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Malaysia
Summary: Malaysia and its islands, located in southeastern Asia south of Vietnam, began to be colonized by Great Britain in the late 18th century and gained independence in 1957. Mostly coastal plains rising to central hills and mountains, Malaysia has a developing economy that has grown into a stronger multi-sector economy because of a relatively small external debt and good external investments.
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Time Zone: UTC + 8
Population: 25,274,132
Languages: Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai, Iban and Kad
Power: 240 V, 50 Hz
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
- Currently 1 MYR = 0.3309 USD $
Climate: Malaysia has a tropical climate with seasonal monsoons in the northeast from October to February, and southwest from April to October.
- Currently 91º, Light Rain with Thunder
Recent Headlines:
ALL-ENGLAND/Birmingham 2009: No more world-class men's doubles in Malaysia - The New Straits Times - Mar 08 5:13 PM
Anwar pushes for change in key Malaysia by-elections - AFP via Yahoo! News - Mar 08 3:42 AM
Malaysia to Unveil Second Stimulus Plan to Fight Economic Slump - Bloomberg - 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
Malaysia s Swap Spread to Narrow, Deficit Overhyped, RBS Says - Bloomberg - 5 minutes ago
70,000 More Bangladeshi Workers Coming To Malaysia - Sin Chew Jit Poh - Mar 07 9:12 PM
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 Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur has boomed quickly into one of Asia’s most prominent metropolises, and offers sights including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building in pink and white, the National Museum that was built in the style of a Malaysian palace, the bustling street bazaars, and the famous landmark of the two Petronas Towers, the second tallest buildings in the world. |
 Melaka: Melaka, also known as Malacca, has strong Asian and European influences and the most historic charm in the country. While away a day seeing sights like the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia dating to 1646, the church of Sao Paolo, Saint Paul, also from the 17th century, Stadthuys, the large Dutch town hall dates from the mid 17th century and is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in Asia, and the antique shopping along Jalan Hang Jebat. |
 Georgetown: Over and above the beaches of Penang Island, and the golf courses and resorts, Georgetown is a singular destination in that it has held on to its strong Asian influences. See the Kuan Yin Teng Temple, one of the most popular temples in Georgetown, Fort Cornwallis, an 18th century British fort marking where Captain Light landed in 1786, the markets and evening stalls along the Esplanade behind Penang Library, or break away from the city and head to the top of Penang Hill which will give you a great view, and has gardens of its own. |
 Tioman Island: Ecotourists will love to visit Tioman Island, favored by folks from Singapore for decades as a prime place to enjoy nature and explore. Beaches, coral reefs, clear water and a variety of underwater life will make snorkelers and scuba divers happy, while unpopulated jungles, clear streams flowing from the mountains will make overland treks just as satisfying. There are resorts and villages as well, and most enjoy Pulau Tioman and Kampung Nipah. |
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Security: Be aware of your surroundings, as while most areas are safe, crowded tourist areas carry a risk of pick pocketing or purse snatching.
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Local Customs: A few local conventions to keep in mind especially when visiting smaller towns: smoking is discouraged in public places, remove your shoes before entering a home or mosque, Ramadan will have an impact on business hours for restaurants and stores, and women should dress conservatively covering arms and legs.
Cash On Hand: Outside tourist resorts and main cities, credit cards and traveller’s checks aren’t accepted as widely, and exchange offices are less frequent, so keep a supply of money available of you travel off the beaten path. Note that banks typically charge a larger fee for changing money compared to the exchange booths.
When To Visit: Independence Day, otherwise known as Malaysia Day, is every August 31st, and brings out the festivities making for a nice time to visit.
Food: Malaysian food is spicy, and is typically based on noodles and rice, with appetizers like spicy daal and roti bread.
Tipping: A 10% service charge is normally included in your bill, otherwise, no additional gratuity is required.
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