Malaysia was the Malay kingdom until it became a British colony in the 18th century. During the 2nd world war, the country was occupied by the Japanese army. It achieved independence in 1957, and first united with Borneo, Singapore, and Sarawak. In 1965 Singapore seceded from the union. Today Malaysia is an independent federal constitutional monarchy. Like Singapore, Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, half of the population is Malay, and minorities are Chinese, Indians, and indigenous (aboriginal groups) people. Islam is the main religion and all the important political functions are in the hands of the Muslims. The head of state is elected monarch. The official language is Malay, but most people speak English or at least understand it.

When I planned my round-the-world trip, I decided to visit three parts of Malaysia, the city of Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands, and Island Penang. As the roads in Malaysia are good, I decided to take a road trip through the country to see as much of the country as possible and take a breath from the airports. It turned out that was a good decision.

The weather in Malaysia is characterized by two monsoons season. The period in October is a transition from the southwest and is relatively dry to northeast monsoon characterized by more heavy rains. But still, it all depends on which part of the country you are in. The temperature is stable throughout the year, around 25 to 32 degrees of Celsius. So, when I packed my luggage besides shorts, swimming suits and sunblock, I took an umbrella and a raincoat to be prepared for any kind of weather. And again - I was right!

In the next three blogs I will describe my experience of different parts of Malaysia.