🙂 Friendly. Jungle. Beaches. Amazing food.
🙁 Racial discrimination. Durians.
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
THREE things we did not know about Malaysia:
- Malaysia’s most famous plant is the rafflesia flower. With a bloom that can extend more than a yard in diameter, the Rafflesia is the largest flower in the world. When blooming, the flower emits a putrid stench, giving rise to its nickname “corpse flower.” The odour attracts flies, who then transport the pollen. Rafflesia flowers generally grow in the rainforests of Borneo. Malaysia is one of 17 countries with a mega diverse wildlife.
- Malaysia’s conservative Muslim government considers dogs unclean and forbidden.
- Durian is known as the “king of the fruits” in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries, but its smell is so overwhelmingly pungent that it’s banned from many Malaysian hotels. Its sweet-and-savory taste is a bizarre combination of pineapple, onions, caramel, almond, butter, and cheese.
