malaysia destination guide

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LEAGUE GO

VIETNAM T

DESTINATION

TRAVELERS GUIDE

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HISTORYMalaysia has a rich historical

background. Because of its

strategic position between the

Indian Ocean and the South

China Sea, Malaysia has long

been the meeting place for

traders and travelers from West

and East. Hence its history is oneof continual interaction with

foreign powers and influences

Hindu-Buddhist influence was

strong in the centuries before the

coming of Islam. By1400, when

the Malacca Sultanate was at the

height of its power, Islam had

become a major influence. By

1511, however, Malacca hadfallen to the Portuguese.

Meanwhile the Dutch had been

establishing their influence in

Java. By 1641, the Dutch had also

taken over Malacca but they in

turn lost it to the British who had

been slowly consolidating their

hold on the Malay states

following Francis Lights arrival

in Penang in 1786. In 1815

Malacca was in British hands and

in 1819, Stamford Raffles

founded Singapore. Thereafter,

through treaties, relentless

political pressure and diplomacy,

the British slowly extended their

control over all the states of the

Malay Peninsula.

Sarawak, once part of the Sultan

of Bruneis Empire, was ruled by

the British adventurer James

Brooke and his descendants since

1841. In 1888, Sarawak and

North Borneo (Sabah) became

British protectorates. By the

1920s, all the states that

eventually comprised Malaysia

were under British control. The

first stirrings of Malaysian

nationalism were felt in the 193

following the end of World War

II, the momentum of nationalism

picked up again, culminating in

independence for the Federation

of Malaya in 1957. In 1963,

Malaysia was formed, bringing

together the stats of Malaya,Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.

Singapore, however, left the

federation in 1965.

Today, Malaysia is a strong

member of the six-member

Association of South-East Asia

Nations (ASEAN). The

association, comprising Brunei

Darussalam, Indonesia, MalaysThailand, the Philippines and

Singapore, was formed to

promote regional growth and

cooperation among member

nations.

Malaysia is a melting pot of

various races. Its population of

million people, for all of its

complex ethnic set-up, has been

remarkably peaceful. Mutual

respect for each others culture,

traditions, religious beliefs and

way of life has created a peacefu

social environment, stable

political climate and a strong

economy for the nation.

The government, headed by the

Prime Minister and members of

his cabinet, is an alliance of

parties representing differentracial groups. The Supreme Hea

of State is the Yang Di Pertuan

Agog (King). He is a

constitutional monarch elected

for a term of 5 years by his fello

rulers from the other states.

POPULATIONMalaysia has a population of

approximately 28.3 millionpeople, with the vast majority

of them living in peninsular

Malaysia. The rest live on the

Malaysian portion of the island

of Borneo.

TIMELocal time is GMT +8 hours.

VISASU.S. citizens do not need a visa for

tourist or business travel to

Malaysia for a stay up to 3 months

but a valid U.S. Passport is

required.

INSURANCEMedical insurance is

recommended. Travelers older

than one year coming frominfected areas require a yellow

fever vaccination certificate.

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LANGUAGEBahasa Malaysia is the official language. Chinese dialects and

Tamil are still widely used in their respective communities.

English is widely spoken in the larger cities and in hotels, shops

and most restaurants.

COMMON BAHASA PHRASES

Hello Halo or HeyHow are you? Apa kabar?

Thank you Terima kasih

Youre welcome Terma kasih kembali

Goodbye Selamat tinggal

Please Silakan

Im sorry Maaf

What is your name? Namamu saipa?

My name is _________ Nama saya __________

Yes Ya

No Tidak

Where is the toilet? Dimana toilet sialan?

How do I get to __? Bafaimana saya bias ke ___?

Water Air

How much is? Berapa harganya?

CURRENCYThe Malaysian Ringit (MYR), also referred to as the Malaysian

Dollar, is divided into 100 sen. Malaysian banks charge in the

region of US$2-3 for foreign exchange transactions.

Moneychangers are generally quicker to deal with and do notcharge commission; their rates however are variable. Pounds or

dollars are the easiest to exchange. Travelers cheques can be

exchanged at banks and some hotels. All major credit cards are

accepted at up market hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are

widely available.

CLIMATEMalaysia has a tropical, humid climate with temperatures

averaging 86F (30C), though it is cooler in the highland areas.The major change in seasons is marked by the arrival of the

monsoons that bring heavy downpours on the east coast of

Peninsula Malaysia, the northeastern part of Sabah and the

western end of Sarawak (from November to February). Boat trips

to the islands do not run during the height of the monsoon season.

The best time to visit Malaysia is between April and October.

