|
In 2007, Malaysia celebrated half a
century of being independent. As young as they are as a country, it
has evolved into one of the rising stars when it comes to the options
that worldwide travellers have for Southeast Asian destinations.
A Wide Array of Malaysian Attractions to Sample
Perhaps the cultural diversity of Malaysia is a result of its
strategic location. The country is situated partly on Borneo, while
sharing a border with Thailand and having a connection to the island
state of Singapore. Even the coastlines in Malaysia are multi-culture,
so to speak, sharing the waters of South Chain Sea and the Straits of
Malacca.
As compared to its neighboring countries, the independence of Malaysia
has turned it into one of the richest nations in Southeast Asia. This
is not to say, however, that travelling here would burn a hole in your
pocket. Despite being a culturally and geographically rich country,
touring Malaysia is less expensive than travelling to a similar Asian
destination like Singapore.
Malaysia as a peninsula has a wide array of attractions to offer. When
you venture into the side of the country which borders Borneo, you can
trek through jungles where there are orang-utans, remote tribes and
lush mountain peaks. Meanwhile, the main city in Malaysia which is
Kuala Lumpur is home to the Petronas Towers which is a modern
architectural masterpiece. Sarawak is another destination where you
can lull in the magnificence of powdery beaches.
Food lovers would have a blast touring the world by sampling the
cuisine which can be found in Malaysia – starting from the Malay Nonya
dishes, to Indian curries, Chinese cuisine and spicy Malay food.
Westerners can even have a taste of home when they venture into one of
the American restaurants in Malaysia.
Introducing the Cities in Malaysia
After having a preview of the delights which await you as you travel
to Malaysia, here's a quick guide at the cities and the sightseeing
highlights of each:
- Kula Lumpur
Home to the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia's multi-cultural
capital. It's a sprawling city where residential suburbs seem to
stretch for miles. Aside from the twin towers, you should also check
out the KL Bird Park and the numerous shopping, dining and
entertainment options that Kuala Lumpur has to offer.
- Georgetown
The capital of the island-state Penang, Georgetown was listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Several historical monuments
including the Queen Victoria Clock Tower can be found here.
- Ipoh
Ipoh is the state capital of Perak where the Old Town features much of
Malaysia's colonial past.
- Johor Bahru
Fondly called by locals as JB, Johor Bahru is the state capital of
Johor which is Malaysia's gateway to neighboring Singapore.
- Kota Kinabalu
If you're looking for the ultimate Southeast Asian beach getaway,
visit Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. It's the capital of Sabah, Borneo
which is home to the forests and lush Mount Kinabalu.
- Miri
Miri is a resort city in Sarawak which serves as an entrance to the
UNESCO World Heritage Site Gunung Mulu National Park.
- Malacca
Finally, if you would like to discover the historical side of
Malaysia, check out Malacca which is located on the west coast of the
peninsula. |
