Malaysia

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Malaysia

 

• Malaysia is a rich country in Southeast Asia. It presents such admirable high-tech infrastructure together with the evident signs of a developing nation.
• People in the country are multicultural. Half of the population is Malays but there are also Chinese, Indian and Portuguese.

The Life:

• There is no one word to describe life in Malaysia. Its multicultural society has made it unique in its own way. Malays comprise a little more than half of the population and the rest is divided into Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and more. This also means that there are various faiths and religions in the country.

Cost of Living:

• Malaysia is quite cheap but is more expensive when compared with its neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia.
• Fast food meals only cost $3.50 and sit down meals in a midrange restaurant are priced at $7 each person.
• Apartment rental costs are affordable as well. Typically, a one-bedroom apartment costs $160 to almost $300 while three-bedroom accommodations have approximately $370 to $630 price range.

Poker:

• There is one casino in Malaysia which offers a variety of poker games. Tournaments regularly take place in the country’s only casino. All other tournaments outside this casino are illegal. Online poker is not legal as well. The government has strict rules which all banks implement. Transactions from online poker are blocked by financial institutions.

Internet Access:

• Internet connection is very accessible in many cities and towns in the country. Most internet service providers offer unlimited broadband services at a reasonable price. Hotels, internet cafes as well as restaurants will most of the time have broadband Internet. US tourists can choose prepaid Internet cards which are readily available in various hot spots.

Weather:

• Located near the equator, the country is guaranteed to have a warm weather. However, these shining days are interfered by the rainy days which often take place in November and continue until February.

U.S. Visa/Entry Difficulty Level:

• US tourists can enter Malaysia without any visa and can stay in the country for three months. Those who wish to extend their stay can get another 2 months after the three-month visa expires.

Banking:

• Banks in Malaysia typically have trained personnel that handle international transactions. However, due to the many cases of fraud, US debit cards are no longer accepted in ATMs. This is an exclusive feature of Malaysia and is not the same with Thailand and Singapore.

Language:

• The only official language in the country is Malay. English is required in every school and is extensively spoken particularly in major cities.

Language Schools:

• US tourists may still be interested in learning Malay despite the country being English-speaking. There are free online courses or language schools that offer private tutorials for interested tourists.

Food:

• The country has a wide variety of cuisine ranging from the country’s very own Malay food. Chinese food and Indian food are also served in restaurants. But US tourists who want to experience real Malaysian food should try out its local specialties which are oftentimes known for intense use of spices.

Recreation:

• The rich culture of Malaysia is shown in its big celebrations of a variety of festivals and events. US tourists can join any of these celebrations as they are observed all throughout the year and are expected to be full of life, filled with exciting activities.
• National parks are breathtakingly beautiful in the country. They are great places to visit which could be part of the available tours.
• Other activities that US tourists can do in Malaysia include: scuba diving on the islands which are off the peninsular Malaysia, and whitewater rafting in national parks such as Jeram Besu and Kiulu River.

Safety:

• Although there are more crimes in Malaysia than in Singapore, it is still considered as a safe country. There are reports of attacks to tourists which should be a warning for US travelers not to be out before midnight. Pickpockets as well as snatchers are common in large cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang.