Overview
'Malaysia–Truly Asia' is the tag line of the Malaysian Tourist Board that markets the unique ethnic diversity of Malaysia as an attraction to tourists all over the world. This ethnic diversity is represented in a culture that is an amalgamation of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, as these are the three main ethnic groups that form the fabric of society in this exotic South East Asian country .Apart from these three main ethnic groups Malaysia also has its indigenous peoples in the form the aboriginal Orang Asli people who are found on the lush densely forested states of Sabah and Sarawak located on the island of Borneo in Eastern Malaysia.
The country of Malaysia is made up of two distinct parts, a mainland in the form of the Peninsula of Malaysia, which is a land mass that is connected to the rest of Asia and has the countries of Thailand and Singapore on its northern and southern borders. Eastern Malaysia is separated from the mainland by the South China Sea and is made up of the sparsely populated states of Sabah and Sarawak which are covered with lush tropical jungles and are home to a lot of exotic flora and fauna.
The mainland of Peninsula Malaysia offers a tourist many different experiences from the many charms and delights of the animated capital city of Kuala Lumpur to the cerulean waters and dazzling white beaches of the resorts in Langkawi and Tioman to the relatively cool environs of the Cameron and Genting Highlands. Since 1999, Malaysia has also been on the Formula 1 race circuit as it has built an ultra modern race track at Sepang in the district of Selangor. This track is the location for the Malaysian Grand Prix which is usually held in the month of April and gives tourists another reason to visit the mesmerizing and captivating country.
Early History
The many natural riches of Malaysia attracted European powers like the Dutch and the Portuguese through the ages and they established trading posts in Malaysia in the late 15th and16th centuries but then the British took over Malaysia in the late 18th century and Malaysia remained a British colonial outpost until it became the federation of Malaya in 1948 and declared its independence from the British in 1957 at Kuala's Lumpur's historic Merdeka Square.
In 1963 the Confederation of Malaysia was formed along with another British colony, Singapore and the eastern Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. Singapore however seceded from the federation in 1965. Malaysia today, follows a parliamentary system of democracy.
Toursim
The main industries in Malaysia, a country which has been blessed with abundant natural resources are manufacturing, tin, rubber, timber, pepper, palm oil. The energetic efforts of the Malaysian tourism promotion board have also developed tourism as another major industry in Malaysia. The Malaysian Tourist Promotion Board along with country's flag carrier the award winning Malaysian Airways creates frequent campaigns in order to attract foreign tourists to this relatively moderate and modern Islamic country . The various Visit Malaysia years as well as the annual Shopping Carnivals that are held every year in March and April have succeeded in attracting tourists in droves to this fascinating country with its diverse cultures and distinctive ethnic makeup.
Festivals
Islam came to the peninsula of Malaysia in the mid fifteenth century and the major Islamic festivals that are celebrated in Malaysia are connected with the month of Ramadan, which is a holy month in the Muslim calendar. The month of Ramadan is associated with fasting and penance. Hari Raya Pusa is a major Malaysian festival which marks the end of the month of Ramadan and during this festival there are three days of joyous festivities which feature new clothes, elaborate buffets which have many traditional sweets like the lapis cake ( a multilayer spice cake) and kuehs( small cakes made with sugar and rice and pandan leaf flavoring ) . The festival date changes each year in accordance with the Islamic calendar. Yet another festival called Hari Raya Haji is held usually three moths later and this festival commemorates a successful pilgrimage to the revered city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage is called hajj and men and women who complete this pilgrimage are called hajji and hajjah respectively.
Chinese New Year is yet another major festival which is celebrated with much pomp and circumstance during the months of January or February as stipulated by the Chinese Lunar calendar. For the Hindu population of Malaysia, the festival of lights called Deeepvali is an important festival which is designated a one day public holiday by the government. Hindus in Malaysia also celebrate Thaipusam 
in late January wherein devotees of Lord Subramaniam honor their deity in the most dramatic fashion with sadistic acts. This festival is celebrated on a much larger scale in Malaysia than in India where it originated. A visit to Malaysia planned during one of these unique festivals will surely be a once in a lifetime experience.
Kuala Lumpur (KL)
Kuala Lumpur of KL as it is popularly called is a truly enchanting city which is a blend of old Malaysia with its street markets and its sidewalk occupying food centers and a new modern Malaysia which has as its iconic symbol the sky touching twin towers of the Petronas buildings.
You usually fly into Malaysia, via Kuala Lumpur's hyper modern glass and steel airport called KLIA( Kuala Lumpur International Airport) which is situated in Sepang, located at a distance of approximately 50 kms from the heart of the capital city. This new airport which ranks amongst the top airports of the world was commissioned in 1998 when it replaced the older Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah terminal at Subhang. The old airport is now used for charter flights while KLIA caters to all the international and budget carriers that serve Malaysia.
