Exciting Malaysia. S. l. Wong

      

      Welcome to Malaysia, an

       exotic land where

       East meets West.

       PERIPLUS

      to THE VISITOR, Malaysia is a riot of colours and impressions, smells and noises, tastes and experiences. A land of natural wonders and ancient traditions, it stretches from the rugged mountainous rainforests of Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo to peaceful undulating plantations, picture-perfect villages and the pristine sandy beaches that are the trademark of the Peninsula's East Coast. Yet Malaysia is also a dynamic modern nation proud of its busy cities full of skyscrapers, sophisticated factories, five-star hotels and excellent restaurants.

Page	Contents
4	Selamat datang!
10	People
14	Religion
18	Nature
22	Kuala Lumpur
29	Penang and Langkawi
32	Malacca
37	East Coast
40	Sabah and Sarawak
45	Wonders of the Sea
48	Photographic Credits

      selamat datang!

      Malaysians are famous for their hospitality and selamat datang means welcome in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language of Malaysia.

      mALAYSIA HAS PERFECTED the art of hos pitality over a long, long time. Thanks to Peninsular Malaysia's position along the ancient sea trading routes of India, the Middle East and China, some of the earliest travellers to the country were merchants who sold exotic spices in return for rainforest products. We can only imagine what these visitors from foreign lands thought and felt as they glimpsed the uninterrupted white beaches which fringe Malaysia's coasts or as they journeyed inland through the world's oldest tropical rainforests. These natural wonders remain and continue to welcome visitors to modern-day Malaysia.

      The Moorish-inspired Sultan Abdul Samad building, once the power base of British rule, overlooks Merdeka ('Independence') Square, where Malaysia first celebrated its freedom from colonial rule.

      Independence Day (Hari Merdeka) is being celebrated by this Malay girl bearing a traditional coconut tree-inspired decoration.

      The old Town Square in Malacca, popular with camera-happy tourists and bridal couples, is a remnant of the 18th century when the whole city was rebuilt in the image of a Dutch trading town.

      tRADE HAS PLAYED a vital role in the development of Malaysia. Trade helped to build the great Malay empires of the 15th century and brought visitors such as the Indians, Arabs and Chinese. By the 16th century the great European trading empires were attracted by 'Malaya' (as it was known during colonial times) and first the Portuguese, then the Dutch (see left) and finally the British exerted control over the country. Finally, in 1957, Malaya gained independence and Malaysia, incorporating Sabah and Sarawak, came into being in 1963. Export of Malaysia's abundant natural resources, including tin, timber, rubber and petroleum, has fuelled the country's economic development. Industrialisation has enabled the country to grow from the security of a solid manufacturing base to intensive investment in new industries and digital technology. Malaysia's economic story is so successful that the country is acknowledged as one of the nations at the forefront of ASEAN (Association of Southeast-Asian Nations) and a powerful 'Tiger Nation'.

      Traditional bamboo blinds, called chik, provide welcome shade on a hot day.

      Lush paddy fields contrast with the subdued, mist-curtained mountains of Sabah's West Coast; fine white sand and crystal-clear waters are the trademarks of Langkawi; charming colonial buildings dot the hill station of the Cameron Highlands.