Malaysia is Southeast Asia’s only federal constitutional monarchy. It has thirteen states and three federal territories, and is governed by an elected monarch, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Kuala Lumpur is not only the country’s capital city, but also its biggest. Travelers will want to exchange their money to Ringgit, the country’s official currency. Visitors from the surrounding Southeast Asia countries won’t worry too much about time changes, but others may need some adjustment to the UTC +8 timezone.
Cultural Diversity
Like most of the Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia is composed of people from various ethnicities, cultures and faiths. It’s main ethnic groups are the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians. While the culture of these groups remain individually strong among the modern Malaysians, many habits, etiquette and practices are influenced by the British colonizers. Further signs of these influences can also be seen in food, art, architecture and even political practices.
Malaysia has approximately 137 living languages that is spoken throughout the country. However, the official language is a standard form of Malay language called Malaysian, while English is the second language and used for teaching math and science in public schools. Dialects of Chinese such as Cantonese and Mandarin are used by the Chinese-Malaysians, while Tamil is used by the Malaysian Indians. As a tourist, don’t be surprised to hear different languages and tones wherever you go. Don’t be afraid to speak up in English though, as people do understand and speak it.
City Life and Festivals
Most visitors to Malaysia come to the nation’s capital first. They usually stay a few days in one of the Kuala Lumpur hotels and explore the very modern city, which is still full of history and culture. Have a photo taken at the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, or shop around the local bazaars and stores for souvenirs. Take look around the city’s various temples and mosques. Malaysia’s constitutions states that Islam is the country’s official religion, but it also makes provisions for a genuine religious freedom.
Many traditions and festivals are strongly rooted in religion, and Malaysia observes quite a number of these each year. Among the holidays that the whole country observes is Hari Merdeka (Independence Day), Labour Day, and the King’s Birthday. Holidays that are specific to certain religion are also observed and respected. Islamic holidays number the most, such as Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji. Holidays like the Chinese New Year and Thaipusam are also widely celebrated. Don’t be surprised if your visit to Malaysia would coincide with a holiday. Consider it a cultural education and enjoy yourself.
If you want to learn more about Malaysia, try visiting one of the museums that can be found in KL. The Petronas Gallery is easily accessible, while the National Museum of Malaysia holds a rich display of artefacts that show the country’s history and growth. However, the various cities and towns of Malaysia, such as Malacca, are historical locations in itself.
Beach Getaways and Adventure
Outside Kuala Lumpur, your choices are endless. Malaysia’s landscape gives it a very tropical feel, yet there are places around the country that are different from the usual beaches and tropical getaways. For those who wish to take a relaxing beachside vacation, Langkawi in the state of Kedah is the most popular choice among travelers. For those who like to dive, Layang-Layang is considered to be the best because of the very diverse marine life. Tioman in the state of Pahang is also a popular choice, not to mention Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
For a the more adventurous travelers, you can chose to explore the forests that cover about two-thirds of Malaysia. Langkawi has three geoparks you can choose from, while Kota Kinabalu offers majestic wildlife up the slopes of Mt. Kinabalu. Taman Negara National Park in Pahang also offers great tours and lets you experience life in a rainforest.
Travelers seeking reprieve from the country’s consistent tropical and humid weather by visiting the hill station Cameron Highlands and hilltop resort, Genting Highlands.
Great Food Choices
All across the country, you will never be without great choices for mouthwatering food. KL offers a gamut of choices from hawker stalls to five star restaurants. The Inner City of George Town in Penang offers traditional Chinese, Indian and Malay dishes, but you can also have your pick of dishes that are a fusion of the various cultural influences that make Malaysia a unique place to visit. In nearly all parts of the country, have your afternoon snack with traditional British tea, or the more traditional teh tarik, pulled tea made with black tea and condensed milk. Klang in Selangor offers the best choice for seafoods and is reputed to be the home of the best chicken claypot in the country.
Truly Asia
Malaysia markets itself as “Truly Asia” in their tourism ads, and rightly so. With its people, rich cultural heritage and respect for various faiths, Malaysia embodies the best of there is about this part of the world.
