A former British colony, Malaysia is now a modern, multicultural and wealthy constitutional monarchy, with its capital, the high-tech city of Kuala Lumpur (KL), located on peninsular Malaysia. The nation, including the more remote parts of Sarawak and Sabah, is host to a variety of diverse cultures and ethnicities and both modern and traditional lifestyles. The cuisine is amongst the tastiest in Asia. In addition to its cultural appeal, Malaysia lures travelers with white, sandy beaches, vibrant coral reefs, dense jungles, high mountains and tropical rainforests.
Diverse yet unified, Malaysia is a world unto itself. Destinations include Kuala Lumpur, (Batu Caves, Hindu shrines, Petronas Towers, Masjid Jamek mosque, British colonial architecture) Bako National Park (hiking, photography, monkeys), Borneo (Kuching boasts roaring rapids, picnics on the beach and the Orang Ulu tribal people), Kapit (the fierce Sea Dyak headhunters, rapids and rainforests), Mabul and Sipadan Islands (diving, tropical fish), Turtle Island (watch giant turtles lay their eggs), Kudat (Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and Sukau) and Kota Kinabalu (Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park and the 13,000-foot Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak between the Himalayas and Papua New Guinea).