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TO KNOW MALAYSIA, IS TO LOVE MALAYSIA Welcome to Malaysia - my home country! What can I say... it's hot and humid all year round (quite the lethal combination). Imagine being bathed in sweat upon immediate contact with natural air (outside of air-conditioned malls and office buildings). Sometimes I wonder if that's why I don't live there anymore... probably also coz I like the four seasons and the changes associated with having them.
MALAYSIA (another map, location in Asia) - country of Southeast Asia, composed of two non-contiguous regions - Peninsular, or West Malaysia and East Malaysia - separated by some 400 mi (650 km) of the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia occupies the southern half of the Malay Peninsula; it is about 500 mi (800 km) long and 200 mi (325 km) wide and is bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore, on the west by the Strait of Malacca, and on the east by the South China Sea. East Malaysia occupies the northwestern part of the island of Borneo and is about 670 mi (1,075 km) long and 240 mi (385 km) wide; it consists of the states of Sarawak and Sabah. It is bordered on the north and west by the South China Sea, on the east by the Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea, and on the south by Kalimantan (Indonesian) Borneo; the small independent coastal sultanate of Brunei is surrounded on land by Sarawak. The new administrative capital of Malaysia is Putrajaya. The commercial capital is still Kuala Lumpur as well as the seat of Parliament. Malaysia has a total area of 127,320 square miles (329,758 square kilometers). Peninsular Malaysia comprises the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and 11 small states, with a total area of 50,810 square miles (131,598 square kilometers). Two much larger states—Sarawak and Sabah—lie on the island of Borneo. Sarawak covers 48,050 square miles (124,449 square kilometers). Sabah—including the Federal Territory of Labuan, a small island off the coast of Borneo—covers 28,460 square miles (73,711 square kilometers). Both the Malay Peninsula and Borneo are heavily forested and mountainous. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is the highest peak, rising to about 13,431 feet (4,094 meters). The West Malaysia wing of the 13-state federation of Malaysia occupies the southern half of the Malay Peninsula and is separated from East Malaysia by the South China Sea. Formerly the Federation of Malaya (1948-63), it contains the bulk of Malaysia's population and has both Kuala Lumpur and the new capital city of Putrajaya. The East Malaysia wing of the 13-state federation of Malaysia consists of the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern and northwestern part of the island of Borneo and is separated from mainland Peninsular, or West, Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula by some 400 mi (640 km) of the South China Sea. Off the coast of Sabah lies the small island territory of Labuan. Malaysia lies close to the equator and has a tropical climate with hot, humid weather that varies little throughout the year. Thick rain forests cover parts of both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Coastal temperatures range from 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C), while mountain temperatures are usually 55 to 80 °F (13 to 27 °C). Humidity is usually 90 percent. The region has a monsoonal climate whereby rainfall varies slightly, with heavier downpours from October to April and less rain from May to September. Peninsular Malaysia gets an average of 100 inches (250 centimeters) of rain annually, while Sarawak and Sabah both receive about 150 inches (380 centimeters). Many animals flourish in Malaysia. They include tigers, wild oxen, water buffaloes, tapirs, orangutans, many varieties of monkeys, cobras, crocodiles, lizards, over 500 kinds of birds, and a vast number of butterflies. Malaysia's plants are equally varied, with many types of wild orchids, tropical fruits, and exotic hardwood trees. CONTENTS FACTS & FIGURES
(US$1 = RM3.80) Anyway, back to Malaysia... I've actually been to almost all corners and states in Malaysia which is kinda strange. This was back when the only road that spanned the peninsular was a 2-lane bi-directional "trunk" road that was quite hazardous especially when one is stuck behind a slow-creeping truck and is forced to overtake by playing "chicken" with oncoming cars. The only consolation with the trunk road was that it was free. And then the North-South Expressway was built and alluvasudden, it only took 4 hours to drive to Singapore (7 hours before) or Penang (6), and 2 hours to drive to Ipoh (3.5). It also costs a fortune to use the "Lebuhraya" but what a difference it makes! Perlis Indera Kayangan I don't really know much about Perlis except for Kangar and how we drove past it on our way to Thailand. Hmm... Maybe I took a ferry from here to Langkawi once too.. can't remember. Kedah Darul Aman Well, Langkawi is the highlight of this state. I've actually been there thrice - once with family (+ other family friends), once with my own friends (bad experience - let's not go there), and once for camp (Bakakawi?). Quite an island that is. And I've also been to Alor Setar - one of my aunts (mom's side) actually lives here and I went there for one of my cousin's weddings. I did have fun, actually. Pulau Pinang Or affectionately known as Penang. "Beaches"... miles and miles of gorgeous beaches to be precise. The ferry between Georgetown and Butterworth and the Penang bridge linking the island to the peninsular are the other parts of Penang that are memorable. And then there's the food! Gurney Drive is almost gastronomy heaven on earth (dunno if it's still there). Traffic is a nightmare on the island, though. But I haven't been back to Penang since... 1995 so much has changed, I'm sure. I can't remember how many times I've been to the "Pearl of the Orient" but I know I have fond memories of the place! Perak Darul Ridzuan Ipoh, Ipoh, Ipoh... why do my parents insist on going to Ipoh so many times a year, year after year! I guess it's coz my grandparents were there for the longest time. When I was still living in Malaysia, I spent every Chinese New Year in Ipoh without fail. The only thing I won't complain about is the food there. The food in and around Ipoh is to die for! My last trip up to Ipoh was a sad one as I saw my maternal grandmother for the last time (Sept 98). It makes me smile knowing she's in a better place now and I wish her all the happiness in the world. Outside of Ipoh, I've been to Pangkor - a magnificent jewel of an island off the coastal area of Sitiawan. I hope to return someday. Batu Gajah, affectionately known as BG, was a popular holiday spot for me as two of my best buds in college (i.e. pre-university) were from there. I had some great times there... good food, wonderful memories, and riding on a motorcycle to remotely located farms! Grik is my mom's hometown (Ipoh is my dad's) and I had the opportunity to visit this charming little town (and a few others around it) on our way across the East-West Highway to Kota Bahru. The highway towns that littered the journey on the trunk road from KL to Ipoh are all very memorable as well - from frequent meal stops at Bidor and Tanjung Malim to an uncle's wedding (and the best vegerarian restaurant on earth!) in Kampar. Selangor Darul Ehsan and the Federal Territory Well, this was home for me from 1982 to 1997. Spent the best years of my life in Kuala Lumpur (Wilayah Persekutuan or Federal Territory) - first in OUG and then in Taman Tun. MORE TO COME!!!
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