Malaysia has fervently embraced modern technology - it boasts two of the world's tallest skyscrapers and a huge "cyber" center for computer businesses. But it still has some of the world's most remote jungle (in Sabah and Sarawak), one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant old ports (Georgetown) and an atmospheric colonial hill station (the Cameron Highlands). Even in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, which bristles with ambitious new building projects, you can still find exotic markets and plenty of local color. As a result, travelers to Malaysia can easily ratchet up or down the levels of adventure and comfort they want to experience.

Geography

The South China Sea divides Malaysia roughly in half. Peninsular Malaysian, the western half, is home to two-thirds of the country's 18 million inhabitants. The less developed states of Sabah and Sarawak make up the eastern half, which occupies the northern third of Borneo. In both areas, coastal lowlands give way to mountainous interiors. Tropical vegetation abounds. The rain forests are believed to be the oldest in the world. The nation includes dozens of small islands.