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Your best memory might be
a quiet day you spend wandering the colonial
streets of Malacca, or breathing in the
earthy air of a kampung. Usually, it will be
the Malaysians themselves you remember most,
their smiles and generosity. That said,
Malaysia also offers some very special
activities, and if you make room for one or
two of them, they will enhance your trip
immeasurably.
VISIT THE RAINFOREST
This is usually high on the list for anyone
planning a trip to Malaysia, and it should
be: the Malaysian rain forest is unique in
the world, the oldest on the planet. A trip
to one of the national parks, where you can
take guided jungle treks both day and night,
can be a profound experience. Nature has
been infinitely inventive with life here,
producing the world\'s largest flower,
fantastically adapted insects and mammals,
and trees that will make you gawk at their
size. How thoroughly you experience it is up
to you: most parks have resort-like
headquarters where you can stay in comfort,
or you can opt for a hard-core, guided trek
deep into the jungle interior (which will of
course require you to be in shape!).
DIVING
The tropical waters off both Peninsular
Malaysia and Borneo offer some of the
world\'s best scuba diving. This is a place
endowed with some of the sport\'s best
possibilities: you can dive with whale
sharks, hover around immense coral gardens
and walls, or dive on ominous and hulking
WWII shipwrecks. In many places, you can get
100 + feet of visibility. Also, the country
has become increasingly aware of the
biological and economic importance of its
marine heritage, and each year brings better
access to and protection for the unique
marine life. Because of the hundreds of
islands, there are many dive options. Visit
the dive pages to learn more about
Malaysia\'s diving options.
SHOPPING:Your best memory might be a
quiet day you spend wandering the colonial
streets of Malacca, or breathing in the
earthy air of a kampung. Usually, it will be
the Malaysians themselves you remember most,
their smiles and generosity. That said,
Malaysia also offers some very special
activities, and if you make room for one or
two of them, they will enhance your trip
immeasurably. Here are some suggestions:
VISIT THE RAINFOREST:
This is usually high on the list for anyone
planning a trip to Malaysia, and it should
be: the Malaysian rain forest is unique in
the world, the oldest on the planet. A trip
to one of the national parks, where you can
take guided jungle treks both day and night,
can be a profound experience. Nature has
been infinitely inventive with life here,
producing the world\'s largest flower,
fantastically adapted insects and mammals,
and trees that will make you gawk at their
size. How thoroughly you experience it is up
to you: most parks have resort-like
headquarters where you can stay in comfort,
or you can opt for a hard-core, guided trek
deep into the jungle interior (which will of
course require you to be in shape!).
DIVING:
The tropical waters off both Peninsular
Malaysia and Borneo offer some of the
world\'s best scuba diving. This is a place
endowed with some of the sport\'s best
possibilities: you can dive with whale
sharks, hover around immense coral gardens
and walls, or dive on ominous and hulking
WWII shipwrecks. In many places, you can get
100 + feet of visibility. Also, the country
has become increasingly aware of the
biological and economic importance of its
marine heritage, and each year brings better
access to and protection for the unique
marine life. Because of the hundreds of
islands, there are many dive options. Visit
the dive pages to learn more about
Malaysia\'s diving options.
SHOPPING:
Next to activities like spelunking and
jungle trekking, \"shopping\" may sound a
bit tame, but make no mistake: exploring
Malaysia\'s outdoor markets is pure
adventure (and of course you can take home
whatever you hunt - or bargain - down). The
variety of bargain items you can find in the
major markets is endless, ranging from
quality electronics to blowguns to
traditional arts and crafts. Currently, the
dollar goes a long way in Malaysia, so if
you\'re serious about shopping you might
consider bringing an extra bag along.
SPELURKING:
Nature has been almost as generous to
Malaysia regarding its caves as it has with
the rain forest. Both the world\'s largest
single cave chamber, and the longest cave
passage in Southeast Asia can be found in
Sarawak\'s extraordinary Gunung Mulu
National Park. In fact, almost every
national park in Malaysia has a significant
limestone cave system, and many of them
offer guided tours, with varying levels of
penetration.
DINING OUT:
Because of its myriad cultural influences,
Malaysia is a country renown for its
creative, complex, and lovingly prepared
original cuisine. Food is taken very
seriously here, from the five-star
restaurants right down to the hawker\'s
booths. Sauces tend to be highly developed,
often incorporating local fruits and spices,
and the seafood dishes are what you\'d
expect from a country almost entirely
surrounded by ocean. To get a good overview
of what\'s out there, check out the cuisine
section.
Next to activities like spelunking and
jungle trekking, \"shopping\" may sound a
bit tame, but make no mistake: exploring
Malaysia\'s outdoor markets is pure
adventure (and of course you can take home
whatever you hunt - or bargain - down). The
variety of bargain items you can find in the
major markets is endless, ranging from
quality electronics to blowguns to
traditional arts and crafts. Currently, the
dollar goes a long way in Malaysia, so if
you\'re serious about shopping you might
consider bringing an extra bag along.
SPELURKING:
Nature has been almost as generous to
Malaysia regarding its caves as it has with
the rain forest. Both the world\'s largest
single cave chamber, and the longest cave
passage in Southeast Asia can be found in
Sarawak\'s extraordinary Gunung Mulu
National Park. In fact, almost every
national park in Malaysia has a significant
limestone cave system, and many of them
offer guided tours, with varying levels of
penetration.
DINING OUT:
Because of its myriad cultural influences,
Malaysia is a country renown for its
creative, complex, and lovingly prepared
original cuisine. Food is taken very
seriously here, from the five-star
restaurants right down to the hawker\'s
booths. Sauces tend to be highly developed,
often incorporating local fruits and spices,
and the seafood dishes are what you\'d
expect from a country almost entirely
surrounded by ocean. To get a good overview
of what\'s out there, check out the cuisine
section. |
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