Malaysia, a multicultural and diverse nation with a panoramic vista of sparkling blue water beaches, lush rainforest and the vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur with a skyline dominated by the stunning Petronas Twin Towers. Located in the heart of South East Asia, Malaysia lacks none of the raison d’etre that attracts and awes visitors to Asia.
Malaysia, a former British colony, is made up of two primary land masses separated by the South China Sea : Peninsular Malaysia (the Western half) and East Malaysia located on the island of Borneo. With its close proximity to the Equator, Malaysia enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures rising to as high as 36 degrees celsius and dropping to around 25 degrees celsius in the higher elevations.
Blessed with the abundance and diversity of nature, Malaysia truly has something for everyone. Dive in the world class diving site at Pulau Sipadan, relax on white sandy beaches and blue waters of Pulau Perhentian, trek in one of the oldest rainforest in the world at Taman Negara, climb the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu, or enjoy the cool temperature on a hill station at Cameron Highlands, a holiday to this tropical paradise will no doubt be a memorable one.
The Malaysian calendar is overflowing with festivals of all kinds due to its diverse religious, ethnic and multicultural makeup of Malays, Chinese, Indians and a mixture of other races and indigenous peoples. Be it Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Thaipusam or Christmas, a highlight of any of these festival season is the unique Malaysian culture of “open house”, where those celebrating invite visitors including friends and families into their homes to partake in the traditional festive dishes and enjoy the warm feeling of family.
Malaysia is a gastronomic paradise and the streets are chock a block full of hawker stalls where you can find a wide assortment of local delicacies to tempt your palette at any hour of the day. Along with this spicy yet flavorful spread, you can indulge in some of Malaysia’s exotic fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian, also known as the King of fruits, which can be found on almost every street corner.
Keeping in line with Malaysia’s carefree way of life, for most western nationalities there is no need to arrange visas beforehand, where you will receive a 90 day entry stamp upon arrival at any border crossing. As always, check with your embassy before leaving home to verify your visa or entry permit status.