“Malaysia Truly Asia” — Arriving at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, this is the first billboard you see.
Your very first thoughts might be: Why?
Malaysia is a great mix of races and religions where ethnic groups live side by side. From ethnic Malays, who make up the largest group, to Chinese and Indians, and the aboriginal people. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs, who all love to celebrate their own traditions in a big way which also means many public holidays! There are tons of opportunities to experience all kinds of festivals, from Ramadan to Christmas and Diwali.
Malaysia is a country obsessed with eating and due to its multicultural mixture Malaysia is a gastronomical paradise. So be prepared to taste some of the most amazing flavours you could ever imagine! Malaysia regularly tops the polls when it comes to the best eating destinations. The diversity in their cuisine seems endless.
From its coastal plains to its hills and mountains, its spectacular beaches and tropical islands, Malaysia provides a great opportunity to experience many different landscapes. And those with a bit more time can also visit East Malaysia and see wild Orang-utans, huge swathes of rainforests and incredible diving opportunities.
My journey began in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. In the heart of Kuala Lumpur you can see a balance of modernity and tradition: a blend of the old and new, where towering skyscrapers look down upon wooden houses and where young people wearing traditional clothes show off their latest smartphones.
To escape the suffocating heat of Kuala Lumpur, I continued to the refreshing hill station of Cameron Highlands. Surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, and vast tea plantations, it’s the perfect way to cool down. The last stop was Penang; which is unofficially the mecca for any food lover. Chosen by Lonely Planet as the Top Culinary spot in 2014, I quickly found out why after digging through endless meals.
At the end of my trip I remembered the billboard again with that catchy slogan. And that’s when I realised how true it was.
Malaysia boasts spectacular islands and beaches, the oldest rainforest in the world and is considered extremely high in biodiversity. Its cuisine is shaped heavily by the races whose cuisine was brought to Malaysia from their home countries and this often is pointed out as the main highlight of the country. Culturally and religiously very diverse, it’s not uncommon to see a church, a mosque, a Buddhist temple and a Hindu temple side by side. Discover Malaysia with Bamba Experience:
– Bako Wildlife Experience 3D/2N
– Mount Kinabalu Trek 3D/2N
– Sabah on a Shoestring 7D/6N
– Malaysia Encompassed Adventure 9D/8N
