Things to know before traveling to Malaysia

The end of the year is coming soon. Do you want to take an overseas trip to reward yourself after working hard for a year? I strongly recommend an overseas trip to Malaysia, but before preparing to travel abroad, I’d better go with you first. Let’s learn about things you need to pay attention to when traveling to Malaysia.

Malaysia consists of Malaya in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula and Sarawak and Sabah in the northern part of Kalimantan. It has abundant sunshine and a pleasant climate. It has many high-quality beaches, unique islands, pristine tropical jungles, precious animals and plants, various caves, ancient folk customs, long historical and cultural relics, and modern cities.

The national flower of Malaysia is the hibiscus. In addition, there are a wide variety of orchids. In addition to artificial cultivation, the wild orchids growing in deep forest valleys and plateaus are even more precious. In the primeval forest, there are rare animals and birds that are on the verge of extinction, such as flying lemurs, long-limbed brown-haired giant apes, white rhinos, orangutans, etc. There are also many wild animals such as birds, snakes, crocodiles, and insects. For example, there are more than 2,000 species of butterflies in Malaysia, with bright colors, many of which are treasures. Orchids, giant apes and butterflies are known as the three treasures of Malaysia.

**Time Difference**

There is no time difference between Malaysia and China.

**Religion**

The Malaysian constitution guarantees religious freedom, but stipulates Sunni Islam (Islam) as the state religion. According to Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution, all Malays are recognized as Muslims who believe in Islam.

**Ethnicity**

Malays in Malaysia account for 55% of the total population, Chinese account for 24% of the total population, and indigenous people account for 11% of the total population. According to Malaysian law, Malays are Muslims who practice Malay customs and culture and have dominant political power.

**Travel Season**

Because Malaysia is located near the equator, it has a tropical rainforest ocean climate. There are no obvious four seasons, and the temperature difference during the year is extremely small. The average temperature is between 26 and 29°C, and rainfall is abundant throughout the year. October to December is the rainy season. Traveling in Malaysia is basically suitable all year round. Although it is hot during the day, there are showers in the afternoon and the monsoon wind blows very cool at night. Especially Penang in the north has a pleasant climate in the morning and evening, with constant cool breezes.

On the east coast of Malaysia and East Malaysia, the rainy season is from November to March, and it is very hot from April to May and October. You should try to avoid this period.

The average annual rainfall in West Malaysia is 2000-2500 mm, and in East Malaysia it is more than 3000 mm. June to July has the least rainfall, and August to September and October to December have the most rainfall.

But if there are business activities, it is best from March to November every year, because most Malaysian businessmen take vacation from December to February of the following year. It is not advisable to go during the week before and after Christmas and Easter, and you should also avoid the Muslim Ramadan and the Chinese New Year.

** Currency and Exchange**

Cash: The name of Malaysian currency is Malaysian Ringgit (Malaysia Ringgit), abbreviated as "RM", 1 Ringgit is equal to 100 cents (SEN) . The coins are 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents (called "1 jiao"), 20 cents (called "2 jiao"), and 50 cents (called "5 jiao"). The denominations of banknotes are divided into RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50 and RM100.

Credit cards and travellers’ checks: Larger shopping malls, hotels and restaurants all accept credit cards for payment, but roadside stalls and teahouses can only accept cash in Malaysian ringgit. There will be a certain exchange rate loss when using a dual-currency credit card, which is relatively less cost-effective than using cash.

Foreign currency: In most cases, foreign currency cannot be used directly. Foreign currencies can be exchanged for Malaysian Ringgit at banks or authorized exchange shops. When exchanging money locally, generally speaking, the exchange rates at airports and bank counters are the worst, while exchange shops located on the streets and in large department stores have better exchange rates. But be careful not to exchange at illegal exchange shops to avoid being scammed. Tip: 1 ringgit ≈ 1.5 yuan. The data is for reference only, and the transaction price at the bank or exchange shop counter shall prevail during transactions). Although it cannot be exchanged for Malaysian Ringgit in banks in China, it is very convenient to exchange RMB locally and the exchange rate is good. There is no need to purchase US dollars and other foreign currencies domestically in advance.

