Malaysia

Malaysia’s reputation as a benign country makes some people think that it’s going to be boring. It’s true, pushy touts are rare, natural disasters only seem to happen across the border and the multi-ethnic population gets along well. What to do without the hassles? Why not stroll around Penang where wafts of Chinese incense mingle with sour durian while Bollywood tunes blast from an Indian shop. Next head to the Cameron Highlands where you can visit tea plantations in the cool air; or, on the Seribuat Archipelago, off the east coast of Johor, snorkel through coral gardens and lounge on a mind-poppingly perfect beach. Put on your leech-proof boots to track elephants in Taman Negara, and how about delving into the depths of Sarawak and  Sabah on mythical Borneo where you can see wild orang utans and climb massive Mt Kinabalu.Malaysia’s best-known holiday destination, Langkawi is one of those places whose name alone summons up images of tropical romance and carefree days under swaying coconut palms. In the Andaman Sea 30km off the coast from Kuala Perlis, it is made up of a group of 99 islands, accessible by boat from Georgetown, Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah and Satun, Thailand, or by air from Georgetown in Penang and Singapore