When I was on my overland adventure last fall in Kyrgyzstan (and briefly Uzbekistan), I asked the very-well-travelled tour leader what some of his favorite places were. "Here," he said, motioning out at a large farmer's field we happened to be camping in for the night en route to Karakol. "This is one of the best places I've ever been."

"OK, well, obviously," I said (Kyrgyzstan is totally amazing). "Where else?" 

He paused for a moment and said thoughtfully, "Malaysia. I really like Malaysia."