Split in two — one half just below Thailand, the other across the South China Sea sharing space with Indonesia — visiting Malaysia is a wild ride.
One moment you're getting glamorous in the ultra-modern Kuala Lumpur, the next you're flying through the rainforest on a waterslide. This South Asian spot is diverse culturally, too, with heavy Chinese, Indian, and Indigenous influences found country-wide.
Use the capital city as your home base, and then get moving toward the water. For an epic diving adventure, look to Mermaid Island. Visit the Batu Caves, a Hindu temple set into limestone. Eat your way through Penang. And while you're at it, brush up on your Malaysian slang. You'll be here a while.
They're known for having the world's most affordable scuba diving, too.
The views, as expected, are unmatched.
Most people see offshore oil platforms as huge industrial blots on the ocean. And yet marine conservation scientists Amber Jackson and Emily Callahan are uncovering a remarkable story: the thriving ecosystems formed on these structures beneath the surface. Follow them on an epic journey from Malaysia to California as they gather data to prove the value of turning "rigs to reef."