavy rains are collected from November to February. Peninsular Malaysia has an average rainfall of 2500mm but escalates in East Malaysia with 5080mm of rain. The weather in Malaysia can be summarized as hot and humid in the day and its nights are cool.

Overview

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. It is the second largest state by population in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur started off as a tin-mining town but today, it is a 21st century metropolis which is populated by myriads of skyscrapers and is the focus of many international trade and commerce. The one place that should not be missed is Bukit Bintang. Located at the heart of the Golden Triangle of majestic city of Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang district first started off along Jalan Bukit Bintang but slowly expanded to its surrounding areas. Today, it stretches from Jalan Raja Chulan to Jalan Pudu. Day or night, rain or shine, Bukit Bintang is always full of people from all walks of life. The myriads of al-fresco cafes, posh restaurants, lavish bars, bustling hawker centres and multilevel shopping centres such as the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur are the main attractions that draw throngs and throngs of tourists and locals to this area. Also within the vicinity of Bukit Bintang are the Sungei Wang Plaza and Berjaya Times Square which are famous malls in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. However, the largest of them all is none but the Midvalley Megamall of Kuala Lumpur. If you would like to get hold of some good bargains and great street food, head over to Chinatown (Petaling Street). Hundreds and thousands of stalls are set up here at the Petaling Street. You can find almost anything here. Where ever you walk, you will find good food. That's the uniqueness of Petaling Street. Another internationally famous attraction in Kuala Lumpur is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park which is the world's largest free flight aviary and the home of over 3000 birds from 200 species.

In Selangor, the top destinations are the Sunway Lagoon Water Theme Park. There are various types of parks with varying themes. The water park is very full during the weekends so be sure to get there early to avoid disappointment. Attached to the Sunway Lagoon Water Park is the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Center as well as the Sunway Hotel where you can consider staying while visiting this part of Malaysia. Sunway Pyramid has thousands of shops in it varying from local to international brands. Sunway Pyramid is also the only place in Malaysia with an ice skating rink. If you are interested to try ice skating, you should head on over to Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall. Other than the Sunway Lagoon Water Park, there is also the i-City Shah Alam which has beautiful display of colorful LED lights all over the place. They are beautifully arranged and decorated over the trees for visitors to take photos. These lights are only turned on at night, so be sure to get there at night. Shopping can also be done in Selangor. One of the famous shopping mall is The Curve (Damansara). The Curve has quite a number of shops in it but its main attraction is its flea market which is held every weekend. It also has an extensive range of restaurants where you can dine at. The Apartment is a restaurant that should not be missed. Its fish dishes and cocktails are simply to die for. There is a bridge connecting The Curve with Ikano Power Centre. Ikea, is connected with the Ikano Power Center. Thus, you can do some furniture shopping and then move to Ikano Power Center for groceries.

Up north is the state of Penang. Penang is divided into the Penang Island and Butterworth. There is not much at Butterworth but it is totally the opposite on the Island of Penang. One of the famous places to visit is the Batu Feringghi Beach where tourists can enjoy some water sports and some sun bathing. Tourists can choose to stay at the Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion. The late Cheong Fatt Tze loved to maintain mansions in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Chine other than this one in Penang. Though all his mansions were lavishly built and decorated, the Blue mansion along Leith Street is by far the most elaborate and lavish. The Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion is a boutique hotel that can be booked as accommodation and even for wedding reservations. Other than the impressive architectures that you can see at the Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion, you can also visit the Khoo Kongsi to view its magnificent clan house which is located at the southwest of Georgetown. In the Air Itam area of Penang, are the Kek Lok Si Temple Air Itam and the Penang Hill. Right at the entrance of the Kek Lok Si Temple is the famous asam laksa shop. Do not forget to try it out. Kek Lok Si temple is made up of many stalls and is a pagoda which is ascended in a spiral manner. As you reach the top, you will be able to witness the view of Penang. The Penang Hill is located in the center of Georgetown. The only way to access the hill is via the Penang Hill Railway which will bring you up 833meters to the top of the hill. There are various flora and fauna at the top of the hill. If your stomach starts to growl for food, you should head on over to Gurney Drive. You can enjoy various famous delicacies of Penang there. After filling up your stomach, you can take a stroll along the seaside or at the Gurney Mall which is just beside Gurney Drive.

Pahang is located in the center of Malaysia. Attractions here are more nature-related especially the Taman Negara which is a national park where you can explore and see wild animals and unique floras. You can also rent a chalet here and stay a few days to fully explore the park. Fraser's Hill is also one of the many famous pristine forests found in Malaysia. For some strawberries and fresh vegetables, you should head on over to Cameron Highlands. There are strawberry farms where you can choose and pluck your own strawberries. At the night market, you can also buy back fresh vegetable at a very low price. If you are in the mood for some theme park rides, you should go to Genting Highlands. After than on your way down, you can drop by and visit the Bukit Tinggi resort as well. The Cherating beach in Kuantan is a beautiful beach where you can plan a picnic and enjoy some water sports. Pahang is also the place where the best durians and ginger are grown. Thus, do not miss out on that. At the south of Malaysia is the state of Johor. The state of Johor is the nearest to Singapore and is famous for its beaches and islands. Among the famous attractions in Johor are the Desaru Beach, Kota Tinggi Water Falls. Famous islands in Johor are the Sibu Island, Pulau Besar and Rawa Island. The Rawa Island is an exclusive island which has not been visited by many. Its pristine waters and scenery is one of the many things to look forward to when you are there. Since Johor is just surrounded by water, you will be able to feast on the freshest seafood. The place to go is Mersing. Here you can eat various types of seafood and you can also choose to stay over at the hotels found here. If you want to have a look at the more developed part of Johor, you can go to Danga Bay. Many concerts are held here and on the weekends, there are live performances for the public to watch. Since Danga Bay is near the sea, you can enjoy some sea breeze while enjoying the music from the performances on stage there.

