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Although a Muslim society, Malaysia has a history of celebrating diversity.

Malaysia is known for it’s many cultures both foreign and indigenous living harmoniously. Malays refer to it as being “united in diversity”. This diversity is recognized annually during the “Colors of Malaysia” celebration. This month long event culminates in a spectacular parade that we planned our trip around. This philosophy of peaceful co-existence started in the golden era of the Malacca Sultanate in the 1400s.

Malacca became an important port of call in the Asian trade route. This brought people from all over the world in contact with the native Malaysians. Business relationships turned into friendships and then often times into romance and marriage. The epitome of this was when a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty married a Malaccan Sultan. They’ve been celebrating diversity here ever since.