Malaysia
Area: 329,847 km2 (3.3% the size of Canada, 93% the size of Germany, 128x Luxembourg)
Population: 28,334,135 (82% of Canada, 35% Germany, 55x Luxembourg)
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Currency: Ringgit (MYR)
Time traveled: 23 days
Distance travelled: 2,040 km (overland by train, bus and including 326km by plane)
Highlights in chronological order:
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Cultural exchange with our CS host Vern
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Petronas Towers in KL
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History in Melacca
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Speaking Portuguese with the Kristang in Melacca
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Visiting Mosques
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Chinese Festival of Wang Kang
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Hindu Festival of Thaipusam
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Walking tours in KL
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Discovering the multi-ethnic society
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Being able to communicate with the locals because many speak well English
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Delicious and cheap food in Penang
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Khoo Kong Si (Khoo clan house) with its ornate roof decorations in Penang
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Hawker stalls with a large variety of food
Malaysia is a very diverse country and it was interesting for us to be in a Muslim country. Learning about the 3 different cultures and trying so many new and delicious dishes was definitely a highlight for us.
The Culture: Malaysia doesn’t just have one culture, but 3! Within the same country you experience 3 cultures and religions: the Malay majority (Muslim), the Chinese (Buddhists) and the Indians (Hindus). Each cultures brings with it its different view and customs, so it was fascinating for us to see. You can visit a mosque, then go to a Chinese temple and 5 minutes later be in a Hindu temple. The 3 religions and cultures co-exist peacefully, although some differences are notable. The Malay majority is prioritized in government-related jobs, whereas the Chinese lead in business. The Indians often do the jobs that the other two groups don’t want to do.
The People: The people are generally very nice and multi-lingual. It’s pretty funny that the Chinese and the Indians speak English, but the Malays don’t. We were told so by our first CS host in KL, but we have tried and tested it during the 23 days we were in Malaysia. Not one Malay was able to respond to us in English or help us with directions. There are also many indigenous peoples in Malaysia, but their habitat is threatened by the destruction of the jungle.
The Food: Food is at the centre of Malaysian culture. It is very important to all Malaysians and this is one subject where the 3 cultures mingle. Because of the 3 cultures, there are 3 main cuisines in Malaysia and they are all soooo delicious. By far our favourite was Indian, probably also because it was so different from everything else we’ve had in Asia so far. Also, within each dish you acutally get to try 2-3 different dishes because of the various sauces you get. And then to add to the diversity, there are the local specialities which resulted from more cultures mixes: Peranakan – Baba-Nonya – a mix of Chinese with Malays, the Kristang – Indians with Portuguese as well as Momah – Muslim Indians. Malaysia really is a foodie’s paradise (or hell). Whenever we think back about the food in Malaysia, our mouths water. It’s crazy!
The Economy: When flying over Malaysia, one can almost only see oil palm plantations. This plays a big part in the economy, but it’s unfortunate to see that prime rain forest is being chopped down for the plantations. Malaysia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. It used to be mainly mining and agricultural -based, but now it has diversified. International trade plays a big role due to Malaysia’s location on the Strait of Malacca shipping route. Malaysia also has lots of petroleum, it is also reliant on manufacturing, although it’s trying to move away from it and towards science and tourism.
Transportation: Compared to some Asian countries, Malaysia has a good public transportation system. In fact, it depends significantly on the province (and its ruling party). KL (with the Malay Party in power) for example is lucky to have a metro system and buses, but unfortunately the metro lines are from 3 different companies and not interconnected, making transfers pretty chaotic. At least they have some. Penang (with the Chinese Party in power) has very well-developed public transit with wifi in the buses. The cities are actually well connected with regular buses between all the major cities. There is also a railway line from North to South. Flights between cities are also very cheap, so that many people prefer to fly as opposed to land transportation.