Consumption: Nearly a hundred merchants in Malaysia can accept UnionPay cards. The major cities that accept UnionPay cards include Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca, etc. Consumers holding UnionPay cards can also enjoy different discounts and benefits when purchasing in certain brand stores. When making purchases at UnionPay's authorized merchants, China UnionPay will directly convert Malaysian Ringgit into RMB without charging currency conversion fees, which is a slight advantage over other types of credit cards.

Withdraw cash: You can use UnionPay cards to withdraw cash from some bank ATMs. ATMs that accept UnionPay cards have the UnionPay logo on them. The maximum cash withdrawal amount is MYR 1,000. The bank to which the ATM machine belongs will charge a handling fee of MYR 12 for each transaction. The card issuing bank will also charge handling fees of varying amounts.

Experience: Among various channels, the ranking of cost-effectiveness is as follows:

First place: Bring RMB directly to exchange for Malaysian Ringgit at a street exchange shop, but only 100 yuan banknotes are accepted.

Second place: UnionPay credit card swiping for consumption, but there are not many merchants with the UnionPay logo, so it is relatively limited.

Third place: Withdraw money from UnionPay debit card ATMs. ATMs that accept UnionPay cards have logos and Chinese interfaces. However, a handling fee of MYR 12 is charged for each transaction, and the card issuing bank also charges a handling fee. The upper limit for each withdrawal is MYR 1,000.

Fourth place: Other dual-currency credit card purchases are more widely used than UnionPay credit cards, but there will be some exchange rate loss during the currency conversion process.

Fifth place: Exchange at the airport or bank counter. This is the most uneconomical.

**Tipping**

Tipping is not common in Malaysia. Because in hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is already added to the bill, there is no need to tip; if the bill indicates that an additional service charge (ServiceCharge) is required, you need to pay about 10% service charge. Tourists You can give appropriate tips to hotel waiters and luggage porters to express your gratitude for their excellent service.

**Communication/Internet access**

Mobile phone roaming charges for global mobile phone roaming are: 1.99/text for domestic text messages; 12.99/minute for long distance; 4.99/minute for local area; 0.02-0.05 for data traffic /KB

There are three major mobile communication companies in Malaysia for Internet cards, Celcom, Digitel and Maxis. They are all G network or WCDMA type 3G network. There is no 2F-CDMA and TD-SCDMA network. It is recommended to use G network when choosing a mobile phone. Mainly online. CELCOM, (RM10 includes RM5 phone bill), can open an unlimited 3G package for RM18 for one week. However, for CELCOM’s 3G, you need to call the operator to activate the 3G and Internet packages. Domestic calls are 0.28RM/minute (mobile phone); 0.9/RM (landline) DIGI, (RM8.5 including RM4 call fee), yellow duck logo, you can go to 7-11 supermarket to buy a recharge card for recharge. To dial directly dial 0086+phone number.

WIFI limited traffic packages and unlimited traffic packages are available, supporting 5 devices to connect to the Internet at the same time. The cost is about 50 yuan/day, and the prices of different packages are slightly different. CELCOM card: quite famous and the most commonly used card; DIGI card: the cheapest, but it is more troublesome to activate.

**Domestic Transportation**

Train

There are two main railway lines in Malaysia: the West Coast Line and the East Coast Line, each with some branch lines, such as Kuala Lumpur ——Dingsheng Port branch line, urban residents often take this line to go to the seaside on weekends. There are also branch lines between Kuala Lumpur - Port Klang, Kuala Lumpur - Stone Cave, Taba Road - Anson Beach, and there are very few passengers on the branch line trains. In East Malaysia, the Sabah Railway connecting Kota Kinabalu-Papar-Tenong has a total length of 154 kilometers. This railway was originally built to transport Tainong's natural rubber to the port. Now there are two trains on this line every day, pulled by diesel locomotives. The speed is slow, but it allows people to fully appreciate the nostalgia of train travel. Visiting those unknown towns along the only railway on the island of Borneo is indeed a romantic trip.

