One reads to get ready for a travel, but sometimes a book is a travel itself.

Lonely Planet Malaysia Singapore and Brunei, tourist guide - step by step the entire country on a shoestring.

Frommer's Malaysia and Singapore, tourist guide - same as above but a bit more sophisticated.

Petronas Towers: The Architecture of High Construction, by Cesar Pelli and Michael J. Crosbie - everything you want to know about the tallest and most beautiful skyscapers on Earth.

Food of Malaysia Authentic Recipes from the Crossroads of Asia - to savour Salted fish and pineapple curry, Pickled papaya, Spicy barbecued chicken and Black pepper crab among others. But if you want a wider overview on the continent go for Food of Asia - China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, not only recipes but also beautiful photos.

Nomads of the Dawn - the Penan of the Borneo rain forest - pictures, stories and wisdom of native people.

For a complete overview on Southeastern Asia talles mountain: Kinabalu, the haunted mountain of Borneo - an account of it's ascent, its people, flora and fauna; Mount Kinabalu: Borneo's magic mountain - natural history of a one of the world's great natural monuments.

Orchids are a treausure of Malaysia, so many and diverse in colors and shape. Orchids of Asia is a good start for a general overlook, and for a closer view Orchids growing in the tropics, by the Orchid Society of South East Asia. And when the passion kicks in Orchid, the Magazine of the American Orchid Society and Orchid Digest.

Not only flora but also rich fauna in the the forests. A photographic guide of the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore is a great travel companion. The Hornbill is the bird symbol of Malaysia, so difficult to spot but absolutely worth trying.

Reflection of Eden: my years with the Orangutans of Borneo.

Malaysian Society is a multifaced one, and so is religion belief. All the links to Buddhism books. All the links to Islamism books. All the links to Taoism. More readings: Sacred Tension, Modernity and religious transformation in Malaysia. Beyond Belief, Islamic excursions among the converted peoples, a journey to non-arab Islamic countries.