Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, or KL, as it is commonly known, is the capital of Malaysia. The city is situated midway along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia at the confluence of the Klang and Gombek rivers, approximately 35 km from the sea. Kuala Lumpur is by far the largest city of the nation, possessing a population of over one and a half million people drawn from all of Malaysia's many ethnic groups. The city's bustling streets, shining, modern office towers and its cosmopolitan air all add to a vibrant and futuristic atmosphere.
Kuala Lumpur brings together Malaysia's past and present, by preserving the diversity of cultural and historical heritage. The Colonial District, Chinatown and Little India are an integral part of the city's multinational blend.
The center of the capital and the symbol of Malay independence is Merdeka (Malay for 'freedom') Square. This 200-meter-long square is the most famous stretch of green in Malaysia, as it was here that the independence was proclaimed on August 31, 1957. The eastern edge of the square is marked by the world's tallest 95-meter-high flagpole. The small Colonial District surrounds Merdeka Square, representing an eccentric fusion of architectural styles at extreme odds with the rest of the city. The most prominent and distinctive buildings of the Colonial District are: the Royal Selangor Club, former British elite's favorite water hole, the Anglican St. Mary's Church, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, one of the earliest of the capital's Moorish style buildings and the Railway station, which resembles the palaces of "The 1001 Nights".
The most attractive religious shrine in KL is the Jame Mosque located to the east of the Merdeka Square. This Moorish mosque stands on the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur. Pink-brick walls and arched colonnades, topped by oval cupolas and squat minarets, preserve a sense of tranquility and silence. Going southwards from the mosque, the vibrant Central Market of KL is located alongside the river. There are numerous shops and stalls, which sell a remarkable range of bric-a-brac, antiques, souvenir items, handicrafts and Asian artifacts. An open-air stage serves as the regular venue for traditional and contemporary dances as well as musical concerts.
The heart of the business Kuala Lumpur City Center is referred to as the Golden Triangle. It is a gleaming city of steel and glass in itself, dominated by the world's tallest building - the Petronas Twin Towers. The Petronas Twin Towers proudly stand at 450 meters and are prominently protruding above the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Skyscrapers, top-class hotels and luxuriant restaurants surround this unique creation. Another symbol of modern Malaysia is KL 421-meter concrete telecommunication Tower. Visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of the Klang Valley from the dizzying height of its observation deck or the revolving restaurant.
Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens is the city's most popular park. Built around an artificial lake, it incorporates a number of sights: the Butterfly House and Bird Park, Orchid and Hibiscus Gardens, the National Planetarium and colonial mansions.
Malacca
If the ultra-modern architecture and forward-looking citizens of Kuala Lumpur symbolize Malaysia's hopes for the future, then the quiet, seaside city of Malacca is the guardian charged to preserve its past. Five hundred years ago, an extraordinary empire rose and fell here in a mere century, suddenly caught off-guard by the dawn of the Colonial Era. Founded in 1400, Malacca was a major port along the spice-route, and its harbor bristled with the sails and masts of Chinese junks and spice-laden vessels from all over the hemisphere. Because the city was originally built of wood, there are no crumbling and stately reminders of the power once wielded by the Malaccan Sultanate, but along the shores of the Malacca River the scene has probably changed little. Sloping rooftops of traditional Malay houses still hang over the water, and seem to call out sleepily from the past.
Malacca represents a remarkable blend of Chinese, Arabian, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British legacy. The Portuguese-built fortress Famosa, the Dutch-erected Stadthuys, Hang Tuah's Mausoleum and many other traditional buildings, all of which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, recall the glorious days when Malacca city was a world-class trading port.
The Sungei Malacca River splits the city center into two parts - the captivating Chinatown on the western bank and nostalgic colonial remains, which lay on the opposite side. The eastern bank is dominated by the picturesque St. Paul's Hill with the ruins of the 16th century St. Paul Church, built by the Portuguese. Another part of colonial Malacca is the so-called Dutch Square. The most impressive remnant of the Dutch epoch in Malacca - the massive pink town hall, Stadthuys, was built here between 1641 and 1660. It is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in Asia and displays all the distinctive features of Dutch colonial architecture. The building is used for government offices and also hosts an excellent Ethnographic Museum.
