Visitors to Johor Bahru will never go hungry as there is a great range of cheap food to try, which draws large numbers of hungry gastronomes from Singapore every day. Fresh seafood is widely available and often turned into spicy curries and traditional Malay dishes. Johor Bahru is famous for its vibrant night market and this is also a great place to find a cheap meal and pick up a bargain or two.

Hawker stalls and coffee shops are good places to find a cheap and tasty meal. Hawker stalls tend to be very clean and open until late in the evening. Curry dishes and other meals in western style restaurants, while seafood restaurants serve fresh fish prepared in the Chinese style. For western food, head to the shopping malls, where you will usually find a large food court with a number of well known fast food restaurants.

Despite being located in a predominately Muslim country, alcohol is widely available in Johor Bahru. Beer and other alcohol can be bought in bars, restaurants and 7-11 shops. The local brew is tuak, which fermented rice wine that comes in many forms. Usually served lukewarm, tuak is often flavoured with sugar or honey.

The start of Kota Kinabula begins in the far off days of the 1800’s when the British North Borneo Company set up a small settlement in Gaya Bay already somewhat developed by the Bajau people. This created understandable friction and resentments by the Bajau  who rebelled against the British company and in 1897 the whole settlement was destroyed by Bajau rebels led by Mat Salleh

The company relocated to the more protected island of Api-Api which became the highly successful port of Jesselton named after company vice chairman Sir Charles Jessel. It was also terminus for the newly built railway making it a major trading post for rubber, wax, honey and rattan. However, despite the prosperity brought by trading Jesselton was never a political success and the company fought off attacks and demonstrations by Bajau rebels constantly.

For the next forty years the British hung on to Jesselton until the Japanese invaded. The town endured bombing after this by the British. Bombing was extensive and little remained of this mighty harbor and railway terminus when the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

The British North Borneo Company returned to rebuild Jesselton but failed due to financing problems. The new colonial government took over to elect Jesselton as the capital of North Borneo.

Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabula by the Federation of Malaysia in 1968 and received full city status from the Malaysian government on February 2 2000.

Taking its name from surveyor William Cameron who mapped the area in 1885 The Cameron Highlands quickly became developed by Chinese vegetable farmers, tea planters and rich colonialists attracted by its cool, high altitude weather.

The temperature never drops below 10˚c or rises above 21˚c perfect for tea  making the area became the centre for Malaysia’s vast tea industry. Vegetable cultivation also flourished here as well as flowers which grow in commercial abundance to the present day.

In recent times property development has grown at an unprecedented and rapid rate. Modern high rise have done much to destroy the once peaceful English colonial atmosphere.

The environment has also suffered greatly from unchecked and  often illegal land clearance.

Vast hillsides have been flattened and streams filled in to increase farmland causing flooding and landslides.  Erosion had caused Ringlet Lake to silt up almost completely by 2005, when lengthy dredging operation began, and flooding problems will no doubt continue. The Malayan Government has introduced tougher laws against water pollution another ecological nightmare. After many years of construction a better road running from Ipoh to Brinchang and Tanah Rata is now open, making trips to and from the Highlands easier and faster. This new and better access will no doubt bring even greater population and prosperity to the area let’s hope with a more respect for the nature which originally started it.

Malaysian festivals tend to be loud and colourful, marked with plenty of singing, dancing and parades through the streets. Malaysian people tend to be tolerant of people from other faiths and welcome them into their homes to celebrate with them. These festivals are a good opportunity for foreigners to learn more about Malaysian culture and hospitality.

Here are some major Malaysian festivals to look out for. Many festivals revolve around the lunar calendar, so dates vary slightly from year to year.

New Year’s Day: Januray 1st is a public holiday and New Year’s Eve is marked in most cities with sporting events, competitions, exhibitions and cultural performances by Malaysian multi-ethnic groups.

Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days and is very colourful, filled with feasting and firework displays. Gather to watch the traditional dragon and lion dances, which take place to the beat of gongs and drums. Penang is the best place to experience Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

Thaipusam: This festival is celebrated by Hindus on the tenth month of the Hindu calendar. Thaipusam is a day for penance and atonement and during this time devotees to fulfil a vow they have made to Lord Muruga, who is also known as Lord Subramaniam. Devotion is demonstrated by fasting and piercing their bodies with elaborately decorated metal structures decorated with colored paper, fresh fruit and flowers and parading through the streets. To get the most out of this festival, head to Kuala Lumpur to watch Lord Muruga’s jeweled chariot carried through the streets to the Batu Caves in Selangor.

Gawai Dayak: On the 1st of June the people of Sarawak celebrate the good annual with parties, games, processions and feasting. People gather to sing traditional songs, dance and drink the locally produced rice wine. Children bring their parents plates of food and cattle is sacrificed to ensure that there is a good harvest the following season.

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri: Also known as Hari Raya Puasa, this Muslim festival marks the end of fasting throughout the month of Ramadhan, which is the tenth month of the Muslim calendar. The celebrations last for one month and feature bright decorations, feasting and parties Lantern and Moon Cake Festival This festival is celebrated by all Malaysians, who hang colourful lanterns on their houses and eat moon cakes in this celebration of peace and unity.

Hungry Ghost Festival: According to Chinese tradition the gates of hell are opened during the 15th day of the seventh lunar month to allow the hungry ghosts to wander the Earth in search of food and possibly seek revenge. The Chinese hold a festival at this time to remember their dead ancestors and pay tribute to them, setting aside food for them and burning money so that their relatives can use it in the afterlife

Deepavali: The Festival of Lights, Deepavali is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil, marking the legendary time when Lord Krishna defeated Narkansura. Mainly celebrated by Hindus, people visit the temple during the day and lit candles and oil lamps in the evening. There are colourful parades through the street and much merrymaking

Christmas: Unlike most Asian countries, Malaysia celebrates Christmas much like people do in western countries. Houses are decorated with lights and a large Christmas tree, carols are sung and the traditional roast turkey dinner is often eaten to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Malaysia Truly Asia

Holding its own among Asia’s best know destinations, Malaysia encompasses the best of the region’s outstanding characteristics, without the hassle or concerns of its neighbours. From the stunning beaches in Langkawi to the history on Penang and Sophistication of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers its 20 million annual visitors a completely satisfying experience.

On this site we cover the entire Peninsula and Borneo, including Melaka, the Cameroon Highlands, the islands of Perhentian and Redang, as well as Kinabalu, and the jungles and beaches of East Malaysia. Written by an old hand on Southeast Asia, this blog will soon be upgraded to a full travel site with hundreds of pictures and pages to help you plan your trip to Malaysia.

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, history, shopping, beaching, culture, backpacking or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this organised and mutli-cultural country, there’s something for you on this site. We’ve got the tourism on Malaysia covered.

The best way to see Malaysia is under your own steam with a rental car. This allows you to get around easily to the various rural areas of beauty. It’s best book online in advance using an online car hire comparator that lists the best deals from car hire companies in Malaysia