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Malaysia
About Malaysia: The Federation of Malaysia comprises of - Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. To the North of Peninsular Malaysia is Thailand while it's southern neighbour is Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak are bounded by Indonesia while Sarawak also shares a border with Brunei. The national capital is Kuala Lumpur.
People & Culture: Malays who make about 57% of the population are the predominant group with Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups making up the rest. The official language is Malay but English is widely spoken. Islam is the official religion but all other religions are practiced freely. The country's interesting cultural diversity can be largely attributed to the country's long and on-going interaction with the outside world and colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British.
Passport / Visa : Visitors to Malaysia must hold a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period. Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits.
Getting around: Taxis in major cities are
usually fitted with meters. The rates are currently at RM2 for the first
two kilometres and 10 sen for every subsequent 200 metres. However,
there’s a surcharge of 50% levied between midnight and 6am. Various
transportation modes are available for travel within the city as well as
to the suburbs. Some taxi drivers may not use meters. In such case while
taking a taxi ask how much before getting in the cab - and haggle. Don't
be afraid to say NO and wait for the next one (it will NOT be a long
wait). Sit in the front seat and be aware of where you want to go (It's
fairly easy to see the general layout of the city in your head with the
towers in the skyline) There are a lot of 1-way streets so sometimes it
seems they are going the long way, but they are legitimately trying to get
you on the right side of the street.
Time Zone : Malaysian Time: US PST : +16hrs GMT: + 8hrs IST: +2.30
Payphone Services: Local calls can be made from public phones, whether coin or card operated.
International calls can be made
from phone booths with card phone
facilities or at any Telecom
offices. Most hotels are equipped
with IDD services with a minimal
service charge. Climate: Malaysia enjoys tropical climate with warm and balmy weather all year round. Temperatures range from 21C to 32C. Annual rainfall varies from 2000mm to 2500mm. Humidity level is at an average of 80% throughout the year. Generally, Malaysia has two distinct seasons. The dry season occurs during the southwest monsoon from May to September. The northeast monsoon which blows from mid November till March brings the rainy season to the country.
Shopping Tips: Starhill Plaza - Adjacent to
JW Marriot Hotel, an old shopping center with 6 floors of retail outlets,
featuring Tangs Department Store.
Do's and Don'ts: When visiting Malaysia, the visitor should observe local customs and practices. Some common courtesies and customs are as follows:
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Visitors can buy batik (colourful fabric
with classic motifs and patterns, in dress lengths or finished articles
like shirts, ties, beach hats, ladies wear, table - cloth and table mats).
Kain Songket (cotton material with gold or silver thread embroidered
motifs) , Kelantan silverware (filigree design) and pewter made of 97%
Malaysia refined tin blended with antimony and copper. Mengkuang products
are also one of the best mementos. Colourful mats, table mats, hats and
bags are woven from mengkuang leaves to produce lovely gifts. Duty free
items such as cosmetics, perfumes, liquor, cigarettes, chocolates,
cameras, watches, pens, lighters and leather goods can make good choices.
These items can be bought at Kuala Lumpur Craft Cultural Complex, Central
Market, Petaling Street, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Bintang Walk. Duty
free items are commonly found at shopping complexes, department stores and
shopping arcades that promise variety, value and convenience to visitors.
For those who wish to do last minute shopping, KLIA also has superb duty -
free shopping. Tropikul (combination of the words "tropical" and "KUL",
the international code for Kuala Lumpur), sells almost everything from
high-end fashion to electronics and chocolate.