Malaysia -A Gateway To Heaven

Malaysia, a beautiful country in South East Asia shares land/maritime borders with Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam & Indonesia in the Peninsular as well as Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines & Vietnam to the East. Malaysia which is a federal constitutional monarchy consists of 13 states & 3 federal territories, separated by South China Sea into Peninsular Malaysia & Borneo’s East Malaysia. Its capital Kuala Lumpur houses the legislative, administrative, judicial and executive branches of the federal government.

With a population of over 32M people, Malaysia is the 43^rd most populous country in the World. It has a rich culture and ethnic diversity consisting of Malay who make up 50% of the population as well as Chinese & Indians. The most spoken official language is Malaysian, followed by Malay as well as English being the second spoken language. Malaysia is predominantly an Islamic state although other religions exist.

Tourism in Malaysia

Malaysia prides itself as one of world’s 17 megadiverse countries, comprised of vast variety of endemic species with 361 mammal species (including the Bornean Orangutan & Bornean Bearded Pig), 694 bird species (including the Malaysian Whistling thrush), 250 reptile species (including King Cobra), & 150 frog species. 

This sensational destination is uniquely endowed with a variety of tourist destinations ranging from bustling cities, tourist resorts, and pristine beaches to adventure wilderness parks.  A visit to Kuala Lumpur will give youa perfect blend of colonial, modern, Asian, & Malay architecture.  

This touristic city is best known for the Petronas Twin Towers (the world’s tallest twin towers), the National Palace & the House of Parliament. The other exciting things to explore during your stay in this bustling city are visiting Merdeka Square, shopping at Petaling Street (Chinatown), & exploring Kuala Lumpur Bird Park. A trip out of the city to the limestone Batu Caves will offer you the best opportunity to explore the Holy Shrines plus thousands of bats.

On the other side, Langkawi –anarchipelago (a cluster 99 islands) off the northwestern coast, is home to 3 protected Geoforest parks & multiple palm tree shores placed among Malaysia’s best beaches such as Pantai Cenang beach. Take a Cable Car ride to the top of one of the Island’s highest mountain & admire the stunning views of the islands & ocean. Atop the mountain, get to the 125-meter-long Langkawi Sky Bridge – walkway, 660 meters above sea level, extend to the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls & swim in the beautiful clear pools or opt for a jungle trail & explore Langkawi’s two different mountains. Traverse the Laman Padi Rice Garden, dropping to the 50-acre Legenda Langkawi Park offering a chance to explore the heritage & history of the area past manicured gardens, traditional buildings, & sculptures of ogres & mythical creatures.

Gunung Mulu National Park which was named after Mount Mulu comprises activities/attractions such trekking, caving, hot springs, & the natural beauty; a reason as to why this place is conserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An adventure to the top of Mount Mulu on a 24-kilometer trek with an elevation of 1,200 meters from the park headquarters is worth the time invested. While at the top of it, a couple of scenic attractions await you including the Caves (a home to millions of bats) featuring Southeast Asia’s longest cave system (115m high & 600m long; Sarawak Chamber-world’s largest cave chamber). The other adventurous activities of Gunung Mulu include Kayaking, mountain biking, & the 500-meter-long canopy skywalk.

Kuantan: Kuantan is famous for its various beautiful beaches. The nearest beach outside the city center is Teluk Cempedak Beach which offers a palm tree-lined, clean shoreline, with the neighboring Cherating Beach; housing the turtle sanctuary, as well as a cultural village that produces and sells traditional batik. Kuantan is also home to the Sungai Pandan Waterfall and Esplanade Park; offering the best boat trip s with stunning views. Don’t forget to tour the Tin Museum situated on the site of a former underground tin mine.

The other scenic tourist destinations of Malaysia include: George Town; The food Capital of Malaysia with its tallest skyscraper featuring a Rainbow Skywalk together with the Batik Painting Museum in Penang. Borneo Rainforest; one of the world’s oldest rainforests and home to the endangered eastern Sumatra rhino and the Bornean orangutan. Cameron Highlands; Malaysia’s largest traditional tea growing area, best for agricultural tourism. Taman Negara; with a 130-million-year-old deciduous rainforest together with its Gua Telinga limestone cave system & canopy. Kota Kinabalu; a home Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s highest mountain, as well as Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park & Monsopiad Cultural Village. Batu Ferringhi; with its Tropical Spice Garden. Ipoh with its famous street art. Malacca City; a port city since the 15^th century. Tioman Island; the best destination for fun seeking budget travelers.

Malaysia is a visa free destination for Ugandans so it should not miss on the bucket list of discerning travelers.