Travel Tip to Malaysia

People live with different way in different places. It is always best to check these little differences so that you can adapt yourself comfortably in other's country. Here are some tips for those who are going to visit Malaysia. 
1.  You cannot avoid greeting with locals during travel. In Malaysia, here are how we greet:

• Muslim - both hands stretch out to 90 degree from arm with both palms overlap with other side's palms, then pull both palms back to chest. 
• Chinese - shake hands.
• Hindu - bring both palms together as in prayer at mid-chest level

     *For women, greeting involving touch of body is often avoided with men. You can just smile and nod.
2.  Preferable dress in Malaysia are those casual and light in cities. Modern wear is acceptable in cities of Malaysia. However, if you are visiting small villages, it is best to wear clothes that covers your chest, arm, and legs. When visiting mosque (Muslim worship place), remember to cover your whole body including head. At beaches, do not ever think of topless sunbathing. You do not want to spoil your trip just because of clothing problem right? 
3.  If you are visiting some locals house, it is always polite to remove your shoes and leave it at the front door.
4.  There will be at least one electrical appliances that you bring along isn't it? Malaysia's common plug is those with 2 parallel flat pin and 1 ground pin. Check if yours can fit into this plug, if not, bring one adapter or get it from local market or convenient store. Malaysia voltage is 240 volts, 50Hz for your information.
5.  Time zone of Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Don't be surprised to know that Thailand is 1 hour behind Malaysia even though we are just below them. This is because West Malaysia time is set to follow East Malaysia time, so time is the same in whole Malaysia.
6.  Temperature fluctuation is small in Malaysia, 20 to 36 degree Celsius is recorded throughout the year. Malaysia is falling into the equator region, we do not have 4 seasons. What we have are just rain season and hot season. During rain season, almost everyday is raining. In the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, rain season is from October to November and April to May while in East Coast and East Malaysia, raindrops come often at November to January. So, plan your trip to avoid rain season if you would like to visit the beaches. 
7.  Malaysia is one of the best shopping spot in the world with unbelievable low price especially during grand sales season. You can enjoy shopping from day to night. Shopping malls open from 10am to 10pm.
8.  Office hour in Malaysia is normally 9am to 6pm for most private firms. Government office operates from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Saturday is half day working day while Sunday is off day. Not every Saturday is a working day, public service and bank will be close on the 1st and 3rd Saturday every month. This is true for all states except Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah. In these 3 states, working day is from Saturday to Wednesday while Thursday is half day working day and Friday is off day. 
9.  Well, we have to admit that crime level is still high in Malaysia especially in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. So, keep an eye on your belongings all the time. Pick-pocket and snatch-and-run is common in big cities. Hope that you do not meet with them in Malaysia.
10.  Most of the public toilets charge a small amount of money to use it. It is normally between RM0.20 to RM2.00. Prepare some small change as you will need it to use the toilet. 
11.  Land transport is your main transportation choice to travel around cities or inter-cities. Remember few traffic rules listed below, otherwise prepared to be summoned or you have to bribe the officer (only applicable for some light offense):

• It is compulsory to fasten seatbelt no matter you are the driver, front passenger or back passenger. You can be fined for up to RM2,000 for not doing that. 
• It is illegal to use your cell phone during driving. Only answering call using hand-free kit is allowed during driving. 
• Remember do not drink alcoholic beverages if you want to drive, do not drive if you drink them. This is a serious offense. 
• If there is accident happen to you, report to police within 24 hours. 
• Keep alert when walking on road, motorist often make wrong turns to avoid traffic jam.

12.  Normally Malaysian is not used to a tipping lifestyle as most of the hotels and restaurant has already charged 10% of service charges to your bills. 

13.  If you would like to make a call to local number, you can do it with any of the public phone using coins or card. International calls can be made from phone booth with card phone facilities or at any Telecom office.