Hospitality
and Tourism
in Malaysia
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Malaysia is comprised of two
land masses: a peninsula bordering Thailand and the northeastern section of
nearby Borneo, an island. Visitors to both regions will enjoy a wide range of
activities and receive a traditionally warm Malaysian welcome. Peninsula
Malaysia is by far the bigger of the two provinces and offers tourists
everything from fast-paced city life in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to
relaxed holidays in east coast beach resorts. Malaysian Borneo is an untamed
paradise, one of the few places in the world where visitors can still see
orangutans living in the wild.
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History
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Malaya, as it was then known,
achieved independence in 1957. Communist uprisings and hostile
relations with nearby Indonesia caused political unrest in the
years immediately proceeding independence. In 1963 the
northeastern Bornean states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as
Singapore, joined Malaya to create Malaysia. More trouble was to
follow, though. Tensions between the immigrant Chinese and
native Malays boiled over at the end of the decade, leading to
the race riots of 1969, in which hundreds of people were killed.
Since the seventies, Malaysia has prospered, although the 1997
Southeast Asian financial crisis hampered that growth and
temporarily plunged the country back into recession. Tourists
will rarely see any open animosity between the different
cultures living in Malaysia today.
Geography
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Peninsula Malaysia and
Malaysian Borneo both lie in the South Pacific. Temperatures
remain high all year round, rarely dropping below 20 degrees,
and the heaviest rainfall is from September to March. The east
coast of Peninsula Malaysia is particularly badly affected by
the monsoon rains from November to February--which is worth
bearing in mind if you are planning to escape the Northern
Hemisphere winter for a beach holiday at Christmas time. The
west coast of Peninsula Malaysia is by far the more urban.
Popular tourist spots such as Penang, Melaka, and Kuala Lumpur
are all on the western side. Dense rainforest covers the north
of Peninsula Malaysia and also Malaysian Borneo, creating the
perfect conditions for wildlife-spotting and trekking holidays.
Accommodation
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Accommodation varies
drastically depending on where you go in Malaysia and also on
how much you are prepared to spend. As a general rule, you get
far more for your money in Malaysia than in the U.S. The
cheapest rooms in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, range
from $10 for a cheap motel room with very basic amenities, up to
hundreds of dollar per night for a palatial room at a top hotel.
As you move away from the bigger cities, accommodation options
become more limited. In some towns there is a dearth of any
mid-range accommodation. In Penang, for example, a little extra
money will get you a much better room. Some of the cheapest
rooms ($8) have only a mattress on the floor and no air
conditioning. If you are prepared to pay $40-50 dollars you will
get a deluxe en-suite room in a decent hotel. East coast beach
resorts tend to be cheaper compared to west coast urban
accommodations. Many beach resorts in the east coast offer
package deals, including meals, accommodation, and equipment
hire. More unusual accommodation can be found in remote villages
and rainforest areas. In Malysian Borneo you can sleep in a
traditional longhouse, used by the Bornean tribespeople for
hundred of years.
Etiquette
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The Malaysian way of life
centres on the community, rather than the individual.
Family is prized above all else, and "losing face" is the
most shameful thing that can happen. Public displays of emotion
are frowned upon. Raising your voice and becoming aggressive if
things are not going your way will rarely help and is likely to
induce resentment in your host. In general, though, Malaysians'
concern about "losing face" is a good thing for tourists. It
means hosts will always offer a warm welcome and often go out of
their way to ensure your needs are being met. Urbane Malaysians
tend to be more Western in outlook and, while they might be a
little cooler with their welcome because of this, are generally
more open-minded in regard to alcohol consumption, sexuality,
and race. As Malaysia is a Muslim country, alcohol is scarce. If
you are the guest at a local's house, bring sweets or chocolate
rather than a bottle of wine.
Cuisine
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The mix of Chinese, Indian,
and Malaysians has created a truly delectable cuisine. Chinese
food dominates, but most large towns and cities in Malaysia will
have designated areas for Indian, Indonesian, and Portuguese
cuisines. Fusion cooking in Malaysia is commonplace, with
different cultures sharing ideas and ingredients. This fusion
cooking has even created an entirely new cuisine: Baba Nonya.
Unique to Malaysia, Baba Nonya cuisine includes tasty dishes
such as "duck with tamarind" and "Laksa"--an earthy mackerel
broth topped with mint leaves and dark shrimp paste. The best
places to enjoy Baba Nonya cuisine are Penang and Melaka.
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