Malaysia is a country with two distinct parts. Peninsula Malaysia constitutes the long fringe of land, extending down from Asia, which borders Thailand and Singapore. The South China Sea separates the mainland from the less populated East Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak. The dense jungles of Sabah and Sarawak support abundant plant and wildlife and Mt Kinabalu in Sabah stakes its claim as the highest peak in South East Asia. The east coast, particularly the northern Kelantan province, offers the chance for an interesting cultural exploration of traditional Malay life. The city of Kota Bharu and its surrounds is possibly the most fascinating part of the peninsula, and the least visited, with a remote beauty and rich culture. The west coast is favored for historical interest, and is where Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur is to be found, the icon of Asian prosperity and the meeting point for experts and city slickers who enjoy the energy of urban life. The city is a powerful mesh of tradition and technology, vying for equal status.

Currency: The Malaysian Ringit (MYR), also referred to as the Malaysian Dollar, is divided into 100 sen

Land Code: +60. City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)3 for Kuala Lumpur, (0)4 for Penang

Language: Bahasa Melayu is the national language, but English is widely spoken and is the language of business. Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are spoken by Malaysia’s Chinese population and Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi among the Indian population.

Weather: Malaysia has a hot, humid tropical climate with two monsoon seasons, one between October and February and the other from April to October; the latter is characterized by thunderstorms. Temperatures and humidity are high all year round, but it is slightly cooler in the mountains.