Surviving Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the colourful countries of South Asia, which is renowned for its diverse culture and is fast becoming one of the hottest tourist destinations of South Asia. The country boasts of a heterogeneous society with indigenous people of Malaysia as well as citizens of Indian and Chinese origins. The influence of European, Arab, Persian, and also British Empire, make Malaysia a truly multicultural culture that is rich in variety and truly global.  Although Malaysia is generally a laid back and relaxed place, and people of Malaysia are quite friendly, they do reserve their own customs and the visitors should try to observe these practices when they arrive. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, so be very careful of their customs and cultures. Even though Kuala Lumpur is a modern metropolis, the locals can still be quite traditional and won’t appreciate overly rowdy behaviour or public drunkenness. Dress appropriately when visiting a mosque or a Muslim home. Pointing with your feet is considered rude, as is pointing with your forefinger. Be respectful and err on the side of restraint. The following Malaysia don'ts would surely make your trip to Malaysia an enjoyable lifetime experience. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Malaysia, do as the Malaysians do.

Food in Kuala Lumpur

Don’t we all just love food, and the Malaysians are no exception. Infact the best part of travelling is trying out different cuisines. Kuala Lumpur has so many different cultures living together in harmony that the variety you can get with regards to food is amazing. How does one decide what to eat, where to eat? Choices are so many that it can easily confuse a traveller. It depends on the kind of food you want to eat. In Kuala Lumpur, Malay food is most commonly available since it is the biggest race there. You don’t have to worry about budget, you can eat fairly well for fairly little.

A Shopper’s Delight Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur offers visitors a variety of shopping opportunities for both traditional and modern goods, for amazing cultural souvenirs and products.  As the cultural centre of Malaysia, KL has a wide range of complexes, markets and shops that enable you to shop for local arts and crafts offering value, variety and convenience. At the same time, as a modern and sophisticated city, designer brands are widely available in expansive shopping malls and centres along with the latest electronics, fashion accessories and jewellery. There is a bewildering range of shopping establishments including modern air-conditioned shopping malls, department stores, hypermarkets, shopping arcades, specialty stores, handicraft centers, duty-free shops, bazaars and night markets. Among the items high on the shopping list of tourists are pewter, batik, duty-free items, electrical products, pret-a-porter attire, sportswear and handicrafts.  A novel experience for overseas visitors is the night markets or 'pasar malam' which begin their trading activities in the late afternoon.

Colours of Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a very interesting place. The three dominant cultures are from the Malays, Chinese and Indians, who form the majority of Malaysia’s population. Although majority of Malaysians are Muslims, the three dominant cultures bring three languages, religions, culture and amazing food into this region. Sizeable community of Sikhs and Eurasians add and compliment the harmonious mix of cultures. Past trading with the East and West has made Malaysia a multi racial country, making it a potpourri of sorts.

Art Scene in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of artistic flair - right from the galleries to artists to performing arts to music, it is truly a treasure trove of Malaysian art. Although the artistic community is small and not comparable to those in Paris or Venice, it is nevertheless growing as can be testified by the many art galleries, art centres and performance arts bodies that have sprouted over the last five years in Kuala Lumpur. Within Kuala Lumpur are a number of very impressive art galleries.

Sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination for tourists coming to Asia. English is spoken and understood, making it fairly easy for tourists from all over the world. KL, one of the most vibrant and bustling cities of Asia, is blessed with natural as well as man made attractions. The tourist attractions are very diverse too, from stunning waterfalls, rainforests, beaches to pulsating nightlife, architectural marvels and entertainment.

Some of the must see sights of KL are listed below.

Truly Kuala Lumpur

The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is fondly called KL, and is the largest city in Malaysia. It is the Malaysian center for economics, business, finance, insurance, real estate, media, arts and culture. Rated as an alpha city, the only global city in Malaysia, is an International shopping destination too. It is the 5th most visited city in the world. KL is a mix of cultures including the Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. The slogan used by the tourism board is “Truly Asia”, because it truly blends the modern with the historic, its temples and mosques with the skyscappers, malls and bustling streets. Istana Negara, the official residence of the Malaysian King is also in KL. Kuala Lumpur is a Malay term which translated means muddy confluence, named so because it is located between the confluence of Klang and Gombak.