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Malaysia
Beautiful photography, personal stories, and travel tips from my adventures in Malaysia.
Welcome to Malaysia!
Malaysia is an extremely diverse and exotic country. Occupying the end of the Thai peninsula as a part of Indonesian Kalimantan, it boasts mountainous hinterland, dense virgin rainforests, stunning coastlines and paradisical, untouched tropical islands. In terms of the natural environment, Malaysia is among the best.
Another face of the country is its roaring economy. The Malaysia of today is a prosperous nation and this newly gained wealth is evident in the high-tech, trendy capital city Kuala Lumpur. For the traveller, this is one of the most pleasurable and hassle-free of the Asian countries around which to base a trip.
Malay is the official language of Malaysia, although English and Chinese are also widely spoken. Malaysia was under British administration for a long time and therefore, most foods are also labelled in English.
Climate in Malaysia
When deciding the best time to visit Malaysia, weather certainly plays a role. Malaysia is situated in the equatorial zone and for this reason, experiences a perennially tropical climate. Temperatures average 30°C all year round and humidity levels usually hover around the 90% mark.
Hot and humid day times are broken up by short and very intense bursts of torrential rain on a daily basis. At higher altitudes, however, the intense Malaysian tropical climate is somewhat modified. Average temperatures drop considerably in the highland areas and humidity levels become much more bearable.
Malaysia is affected yearly by two rainy seasons, commonly referred to as “the monsoons”. The effects of the monsoons vary in severity across the country: some areas become totally submerged by flooding, whereas mountainous areas are affected much less.
The north-east monsoon generally occurs between the months of October and March, and from May to September, the south-west monsoon sweeps the country. The heaviest rainfalls are experienced in spring and autumn as the monsoon changes direction.
The rains should never deter a visit to the West coast of Malaysia or indeed, the highland hill stations. Weather patterns remain more or less uniform despite the monsoon season. In the morning the sky is usually clear and sunny with rain clouds bringing short showers in the afternoon.
It is rare to have a day without sun, or indeed without showers. It is, however, advisable to avoid the east coast destinations during the rainy season months of November and January if you really want to take advantage of the beaches.
When packing, the golden rule is variation. Pack light summer clothes because heat and humidity are guaranteed, carry a good raincoat or umbrella and an extra warm sweater if you plan on trekking into the hills.