West coastline: from Johor Bahru on the Singapore-Malaysia border to the Great Plains on the Malaysia-Thailand border, a total length of 950 kilometers. It connects the capital Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Ipoh and other major cities. It is the transportation artery of Malaysia. It is also an international route connecting Bangkok and Singapore from north to south (international express train runs once a day). There are particularly many passengers taking this line. Along the line there are bustling towns, vast paddy fields, rubber plantations and tropical jungles, and the scenery is ever-changing.

East coastline: There is a town called Gemas between the interior of the Malay Peninsula and Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, where the east and west coastlines diverge. The east coastline runs all the way to Tong Dam on the outskirts of Kota Bharu, with a total length of 528 kilometers. It takes about 9 hours to get from Tongba to Jimas, and there are only two direct trains every day. Most of the stations along the way are unknown places, so tourists rarely take the East Coast Line, and most of the passengers are local farmers.

Train types: There are many types of trains on the Xihai Line. Foreign tourists often take the Sinaram Express or the Rakyat Express. The two express trains run between Singapore - Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur - Butterworth. The advantage is that it is fast and convenient, but the disadvantage is that there are very few stops. If you want to go from Beihai to Bangkok, you should change to the International Express. If tourists want to visit some small cities leisurely, they can take a local train. Train seats are divided into classes 1, 2, and 3. Class 1 and class 2 are reserved seats, and class 3 is an uncoded hard-seat train. West Coast hard-seat buses can sometimes be crowded. The night train has a sleeper carriage. The sleeper berths are divided into 1st and 2nd class with upper and lower berths. The lower berth is slightly more expensive.

Passenger Railway Pass: A passenger railway pass issued by the Malaysian National Railways to foreign passengers. With a pass, you can take any state-owned trains. There are two types of passes, valid for 10 days for US$55 and for 30 days for US$120. Tourists can choose from different classes of trains, but sleeper tickets are not included.

For sale at stations such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Johor Bahru, Butterworth, Port Klang, Great Plains, Red Beach, and Wakabaru.

Long-distance buses

Bus stations are generally located in the city center and are easy to find. Some big cities have several bus stations. There are ticket offices of various car companies on the station, where driving directions, fares, and departure times are indicated. Bus stations generally have waiting rooms, restaurants, shops, and sometimes luggage storage rooms. There are often several bus companies competing on the same route, and the equipment and fares of various vehicles are also different. The cheapest ones are non-air-conditioned buses, which are good for traveling to the suburbs. Although air-conditioned buses are expensive, the seats are comfortable and suitable for long-distance travel. When buying a ticket, state your destination and departure time to the conductor. Except during busy traffic times such as holidays, you can generally buy same-day tickets. However, to be on the safe side, you should know clearly about the car conditions to the next destination every time you visit a city, and it is best to buy tickets in advance. In addition to buying tickets at the station, you can also buy tickets at travel agencies, some restaurants, and guest houses. The departure train usually leaves on time, so it’s best to depart early in the morning. You will have to check your ticket several times on the way, so be sure to keep your ticket. Tourists can wave to passing cars on the road and buy tickets after getting on the bus.

Car rental

Car rental regulations: When renting a car or motorcycle in Malaysia, an international driving permit is required, and the age of the driver must be between 21 and 60 years old. Some car rental companies require you to be over 23 years old, and some require you to have a driving license for more than one year.

Traffic rules: Malaysian vehicles all drive on the left and seat belts must be fastened. Malaysians generally abide by traffic rules, but sometimes there are motorcycles running wildly, or animals running onto the road, so be careful when driving.

Motorcycle: It is very economical to rent a motorcycle to travel around in Penang or Langkawi. You must wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle. Although the road is good, it is very dangerous to go too fast. Sand is often accumulated on the road along the coast, causing the wheels to slip. This should also be noted.

**Inner City Transportation**

Buses

Some cities have small buses, and the routes they take are the same as ordinary buses. Cars are the same and can sometimes be used as shared taxis.

Taxi

There are two types of taxis in Malaysia: short-distance taxis and long-distance taxis in the city. There is a sign on the roof of the car that reads "TEKSI" or "KERETA SEWA".

