Malaysia the Beautiful

This photographic introduction to Malaysia aims to convey the blending of beliefs, customs and traditions that infuses Malaysian cultural life, its cuisine and art forms. It also looks at Malaysia's tourist potential and the natural attractions that bring in visitors from around the world.

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This photographic introduction to Malaysia describes the physical beauty of Malaysia, the contrasts of its lush tropical rainforests and its curving sandy beaches. The text includes the country's parks and reserves, lakes and mountains, and the proliferation of fauna and flora fostered by such a rich environment. At the time of the establishment of the trade routes, Malaysia came to hold a pivotal position as a cultural crossroads, and as a result, the merging of four cultures - Chinese, Indian, Islamic and Western - has created a unique blending of beliefs, customs and traditions that now infuses Malaysian cultural life, its cuisine and its art forms. The introduction reflects this cultural diversity and closes with a look at Malaysia's tourist potential and its natural attractions. In the second part of the book, chapters are regionalized; each one opens with an introduction to a specific region accompanied by a locator map, which places the area in context for the reader, followed by photographs showing the best of Malaysia.