Holiday In Malaysia - Explore The Beauty Of Malaysia

A holiday in Malaysia can include an exploration of the natural beauty of the rain forest, lovely beaches and some of the best diving places in the world.

A holiday in Malaysia should be for Malaysians too with so much natural beauty around for us to enjoy. Did you know that we have one of the top 5 diving spots in the world? Learn about the rain forest and how to be part of a community to conserve it.

For tourists, a holiday in Malaysia is also to appreciate the different cultures that live together on a daily basis.

Malaysia is located just north of the Equator in South east Asia and Its population stands at over 28 million. The country is separated by the South China Sea into two regions, West Malaysia and East Malaysia. Both share a similar landscape with coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains, the highest of which is Mount Kinabalu on the island of Borneo. The local climate is equatorial and characterised by the annual southwest ( April to October ) and northeast ( October to February ) monsoons.

The western half of modern Malaysia was a British colony from the late 18th century until its independence in 1957. Kuala Lumpur is the official capital and largest city in Malaysia. It is also the main commercial and financial center of the country.

A holiday in Malaysia would not be complete without a close look at the rainforest. Whether you are a Malaysian or a visitor to Malaysia, the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sabah is the place to visit to appreciate the importance of conserving the forest. It is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and the home of the orang utan.

It serves as a centre for environment education for both teachers and students but is also open to the public being the most easily accessible rainforest in Sabah.

The Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is a place where visitors can get up close and personal with these gentle primates that are South East Asia's only great apes. Located in Sabah, East Malaysia, the sanctuary doubles up as a rehabilation center for returning stranded Orang Utan back into the wild. The sancturay is located in the forest reserve much of which is virgin jungle.

Best time to visit is the afternoons where the primates come out from the deep forest to the feeding grounds to get their daily rations of bananas and milk. Visitors can watch workers feed them form platforms built upon the grounds.

Sipadan island located off the coast of East Malaysia is the center of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in thos ecosystem. This tropical island is well known for its stunning underwater scenery and large numbers of marien species.

Scuba dive with the swirling tornado-like formation of Barracudas, the big-eye trevaillies, the thousands of silver jack fishes, the giant size parrot fishes, the numerous turtles and many others such as mantas, eagle rays, tunas and scalloped hammerhead sharks.

Scuba diving in Sipadan is all year round with the best time between April and December.

Sarawak Cultural Village in East Malaysia known as the "Living Museum" sets out to preserve and show case Sarawak's cultural heritage. There are about 150 people living in the village demonstrating traditional daily activities from Sarawak's diverse tribes like the processing of sago and the making of handicrafts like wood carving and basket weaving.

You can see their traditional costumes and also buildings that represent every major ethnic group like the longhouses of the Ibans, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, a Melanau tall house and a Chinese farm house among others. The village also has a theatre where you can enjoy multicultural dance performances. Guests are often invited to attend nightly ceremonies and drink the potent rice wine, tuak.

The hornbill is the largest bird in the The Mulu National Park of Sarawak. The most prominent feature of this bird is the bright yellow and black casque on top of its massive bill. Figs are the favorite food of the hornbill. Throughout the world figs grow most abundantly in Sarawak. That is why the hornbills thrive in Sarawak where 8-9 species can be found. The Ibans used to hunt hornbills for the tail feathers which they used to decorate ceremonial headdresses.

The best way to see a hornbill is to locate a locate a large wild fig plant and to hide nearby and wait for the hornbills to come for the figs.

A secluded beach ringed with exquisite coral reefs.

Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to this shrine making a climb of 272 steps to the entrance of the cave.

Malaysia's very own low cost carrier enables everyone to visit popular destinations in Malaysia and her neighboring countries.

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Largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia, it is the focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang.

British designer uses Moorish architecture in the building's design.

A write-up on Malaysia must include this King Of The Fruit, the durian, my own favorite fruit.

Anthony Bourdain, celebrity TV chef has this to say about the durian, " Your breath will smell as if you'd been french-kissing your grandmother. "

Protected by a thick, hard husk and inch-long spikes, the fleshy sections of the fruit give odd an unmistakable and pungent smell. The flavor of the fruit can vary from strong bitter tastes to sweeter flavors. Whatever your reaction to the durian may be, eating it for the first time promises to be an unforgettable experience.

I always love shopping when I go traveling. It is nice to bring back presents to give family and friends. It is also to have some momentos of a wonderful vacation.

Kuala Lumpur , the capital is a shopping haven for tourists. There are some unique souvenirs which are uniquely Malaysian. These include pewter ware, traditional fabrics, wood carvings and pottery.

Malaysian Handicrafts

Batik is a cloth which traditionally uses a wax-resist dyeing technique. Malaysian Batik often displays flowers and plants in basic patterns.

For men, Batik can be worn at dinner functions. Even the ladies wear the fabric as formal dress. combining batik with modern fashion.

You can still own a batik design right now without leaving your home.

Having the world's largest reserves of tin, it is appropriate that Malaysia produces some of the world's finest pewter.

Pewter ware range from tankards, frames goblets and many other decorative souvenirs.