Malaysia is a country of contrasts, a tropical destination with 3,000 kilometers of coastline, historic cities, a distinct cultural mix, cool hill resorts, the world's oldest rainforest and Southeast Asia's highest mountain. A delightful fusion.
Geographically, Malaysia comprises two distinct bodies of land, the Malayan peninsula is the historic home of the Malay people, the population center of the 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 groups such as the Iban, Penan and Negrito.
It preserves many traditional cultural aspects, dress, religion, food and architecture. It is gifted with the natural beauty of beaches, forests, rivers and mountains . Malaysia provides a step into a special and distinctive world that is serviced by high modern standards of transportation and accommodation.
Varied seaside locations offer relaxation running from luxurious total-comfort resorts to deserted away-from-it-all beaches. Off the northwest coast, set in the Andaman Sea, is the island of Langkawi. Coves, inlets & palm-fringed golden sand beaches, Langkawi offers international-standard resort hotels and simple chalet accommodation. Water sports, golf & duty-free shopping add to the destination. Easy to access, via the Langkawi international airport.
Penang Island and Batu Ferringhi's resort hotel-lined beach offer snorkeling, diving, andcruising. Penang has long been popular with international tourists, offering many attractions, including botanical gardens, rainforest, typical Malay villages and the historic port city of Georgetown. South, in the Straits of Malacca, lies the island of Pangkor, a popular getaway with its many sandy bays and all kinds of accommodation and attractions.
On the east coast sits Tioman Island, with miles of soft white sand and swaying palms and a forested, mountainous interior home to wild flowers and cool waterfalls. Tioman affords a paradise offering nature walks, sea sports or just total relaxation.
East Malaysia beach resorts such as at Damai, near Kuching, with its brilliant white sands and Sarawak's ethnic cultures. Sipadan, Sabah offers excellent diving. whilst the hinterland of Borneo offers a a cultural experience set in magnificent natural surrounding with amyriad of wildlife.nd
With its wealth of natural environments, Malaysia offers exceptional adventure opportunities: jungle trekking, white-water rafting, mountain and rock climbing, great cave exploration, scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking and more. Adventure /Explore /Relax
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Main Cities: Ipoh, Penang
Population: 19,684,000
Area: 329,750 km2
Currency: 1 ringgit (Malaysian dollar) = 100 sen
Languages: Bahasa Malay, Chinese, Tamil, English
Religions: Sunni Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu
