Travel

Malaysia

Malaysia’s reputation as a benign country makes some people think that it’s going to be boring. It’s true, pushy touts are rare, natural disasters only seem to happen across the border and the multi-ethnic population gets along well.
THE Malaysian Government welcomes foreign nationals (except citizens of Israel, Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro) to stay in Malaysia on a long term Social Visit Pass under the “MALAYSIA – MY SECOND HOME” programme. The duration of stay is for a period of 10 years with a Multiple Entry Visa. This programme allows foreigners to purchase up to two units of residential premises costing more than RM150,000 (approximately US$42,000) each. However, it does not entitle participants of the programme to permanent resident status.

Malaysi accommodation
Malaysia is the best way to experience South East Asia. It is an amalgam of the various Asian identities like Chinese, Indian and Malayan, and presents a happy blend of their customs and cultures. The people are warm, accepting and welcoming. The tourist infrastructure is well developed with a large number of Malaysia hotels and accommodation choices available,Malaysia Travel Plan offers Malaysia accommodation options that radiate the atmosphere and charm of the travel destination you’re visiting. For the larger cities we selected Malaysia accommodation based on a combination of comfort and location. In Cherating for instance, you’ll stay in your own chalet at a charming guest house. Whenever possible during your visits to tropical islands you’ll spend the night in a cabin on or near the beach. While you’re in the tropical rainforest of Taman Negara you’ll spend the night in a cosy wooden chalet and during our treks straight through the jungle, you’ll sleep close to nature in lightweight double occupancy tents. you personally truly enjoy staying at the home of a local. You can choose to either experience the authentic kampung life in a small fishing village or you can stay in a somewhat more comfortable home.
Places to visit  in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: More than any other spot in the country, Kuala Lumpur, or “KL” as it is commonly known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. While the city’s past is still present in the evocative British colonial buildings of the Dataran Merdeka and the midnight lamps of the Petaling Street nightmarket, that past is everywhere met with insistent reminders of KL’s present and future.
Kedah: Kedah has the distinction of being the “Rice-bowl of Malaysia” - a term that takes on aesthetic significance when one sees the rice fields for themselves: the flat expanse of padis against a backdrop of rolling hills provides a picture of utter serenity that lulls the senses.
Johor: Johor possesses a wide range of attractions, from the exciting metropolitan atmosphere of Johor Bahru to the forests of Endau-Rompin Park. The village of Desaru and the remote and beautiful islands in the South China Sea are favored by vacationers seeking a relaxed and natural holiday environment, while the state’s commercial centres attract businessmen from all over the world.
Perak: Perak is a state that is defined by the course of its namesake river. Perak’s population is about two million. Until the nineteenth century, Perak’s people were concentrated along the Perak River, and the chief city was riverside Kuala Kangsar.
Sabah : Sabah is a state in Malaysia which is situated in the northern region of the Borneo Island. Towards the south-west of Sabah lies the Sarawak state of Malaysia while towards its south is the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia.
Melaka: Melaka, formerly known as Malacca, is the one of the smallest states of Malaysia.Melaka enjoys a tropical climate. The temperature is warm and humid throughout the year, although it gets cooler in the evenings. The annual precipitation is spread across the year with irregular showers.
Located in the region of the Malay Peninsula, it houses a population of about 700,000 inhabitants. The city is has developed into a commercial and economic centre, yet it has retained its pleasant charm.
George Town: George Town (known as Tanjung in the Malay language) is the capital city of the Malaysian State of Penang.The city has been listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008 due to its unique architectural and cultural tracts.George Town is today a vibrant city with about 220,000 inhabitants.

Transportation in Malaysia
Malaysia is served by a great transportation system that offers visitors a vast variety of options to both reach and get around the country, even in the most remote areas. Kuala Lumpur is naturally the transportation hub, acting as the launching pad for many travellers looking to explore the remote areas of Malaysia.
Getting Around Malaysia
Driving
The roads in Malaysia are among the finest in Asia. It is indeed a pleasurable experience to explore Malaysia by cruising along its highways, drinking in the scenic beauty and absorbing the local flavour as you drive through its olde world villages. Most of the well known car rental agencies have their establishments in Malaysia making it quite easy to hire a car in Malaysia.
By Bus and Taxi
The best way to get around Malaysia is by bus. The bus network here is extensive, economical, and quick and reliable. There are both express air-conditioned and regional non air-conditioned buses plying from Kuala Lumpur to the numerous towns in Peninsular Malaysia. The frequency of each route depends upon the destination, but all buses ply from six in the morning to midnight. Bus tariffs depend on the distances covered, but the minibuses charge a flat rate of 60 sen to any point on their route.
By Train
Trains in Malaysia are operated by the KTM or Keretapi Tanah Melavu. They are air-conditioned with berths for overnight trips, and are safe and relatively less expensive. The arterial lines stretch from Thailand in the north towards Singapore in the south, and from Gemas (Negeri Sembilan) to Kota Bharu on the east coast. If you love trains, do not miss the journey from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom through the beautiful rainforests.

Malaysian food
Malaysia has many kinds of restaurants almost everywhere in the cities and towns. There are Malay Restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Indian Restaurants, Thai Restaurants and more. Eating out in Malaysia is a real gastronomic adventure. There is such a great variety; spicy Malay Food, a seemingly endless variety of Chinese food, exotic cuisine from North and South India, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese Food. Popular Malaysian dishes include satay, nasi lemak, rendang, roti canai, murtabak, laksa, chicken rice, and fried noodles. Western cuisine is also easily available. In addition, international fast food chains operate in major towns side by side with thousands of road side stalls and food bazaars.
Variety is the spice in Malay food. The traditional culinary style has been greatly influenced by the long-ago traders from neighboring countries, such as Indonesia, India, the Middle East, and China. Malay food is often described as spicy and flavorful as it utilizes a melting pot of spices and herbs.Malay cooking incorporates ingredients such as lemon grass, pandan (screwpine) leaves, and kaffir lime leaves. Fresh herbs, such as daun kemangi (a type of basil), daun kesum (polygonum or laksa leaf), nutmeg, kunyit (turmeric) and bunga kantan (wild ginger buds) are often used. Traditional spices such as cumin and coriander are used in conjunction with Indian and Chinese spices such as pepper, cardamom, star anise and fenugreek.
Rice is the staple diet in any Malay meal. It is often served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper too. Most meals are eaten by using your fingers, and eating utensils are kept to a minimum. All dishes are served at the same time, accompanied by a refreshing drink. Fish is popular in Malay cooking, as with other seafood such as shrimps and cuttlefish. Beef and mutton are very popular choices but never pork as it is against their religious beliefs to eat pork. The other popular white meat is chicken.

Shopping in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the most sought after tourist destinations of Southeast Asia preferred by tourists from all across the world. With a crowd of friendly, warm and hospitable people including Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Portuguese, Malaysia is a harmonious country in the Asian continent. Malaysia is also the place to be in for those who love to shop. Anyone who visits this country comes back with a bag full of variety products. Shopping is something, which is enjoyed by every traveler in Malaysia.
The cost of goods in Malaysia is relatively low once you convert foreign currencies like US dollars, Euros and Sterling Pounds to Ringgit Malaysia (RM), so you can be assured your tourist dollar will stretch pretty far.
Duty-free zones and shops offer shoppers a more exciting experience. Pulau Langkawi and Labuan are among Malaysia’s renowned duty-free locations while duty-free shops can be found in most airports and selected major towns.