Multiculturalism has not only made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise, it has also made Malaysia home to hundreds of colourful festivals. Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. There are two parts to the country, 11 states in the peninsula of Malaysia and two states on the northern part of Borneo. Cool hideaways are found in the highlands that roll down to warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves.

One of Malaysia’s key attractions is its extreme contrasts. Towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses built on stilts, and five-star hotels sit several metres away from ancient reefs. For the perfect holiday full of surprises, eclectic cultures and natural wonders, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.

Malaysia as a country can easily be defined as a melting point of cultures where the best of the world comes to amalgamate and create the perfect tourist destination for everyone. From the oldest rainforest in the world, to the world’s highest sky bridge; from a beautiful island to some magical caves, Malaysia is indeed an interesting place to be, and its ever-growing popularity as a tourist destination is a testimony to that fact. Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, between Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The huge island of Borneo is shared with Brunei and Indonesia, and borders in the north to the Philippines. In the last few years Malaysia has become ever more popular for tourists. This is partly due to positive PR (by the government and by websites like this one), but also because flying to the other side of the world is becoming more and more affordable. Malaysia is a perfect country to visit for all types of tourists. It is a great destination for backpackers, for groups, couples and families with children. Every now and then new attractions are discovered in Malaysia; existing attractions are upgraded or renovated regularly. Accommodation in Malaysia is often very affordable compared to neighbouring countries; though prices have risen the last few years it is still reasonably cheap.

Places to visit in Malaysia

Some of the greatest attractions in Malaysia are situated in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. You’ll find roller coasters in shopping malls, monkeys flying from the trees and the biggest attraction of them all, the Petronas Twin Towers! These gigantic identical towers are where the previously mentioned highest sky bridge in the world is located. It’s a magical view from the bridge that connects both towers. The buildings were the world’s tallest for a full 6 years from 1998-2004, but still remain the world’s tallest twin towers. Here’s an awesome fact; both the towers were made by different companies, one by a Japanese firm and the other by a Korean firm. While the towers were being constructed, it turned into an epic race to the finish. The Korean company, i.e. Samsung Engineering and Construction won the race by secretly assembling the spire inside the tower and placing the completed spire on the East tower in the early hours of one morning in 1996. Another aspect that Malaysia is famous for is its street food. Unparalleled in taste and variety, Malaysian street food has a reputation that precedes its quality. The street vendors have a stellar menu for fans of local Malaysian food and also in Chinese, Indian or Thai food. The street hawkers are undoubtedly the unsung heroes of the Malaysian food market, who will feed and fill your bellies with delicious food for a few ringgits. Penang is a place which is considered by many to have the best food in the South-East Asian peninsula.

Malaysia is a place of vast culture and is home to people from various walks of life. This makes their tourism very varied and has elements that all kinds of people can enjoy.