The city of Malacca is the capital of the smallest Malaysian state of Malacca, famous for its rich historical remnants. This region offers excellent beaches on offshore islands of Pulau Besar and Pulau Upeh, and the coastal strips of Tanjong Kling and Tanjong Bidara. The Ayer Keroh district, located just 14 kilometers north of Malacca city center, provides numerous exciting attractions such as the Butterfly Farm, Crocodile Farm, Malacca Zoo, Auyin Hill Resort and others.
Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is the largest and the most refined of the hill resorts in Malaysia. It is serenely nestled among the lofty peaks of the Main Range of the Peninsula at an altitude of 1,829 meters. The highlands were named after William Cameron, a Government surveyor who discovered them in 1885 during a mapping expedition. Much of the Cameron Highlands' character has remained unchanged since colonial times and still portray an idyllic English-like environment. The cool, fresh air of the highlands offers an attractive getaway for city dwellers that want to retreat temporarily from the noise and pollution. Blue skies, clear streams, sparkling waterfalls and profusion of gentle colorful flowers add to the splendor of this magnificent holiday site.
Blessed with cool and temperate climate, the Cameron Highlands provide perfect conditions for tea, flower and vegetable cultivation. Verdant green hillsides covered with young tea plants are spread out on the expansive slopes as far as the eye can see. Visit the flower nurseries and see the lush profusion of blooming roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, dahlias, geraniums, fuchsias, gladioli etc.
The highlands encompass three small towns: Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. They are known for the most refined accommodation by any standard. Brinchang with its bustling market square, handicraft stores and the Buddhist Temple is the most popular town in the area. Among the most admired sights are local tea plantations and strawberry farms, lovely rose gardens and Cactus Valley. The highlight of Brinchang is a superb 18-hole, par-71 golf course. Visits to Ringlet and to Tanah Rata are also highly enjoyable.
Georgetown - Penang Island
Recognized, as the "Pearl of the Orient" Penang Island is a fabulous Southeast Asia's destination, renowned for its superb beaches and exotic sights. The island is sited near the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia and extends approximately 24 km from north to south, and 14.5 km from east to west. The 13.5 km Penang Bridge - the third world's longest, links Penang Island with the mainland.
Being the oldest British settlement in Malaysia, Penang Island became a unique melting pot of great civilizations, where dozens of languages are spoken. The Penang city, Georgetown is a bustling metropolis, which combines legacies of immigrants from all over Asia, who were attracted by this flourishing and vibrant colonial port. The dominant ethnic group is that of Chinese origin accounting for almost two thirds of the population. Chinatown, also being the city center, managed to preserve a traditional lifestyle of Chinese immigrants, who settled here in the 1800s. The magnificent Khoo Kongsi (clan association house) - a masterpiece of old Chinese architecture and intricate woodcarving - is considered to be the jewel of the city.
The first British citadel Fort Cornwallis is a centerpiece of colonial architecture. Located on the Esplanade, the 200-year-old fortress marks the spot where Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang, first landed in 1786. The area within the fort is now a park sprinkled with moss-covered cannons, retrieved from pirates by the British.
Penang Island is famous for its exclusive and gorgeous architectural heritage. The most prominent examples are Snake Temple and Kek Lok Si Temple. The Snake Temple has probably no counterparts in the world. A multitude of live pit vipers coils around objects on the altar. The burning incense is believed to render these venomous animals harmless. Kek Lok Si is reputedly the largest Buddhist temple complex of Southeast Asia. Its elaborate design and splendid ornamentation incorporates elements of Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture.
