Malaysia
Malaysia at the Heart of Asia
Among all Asian countries, Malaysia sounds the most Asian. If you didn’t know better, you would think the word “Asia” came from Malaysia. That may not be the case but if it were, it wouldn’t be a bad thing since the country boasts of many resources and treasures to represent the entire continent very well. Here are just a few things that set Malaysia apart from its neighbors:
“A tall order.”
For six years, Malaysia is famous for having the tallest building in the world. The Petronas Towers were nearest to the clouds until Taipei 101 was built in 2004. Yet, the Petronas is still the tallest twin-towers today, and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country and in the world.
“The old meets the new.”
While the Petronas is a symbol of elite modern architecture, Malaysia is also home to the world’s oldest British settlement, which is found in the city of Penang. In other words, Malaysia is a mixture of the old and the new. In Penang, you can’t get enough of nostalgic Georgetown, Fort Cornwallis, Penang Hill, and Kek Lok Si Temple, among other attractions. This is also the home of the Penang free school, the oldest English school in Southeast Asia.
“Bigger is better.”
The world’s biggest flower, Rafflesia, and the world’s largest cave chamber, Sarawak Chamber,are both found in Malaysia. To give you an idea on how big the Sarawak Chamber is, just imagine that a whole airplane can fit inside it.
“Wet and wild.”
Malaysia has a vast land area with jungles and mountains that house more than 200 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, and 14,500 species of flowering plants and trees.
“An aid for AIDS.”
Malaysia grows a rare type of tree that is reported to be able to cure AIDS. Scientists recently discovered that the Bintagor tree has properties that can be used to fight the virus. The Bintagor grows only in Sarawak.
“Journey to the center of the world.”
Malaysia may not literally be at the center of the planet but its geographical location is quite strategic. It is surrounded by Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and the South China Sea.
Truly Malaysia is, in a way, at the very heart of Asia.
