Advertisement

	Kuala Lumpur
	More than any other spot in the country, Kuala Lumpur, or "KL" as it is commonly known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. While the city's past is still present in the evocative British colonial buildings of the Dataran Merdeka and the midnight lamps of the Petaling Street nightmarket, that past is everywhere met with insistent reminders of KL's present and future. more info »

Kuching

On the whole, KUCHING – the capital of Sarawak – is underrated by visitors. Most unfortunately only stay for a day or two to organize trips to Bako national park, the longhouses and the interior. It may be long enough to pick up on Kuching's appeal but not to fall for its special magic. It is a highly attractive place: the courthouse and Astana (palace) still serve their original purpose, while the commercial district – in the heart of the old town – is a warren of crowded lanes and home to Kuching's Chinese community. Main Bazaar, the city's oldest street, sports the remains of its original godowns, now converted into shops but still overlooking Sungei Sarawak, Kuching's main supply route since the city's earliest days when the Rajah Brookes ran the territory. The city is culturally as well as architecturally exciting and has one of the finest museums in Southeast Asia. The city keeps late hours too: the eastern waterfront area around the Hilton Hotel and Holiday Inn is full of bars, pubs and plazas. But what's really unique about Kuching is its atmosphere. It is at once both buzzy and laid back, vibrant and mellow: a town where people are rarely too busy to introduce themselves and ask you where you're from. It's quite a unique place in fact, even for friendly Malaysia. more info »

Malacca

If the ultra-modern architecture and forward-looking citizens of Kuala Lumpur symbolize Malaysia's hopes for the future, then the quiet, seaside city of Malacca, about 150 kilometers to the south, is the guardian charged with the reflective task of preserving its past. Five hundred years ago, an extraordinary empire rose and fell here, its power and dreams suddenly caught off-gaurd by the dawn of the Colonial Era. more info »

	Kedah
	Kedah has the distinction of being the "Rice-bowl of Malaysia" - a term that takes on aesthetic significance when one sees the rice fields for themselves: the flat expanse of padis against a backdrop of rolling hills provides a picture of utter serenity that lulls the senses. more info »

Kelantan

For most visitors, the charms of Kelantan are found in the vitality of its culture and its remote, unsullied beauty. The traditional sports of giant kite-flying, top-spinning, silat, wayang kulit, bird-singing competitions and the making of exquisite handicrafts such as songket, batik, silverware and mengkuang products still remain fixtures here, offering a glimpse of tradtional Malay culture in truly spectacular setting. more info »

Perak

Like Kelantan and Pahang , Perak is a state that is defined by the course of its namesake river. Perak's population is about two million. Until the nineteenth century, Perak's people were concentrated along the Perak River, and the chief city was riverside Kuala Kangsar. However, the discovery of wondrously rich tin deposits in surrounding valleys lead to the establishment of and transfer of the capital to Taiping and, later, Ipoh. The tin mines around Ipoh are reputedly the richest in the world, and it is no surprise that the city has expanded steadily from the time the mines were discovered in the nineteenth century. Today, Ipoh is one of Malaysia's larger cities, with a population of about half a million people. more info »

	Negeri Sembilan
	Negeri Sembilan translated literally means "Nine States," so named because it comprises a federation of nine states. It is located on the south-west corner of Peninsular Malaysia and encompasses an area of 6,645 sq km including a 48-km gentle coastline. Seremban, the capital of Negeri Sembilan, is 64 km south of Kuala Lumpur. more info »

	Selangor
	All roads away from Kuala Lumpur lead to the state of Selangor, Malaysia's most populated and prosperous state. Selangor surrounds the burgeoning capital with green suburban arms and industrial tracks, but as the city is left behind, a different, older and more natural order quickly unfolds. more info »

Terengganu

Terengganu is the land of the lilting Gamelan and the mesmerising "Ulek Mayang" dance--living testimony to the state's centuries-old guardianship of Malaysia's cultural heritage . It is a quiet state, with many small villages, quiet roads, and secluded islands and beaches. The clear waters and teeming marine life of Terengganu have made it an increasingly popular destination for divers. more info »

1