Are you looking for unspoiled beauty in a peaceful setting? Do you long to travel to places outside the normal vacation destinations? Do you want to be treated with all of the best amenities afforded to the rich, on your budget?

Then you need to visit Malaysia......

That's the message the Minister of Tourism, The Honorable Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, brought to an evening event at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel on September 14, 2007

The Minister ended his tour of the United States with the evening's festivities. His trip was taken with the intention of bringing his country, the country of Malaysia, to the forefront of people's minds regarding travel destinations.

Celebrating his country's 50 th anniversary as a nation, the tour promoted the beauty, safety and ambiance of the country's many regions.

When Americans think of Southeast Asia, they usually think of other countries in the area like Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Somehow the placement for Malaysia gets lost in their long ago geography lessons.

The country consists of two regions separated by some 640 miles of the South China Sea. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. Peninsula Malaysia or West Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula shares a northern border with Thailand. Malaysian Borneo or East Malaysia occupies the northern portion of the isle of Borneo.

The country offers stunning landscapes and diverse cultures that combine to allow a rich and unique feeling to each area. The one consistency for all the regions is that they offer a multiple variety of resorts for all enthusiasts.

There are more than 200 golf courses throughout the country. The courses boast international standards as many sanctioned PGA events occur yearly at different locations.

The courses have been designed by world-renowned names such as Robert Trent Jones Jr., Ronald Freem, Ross Watson and Max Wexler. Many of the courses are located at first class resorts where a vacationer can end a day of remarkable golfing with spa treatments and world class cuisine.

For those who love the water, the sailing and diving opportunities are countless.

Malaysian Borneo is unparalleled with its beautiful rainforests, coral atolls and nearby islands for the pristine observation of sea life and wildlife.

The marinas and yacht clubs that dot the shorelines of both East Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo create an amazing sailing adventure for visiting boating enthusiasts. The weather is balmy most of the year because the country is located between one and seven degrees of the equator. While sailing during Monsoon season is limited, the majority of the year allows a lifetime experience for the intrepid sailor.

As the world becomes more concerned about the use of resources and global warming, Malaysia has already dedicated its time and energy to the stewardship of the earth's at risk regions. In a spirit of cooperation, Malaysia has joined with Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam to create the 'Heart of Borneo' project. This is a rainforest and wildlife conservation project for 220,000 square miles of equatorial rainforest. Many other countries including the U.S. and Australia have joined in the project to preserve the land and the life of one of the earth's most precious areas.

As Americans consider vacation destinations, security is always a part of the decision making process. The Minister directed a portion of his talk to that question on Friday when he stated 'we are a peaceful people, we don't have terrorists in our midst'. He reminded the group that Malaysia is the United States tenth largest trading partner with annual two-way trade agreements in the amount of 49 billion. The economic record of Malaysia has been the best in Asia since it became a country with consistent economic growth. It remains the main vacation destination within the region and enjoys favorable relations with the United Kingdom from which it received its independence in 1957.

As the Minister of Tourism stated.....If you are looking for Paradise in a peaceful, relaxed environment, Malaysia should be on the top of your destination list.