kualalumpur-skyline.png

Malaysia is a melting pot. The food (influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian), the people, and the cities are all so diverse. I spent a month in Kuala Lumpur, and some time in Langkawi and Penang. If you get the chance, i’d also recommend visiting Malacca, Sandakan, Mount Kinabalu, Mulu Caves, The Cameron Highlands, Sipadan (top 10 diving in the world), and Taman Negara. Click on the photos below for more in-depth recommendations on the areas I’ve been.

KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIA

LANGKAWI

MALAYSIA

PENANG

MALAYSIA

icons8-paper-money-100.png

MONEY

  • The currency here is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).

  • You will be automatically charged an additional 10% on your bill for tip, and are not expected to tip more.

  • Credit cards are accepted at most places, but you will need cash for smaller shops and street food.

  • ATMs are easy to find, but are typically down between 12:30am-2:00am.

  • The approximate currency exchange is 1 USD = 4.1 MYR.

icons8-wi-fi-100.png

CONNECTIVITY

  • In Malaysia, most cafes and restaurants have free wifi, and co-working spaces are generally easy to find. Don’t expect great connectivity in the more remote towns and areas.

  • If you plan to get a local SIM card, I recommend using Celcom. You should be able to find these at the airport, in malls, or around town and can top them off at convenience stores if you run out of data.

icons8-language-100.png

LANGUAGE

  • Malay

    • Hello = Helo

    • Thank you = Terima Kasih

    • Goodbye = Selamat Tinggal

    • Yes = Ya

    • No = Tidak

icons8-water-100.png

DRINKING WATER

  • Stick to filtered water, it isn’t safe to drink from the tap.

icons8-restaurant-100.png

CUISINE

  • Char Kuey Teow - Flat rice noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts and meat.

  • Roti Canai - Indian flatbread served with dhal, curry, or sambal.

  • Ikan Bakar - Barbecue stingray served with sauce.

  • Lok-lok - Meat, vegetables, or seafood served on a stick.

  • Cendol - Shaved ice with coconut milk and other toppings.

Street food is big part of the culture here. Try it out!