CREDIT CARDSCredit cards are widely accecpted.

TIPPINGService charges of 10% are added to

in most leading hotels and restauran

Where it is not included, a tip of 10-

of the bill would be appropriate.

Airport porter/hotel bellboy:

$1.00 - $ 2.00 US per bag.

Your tour guide:

$10.00 - $ 12.00 US per person per d

Driver/assistants:

$ 6.00 - $ 7.00 US per person per day

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HEALTHSome tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia

and travelers should seek medical advice regarding

any recommended vaccinations before traveling.

Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever,

which has no vaccination or immunization. There

has been an increase in cases of dengue fever since

January 2005. Malaria risks are isolated to the

inland regions; the exception is Sabah, where there

is an all-year risk.

Dysentery and travelers' diarrhea afflict travelers in

Malaysia so it is advisable to drink only bottled or

boiled water and avoid uncooked meat, fish andvegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. A further

health hazard in Malaysia is smoke haze and air

pollution, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, which has

the worst air quality in Asia with very high Benzene

pollution levels. This could aggravate cardiac or

respiratory problems. There have been outbreaks of

bird flu, but no human infections have been

reported, and in September 2007 Malaysia's

Agriculture Minister declared the country free of

the deadly form of avian influenza. Travelersshould still avoid contact with domestic, caged or

wild birds and ensure that poultry and egg dishes

are well cooked as a precaution. The hospitals in

Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high

standard.

ETIQUETTEMalaysians tend to be fairly conservative in their

approach to social interactions. It is not uncommon

to see younger people bowing their heads as a sign

of respect when passing by an older person.

Challenging a figure of authority in public would be

regarded as completely improper etiquette.

Generally, any open display of anger or outrage,

however deserved in your eyes would be met with

disdain.

When entering a Malaysian house, you should be

expected that you are to remove your shoes, and you

should greet your host with a handshake, followed

by placing your right hand over your heart. Malaysia

is largely Muslim and therefore Islamic customs

should be respected, especially during the month ofRamadan when eating, drinking and smoking in

public should be avoided, as it is forbidden by

Islamic law. Dress, particularly for women, should

be conservative, and arms and legs should be

covered when visiting places of worship. It is

customary to remove shoes before entering homes

and places of worship. When eating or exchanging

money, the right hand is used and do not point your

foot at someone, it is considered very rude.

PHOTOGRAPHSIt is polite to ask permission before taking

photographs, Some people may take offense.

DRUGSIn Malaysia, the answer is simple dont. Drug

trafficking caries a mandatory death penalty.

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PEOPLESelamat Datang is the traditional Malaysian

greeting that welcomes visitors to this vibrant and

exotic country. Ethnically diverse cultures share the

same lush landscape and create a fusion of cultural

styles, cooking and religions that is distinctly

Malaysian. Festivals throughout the year mark the

Malay, Chinese and Indian holidays, as well as

those of the indigenous Orang Asli and the tribes of

Sabah and Sarawak.

Malaysia's multi-racial society contains many

ethnic groups. Malays comprise a majority of just

over 50%. By constitutional definition, all Malays

are Muslim. About a quarter of the population is

ethnic Chinese, a group which historically played

an important role in trade and business. Malaysians

of Indian descent comprise about 7% of the

population and include Hindus, Muslims,Buddhists, and Christians. Non-Malay indigenous

groups combine to make up approximately 11% of

the population.

THE LANDMalaysia is a tropical wonderland situated in the

heart of Southeast Asia. Lying just north of the

equator, it is made up of two regions, Peninsular

Malaysia (which lays between Thailand and

Singapore) and East Malaysia (Malaysian portion ofBorneo) It is the Peninsula that seems to attract the

most visitors, probably because of the diversity it

offers in the way of people, activities and climates.

The highland regions offer cool relief from the

clinging humidity of the mainland, while Langkawi

is the popular choice for sand and surf enthusiasts.

The east coast, particularly the northern Kelantan

province, offers the chance for an interesting

cultural exploration of traditional Malay life. The

city of Kota Bharu and its surrounds is possibly the

most fascinating part of the peninsula, and the least

visited, with a remote beauty and rich culture. The

west coast is favored for historical interest, and is

where Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur is to be

found, the icon of Asian prosperity and the meeting

point for expats and city slickers who enjoy the

energy of urban life.

RELIGIONThe official religion is Islam but freedom of worship

is guaranteed. Other accepted religions practiced

include Budhism, Taoism, Hinduism and

Christianity.

ARTIn Malaysia, Art is serious business, encouraged and

supported by the government as a way to develop

national identity and to help build their tourismsector.