The capital city is a mascot for the prosperity and advancement of Malaysia. The city is located on the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers. It was christened Kuala Lumpur which means 'muddy estuary' in 1860 by the early explorers who came here in search of tin and other resources. The city's landscape is an elegant mix of glass fronted modern day sky scrapers and condominium developments and well preserved colonial buildings like the ones located on a street located in the heart of the city called Jalan Doraiswamy which has been renamed Asian Heritage Row for its many preserved colonial structures which today house fashionable restaurants.
To discover and experience this inimitable blend of the old and new worlds found in the city of Kuala Lumpur you should start your journey at Merdeka Square which is located in the center of the city and is the site at which Malaysia declared its independence in 1957. The 328 ft tall flag pole located here is the tallest flag pole in the world. The Square also has within its environs the Tudor styled Royal Selengor Club, an institution which was established during the time of the British.
To the south of the square lies the bustling district of KL's Chinatown located on Petaling Street whose narrow alleyways are filled with vendors who sell wide variety of wares including a many traditional and authentic foods. The impressive buildings of the National Mosque ( Masjid Negara) and the North Indian Islamic design inspired historic KL railway station are also located in close proximity to the city center.
Located to the west of Merdeka Square is the verdant paradise of the city which houses the tranquil Lake Gardens. These gardens which also have a lake within their environs were founded in 1888 provide the city dwellers and tourists with a green haven to escape to away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The gardens also encompass the National Monument, a Butterfly House, a Bird Park, the Orchid and Hibiscus gardens and have Malaysia's Parliament Houses and The National Museum located nearby as well.
Kuala Lumpur is an exciting holiday destination which has several attractions from all the family. The city is world renowned as a fantastic shopping destination and has several mega malls like Lot 10, Sungei Wan Plaza, StarHill Gallery which are located on the cities main shopping drags of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Bukit Bintang. Both these streets constitute the Golden Triangle of Kula Lumpur which is located in the heart of KL city and is the location for many of the five star hotel properties of several international hotel chains that have a presence in Malaysia. The premier shopping mall in KL is however located in close proximity to KL's most famous landmark the renowned twin Petronas towers which were once the tallest buildings in the world. This mega six stories high shopping mall is called Suria KLCC, and it has outlets that retail a wide array of world renowned designer brands. 
Located in the vicinity of KL are some holiday getaways which are popular as weekend breaks with the population of this great bustling busy city.
Genting Highlands
These highlands are located at an altitude of 1800 meters and they are blessed with lush vegetation and a temperate climate. The weather in Genting is always a few degrees cooler than the weather in always hot and humid Kula Lumpur. Genting is the only place in Malaysia where gambling is legal. The resort town is the Malaysian version of Las Vegas complete with two casinos, an indoor theme park and kitschy hotels. Other popular hill stations located near KL include the verdant Cameroon Highlands and Frasers Hill . Both these hill stations have been popular as weekend destinations since the time the British occupied Malaysia.
The Batu Caves
The Batu caves are limestone caves which are adorned with Stalagmites and stalactites and several Hindu shrines. These caves which are located close to KL were discovered in 1881 by an American explorer called William Horanaby. The caves now form an important pilgrimage destination for Malaysia's Hindu population especially during the festival of Thaipusam.. The largest cave called the Temple Cave can be accessed by climbing 272 steps and leads to the Museum Cave which is festooned with much religious ornamental art. The main Subramaniam Swamy Temple is located within a large cave which is 80 meters high.
The Historic City of Melaka
The historic coastal city of Melaka which is situated on the Straits of Melaka was an important city for trade with China, India, Thailand and Indonesia. Many European powers battled for control of this strategic city and Melaka still bears the evidence of the Portuguese rule of the city in its architecture. Today the city is largely inhabited by Malaysia's Chinese community and the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia called Cheng Hoon Teng is located in Melaka. Melaka is also renowned for its excellent Nyonya cuisine which is served in historic shop houses which have been converted into small restaurants. The merging of the Chinese with the Malays produced a unique ethnic group called the Baba-Nyonya. The Baba-Nyonya were predominant in the city of Melaka and Melaka even has a museum that is dedicated to the unique lifestyle of this community .
Malaysia with its diverse landscape and its distinctive ethnic makeup is an extremely fascinating and enthralling destination which is truly representative of the rest of Asia.
Images of Malaysia originally posted on http://www.flickr.com by Vodka,K.M.,aki-jinn,stormcrypt,Khairlfz,fozyjet.
