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Malaysia
Malaysia is a vibrant mix of Asian cultures and languages, which can be seen through the country’s variety of celebrations and delicious cuisines.
People are drawn to Malaysia to experience it’s incredibly diverse environments and landscapes from primary jungle and eco-systems to
glitzy cities with sky scrapers and air-conditioned malls.
Wildlife is bountiful here too with a colourful array of birdlife as well as tapir, monkeys and orangutans. The oceans are also teeming with tropical fish, bright corals, turtles and dolphins.
Fun facts about Malaysia
- Malaysia is made up of two different landmasses; the Malay Peninsula (home to Kuala Lumpur) and Malaysian Borneo. These are separated by the China Sea
- Malaysia has the biggest roundabout in the world at 2.2 miles long, with a diameter of 3.5km
- The Ringgit is the national currency and word is a term for 'jagged'. The name derived from the serrated edges of silver Spanish dollars which were used in the 16th & 17th centuries
- Malaysia boasts the highest twin towers in the world - the Petronas Towers - which stand at a staggering 1483ft and 88 storeys
- Jimmy Choo, the shoe designer was born in Penang. He was ordered an OBE in 2003 by the Queen
- There are 28 national parks and the country boasts the world's largest discovered, single room cave chamber - the Sarawak Cave
Throughout your Explore Malaysia trip, you will be fully catered for with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. On a day to day basis, you can expect both western-style and traditional Malaysian dishes, some of which are eaten by hand.
Indian, Chinese, Thai, Javanese and Sumatran cultures have all influenced Maly cuisine. A typical day's menu includes;
Breakfast: Kaya toast with eggs, chicken, rice, noodles, curry puffs with iced milk tea
Lunch: Rice, fish, chicken, beef, noodles and vegetables
Dinner: Rice, noodles, fish, meat and vegetables
Malaysia is a foodie's heaven. Here are a few of the most popular dishes.
- Nasi Lemak - a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk
- Roti canai, roti susu & roti telur - flatbreads with various accompaniments
- Rojak - a spicy fruit and vegetable salad
- Asam Laksa - a spicy noodle soup
- Char Kuey Teow - fried rice noodle dish
Check out the Culture Trip website for more dishes.
- Malaysian culture is a mosaic of differing cultures including Chinese and Indian, as many ethnic groups have cohabited in the country for generations
- Malaysians make up 50% of the population alongside Chinese and Indian. This drops to 25% in eastern Malaysia
- Religion and customs are important and most people tend to socialise within their own ethnicity
- The people are renowned for their gentle, honest nature and are considered very welcoming, friendly and generous
- In Malaysian, Chinese and Indian cultures, it's important to maintain good character and be held in high esteem by others. Conflict is generally avoided with people preferring to live harmoniously
- Dance is an integral part of Malaysia's culture and heritage. Dances include; kuda, kepang, joget, Chinese lion dance, dragon dance and many more
Exposing too much flesh or wearing figure hugging clothes is a no-no so always dress modestly. Choose loose fitting trousers or knee length shorts or skirts which are also comfortable in the heat. Go for long sleeved tops or as a minimum, cover your shoulders. You will have to be fully covered in places of worship. A scarf or sarong can be extremely versatile and therefore useful. Also, remember:
- No shoes to be worn indoors
- If eating with your hands, use your right hand as you left is used for toilet duties
- Public displays of affection are not tolerated in Malaysia
- When greeting people there are different norms between Malaysian, Chinese and Indian cultures. As a general rule, the most 'important' person should be introduced first i.e. the older person first, then younger person
Language
Malaysia was colonised by Britain for over 100 years and therefore English is fairly widely spoken. It's still really important to make the effort to learn some of the local language before you travel - the locals will be really impressed too!
Here are a few useful words and phrases to get you started.
| English | Malaysian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Halo | Ha lo |
| Goodbye | Selamat tinggal | Selama tin gal |
| Yes | Ya | Ya |
| No | Tidak | Tee da |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | terrma kas ee |
| You're welcome | Sama-sama | sama saaama |
| Excuse me | Maaf | Maa aaf |
| My name is | Nama saya | nama saaya |
| Do you speak English? | Kamu boleh cakap bahasa Inggeris? | Kamoo bo lay taka ba hasa ingris? |
Useful Resources
If you're keen to learn more about Malaysia before you go, there's plenty of information to be found online, in travel magazines and in guide books. Here are a few recommendations;