"DesertRat's new Malaysia page" Malaysia by DesertRat

Malaysia Travel Guide: 27,599 reviews and 68,491 photos

<b>Photo: A girl boards a sampan at sunset along the riverfront in Kuching, Sarawak (E. Malaysia).</b>

Malaysia is a country of extraordinary contrasts: on the one hand Kuala Lumpur, the capital, is the site of the world's tallest building, the Petronas Tower. On the other, there are pre-literate tribals living in the backwaters of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo. It has some of Asia's best highways, but it also has some of Asia's densest and most impenetrable rainforests. It's a wannabe high-tech center, yet its press is cowed by a relatively repressive, semi-democratic regime. It is, in a word, a conundrum.

That said, it's also one of the most colorful and interesting countries in all Southeast Asia. It's certainly one of its most ethnically varied, a mixture of Muslim Malay, Christian or Buddhist Chinese, and Indians. And then there are the tribals from Borneo, whom you rarely see on the mainland at all.

<MARQUEE><b>The refurbishment of this page has begun! Make sure you check out the animated sunset below under "transportation", but you'll have to go to full size to see it!!!</MARQUEE><HR>

Last visit to Malaysia: Jan 2001
Intro Written Sep 11, 2002
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Reviews (12)

Photo: Our ninth-floor double... - Malaysia

Photo: Our ninth-floor double... Hotels (3)

Photo: Our ninth-floor double in the Holiday Inn overlooked the river. more travel advice

Holiday Inn Kuching Hotels (3)

The Holiday Inn offers typical 4-5 star amenities: pool, exercise rooms, restaurant, business center with Internet... more travel advice

Reload at full size for an... - Malaysia

Reload at full size for an... Transportation (2)

Reload at full size for an airborne sunset animation. more travel advice

The Khalustiwa Cafe Restaurants (1)

Situated along Kuching's wonderful river esplanade, you can dine on an open terrace and watch the sunset and the sampans... more travel advice

Comments (31)

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jenniferchin Sep 13, 2003 at 7:38 AM

Looks like a wonderful trip ! Kuching sounds fantastic !!
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kenHuocj May 28, 2002 at 7:27 AM

enjoyed "airborne sunset animation. " ;-)))
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stelladc Mar 25, 2002 at 8:45 AM

Excellent Malaysia page!!
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Guantanamera Feb 26, 2002 at 7:07 PM

You went to Sarawak? Awesome!
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ukirsari Feb 20, 2002 at 10:04 AM

Very informative!
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Starbright Dec 28, 2001 at 6:15 AM

Excellant travel tips
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shivan Dec 27, 2001 at 1:55 AM

your page is better
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globetrott Dec 26, 2001 at 2:34 PM

great infos & brilliant pics !
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RachelMcD Dec 16, 2001 at 1:38 PM

Useful, thanks
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seagoingJLW Oct 1, 2001 at 12:43 PM

Terrific page. Great info. Excellent pictures