Inter-monsoon season is here

I is for Inter-monsoon season.

We are still on the weather, yes.

As a follow-up to the 'H' post on Haze in Malaysia, let's talk about the Monsoon today.

Malaysia not only has a monsoon season, it has two. That's right T-W-O.

One is the southwest monsoon which is about to start anytime soon just as we speak. In fact, MetMalaysia said the inter-monsoon season had set in last week with west coast states expe­riencing heavy rainfall in the past few days.

The other monsoon season is the northeast monsoon which occurs late November right through to January. The latter is when we get heavy rains that cause much flooding, devastation and hardship to the people in the east-coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and parts of Pahang. Sadly, this is a yearly affair. There is much to be done.

The southwest monsoon on the other hand affects states on the west coast of the peninsula, including the capital city of Kuala Lumpur which is located inland. The expected heavy downpour should provide a respite from the heat wave we are experiencing right now which results in hotspots from peat fires and subsequently causing the haze over the country.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, best to check up on the weather/monsoon season for the part of the country you are visiting. For example if you are going to the island of Perhentian or to Clud Med, on the east coast, you may want to avoid the months of November to January. Other than that, every month is a good month to visit Malaysia. And that includes the island of Borneo which boasts of one of the best dive sites in the world, Sipadan.

Source: Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia celebrates a number of festivals that may make your visit here with us more enjoyable, more memorable. Shopping is definitely one good reason, if nothing else. So is food. With our melting pot of cultures, expect to be amazed what you can feast on. Tourism Malaysia is a good reference for a start.