Malaysia
is
one
of
the
most
pleasant,
hassle-free
countries
to
visit
in
South-East
Asia.
Several
decades
of
sustained
economic
growth
and
political
stability
have
made
it
one
of
the
most
buoyant
and
wealthy
countries
in
the
region,
and
although
political
power
(Malay)
and
economic
clout
(Chinese)
are
still
traditionally
divided
along
racial
lines,
Malaysia
has
moved
towards
a
pluralist
culture
based
on
a
vibrant
and
interesting
fusion
of
Malay,
Chinese,
Indian
and
indigenous
cultures
and
customs.
Most
visitors
to
Malaysia
stick
to
the
Peninsula,
where
the
insane
headlong
rush
of
Kuala
Lumpur
is
offset
by
the
colonially
soothing
Cameron
Highlands
Hill
Station
or
the
hedonistic
torpor
of
Langkawi.
Far
fewer
make
it
to
Sarawak
or
Sabah,
on
the
island
of
East
Malaysia,
with
their
spectacular
wildlife,
longhouses
and
the
awe-inspiring
Mt
Kinabalu.
When
to Go
Malaysia
is
hot
and
humid
all
year
so
you're
going
to
have
sunshine
and
sweat
pretty
much
whenever
you
visit.
It
is,
however,
best
to
avoid
the
November
to
January
rainy
season
on
Peninsula
Malaysia's
east
coast
if
you
want
to
enjoy
the
beaches.
The
time
to
see
turtles
on
the
east
coast
is
between
May
and
September.
Environment
Malaysia
is divided
into
two
distinct
parts:
Peninsular
Malaysia
and
the
East
Malaysian
provinces
of Sabah
and
Sarawak
in North
Borneo.
The
two
regions
are
650km
(403mi)
apart,
separated
by the
South
China
Sea.
Peninsular
Malaysia
shares
borders
with
Thailand
and
Singapore.
Sabah
and
Sarawak
border
Kalimantan
(the
Indonesian
part
of Borneo),
and
Sarawak
surrounds
the
tiny
enclave
of Brunei.
The
Andaman
Sea
is on
the
west
coast
of the
peninsula.
The
east
coast
of the
peninsula,
Sabah,
and
Sarawak
all
adjoin
the
South
China
Sea.
Peninsular
Malaysia
accounts
for
40 percent
of the
country's
land
mass.
Several
mountain
ranges
run
north-south
along
the
spine
of the
peninsula.
There
is a
wide,
fertile
plain
on the
west
coast,
and
a narrow
coastal
plain
on the
east.
Sabah
and
Sarawak
are
covered
by dense
jungles
and
have
large
river
systems.
Mt Kinabalu
(4101m/13,450ft)
in Sabah
is one
of the
highest
peaks
in South-East
Asia.More
than
60 per
cent
of the
country
is still
rainforest,
but
a government
plan
to build
a huge
hydroelectric
dam
in Sarawak
is expected
to decimate
27,600ha
(69,000ac)
of forest,
which
does
not
augur
well
for
the
future.
There
are
8000
species
of flowering
plants
in Peninsular
Malaysia
alone,
including
2000
tree
species,
800
different
orchids
and
200
types
of palm.
Fauna
includes
elephants,
rhinos,
tigers,
leopards,
tapirs,
sun
bears,
orangutans
and
gibbons.
East
Malaysia
has
one
of the
most
abundant
and
varied
bird
populations
in the
world.
Malaysia
is hot
and
humid
all
year.
Temperatures
are
usually
between
20-30°C
(68-86°F);
humidity
is usually
90 per
cent.
The
region
has
a monsoonal
climate,
but
only
the
east
coast
of Peninsular
Malaysia
has
a real
rainy
season.
The
wettest
season
on the
west
coast
of the
peninsula
is between
September
and
December;
on the
east
coast
and
in Sabah
and
Sarawak
it's
between
October
and
February.
Rain,
when
it comes,
generally
interrupts
the
sunshine
only
briefly;
most
of it
falls
in short,
strong
bursts.
