Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO MALAYSIA

CAPITAL
Kuala Lumpur

LANGUAGE
Bahasa Melayu is the official language of Malaysia. Cantonese, English and Hindi are also very common.

RELIGION
The majority of the population are Muslim. Other practiced religions include Hinduism & Buddhism.

ELECTRICITY
240 volts AC, 50Hz. British-style plugs with three square pins are used.

LOCAL TIME
The standard time for Malaysia is calculated from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Time (MYT) is 8 hours ahead of GMT.

PASSPORT & VISA
A valid passport is required by all nationalities. Most nationalities do not require a Malaysian visa as a 30 day entry permit will be granted on arrival at the border or at the airport. However we recommend that you check the rules for your nationality with your local Malyasian Embassy or Consulate.

LOCAL CURRENCY
Ringgit (MYR; symbol RM) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of RM100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. The Ringgit is often referred to as the Malaysian Dollar. XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM
Bank and currency exchange centres are everywhere in Malaysian cities and towns. Larger hotels will also exchange cash and travelers cheques. Credit Card advances are possible at banks. There are lots of ATM’s however there are reports of ATM fraud especially in Kuala Lumpur. You should always keep your PIN secret when using the ATM and be aware of any odd cables or devices attached to the front of the machine. Credit Cards can be used in larger restaurants (in cities) and for purchases in stores.

CLOTHING
As a general guideline clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard wearing and easily washed. Malaysia has a tropical climate and therefore the weather is generally warm to hot all year round. However the Cameron Highlands can be cooler all year round and in particular between December and March. You should bear in mind that Malaysia has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote areas. Women, and also to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women. The issue is not nearly of such importance in ‘touristy’ areas, such as the coastal areas and beaches, where you can be just about as casual as you like. Make sure you bring lots of clothing that covers shoulders and knees and also at least one outfit which covers your legs to ankles and your arms past the elbows. A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs). In certain areas and religious sites your guide may ask you to dress conservatively. Out of respect for local values, we ask that you follow their advice at all times. Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in very hot countries, night-time and early morning temperatures can be extremely cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. A fleece can be invaluable.

COMMUNICATION

Telephone:
International calls can be made from public telephones or at any office of Malaysia Telekom Berhad, the national phone company (www.tm.com.my). Public phones can be found in many areas, such as supermarkets, shopping centres and post offices, and most use coins or pre-paid cards, which can be purchased at petrol stations and convenience stores

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies and network coverage is good in most areas of Peninsular Malaysia, and in larger cities in East Malaysia. Signals are less reliable in the highlands and vanish entirely in rural areas of Borneo. Malaysia has GSM 900/1800 and 3G mobile networks, and pre-paid SIM cards can be purchased locally for unlocked mobile phones. If your phone is locked to a network, cheap handsets are widely available.

Internet:
Internet cafés are found everywhere and most chain coffee shops and shopping centres offer Wi-Fi connections. Larger hotels offer in-room internet access and Wi-Fi access in the lobby.

WEATHER & CLIMATE
Malaysia has a typically tropical climate. It is hot and humid ALL year round and experience frequent bursts of heavy rain - although generally this never lasts all day. During the monsoon (Nov – Feb) it may rain more and longer than usual. Humidity tends to remain at around 90%. The hill-station areas like the Cameron Highlands are always a pleasant respite from the heat and humidity and can even become quite cold during December to March.

Peninsula Malaysia: (approx)

FOOD
Malaysia is not just a melting pot, it is a cooking pot, blending culinary influences from as far away as Europe, China and India. The national cuisine shares obvious similarities with Thai and Indonesian food, but Malaysian cooking has its own unique specialities, based on exotic spices, chilli, ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves, coconut milk and peanuts.
The Indian and Chinese communities have their own traditions – be sure to sample mamak cuisine, imported to Malaysia by Tamil Muslims. Traditionally served at street stalls, mamak dishes can be sampled at nasi kendar (rice and curry) canteens across the country. Western food is popular with younger Malaysians, and Thai and Korean restaurants are found in most parts of the country.
Restaurants offer table service - Chinese food is usually eaten with chopsticks, while Indian and Malay food is eaten with the fingers or with Western cutlery. Although Malaysia is predominantly Islamic, bars and restaurants in larger cities serve beer, wine and spirits. In tribal areas of Borneo, look out for tuak – traditional rice wine.

Specialties:

• Nasi lemak (rice steamed with coconut milk, served with dried anchovies, sambal, peanuts and eggs) is the national dish, found absolutely everywhere.
• Char Kway Teow (a dish of fried rice noodles with meat or fish) is a very popular and cheap quick meal.
• Nasi goreng (Malay-style fried rice) is a favourite at street stalls and night markets; it’s a popular takeaway for long bus journeys.
• Roti canai (fried flat bread with curry sauce) a delicious and cheap snack served everywhere, best washed down with a strong cup of teh tarik (literally, ‘pulled’ tea).
• Rendang daging (slow-cooked beef with lemongrass and coconut) is a rich and satisfying main course, often served at festivals.

Table service is normal, and chopsticks are customary in Chinese restaurants. Indian and Malay food is traditionally eaten with the fingers, but western cutlery is generally used. Set lunches, usually with four courses, are excellent value for money.

Tipping:
10% service charge and 5% government tax are usually included in bills, and added to the menu prices.

Regional drinks:
Locally brewed beers such as Tiger and Anchor.
The famous Singapore gin sling.
Sugar cane juice.

MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 1
• Light meal - $US 2- 8
• Fancy restaurant - $US 12-20

DRINKS
Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water - $US 0.12
• 30cl bottle of soft drink - $US 0.20
• 60cl bottle of local beer - $US 1.50

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information. Health and travel insurance is highly recommended.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.