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Best Countries - Malaysia |
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About
Malaysia
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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.
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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. |
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When
to Go
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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.
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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.
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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.
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