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Malaysia Wrap up
Entry 39 of 182 | show all | print this entry |
Our long overdue Malaysia wrap up entry:
Topography - Malaysia is beautiful whether you're in the steamy jungles or in the mild highlands. Varied terrain and fauna keep things interesting even during long bus rides with little angry man drivers. We haven't even seen most of the country having only visited one section. We particularly liked Cameron Highlands, it felt a little like Tahoe.
Safety - Our books warned of some dangers particularly in the KL district where we stayed but we never saw them. There is a pretty active sex trade in KL (strange to us) but we never perceived any danger.
Food - The food here is great! With the identical influences of Singapore, all things are available from either street carts or in sit-down restaurants for less money! A savvy traveler would have no problems eating well for under $7 a day.
Drinking/Nightlife - A sign in the lobby at the Hut said "Who says Malaysians don't drink?" This was a good summation as for the most part (the Muslims), they don't. The rest of the country does, but not as much as other places in the world. Drinking is the one thing in Malaysia that isn't dramatically cheaper. Wine didn't seem available at all in most places.
Culture - Being such a melting pot of different influences, culture is on every corner from a Western perspective. Muslim women in flowing silk gowns fill the streets and share tables with Indian women in traditional dress, and Asian women dressed like Americans. Nobody seems to mind what the others are doing and they all appear to get along perfectly. We read about some growing racial tension, but it wasn't visible to us.
Cleanliness - Not quite up to the Singapore standard (it's the napkins I swear!) Malaysia does seem to be in touch with preserving their eco-system.
Cost - Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
Manners - Similar to Singapore, the "saving face" mentality prevails and is apparent in all social interactions.
Urban Design - KL was nicely planned, with an interesting mix of high rise towers, antique shop houses, mosques, temples and churches and a "green belt" through the middle of the city. There was also a small rain forest preserved just below the telecommunications tower. In general, a nice city to walk around, although the traffic and pollution do affect the experience, especially during rush hour.
Fashion/Shopping - This is shopping Mecca. Everything "Western" is available for a fraction of the Western price. They are the same exact goods in every way, just cheaper. As I write this from Bangkok, I can now say that while Bangkok may be cheaper for some things, the "you get what you pay for" philosophy probably applies. Malaysia (KL in particular) would be a destination just for buying clothes and home furnishings. Without question, the higher dollar value would more than offset travel costs for a week long excursion. Laura is coming back if anyone is interested.
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