There are just so many other attractions in each and every state in Malaysia. In the north are the state of Kedah and Perlis. In Kedah for instance, the most famous place is the Langkawi Island. There you can visit the Oriental Village Langkawi, the Lang Square Langkawi where you can take photos of the beautiful scenery and the renowned landmark of Langkawi which is the eagle and also learn and watch unique marine creatures at the Pulau Payar Marine Park. Perlis is a small state in the north with a decent amount of attractions which include the snake and reptile farm, the Kota Kayang Museum and the Gua Kelam (Dark Cave).

Moving downwards and just beside Kuala Lumpur is Negeri Sembilan. This is a place where you should go for a short trip if you are near Kuala Lumpur. Port Dickson is a famous beach among tourists. Locals love to come here over the weekend for a short getaway. Port Dickson is also a popular place to organize team building camps as many of the resorts here are equipped with many obstacle courses. There are two towns in Negeri Sembilan and they are Seremban and Nilai. Right beside Negeri Sembilan is the historical city of Malacca. Malacca is rich is cultures from the occupation of the Portuguese and British and the remains from the occupation back then can still be seen at the Stadhuys, Maritime Museum Malacca and A Famosa. The Baba Nyonya community has long existed in Malacca since the Chinese traders came to Malacca to trade spices and silk. Some of them got married to the Malay women of Malacca and there you have it, the baba and nyonya community. Their culture and heritage can be seen at the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum which is along the Jonker Street. Great food can be found at the Jonker Street. Good baba nyonya food can be found at Nancy's Kitchen and at Donald and Lily's. For Portuguese style dishes, they can be found at the Portuguese Square Malacca. Here you can enjoy seafood cooked in the Portuguese way. For seafood cooked the Malay way, you can try eating at Muara Sungai Duyung. The variety and freshness of the seafood is beyond compare.

The East Coast of Malaysia, especially Terengganu is most renowned for its islands. Pulau Redang was visited by so many tourists that now it has been made exclusive to avoid further damages to the corals there. Pulau Perhentian is also a great diving site for diving enthusiasts. For those to want a quiet time at the beach and just relax for a few days should pick Pulau Lang Tengah. Pulau Lang Tengah is a small island just beside Pulau Redang and has only four hotels there. Much lesser people visit Pulau Lang Tengah and it is most suitable for tourists who just want some quiet time. You can also snorkel and even opt for deep sea diving at Lang Tengah. There is also a turtle bay where many turtles often drop by. Other than islands, the Lake Kenyir is an artificial lake which was formed from by the damming of the Kenyir River. Though the lake is a manmade one, it has been successfully made into an eco-tourism spot. Among the activities that can be done here are fishing, jungle trekking, caving, kayaking and canoeing. Beside Terengganu is the state of Kelantan. Top attractions in Kelantan include the Gunung Stong State Park, the Siti Khadijah Market, Irama Beach and the Handicraft Village & Craft Museum.

Across the South China Sea is the Sabah and Sarawak state. Many people visit Kota Kinabalu,Sabah because they want to conquer Mount Kinabalu. The Mount Kinabalu is the 20th tallest mountain in the world and is protected as Kinabalu National Park which is a World Heritage Site. It is only in the Kinabalu National Park that you can see the world's largest flower which is the rafflesia. Though it may look pretty but it has a rotten meat-stench to it which is quite a turn off for human but attracts insects which the flower feeds on. One of the world's best diving spots is found here in Sabah. That would be the Sipadan Island. A diving trip to Sipadan Island will set you back quite a bit as this is an exclusive diving spot. Other than diving, you can also visit the Turtle Island Park and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. For food, you can try getting some fruits and sea produce at the Filipino market in Kota Kinabalu. There are also souvenirs sold there. Next to Sabah is Sarawak. In Sarawak, you will see many statues of cats in the city. This is because the capital of Sarawak is Kuching which literally translates to cat in Bahasa Malaysia. The more renowned tourist attractions are the Gunung Mulu National Park and the long houses of the indigenous people of Sarawak. The bigger towns in Sarawak are Sibu and Miri. One famous dish here is the kolo noodles. Kolo noodles are basically egg noodle which are boiled promptly and then served with crushed garlic and shallot and a generous amount of minced pork or beef and a splash of white vinegar and oil.

Transport

Flights are the easiest way to access Malaysia if you are from other country. Our main airport would be the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Budget flights will arrive at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). Getting around in Malaysia is easy. If you are a local, you can either take a taxi or rent a car. You can also take public transport too. However, if you are a foreign tourist, renting a car may not be a good idea as traffic is quite bad in Kuala Lumpur especially. It is best to take a taxi, bus or the LRT. With myriads of restaurants and hotels in Kuala Lumpur and other places in Malaysia, it will not be difficult to find a place to put up for the night or grab a meal. Malaysia is so multi-cultural that you need to worry about the food. There are plenty to choose from.

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