More than 50% of the island still lies blanketed by virgin forest, located primarily in Penang's central, western and southwestern portions. Penang is also home to the world's largest Butterfly Farm, Bird's Farm and Botanical Gardens, which include the gardens of Orchids and Hibiscus.
The East Coast
The mountainous jungle interior of the Peninsular Malaysia separates the narrow eastern coastline from the rest of the land. Being isolated, this 400-hundred-kilometer stretch extending from Thai border to Kuantan displays a cultural legacy unique to Malaysia. The East Coast exceptionally differs from the populous and industrialized west and presents an authentic Malay life in harmony with brilliant nature.
White sand, desolate beaches and exuberant jungles are still wild today as they were centuries ago. Casuarinas-fringed beaches and coral reefs surround three of the most beautiful islands in the South China Sea: Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang and Pulau Kapas. Conducive sunbathing amidst crystal clear waters, exciting scuba diving and snorkeling are especially pleasant in this delightful nook.
The main cities of the East Coast are Kota Bharu, Kuala Terranganu and Kuantan. Kota Bharu is the most northern town of the coast, located near the Thai border. It is the capital of Kelantan State and a prominent Malaysian cultural center. Kota Bharu is a showcase for skills and customs little practiced elsewhere in Malaysia. The city is worth visiting for its traditional Malay atmosphere, vibrant oriental markets, ancient Malaysian crafts, beautiful historical architecture and outstanding nature.
The capital of Terrenganu state, Kuala Terrenganu, lies 160 km to the south of Kota Bharu. This oil-rich town preserves an atmosphere of a tiny Islamic metropolis, being both conservative and appealing. Kuala Teranganu has the charm of its own with the Islamic Old town, a contrasting Chinatown and traditional markets and craft centers. The architectural symbol of the city is the "Floating Mosque", a striking white marble Moorish-style shrine appearing to float out in the sea.
However, the real pearl of Terrenganu state is its dazzling landscape. Lush tropical forests, superb silk sandy beaches, shoreline studded with black volcanic rocks and stunning marine life is what Terrenganu is really famous for. The highlight of the region is Rantau Abang beaches - a site where giant leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs each year during the May-to-September period.
An idyllic coastline known for its simple and tranquil lifestyle of numerous fishing villages marks the East Coast. Plunge into the atmosphere of traditional life: see Malay houses built on stilts, witness fresh fish being salted, experience the vivid ambience of local markets.
Sarawak
Located on the northwestern edge of exotic Borneo, Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, an outback of sheer beauty, wilderness and adventure. With an area of 124,450 sq. km it is a region of endless fascination and unforgettable landscapes. The pristine Sarawak nature is diverse and complex. Clear rivers spilling down the jungle-covered mountains, verdant rainforests, picturesque caves, unique flora and fauna, white beaches and remote islands all create one of the most remarkable ecosystems on earth.
The population of Sarawak is about 1.5 million and it is as rich and varied as the land. A patchwork of different indigenous ethnic groups including the Iban, the Bidayu and the Orang-Utu still reside here. Many of them continue to live in traditional longhouses and still practice cultural traditions dating back to the Stone Age.
The Sarawak Cultural Village (Kampung Budaya Sarawak) near Damai Beach is an open-air museum where you can watch local tribesmen perform their everyday occupations: production of handicrafts, blowpipes polishing, dancing or preparing traditional food.
Many factors have contributed to the unique and attractive atmosphere of today's Sarawak. From prehistoric cultural remains of some of Southeast Asia's oldest inhabitants to centuries of explorers, adventurers, pirates, Rajahs and Princes, the history of Sarawak is a colorful blend of local legends and mysteries.
Most people come to Sarawak for its natural splendor. Like neighboring Sabah, Sarawak is home to numerous national parks, which boast amazing plant and animal life, found nowhere else in the world. Bako National Park, located near Kuching is a spectacular spot with steep rocky cliffs, punctuated by deep bays and white sandy beaches. Wonder striking sandstone rocks dramatically rising from the sea are being continuously shaped into magnificent works of art by the forces of the sea and the winds.