Taxi stations: Generally in the city center, close to the bus station. In general, urban taxis and long-distance taxis use the same station, while some big cities have separate stations. The fare schedule for each vehicle is posted at the station information desk. Tell the staff where you want to go and he will direct you which car to take.

Taking a taxi on the street: explain your destination first and agree on the price before getting in the taxi. Regarding the charging standards, you can first ask at the tourist bureau or hotel.

Shared taxi: Although the fare is slightly more expensive than a bus, it can set off with four passengers. The speed is faster than buses and buses, and it can be delivered to the hotel all the way. If passengers are in a hurry and there are less than 4 people, they can pay more to have the driver leave early.

Taking a taxi at the airport: Generally, there are taxi counters in the airport. Explain the destination to the staff, and after paying according to the distance, you can get two passes. Give one to the driver and keep one to yourself.

Short-distance taxis: Metered taxis are available in cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. If there is no agreed price, you should ask for a meter when taking the bus. If you want to charter a car to visit several scenic spots, you must specify in advance "how long it will take, where you will go, how much the total fare will be, or how much per person" and other conditions. It’s clearer to write your destination down on paper.

Long-distance taxis: travel between various cities, and some can even cross national borders. In cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, the stops and body colors of long-distance taxis are different from those of local taxis.

Human-powered tricycles

Human-powered tricycles still exist in cities such as Penang, Malacca and Kota Kinabalu. They are a convenient and interesting means of transportation. It can navigate small alleys very flexibly and has a wide field of view when the hood is folded.

If you negotiate the price with the driver in English, it is often difficult to tell the difference between 15 and 50. It is best to say the numbers between 13 and 19 as ONETHREE~ONENINE, and you will not go wrong.

Others

Ferries run regularly between the Malay Peninsula and the famous islands of Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor and Tioman. There are also ferries from Zhangyi Pier in Singapore to Tanjung Belunkor in Desaru, Johor. It is important to note that there are no ferry connections between the Malay Peninsula and Malaysian Borneo, only flights can enter and exit.

**Food Quick Facts**

Malaysia is a world-famous food paradise. Here, you can taste food from all over the world, such as Chinese food, Indian food and Portuguese food. Specialties can be found everywhere, and the dazzling array of delicacies will make you salivate and make you want to stop.

When traveling to Malaysia, it is natural to taste authentic Malay dishes and snacks from various places. The staple food of the Malays is mainly rice and mulberry cake, and then add vegetables, onions, garlic, ginger, spices, Small dried fish, etc., is a relatively hearty meal. Malay cuisine mainly uses beef, chicken and fish as the main ingredients, and is cooked with peppers and onions. The taste is spicy, and the cooking methods in different regions are also slightly different. Famous Malaysian home-cooked delicacies include satay, sour prawns, nasi lemak, rojak, spicy and sour fish, etc. Their unique taste has also won the favor of tourists.

Nyonya cuisine

"Nyonya" originally refers to the offspring of Chinese and Malay marriages, especially women, and later evolved to refer to Chinese and Malay people in general. The integrated culture also includes food, so you can also eat a lot of Nyonya dishes in Malaysia, such as sweet sauce pork trotters, fried pork slices, bamboo shoots stewed pork, etc. Those who like desserts can also find a close friend in Nyonya cuisine. Nyonya cakes made from coconut milk, pandan leaves, glutinous rice and sugar are moderately sweet and chewy.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur

Tiger prawns

The sweet and elastic tiger prawns are truly the king of shrimps and are popular among diners who love seafood. If you don’t eat tiger prawns, you won’t eat Sabah’s delicacies. Tiger shrimps are so named because of their large size and stripes. Friends who love seafood should not miss it.

Related destinations: Sabah, Kota Kinabalu

Seafood

It is most famous for its rich-flavored seafood. The seafood production is second to none in the world and the seafood is very abundant. There are a wide variety of fish, shrimps, shellfish and crabs, which are big, plump and fresh. You must have a seafood feast when you come here.

