The
country is made up of two regions. Peninsular Malaysia which
lies between Thailand and Singapore, and East Malaysia across
the South China Sea on the island of Borneo. The combined
land area of both regions is about 330,400 sq km (127,000
sq miles). |
|
|
|
The
Peninsular is divided into the 'east coast' and the 'west
coast' by the Main Range, known as Banjaran Titiwangsa,
which runs from the Malaysia-Thai border in the north to
the southern state of Negeri Sembilan. Geographically, East
Malaysia is rugged, with a series of mountain range encompassing
the interior regions of both states.
The Crocker Range in Sabah is the site of Mount Kinabalu,
the highest peak in South East Asia. Low's Peak, at 4,093
metres above sea level, is the highest point of the mountain. |
|
|
The
country is generally warm throughout the year with temperatures
ranging from 21° to 32° Celsius in the lowlands. This
can however be as low as 16° Celsius in the highlands.
Annual rainfall is heavy at 2,500mm (100 inches).
|
|
On
a rainy day, thunder and lightning often accompany the heavy
downpour which normally lasts for about an hour or two. The
high humidity level at 80% throughout the year favours light
and sweat-absorbent material like cotton for daily dressing.
Generally, Malaysia has two distinct seasons. The dry season
occurs during the south-west monsoon from May and September.
The northeast monsoon brings the rainy season to the country
during mid-November till March. |
|
If
heat is your enemy, the only alternative is to ensure the
home you choose for yourself has excellent ventilation with
lots of windows for better air circulation, and is fitted
with air-conditioning.
Most
accommodation will have air conditioning although many houses
and apartments will only have it in the bedrooms.
|
|
|
 |
