Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean and consists of a total of 7107 islands. About 880 of these islands are inhabited, with only 11 islands having an area larger than 2500 km². More than 6000 Philippine islands are even smaller than 1 km².
The Philippine archipelago is divided into 3 large regions. Luzon, the northern part, consists of the large islands of Luzon, Masbate and Mindoro. The central part of Visaya is mainly composed of the islands of Palawan, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Masbate and Bohol. Mindanao is the southern part and consists of the islands of Mindanao, Basilan and Jolo, among others.
The Philippine archipelago belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire. The side effects of this are earthquakes and volcanism. On the border of the Philippine and Eurasian continental plates, the islands are peaks of mountain ranges that protrude from the sea. There are currently around 20 active volcanoes. The highest elevation of the islands is the 2954 m high volcano Mont Apo.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is located on the island of Luzon. It is the political and economic center of the country. As a cultural center, Manila offers its guests numerous museums such as the “National Museum of the Philippines”, spacious parks to linger, one of the largest theater scenes in Southeast Asia, historic colonial buildings, baroque churches and numerous cafes, bars and music clubs where you can find yourself can pass the time.
The seat of government is in Quezon City. Quezon City is part of the Metro Manila and is the largest city in the Philippines. The House of Representatives of the Philippines, various authorities and ministries, 2 universities and the Philippine Central Bank are also located here.
The city of Cebu City is located in the central region of Visayas. It is the first Spanish settlement to be founded in the Philippine Islands in 1565. Cebu City is now a modern city and capital of the island of Cebu. The island of Cebu is well developed for tourism and is ideal for bathing and diving holidays.
In terms of area, Davao City is one of the largest cities in the world and is located on the island of Mindanao in the south of the Philippine Islands. The city offers numerous sights. Generous parks, historical monuments, churches, museums or the ideal beach facilities are attractions for many tourists.
Thailand
According to best-medical-schools, Thailand is located in Southeast Asia and borders Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Adaman Sea (part of the Indian Ocean) and the Gulf of Thailand (part of the Pacific Ocean).
The territory extends from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to the Malay Peninsula in the south over a distance of approximately 1770 km.
The northern region lies on the southern foothills of the Himalayas and is very mountainous. At 2,565 meters, Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand.
Northeast Thailand consists of the Khorat plateau and is an undeveloped part of Thailand. The plateau is dry in summer and flooded in the rainy season.
The central region of Thailand with the capital Bangkok consists of fertile land and is used for agriculture just like the eastern region of Thailand. The Chao Phraya is the most important river in Thailand and supplies the region with water.
The southern region is located on the Malay Peninsula and is just 64 km wide at its narrowest point. The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from the Indian Ocean.
Since Thailand is definitely worth a visit, you can find more information about Thailand here as well as the sights below. There is also a travel report here.
Malaysia
The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is the commercial and financial center, making it the most important city in Malaysia. As a traveler, it may well be that you arrive here and / or leave anyway. It is definitely worth spending a few days in the city, for example taking part in a free city tour. Other important cities are George Town, Johor Bahru and Ipoh.
Infrastructure
There are more than 2400 kilometers of rails in Malaysia. It is a very inexpensive means of transport, which is almost exclusively in the western part.
The road network is quite well developed at 77,600 kilometers. 1,200 kilometers are motorways, but they are subject to tolls.
The roads in urban centers are exemplary, but there are still some unpaved roads in rural parts, especially in the eastern part.
Best time to go to Malaysia
The rainfall in Malaysia is quite high throughout the year. Nevertheless, one should of course try not to catch the main monsoon season. For Kuala Lumpur and generally the western part or the Malay Peninsula, the best travel time is from December to February. Another good time is between June and August. For the eastern part of Malaysia, in the north of Borneo, the best travel time is from March to August.
Currency in Malaysia
The Malay currency is the ringgit, which is divided into 100 sen. A ringgit corresponds to approximately € 0.21. Except for the RM or MYR, as the money is abbreviated, Singapore dollars are often accepted for payment. Both currencies are understood 1: 1, so that you make a clear loss business here if you pay with Singapore $.