Related destinations: Langkawi

Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh is a popular Singaporean breakfast or late-night snack. The soup is made from pork bones, added with special spices and soy sauce, and served with a small dish of red pepper soaked in the sauce.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu

Satay

This is beef or chicken braised with seasonings, grilled and served with Sauce, served with cucumbers, onions and special Malay rice balls. The taste is fragrant but not greasy, and everyone who has eaten it is attracted by its rich aroma.

Related destinations: Langkawi, Sabah

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice is known as Singapore’s national rice. It tastes quite delicious and is Singapore’s national rice. One of the specialties. Each family has its own way of making Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore, but generally speaking, there won’t be much difference. As long as the chicken tastes smooth and tender, the rice tastes fresh and chewy, and the chili sauce is spicy enough and has a strong flavor. Soy sauce is slightly sweet and fragrant. It basically counts as a success. A set of Singaporean Hainanese chicken rice contains eight ingredients including white chopped chicken, rice, chicken broth, chili sauce, ginger sauce, sweet soy sauce, green onion sauce, and asparagus. Yazha is an appetizer, mainly used to remove greasiness. Usually when eating chicken rice, it will be served with it.

Related destinations: Kota Kinabalu

Cendol

Cendol, also translated as Cendol and Crystal Dew, is a traditional dessert in Java, Indonesia. , also popular in Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand. First, he quickly scooped out a large bowl of ice cream, put the long-grained red beans and brown sugar that had been cooked thoroughly, then put a green rice flour mixed with mung bean flour, and finally poured a spoonful of milky white coconut milk on it.

Related destinations: Penang

Nasi lemak

Nasi lemak is rice with coconut milk, served with dried small fish, boiled Eggs, roasted peanuts and shredded cucumbers are a popular breakfast dish.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur

Beef offal

Beef offal is beef, tripe, beef tendon, beef tongue and other edible parts of the cow. The parts are mixed together like assorted pieces. The beef noodle here is usually served as beef noodle soup. There are many places in Kota Kinabalu where you can eat authentic beef noodles.

Related destinations: Sabah

Pizza

Pizza is similar to a large spring roll, with a thin skin filled with fillings. The "stuffing" inside includes shrimp, minced meat, radish, bean sprouts, tofu, lettuce, etc. It is cooked first, and then sauce is added to the pancake skin. You can choose spicy or non-spicy flavors. The chili sauce is very spicy but very fragrant. If it is not spicy, it will be a sweet sauce. Finally, roll up the pancake skin and cut it into several sections.

Related destinations: Penang

Laksa

Laksa is a typical "Nonya" - Peranakan dish. The soup is mainly based on coconut milk, spices and chili. It is fragrant and spicy. It is served with thick rice noodles, shrimps and clams. It is one of Singapore's specialties.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur, Penang

Crabs

If you go in winter, it will be the season to eat crabs.

Make a hole in the crab shell, use chopsticks to push it in, and the crab meat will be pushed out. It is much simpler than "eight pieces of crab" and you can eat sweet crab meat easily!

< p> Related destinations: Kota Kinabalu

White coffee

White coffee is a specialty of Malaysia with a history of more than 100 years. White coffee does not mean that the color of the coffee is white, but it uses special Liberica, Arabica and Robusta coffee beans and special skim creamer raw materials. After medium-light low-temperature roasting and special processing, a large amount of caffeine is removed, and high-temperature carbon is removed. The burnt bitterness and sourness produced by roasting minimize the bitterness, sourness and caffeine content of coffee. No additives are added to enhance the taste. The glycol aroma does not harm the stomach and intestines. The original color and aroma of coffee are retained, and the color is brighter than ordinary coffee. The coffee is lighter and softer, has a light milky golden color, and has a pure taste, so it is named white coffee.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi

Satay

The most representative dish in Malaysia is called "Satay" . Satay is beef, mutton, chicken, shrimp, etc. skewered on bamboo skewers and grilled over charcoal fire. It is dipped in sweet and spicy peanut sauce when eaten. This famous dish can be found in any restaurant. But eating this dish in a restaurant is not as good as going to an outdoor food stall or food market at night. It is economical and more interesting, because there you can see with your own eyes how the store prepares this famous dish that almost everyone loves.

Related destinations: Kuala Lumpur