Indonesia
The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: Indos, which means Indian, and “Nesos”, which means islands. This is an apt description of the archipelago, as there are an estimated 17,508 islands in total, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited, stretching 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continents. The main islands are Sumatra Kalimantan), Sulawesi Irian Jaya) and last but not least Java. The nation’s capital, Jakarta, has a fascinating and significant history.
air-conditioned— Indonesia’s climate is definitely tropical. The main seasons are summer, winter and monsoon; it is empty of autumn and spring.
Culture— Indonesia is rich in art and culture that are intertwined with religion and ancient traditions. The basic principles that guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or “gotong royong”. Religious influences in the community vary from island to island. Indonesia is rich in culture with 250 – 300 ethnic groups living here.
From graceful court and temple dances to enchanting folk dances and boisterous games, Indonesian performing arts offer an astonishing variety of types and styles, and the shadow puppeteer is famous.
Kitchen— Fish occupies a prominent place in the diet as fresh, salted, dried, smoked or in paste form. Coconut is found everywhere. The staple food traditionally ranges from rice, corn, sago, cassava to sweet potatoes.
hot spots–Indonesia is a mix of beaches, forests and citiess- Amlapura, Bali Barat National Park, Irian Jaya, Java, Jakarta, Baluran National Park, Karimunjawa Islands, Kalimantan (Borneo), Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani), Kuta, Pulau Bunaken, Rantepao, Tanatoraja, Sumatra, , National Park Bukit Barisan Selatan (Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park), Harau Valley, Jangga Village, Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Lingga Village, Medan, Mentawai Islands, Ngalau Indah Caves, Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Padang, Pandaan Beach, Pandi Sikat, Parapat, Samosir Island, Siberut Island, Sipiso-piso Waterfall, Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta, and more.
Malaysia
The Malay Peninsula has prospered from its central position in the maritime trade routes between China, India and the Middle East. It is shown on the initial map with a label that translates to “Golden Chersonese”; the Strait of Malacca was named “Sinus Sabaricus”. The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a very similar landscape in that both West and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising into often heavily forested hills and mountains. Putrajaya is the newly created administrative capital, while the capital city is Kuala Lumpur. Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Alor Sar, Malacca Tow and Klang are the main cities.
Air-conditioned — It is hot and humid throughout the year in Malaysia.
Culture — Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual society, made up of 52% Malays and other indigenous tribes. With Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by side Music, art, food, dance, architecture and general daily life are all influenced by all three to some degree, creating some of the most fascinating sounds, sights and tastes in Asia. Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms, is based primarily on the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other art forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), silat (a stylized martial art).
Kitchen — There is a wide variety; spicy Malay food, a seemingly endless variety of Chinese food, exotic North and South Indian cuisine, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese food.
hot spots — Malaysia’s love for the western style is very clear in its big cities, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, etc. Malaysia boasts some of the most magnificent beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia. Cameron Highlands, Batu Caves, Lake Gardens, Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Taman Negara National Park.
