POSTED BY The Editor | Aug, 06, 2024 |

Last Updated on May 24, 2024 by Kirsten Raccuia

My last few blogs have been about really important stuff, (insert snarky tone here) I mean critical. I know it’s essential to learn all the great reasons to visit Malaysia and the coolest places to go in the country. But I also know there is a lot more to this country than beautiful islands and rich cultural diversity. There are some extremely interesting facts about Malaysia that are equally as important for you to know… like where the word ketchup comes from and the toilet habits of newlyweds. THESE are important facts, people. Read on for the weird, wild, and downright bizarre things that make this beautiful country tick. You’ll also have a better chance of winning bar trivia or one-upping that know it all in the HR department. Anyway, just read on.

1. What’s in a name?

The word ketchup comes from ke-tsiap, the name of a sauce the Chinese merchants brought to Malaysia (back then it was Malaya). It was fermented and tasted similar to soy sauce, and the English sailors loved it. They brought it back to their homeland, and then over time the recipe was tweaked, probably because they couldn’t replicate it. Tomatoes, which were plentiful, became the main ingredient and it evolved into what we know today as ketchup.

2. You spin me right round

roundabout at night. Interesting facts about Malaysia

The largest roundabout in the world is located in Malaysia. Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah roundabout is in Putrajaya, just 30 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur. It has a diameter of 3.5km (2.2 miles). Ok, this might not be THE most interesting fact about Malaysia but it still a claim to umm, errr, fame.

3. Never-ending highways

Highways for days. Interesting facts about Malaysia
While we are on the subject of roads… the total length of the highways in Malaysia is longer than the earth’s circumference. The country has 65,877 km in highways, and the earth’s circumference is only 40,075 km. I am positive 60,000 of those kilometers are in Kuala Lumpur. I am forever getting lost on the highways there; even a GPS can’t plan my escape route from the never-ending highway system.

3A. Four sounds like death

Some buildings in Malaysia don’t have the fourth floor. They believe the number four in Mandarin sounds like the word for death and thus brings bad luck. So now we have 3, 3A, and 5.

5. Creep crawly cave

Ok, this may not be the most interesting fact about Malaysia, but def the grossest.

Gomantong Cave in Sabah, Borneo has the greatest number of cockroaches in the world. The cave is home to millions of bats that brings tourists flocking (pun totally intended) for their nightly mass exodus. As if millions of bats flying around isn’t horrifying enough, they’ve left a giant pile of s**t for the cockroaches to feed on. And by giant, I mean more than 100 feet high. Mmmm, dinner. There are so many cockroaches that the walls and floors appear to be moving. Thankfully they built a walkway so that visitors can pay RM30 ($7.20) to visit a stinky, skin-crawling cave…just for fun.

Read more: https://sandinmycurls.com/27-of-the-most-interesting-facts-about-malaysia/

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