The Coast is Clear: Malaysia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peninsular Malaysia

West Malaysia is called Peninsular Malaysia, stretching about 465 miles (748 km) by 200 miles (322 km), and boasting 2,900 miles (4,675 km) of coastline known for gorgeous if narrow beaches. Malaysia has a tropical climate, lots of rain, forested mountains and coastal plains.

About 400 miles (640 km) across the South China Sea lies East Malaysia, which has quite a different economic, religious and cultural makeup.

Answer: Crystal clear waters

Malaysia's islands of Pulau Redang showcase Pasir Panjang beach, almost postcard perfect, or Instagram perfect one might say. The sand is soft and white, and the waters beautifully clear, with rich marine life to enhance snorkeling and diving. The crowd is said to be a casual and relaxed bunch. An annual culture and music festival is open each October, but be sure to leave these islands by mid-October when weather restricts both available resorts and transportation.

On the other side of Malaysia from Redang is the island Langkawi, where whale and dolphin watching and education became new tourist attractions in 2016. Bombalai Hill, the only known volcano, is on the eastern edge of Sabah. It last erupted 10,000 years ago so the coast seems clear there.

Answer: Monsoon

While white sandy beaches and stunning sunsets are a splendid attraction in Malaysia, the coast is not so clear during the monsoon seasons. The eastern side is so rainy and rough November to March many resorts, most of the ferries and boats between islands, and even entire islands "close". It can rain ferociously for days at a time, or pour in short and violent spurts.

You can visit the western side April to September (though exactly when it begins and ends varies), because while frequent rain is the source of Malaysia's tropic beauty, the western coast is often clear.

Something to watch--from July to October Indonesia may conduct controlled burns to clear land, sometimes causing heavy smoke across southeast Malaysia--and there may be heavy traffic jams during monsoon seasons.

Speaking of coasts not clear, there are pirates. Attacks have been cut in half by gallant Malaysian effort, but in 2013 there was a surge and it is an ongoing concern in parts of the country and surrounding sea.

Because monsoon, smoke pollution, traffic jams and pirates are important to avoid, carefully research and factor in current conditions before you choose your travel dates, or head for places in the "highlands", great indoor shopping malls and some gorgeous beaches reliably beautiful year round. Millions visit Malaysia's unforgettable sites each year without incident.

Answer: Coconut

A popular dish in Malay culture is nasi lemak, which is coconut milk, screwpine leaf and steamed rice. Have a delicious cup of hot teh-tarik at any meal, and savor the spicy aroma in the mamak shops, or hawker stalls, where you can order spicy, tangy, sweet or sour dishes from a "boss". The east coast is known for sweet dishes, the central region for savory gravy, and south is spicy sauces.

Malaysians specialize in boiled tapioca with grated coconut, rice topped with coconut, rice with coconut milk, and sweet cakes. Meals are often served on or wrapped in leaves such as banana or yam, and eaten with the hands. You may balk at leaves and bare hands, until the fabulous food hits your taste buds.

Answer: Diverse

Aboriginal people first inhabited Malaysia at least since 7000 BCE in Sabah (formerly North Borneo). Settlers arrived in the 2nd century BC from south China, followed by a succession of countries who controlled and influenced Malaysian makeup. The Javanese, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and British all seized the country at various times, with many immigrants from southern China and India arriving to work. Malay rebellion against colonial rule starting in the 1930s.

In 1963 the Federation of Malaysia came to be; but well into the 21st century political and religious differences create significant unrest.

The good news is this whirlwind history means language, food, faith and festivals in Malaysia are fascinating and incredibly diverse.

Answer: Borneo

Just like Peninsular Malaysia, East Malaysian landscape is coastal plain that rises to hills and mountains. It has 1,620 miles (2,607 km) of coastline and two main cities. East Malaysia is often called by the name of its two major states, Sabah-Sarawak, or it is called Borneo, since it is on the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world.

Borneo has significant oil and gas reserves, rain forests and a major port. But it is less populated than the mainland, and there have long been tensions between the mainland and its eastern neighbor, steeped in political and religious history, as well as the sea between them.

Answer: Medical

Malaysia qualifies as a "megadiverse country", meaning a high number of different species live there, many of them unique to this location. The coasts are part of the Coral Triangle, a global marine center where at least 500 species of reef-building corals live. Malaysia strives to be a world-class spot for Ecotourism and nature adventures, offering jungle trekking, caving, whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, and nature hikes where tourists hope to see a tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, tapir, flying lemur, pangolin, or some monkeys and exotic birds.

But Malaysia also excels in "medical tourism"--travelers arriving for medical or dental treatment too expensive or illegal back at home.

Answer: Tea

Cameron Highlands is a day trip from the capital city Kuala Lumpur. Among the vast "tea gardens" one can refresh in the cooler climate and sample teas including black, green, Oolong, tech tarik and others. But even if you don't drink tea, you'll marvel at the spectacular tea valleys and hills.

In February-March and August-September you can safely venture out from tea plantations to view magnificent waterfalls and misty forests. Other times of the year the heavy rains may spoil your hike.

Answer: Ice hockey

Malaysians love sports, and live on a beautiful playground for all kinds of physical activity. Sepaktakraw is a kick football game native to Southeast Asia, and perhaps surprisingly for a tropic country, ice hockey is an increasingly popular sport.

Malaysia has a national ice hockey team, and they've won Summer Olympic Game medals in badminton, diving and cycling. Field hockey is a beloved spectator sport for Malaysians. Both men's and women's field hockey teams rank high in Asian and world competition. But "hockey", suggesting ice hockey, is the only "not usually associated with the tropics" answer option.

Answer: Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers skyscrapers (Menara Berkembar Petronas) rise 88 stories plus pinnacles plus spires, high into the Malaysian sky. Designed by Cesar Pelli they sit on the world's deepest foundations. The interior design echoes Malaysian motifs of local weaving and Islamic art, with the world's highest two-story bridge connecting the two towers near the 42nd floor. Closer to earth tourists enjoy art galleries, symphony, a science center and luxury shopping. Petronas is a Malaysian gas and oil company, occupying most of the offices in Tower one.