The Islands of Malaysia

Branches sway overhead as a bird, one of the 620 local species, takes flight; underfoot, in the green-grey light of the rainforest, you spot a brightly colored frog hop quickly away from your footsteps. After a few minutes, the rainforest opens up to a sparkling white beach, lined with water in the most ideal shade of blue imaginable. Just a few minutes by boat off the beach, and the crusts of an exotic coral reef are visible. Fish from more than 1,200 different species flit in and out of the reef’s crevices.

Welcome to the islands of Malaysia. From the scenic landscape of Pulau Tioman to the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is both an up-and-coming economic power and a fantastic tourist location.

Unlike most tourist locations, Malaysia’s budding economy is one invested in science, foreign relations, and technology. Although the economy was originally based on agriculture and mining, Malaysia has since developed into a power that emphasizes its strengths in both shipping and manufacturing. It is also considered one of the centers of the Islamic banking structure; although this nation-state claims its official religion as Islam, freedom of religion is openly fostered by both the government and citizens and enforces a separation of state and religion. Like the other Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia’s influence in fields of science and technology is growing. Recently, they have been working to develop their own space exploration program.

Much of this success has been marked by the ethnic diversity present in the Malaysian business sector. Although a good many Malays are active members of this societal group, there is also a significant influence from Chinese and Indian business owners. Due to the influence of Western Europeans in the islands, however, a good portion of the population can claim ancestry that does not solely consist of forebears from the indigenous tribes in the area. These ethnic and cultural mixtures only help to contribute to the rich, unique sense of being that imbues the islands of Malaysia.

This multi-ethnic influence expresses itself in Malaysian cuisine. Rice and chilis feature prominently in many Malaysian dishes, as do aspects of Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Filipino foods. This is partially based on the part these countries played in the spice trade; trade from port to port would invariably bring culinary influence as travellers yearned for the tastes of home.

Malaysia has played an intrinsic part of the world economy for centuries, but at long last it has also become a popular tourist location. Exhibiting an explosion of diversity in all aspects of life, cuisine to business to flora and fauna, Malaysia is the place to be if you are in the mood for eye-opening experiences of all varieties.