The Federation of Malaysia covers almost 330,000 sq km of South East Asia and consists of two distinct areas entirely separated from each other by the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia, or West Malaysia, shares its northern land border with Thailand and is connected to Singapore in the south by the Johor-Singapore Causeway, whereas Malaysian Borneo, or East Malaysia, occupies a part of the island of Borneo along with Indonesia and the Sultanate of Brunei. Where coastal plains and densely forested uplands are a geographical feature common to both areas of Malaysia, Borneo is home to the Crocker Range of mountains with Mount Kinabalu towering above the northern tip of the island at a height of approximately 4095 m.

Borneo is the third largest island in the world, the northern part of which is taken up by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak wrapped around the tiny Sultanate of Brunei, which is situated mid-way along the northern coastline. A large area of Sabah is occupied by the Mount Kinabalu National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site which is revered for its incredible biodiversity, with a staggering variety of flora and fauna that spans at least four climatic zones, much of which is wholly endemic to Mount Kinabalu.

Despite a proliferation of unique and spectacular natural environments, modern values and Western-style attitudes have influenced the culture in many larger towns and cities throughout West and East Malaysia - holiday apartments in Sabah, Borneo, in Kota Kinabalu or on the Peninsula in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur reflecting the kind of opulence and luxury that is demanded by an ever-increasing number of multi-national travellers to the countries of South East Asia, so 21st century architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere has been slowly integrated into the ancient, indigenous cultural heritage of Malaysia over recent decades.

Where the landscapes and lifestyles can change dramatically according to where you are in Malaysia, the climate never alters from the hot and humid conditions that exist all year round countrywide, when temperatures rarely drop below 20°C, even at night, humidity levels seem to get stuck at 90% and rain comes in the form of short, sharp monsoon showers that only provide temporary respite from the relentless heat. The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia has a rainy season from November to January, which many people prefer to avoid, but as far as the west coast and Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo are concerned, rain can occur anytime between September and February, although it really won't do much to dampen the spirits of anyone seeking holiday accommodation in Malaysia as a means to escape winter in the western hemisphere!

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