MALAYSIA
- – BEST OF ASIA
Malaysia, the 66th largest country in the world is located in the South East Asia, bordered by Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei. It is a federal constitutional monarchy. It is divided into two similar sized regions namely; the Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysia. The country is 44th most populous with a population of 30 million people, formed by warm hearted Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other ethnic groups. The country is an interesting blend of multicultural and multi religion and has plenty to offer its visitors with its ever lively and bustling market for you to lose yourself in with wide varieties of things from clothes to crafts to jewelleries to wooden carvings and exquisite street food to treat your tastebuds. Then there are rich forests, mountains, rugged hills, beaches and mangroves allowing you to enjoy hiking, trekking, boat riding, mountain climbing, jet sking, diving, etc.
History
Malaysia seems to have been habilitated by humans 40000 years back, who were believed to be Negritos. There were traders also from India and China who arrived as early as 1st century AD and in the 2nd and the 3rd centuries they had established ports and coastal towns. It developed as a major commercial centre since the beginning as the trade between the Chinese and the Indians and beyond flourished. It was around the 10th century that the country began to grow and prosper which attracted the Portuguese invaders. It then turned to centre of colonial expansion. In 1826, The British crown colony of the Straits Settlements was established, from which point Britain gradually occupied and controlled the rest of peninsula. In 1786 Penang was established by Captain Francis Light as a military as well as a commercial outpost but its development soon turned insignificant with the establishment of Singapore, by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. In 1867, Malaysia decided to get help from British to settling their own internal conflicts. After long conflicts the country finally achieved independence on 31st August 1957, under the name of Federation of Malaya. Since then Malaysia has been maintaining the ethno political balance. Today Malaysia has adopted a new policy and is one of the rich industrial countries.
Culture & Tradition
The culture and religion of Malaysia was largely affected by the Indians and the Chinese because of their early settlement in the country. There is even the touch of Sanskrit through the country. There seems to be a touch of Persian, Arabic and British culture as well. Freedom of worship is practiced here around the country therefore there are number of religions followed like Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Muslim, Confucianism, Taoism and other tribal religions. The official language of Malaysia is Malay, The language used to conduct business and in schools is English. Natural Cultural Policy was created by the government in the year 1971 which defined Malaysian culture and it stated that the base of the Malaysian culture must be the culture of the indigenous people of Malaysia. The culture of the country seems to resemble with that of the culture of the neighboring country’s especially Indonesia who are very particular about preserving their culture. Their culinary seem to match and even their National Anthem. Malaysia stands out in the field of art, but north Indian influence is reflected in their work because of history. They are very creative and excel when it comes to carving, weaving, and silversmithing. Hand-woven baskets from rural areas and the silverwork of the Malay courts form the traditional arts. Ornamental kris, beetle nut sets, and woven batik and songket fabrics form the common artworks. Traditional Malay music and performing arts originated in the Kelantan-Pattani region and reflects influences from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. Music is traditionally used to tell stories, celebrate life-cycle events, and occasions such as a harvest. The cuisine of the country is also affected by the various cultures within the country and by the cultures of the neighboring countries.
Places to Visit
Kuala Lumpur:
This is the capital of Malaysia. It is a gorgeous place with abundant scenic beauty. Menara KL Tower and Petronas Tower are famous here. The Perdana Lake Gardens is another eye soother and the cuisine is also mind blowing.
Malaysian Borneo :
This is the 3rd largest island in the world and is a place rich in nature. Its lush green rain forests and wildlife completely contrasts with the bright flamboyance of Kuala Lumpur. It is one of the natural wonders that you must visit.
Selangor :
The most developed and populated state of Malaysia homes the National Zoo of the country and the Formula 1 racetrack. There is also an indoor snow parks which attracts thousands of tourists. It also happens to be a shopping hub and the gambling capital of the country.
Langkawi :
Its amazing infrastructure is what attracts the tourists every year in bulks therefore the island remains quite busy. There are many tourist attractions as well in the island like the country’s largest indoor aquarium and the Pregnant Maiden Lake, a beautiful body which is believed to make women fertile.
Penang :
George Town, its historic capital city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This big island holds forts, temples and museums for you to get engrossed in and it also has interesting street food to add to your fun.
