TRAVEL GUIDE 2017

MALAYSIA

1 Do I need a visa? Most nationalities don’t need a visa to enter Malaysia for up to three months. However, citizens of China, India and Taiwan must obtain a visa prior to entry. How long will it take me to get there? 1 hour (Kuala Lumpur) or 2.5 hours (Kota Kinabalu) flying time from Singapore. Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of GMT, the same as Singapore. What’s the money situation? The official currency of Malaysia is the Malaysian ringgit (RM). Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs available in most places. October to February due to the monsoon weather. The west coast, including Langkawi, Penang and Melaka, receives the most rain from July to mid-September. Malaysian Borneo has a typical equatorial climate. Most rainfall occurs between November and January, while the dry season runs from May to September. What’s the lingo? The official language is Bahasa Malaysia (Malay or Bahasa Melayu). English, Cantonese and Tamil are also spoken. 2 3 4 When’s the best time to visit? Many resorts on the peninsular east coast close from 5

FACT FILE

• The Sarawak Chamber, in

Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, is the world’s largest underground cave. • Sabah is home to the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. • The longest king cobra in the world, measuring 5.54 metres, was

Here are some phrases to get you started: Hello/Good morning Hello/Selamat pagi What is your name? Apaka nama anda? My name is __ Nama saya __ How much? Berapa banyak Thank you Terima kasih Yes Ya No, thank you Tidak terima kasih

captured alive in Port Dickson in April 1937

but later grew to 5.71 metres in captivity in London Zoo. • Penang Free School is the oldest English school in

6 Is there anything I should know about meeting the locals? Handshakes are the most common form of greeting. They are usually gentle and not too prolonged. You should wait for a Malaysian woman to initiate a handshake. What’s a must-try dish? Sure, they’re readily available in Singapore, but you still shouldn’t miss Malaysian satay (served with peanut sauce and ketupat rice cakes) or a plate of nasi lemak , rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves, usually eaten with fried anchovies, cucumber slices, roasted peanuts, hard-boiled egg and sambal chilli paste. 7

Southeast Asia, founded by the Reverend Sparke Hutchings in 1816. • Malaysia’s national drink is teh tarik (pulled tea). • Malaysia is the birth country of

world famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo.

What should I buy as a souvenir? Some Royal Selangor pewter.

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