Guide to Malaysia

Despite its recent economic crisis, Malaysia continues to careen along the fast track of development. For visitors, this means that Malaysia is a comfortable country to explore, as the roads are smooth, public transportation is good, and familiar comforts abound in all but the smallest of kampungs (villages).

For centuries, Malaysia has been a crossroads for trade in materials, traditions, and ideas. The region was originally settled by the Orang Asli people and migrants from southern China; Indian traders subsequently spread their cultural and religious traditions throughout the area. Islam took root there during the 15th century, when Prince Sri Paremeswara–who founded the empire of Melaka–became a Muslim after marrying a Sumatran ruler’s daughter. In 1511, the Portuguese invaded Melaka, only to lose power to the Dutch in the late 1600s. The Dutch maintained control of the region for almost three centuries, until the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1874 ceded the Malaysian kingdom states to the British. On August 31, 1957, the Peninsula was granted independence as the Federated States of Malaya. Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak joined the Federated States of Malaya, which became Malaysia in 1963. Then Singapore assumed independence in 1965, leaving the peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak as the Malaysia that remains today.

Travelers seeking both relaxation and the stimulation of a different culture will find that Malaysia offers the perfect mix of serene coastline and spicy street life. Though Malaysia’s beaches are not the most spectacular in Southeast Asia, stretches of coastline on the peninsula’s east coast, as well as on islands such as Pangkor and the Pehrentians, offer seaside seclusion that is difficult to find in other parts of the world. Away from the lapping tides, the streets of Georgetown and Kuala Lumpur pulse with the energy of big-city life. Open-air markets attract throngs of people seeking fresh fruit and vegetables. Hawkers at sidewalk stalls dish out tasty pan-fried food like nasi kandar (curry rice) and ormee goreng (spicy noodles). There is also a spiritual flavor to the city streets–Islamic mosques stand beside Hindu and Buddhist temples, bearing testimony to the intertwined history of these Eastern religions.

Malaysia is a country on the move. Its official mission is to become industrialized by the year 2020. But despite the rapid pace of its growth, Malaysia will likely keep its welcoming atmosphere, as the warmth of the people is as unchanging as the tropical weather. The population is a diverse mix of ethnic Malay (58 percent), Chinese (26 percent), and southern Indian (eight percent). Though tensions exist, fomented by blatantly pro-Malay policies enacted by the majority government, interactions among ethnic groups remain remarkably open and peaceful.

The Cameron Highlands is a lush area of mountaintop jungle in a remote corner of Pahang State. It’s easy to see why the British chose this spot for retreat–the temperature is ten degrees cooler than low-lying Kuala Lumpur, and the landscape is an enchanting patchwork of rolling jungle and terraced plantations. There are three towns in the Cameron Highlands: Ringlet, Tanah Rata, and Brinchang. Tanah Rata is the main town, and it offers hostels and mid-scale hotels, as well as many restaurants and shops. Trails snake for miles through the jungle, leading to breathtaking mountaintop vistas and cascading waterfalls.