Bako's main claim to fame is the sheer variety of plant and animal species it contains. The park, which covers the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula, includes dipterocarp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, swamp forest, mangrove forest, delicate cliff vegetation and more. At Bako it is possible to see almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. For wildlife enthusiasts, Bako is unique. Long-tailed macaque monkeys are always found patrolling the park HQ area. Silvered leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and squirrels are also common here. At night-bearded pigs often rummage around the chalets and rest houses. Bako's mangrove forests are home to the rare proboscis monkey, only found on the island of Borneo.
Sarawak is also the site of the Niah Caves, the largest cave chamber in the world and an important archaeological spot. The park contains lowland forests and limestone massifs riddled with caves, which are world renowned for findings of prehistoric human remains, dating back as far as forty thousand years. One of the most remarkable caves is the Painted Cave with primeval rock graffiti. The caves are also home to an unfortunate swiftlet bird, whose nest is used by locals as the primary ingredient for a so-called bird's nest soup.
Gunung Mulu National Park is Sarawak's top destination and the largest conservation area, located deep in the rainforest. Dense and lush jungles, a network of crystal clear rivers, mountains dominated by limestone spikes and mysterious caves all attract scientists and travelers alike. The Park boasts an extremely diverse and abundant indigenous flora and fauna. Sarawak's national parks provide endless possibilities for soothing strolls, as well as sometimes more demanding tours for those who enjoy true adventure and a healthy rush of adrenaline. This includes everything from mountain biking, caving and rafting, to hard-core jungle trekking.
Sabah
Located at the top portion of Borneo, Malaysia's second largest state Sabah was known in ancient times as the "land below the wind" because it lies below the typhoon belt. Sabah has a heavily indented coastline of approximately 1,440 kilometers and is washed by the South China Sea in the west and north, the Sulu Sea in the northeast and the Celebes Sea in the east.
Its rugged terrain is dominated by the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mt. Kinabalu, which stands at 4,101 meters above sea level. Sabah is famous for its pristine natural beauty: impenetrable jungles, beautiful beaches, amazing coral reefs, remote picturesque islands and a wide diversity of unique flora and fauna.
The majority of Sabah population is composed of 31 different indigenous peoples. The state capital is Kota Kinabalu, located on the northern coast. It's a pleasant coastal city, which has attracted a mix of Chinese, Malays, Indians and other ethnic groups. The history of Sabah is obscure and mysterious. Early European adventurers brought home stories of wild headhunting tribes who scared off many would be colonizers. In 1888, Sabah was brought under British protection. In 1963 it became a Malaysian state, though both Indonesia and the Philippines had laid claim to it.
For many visitors, the primary attractions of Sabah are its outstanding national parks, which include Kinabalu National Park, the Crocker Range Park, the Turtle Island National Park and the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. Sabah's exclusive coastline and magnificent islands are another great attraction.
Mt. Kinabalu, one of Sabah's great lures, is the centerpiece of the Kinabalu National Park. This cloud-covered summit with a glittering white glacier is dominating the surrounding landscape. Here you'll find some of the world's most unique flora, including 1,000 different species of orchids and the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, whose red blooms can grow up to one meter wide.
The area around the town of Sandakan on the eastern coast is an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Sandakan is a starting point for the Turtle Island National Park and the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. The first is located 40 kilometers from Sandakan and consists of three tiny islands in the Sulu Sea. The waters around the islands are unique for their diversity of marine life and abundance of turtle species. This Park is a real paradise for turtle-watchers and divers. The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is a great place to see how orangutans, which have been illegally captured, are taught survival skills and returned back to the jungle when properly rehabilitated. |
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Name: Malaysia |
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Area: 330.000 sq. km. |
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Capital City: Kuala Lumpur |
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Population: 19.7 million |
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Language: Bhasa, English, Chienese |
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Currency: Malaysian Ringitt |
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Time Zone: GMT +8 hrs |
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Religion: 52% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 12% Tao |
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