Kuala Lumpur and its Petronas Twin Towers
When the birds fly over the skies Malaysia They see, under their outstretched wings, a cultural and landscape mosaic of fascinating diversity. A place that, unlike other countries in Southeast Asia that have already been assaulted by mass tourism, still maintains that halo of mystery and virginity. A traveler's paradise whose deep shyness contrasts with the hospitality and friendliness of its people.
From its northern border with Thailand to its possessions on the large island of Borneo, Malaysia unfolds before the eyes of the traveler a wide range of contrasts. Waters of infinite shades of blue and green in which marine life explodes in colors and shapes; ancient jungles inhabited by unknown species; wild beaches where life passes by; modern cities dotted with skyscrapers, which contrast with the historic centers of the old colonial cities; islands that resemble the biblical Garden of Eden… And all this seasoned with a gastronomy of powerful flavors and a tropical climate from which you can even get to rest in the cool foothills of the Cameron Highlands.
In these highlands, located in northwestern Pahang state, lived, in colonial times, the powerful English expatriates seeking to escape the sweltering heat. Their handsome residences dotted the tops of hills whose slopes were carpeted with a legion of tea plants. Today, The best tea – and also the best strawberries – in Southeast Asia are produced here.
Views of Mount Kinabalu from Mengkabong
Combine a visit to some of the plantations with days of hiking through the impressive forests that surround them, is the perfect plan to spend a few days in this beautiful land that still shows the mark of the Anglo-Saxon legacy.
ON THE ISLAND OF PENANG
That heritage runs even deeper in the city of george town , located in the northern state of Penang. declared Heritage of humanity by unesco, George Town is a kind of open-air museum. Its colonial district offers a good number of old english buildings -both headquarters of old public organizations and private residences-, perfectly preserved, churches and the famous Fort Cornwallis.
Between the colorful houses of two heights and the aroma of history, flourish small shops selling fabrics, tea, spices and handicrafts, as well as temples, mosques and markets from which emanate smells of dishes from all corners of Asia.
A short distance from the city, in the same Penang Island, long and extensive beaches surrounded by green jungle They wait for those who want to leave the asphalt. In the Penang National Park there are trails that lead to places as special as the Penang Turtle Sanctuary , to which, in the months of April and August, the green sea turtles to lay their eggs.
George Town in the northern state of Penang
WITH NOCTURNITY AND TREASURY
And if the British footprint is palpable in Penang, they were the Portuguese and Dutch who carved out the skyline of Malacca's old town , also included in the excellent list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Malacca is a vibrant city in which the sobriety of monuments such as the church of San Pablo, the Fort of Famosa and Stadthuys – the former official residence of the Dutch governor – is offset by the hubbub of the Jonker Street night market.
Jonker Street is the second most successful night market in the country, second only to that of Petaling Street, in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Kuala is a modern city of great contrasts, in which high towers – among which the famous Petronas Towers stand out – are interspersed between modest traditional neighborhoods.
As night falls, in the Indian and Chinatowns of Kuala Lumpur, intense aromas take over the warm atmosphere. Small businesses are still open and locals dine at modest stalls that, although they have been in the same place for decades, they never lose that romantic aura of improvised street restaurant. They serve dishes with an explosive flavor, such as the traditional Nasi Lemak, considered the national dish of Malaysia and composed, in its simplest version, of coconut rice, fried anchovies, peanuts and hard-boiled egg. All this seasoned with a shrimp sauce that gives it a strong flavor. To give it a little more forcefulness, pieces of fried chicken are usually added.
Noodles, soups, rice dishes and spices are the basis of the rest of the rich and varied Malay cuisine, mix of Chinese, Indian and Thai influences.
The traditional Nasi Lemak, considered the national dish of Malaysia
WILD LIFE
After passing through the asphalt jungles, it is time to get lost in those wooded expanses, emerald-colored, in which animal life seeks its means of subsistence. In the Belum National Park there is one of the oldest tropical forests on the planet. In this forest mass some 130 million years old, they are fighting for their lives at least a dozen species in serious danger of extinction, such as the Malayan tiger, the Asian elephant, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Malayan tapir and the endearing white-handed gibbon. Here, It is worth taking a boat and exploring the green islands that emerge from the waters of Lake Temenggor.
However, the wildlife manifests itself in its maximum splendor in the part of Malaysia that is nestled in the enormous Borneo island. Very close to the border with Brunei, the strange karst forms of Gunung Mulu National Park they create a landscape of jungle and caves that attracts the best cavers from around the world. Here it is the Sarawak House, the largest known cave in the world.
The forests and waterfalls of Madai, in Kunak
back on the surface, orangutan rehabilitation sanctuaries –like Sepilok’s– and sun bears, they are the redoubts in which man tries to repair part of the great damage that he inflicts, since he populated the Earth, on Mother Nature.
Both centers are a short distance from the waters of the Kinabatangan River, whose shores are home to the largest concentration of wildlife in Malaysia. And it is that the northern part of the island of Borneo is an idyllic place that should be treated with care and respect.
Other islands of a very different nature are those of Tioman and Langkawi. In the first, much smaller than the second and with an eminently local tourism, life goes by at a relaxed pace, between jungle walks, beach breaks and contemplation of a rich underwater life in the corals that surround islets such as Renggis.
However, Langkawi offers endless beaches of various types, jungles full of trails and waterfalls, mountains with spectacular viewpoints, excursions – both on the island and in the islets and waters that surround it – and a lively nightlife. Also has spectacular diving spots, such as those at Datai Bay beach and the nearby Pulau Payer Marine Park. And is that Malaysia is a traveler's paradise, both on the surface and under the water.
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Mother Nature in all her splendor