Traditional Malaysian art is centered around the

crafts of carvings, weaving, and silver smiting.

Traditional art ranges from hand woven baskets

from rural areas to the silverwork of the Malay

courts. Earthenware has been developed in many

areas such as Perak, which is famous for gourd

shaped clay jars that hold water.

MUSICMalaysian music has many influences including

Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazandusun,

Eurasians and other groups, all of which are

practiced throughout the various sub-cultures of

Malaysia, but modern Malaysian music is mainly a

type of jazz/fusion music, Pop, and even some hip

hop.

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FOODThe main staple food of Malaysia is rice steamed, boiled or fried. Coconut milk, and chili peppers (both

mild and hot) are also traditional and very popular. Rice may be served at all meals including breakfast,

with a generous helping of Nasi Goreng (fried rice) one of the most popular dishes. Another universally

popular dish is Satay, skewered meat cooked over a barbecue.

Multiracial Malaysia offers a mouth-watering range of food, like spicy Malay dishes, a seemingly endless

variety of Chinese food, exotic cuisine from North and South India, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese

food. European cuisine is easily available. Tropical fruits such as durian, ciku, mangosteen, rambutan,

guavas, watermelons, papayas and bananas are available. All of these typical Malaysian dishes are

extremely pleasing to the American palate.

WATER SAFETYDrink only bottled water or boiled water. ovens called tandoors. This roti is very tasty and is often served

with Indian curries.

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WHAT TO PACKDue to restricted weight limits on all the Domestic flights (20kg or

44 pounds) it is recommended that you travel light.To sum it up -

Casual & relaxed but modest.

Kuala Lumpur is a cosmopolitan city where there is no particular

dress code and where you will find all fashions.

In keeping with many Muslim countries you will find that people

in the Capital city and other major towns are used to foreigners

are therefore likely to be more tolerant and more liberal.

However once outside; the population are more traditional and

rigid so please be sure to cover you shoulders, stomach, hips and

bare legs.

It is also hot and humid so we suggest that lightweight clothes in

natural fibres; linen, silk and cotton will be more comfortable.Rain is frequent, so lightweight clothes will also dry more quickly.

T-shirts and shorts are perfectly acceptable, but avoid skimpy or

revealing clothes or you will get unwanted attention.

Hotels, restaurants and shopping malls are usually air

conditioned and at times this can be pretty fierce so be sure to

tuck a shawl or pashmina into your day bag.

Langkawi is casual all the way and flip flops and sarongs are the

norm. However there are some smart restaurants worth dressingup for.

The rain fall is greater from March to April and October -

December so be sure to pack a light weight raincoat.

If you plan on visiting religious sites please be sure to cover up

absolutely no skimpy or revealing clothes, and cover your legs

and shoulders.

If you are visiting on business, then trouser suits are acceptable

for women.

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SHOPPINGMalaysia offers visitors a myriad of opportunities to shop, from

the latest electronics to designer brands, with Kuala Lumpur

being the best place to find modern shopping centers and goods

from around the world. For hand-crafted wooden baskets and

other local crafts the best place to go is towns and villages along

the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Pewterware, songket, (a

popular hand-made woven fabric), batik cloth, jewelry, sliverware,brassware, and pottery are other typical Malaysian items available

in local shops.

Words of Wisdom-Buyer Beware

Bring your purchases home with you. Unless you are prepared to

wait up to a year to receive your merchandise, do not have it

shipped -- not even by air freight.

Do not purchase expensive goods of supposed high quality unless

you are absolutely sure of what you are buying.

Unless you are an expert in gems, antiques, artifacts, etc., you

should not assume that it is of the highest quality or value.

Always take the time to read the charge slips for credit card

purchases before you sign them. This may seem obvious; but in

the excitement of making a foreign purchase, travelers sometimes

overlook this and are unpleasantly surprised when they return

home and are billed by the credit card company. Taking a few

moments to review the charge slip before signing it (andcomputing the exchange rate to be sure you are charged the right

amount) can save you headaches later.

CUSTOMSTravelers to Malaysia do not have to pay customs duty on 200

cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g tobacco; 1 liter wine, spirits or malt

liquor; 100 matches; cosmetic products to the value of RM200; up

to three new items of clothing and one pair of footwear; one

portable electrical or battery-operated appliance for personal

hygiene; food preparations to the value of RM75; souvenirs andgifts to the value of RM200 (with the exception of goods from

Langkawi and Labuan, to the value of RM500). Prohibited items

include goods from South Africa and Israel, counterfeit money,

and illegal drugs.