About Malaysia

A fascinating tropical paradise, Malaysia is steadily growing to be one of the favorite destinations in South-East Asia. With a multi-ethnic population, beautiful scenery, exquisite local cuisines and a diverse culture, it is truly a melting pot of Asia. The nation is fast moving from the industrial into the information age. The year 2020 is targeted for the nation to achieve "developed nation' status. The capital, Kuala Lumpur is a sprawling green metropolis which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Weather

Malaysia is an equatorial country with: sunshine all year round and occasional tropical showers. Temperatures range from 22-32 degrees Celsius. Loose and light summer clothing is thus recommended for outdoor activities. Offices and shops are generally air-conditioned, providing a cool and pleasant environment indoors.

Transportation

It is easy to travel and get around in Malaysia as it has good transport facilities. Starting with the state-of-the-art Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), visitors can reach Kuala Lumpur by either the luxurious fast light rail transport, taxi/ cabs, rental cars or buses. Smooth, modern highways and regular train services makes inter-city travels easy and convenient. Fares are also very affordable starting from less than USD10 for intercity buse and train services.

Currency

The local currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (USD1=RM3.77). Banks, money changers and lame hotels are able to exchange most major currencies. Major credit cards are also accepted by most large hotels, stores and restaurants.

Electricity

Malaysia's voltage is 220 - 240 AC, 50 hertz. The outlets take the large 3 prong connectors (same as most Commonwealth countries) Most large 4 and 5 star hotels can provide transformer to convert it to 110 - 120 AC, 60 hertz (for smaller hotels you'll need your own adapter).

Internet access and telephone

Major hotels have internet access in the rooms. Do enquire first. Internet cafes also offers very affordable rates per hour. Wireless access is available at certain areas only. Cellular service in Malaysia is GSM. If you bring your own mobile phone you may want to consider purchasing a prepaid calling card from any of the major telecommunications distributor as it is cheaper than using your home country service. When using pay phones, only those marked "International" can be used. The international access code is 00 (international code) + country code + number.