Malaysia: Truly And Boldly Asia

When it comes to Asian countries, their souls have no secrets that their spirits do not reveal. Malaysia heeds to this exact sentiment to its utmost potential, making it one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world. Here's some Malaysia travel info that will prepare you for your planned Malaysia tour.

Split into two congruent halves by the South China Sea, Malaysia is said to have gotten its name from the Tamil words ‘malai’ and ‘ur’ which roughly translate into ‘Mountain City’ - a deceiving translation since Malaysia exudes so much more than what its name advertises.

‘Like two peas in a pod’ - Malaysia travel info

The sea that separates the land into East and West Malaysia also seems to have brought in a desirable amount of differentiation and diversity between the two halves of tourist cities in Malaysia.

Winds of tranquillity blow through granite peaks, dense emerald forests and glistening seawater in Malaysian Borneo (East Malaysia) with small tribal civilizations set amidst them. On the other shore, the peninsular West is a riveting sight of vibrant cities, top vacation spots in Malaysia, nonchalant islands, misty tea farms and colonial architecture.

But the differentiation is merely materialistic and dwindles in comparison to what the two halves share in common. The culture of the people, despite the numerous ethnicity and religions, remains unhampered by the South China Sea. The palettes of the East and the West reach common ground with the culinary flair of the land; Malay food markets, Dayak dishes, Chinese specialties and Indian curries. Lastly, the Malaysian economy is greatly boosted by the presence of microcosms across the country like the posh city of Kuala Lumpur and traditional villages of Sarawak.

Technicolour nation- What to see in Malaysia

Malaysia has the uncanny ability to shift hues as you go from one destination to the other. A starry-eyed tourist walking on the skyscraper boulevards can make a swift turn to an intimate food street and suddenly feel like a long-time resident. One minute you’re an inquisitive wanderer in Cameron Highlands and the next minute you’re a casual local in George Town, Penang. The abundance of Malaysia tourist attractions plays with your mind.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s incense-wreathed capital, is shades of steel grey freckled with spontaneous colours of the street markets, night clubs and minarets. Find yourself walking out of mega-sized malls with heavy shopping bags into the streets lined with food stalls to fill your stomach; all this under the eyes of the icon of every single Malaysia trip guide, Petronas Tower.

Away from the noisy city, Cameron Highlands is shades of green and brown with tea plantations spread as far as the eye can see while the steam from your bronze tea fills the air and fades away. The hue of green turns darker in the dense forest of Orangutan Island where you can meet these indigenous apes in their natural habitat.

Head to Penang, a part of Malaysia with beige buildings ornamented with Chinatown handicrafts in orange and yellow and Little India with spicy vermillion curries.

Blonde beaches and cerulean waves, Langkawi and Redang are undoubtedly Malaysia’s most popular tourist attractions. The sky bridge and cable car ride over the pink roofs of Langkawi is as invigorating as a dive into the ocean in Redang to swim alongside colourful marine life.

To fully acquaint yourself with the history and culture of Malaysia, a stop at Melaka is useful. Take a ride in a rickshaw in this sunny town and don’t miss the Sunday night street food feast at Jonker’s Walk – traditional Malay cuisine comes to full form here.

Finally, a touch of spirituality is always rewarding when exploring travel tourism Malaysia. Head to Batu Caves which are essentially limestone caves and there’s a golden statue of the deity too residing here. As you climb the many steps to the top, you’ll meet a few cheeky monkeys waiting to grab your food.

Seeing is believing

With Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia in the west and Philippines in the east, Malaysia shares borders with these Asian powerhouses with a chance of being overshadowed. But Malaysia resists and holds its own. Malaysia rarely tries to be something it is not and the lives of people aren’t perfumed with obsession. Effortlessly heart-warming, and audaciously technicolor, Malaysia is simply Asia.