Malaysia | Tips, Weather, Overview
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Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's most popular and sought after tourist destination. It is a melting pot of perfectly blended culture and natural beauty in its landscape. A visit to Malaysia not only lets you soak up all the natural beauty the country has to offer but you tend to match the relaxed and slow pace of the country.
With its rich history and good mix of culture, Malaysia is home to many hundreds of colorful festivals, celebrations and social events. As a home to one of the largest rain forest in the world, Malaysia also boasts natural beauty throughout its landscape.
Tourists often are fascinated by the vibrant cultures, great people and loads of tourist attractions. And that keeps them coming back for more.
The colorful music, dance, architecture, food and music are, to a certain degree, just a part of everyday life as it is experienced in a country that has been influenced by many centuries of history. If you are one traveler who is easily bored, rest assure Malaysia has sights, sounds, and tastes that will delight even the pickiest travelers.
People
As of 1997, there were about 21 million people in Malaysia. The population is difficult to sum up in general terms because there is not one group but many, all coming from different backgrounds, histories, and ethnicities. The estimated population of the country is 62 people per square kilometer, which is much less dense than other comparable Southeast Asian countries. More than half of Malaysia's population lives in the urban areas, and the trend seems poised to continue. Migration from rural to urban areas is high.
History
The early descendants of the Malaysian peninsula arrived in the current country between 2500 and 1500 B.C. Since the very beginning of it's history more than 1500 years ago, different cultures have been meeting and coexisting. Back then a Malay kingdom in the Bujang Valley welcomed traders from India and China. Thus, with the arrival of gold and silks, Buddhism and Hinduism was also introduced into the country. A thousand years later, Arab traders arrived in Malacca and brought with them the principles and practices of Islam. By the time the Portuguese arrived and found an empire which is more cosmopolitan than their own.
In the 1800s' the British East India Company (EIC) established a trading settlement on the island of Singapore. This saw the British and Dutch interests taking of in the region. Trade soared especially when Singapore's population grew from only 5,000 in 1820 to nearly 100,000 in only half a century. At about the same time, rubber trees were introduced from Brazil. With the mass production of automobiles, rubber became a valuable export, and laborers were brought in from India to work the rubber plantations.
People
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. As of 2010, the population of Malaysia was over 28 Million, making it the 43rd most populated country in the world.
Malaysians are generally seen to be welcoming and enjoys talking to people. Most of them are often described as friendly and warm.
Most Malaysians enjoy socializing particularly with people different walks of lives and cultures they are fond of exploring other countries' traditions. Malaysians are also genuinely faithful to their own religious beliefs.
Geography
Centrally located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is the 66th largest country by total land area. It has land borders with Thailand in West Malaysia and Indonesia and Brunei in East Malaysia. It is also linked to Singapore by two bridges called the causeway.
Hence from Malaysia, it's very easy to transit to other countries around the region when traveling in Asia.
Its climate is humid, especially in the highlands, and there are typically only two seasons. Rainy season which lasts from September till December, and the rest of the year is mostly hot and dry.
Malaysia is made up of two distinctive parts which are East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia.
It holds one of the largest tropical rain forests in the world and if very rich in valuable natural resources and wildlife. Malaysians take pride in the many beautiful types of scenery that are a part of the landscape.
Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia with a GDP growth at an average of 6.5 percent annually from 1957 to 2005. In 2010 the GDP was over $414 billion.
As an effort to diversify the economy the government has extensively tried to increase the tourism market in Malaysia. And as a result tourism has become Malaysia's third largest source of income from foreign exchange.
Climate
The weather in southeast Asia is generally classified as tropical. Malaysia is a tropical country, and throughout the year experiences high temperatures and high humidity. In the daytime temperature rises to about 30°C (86°F) year-round and night-time temperatures rarely drop below 20°C (68°F).
There are two peak seasons in Malaysia and it's good to take note as prices may be high for accommodations and hotels in Malaysia.
The first peak season falls somewhere in the beginning of December to the end of January. The second peak seasons falls on the months of June July and August and may last into mid September. It's a school holiday season for many countries around the region.
After September it will be relatively quiet until December.
Tourists from Singapore often visit Malaysia as they are situated very close by and making a road-trip to Malaysia is a common affair. Singapore school holidays occur from mid-May through to the end of June, and again during November and December, when families are likely to flock to Malaysia's seaside resorts, particularly the budget and mid-priced properties.
When visiting the east Malaysia resorts, the low season is between November and March, when the monsoon tides make the water too choppy for water sports and beach activities. During this time, many island resorts may close so it's prudent to check beforehand. However during these periods you can get really good resort room rates. On the west coast, the rainy season is from April through May, and again from October through November.
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