Reflections: Traveling in Malaysia – Part 4

If I could live anywhere in the world Malaysia could quite possibly be top of my list. That’s quite a statement, particularly as Malaysia is not even many people’s first choice for a holiday in South East Asia. That honour tends to go to Thailand or Singapore. Things are starting to change though and more people are beginning to see the wealth of possibilities Malaysia has to offer.

I have focused on five key areas to help justify my declaration of Malaysia’s splendour:

- The geography. With dazzling beaches, magical islands and lush, verdant jungles, few countries in the world can match the natural beauty of this captivating land.

- The people. I’ll give you an insight into what makes the people of Malaysia so endearing.

- The culture and way of life. Malaysia is steeped in history, but I’ll also give you a flavour of why the current lifestyle is something to savour and admire.

- The wildlife. Few countries on the planet can boast the diversity of life that exists in Malaysia’s jungles, rolling hills and tropical seas.

- Towns and cities. From the pulsating city of Kuala Lumpur to the charming historical delights of Melaka, the urban attractions of Malaysia should not be overlooked.

Geography

Malaysia is split into two parts. Peninsula Malaysia is positioned below Thailand on the Asian mainland, while there is also a large segment of the north western side of Borneo that is also part of the country. The land mass of the two areas put together is a little larger than the United Kingdom.

Malaysia is a tropical country and offers everything you might expect from such a climate. Hot and humid all year round, the only variable is whether it’s raining or not. The rainy season is from around November to the end of February. The landscape is slightly more varied than the weather, although most of the wilderness is dominated by a relentlessly diminishing jungle. However, there are still vast tracts of prime rainforest in Borneo and on Peninsula Malaysia in Taman Negara. Borneo boasts the oldest rainforest in the world as well as one of the highest mountains in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu. The mountain rises fat and squat above the forest like a demented mole hill, plateauing off at over 4000m. It’s a gruelling, but rewarding two day climb if you feel like punishing your legs. And don’t forget some warm clothes, as the top of Kinabalu is one of the few cold places in Malaysia that’s not air conditioned.

It’s not all forbidding jungle