Tips to know before travelling to Malaysia:

Malaysia is an Islamic country and due to it's diversity of race, religion and culture; it is a wonderful place to visit and explore. Malaysian's are friendly in general and most are able in speaking the English language. However, there are certain rules and regulations that would be extremely helpful before entering the country.


 Below is a list of a few things to watch out for when visiting the country.

1. Clothing: Malaysia is a country of tropical climate and is hot and humid all year round except during the monsoon season. Therefore, travellers tend to wear light and thin clothing to keep heatstroke away. However, it is best for one to wear clothing that covers the arms and legs before entering a place of worship.
2. Shoes: Unlike the western culture, Malaysian's do not wear shoes into their houses. So do make sure to take of your shoes before entering someone's house. This rule applies to mosques as well and some may require the person to wash their feet before entering the premises.
3. Eating ethics: When eating noodles, do not slurp it as it reflects bad manners. One can request for the regular fork and spoon if using chopsticks is not an option. It is a norml sight for some people to eat using their hands in certain places but if it's at an Indian stall, refrain from using the left hand.
4. Cuisines: Malaysian cuisine is normally flavourful and filled with an assortment of flavours that will dance on your tastebuds. However, half of the dishes available may come cooked or drizzled with spices. So, for anyone out there who can't take spicy foods, you might want to check if the dish you order is spicy before confirming it.
5. Religion: Being an Islamic country, there are times where masses of Muslims go and pray and prayers can be heard in the close vicinity. This is normal and on Fridays in particular, Muslims would leave work early to go to the mosques to pray. Do not be alarmed if you see crowds of people flowing into the mosques on Friday; it's just prayer time.
6. Pork: When visiting Malaysia, the triangular sign with the word “Halal” is present in many places. This refers and relates to the fact that Muslims are not allowed to eat pork. If a restaurant has this sign, it means that the restaurant does not serve pork. If you're a pork lover and can't live a day without consuming pork, it might be a good idea to stick to Chinese restaurants that do normally serve pork.
7. Safety: When visiting, it is wise to not have gold or expensive jewellery or expensive looking ones on you. It is not to say that Malaysia is completely unsafe but crime may happen and prevention is way better than cure.

By understanding more about our destinations, it shouldn't be too big of a problem for one to commute or coordinate around the wonderful cities of the 13 different states of Malaysia. Till then we wish everyone a safe travel and a wonderful trip throughout Malaysia.

Top 10 phrases to learn before a trip to Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful place to visit and like the adventurous people that we are, it is better to research on the language or destination before the trip. This will help us communicate better with locals and save us from a pinch. Here are 10 phrases which we think will be useful in learning before heading to Vietnam.



1. Hello! - Xin chao! (sin chow) Greetings are very important.

2. Thank you - Cam on (gahm uhn) Expressing thanks show gratitude.

3. Sorry/Excuse me - Xin loi (seen loy) Useful for apologizing or asking for directions.

4. Do you speak English? - Ban co noi duoc tieng Anh khong?

5. Can you help me? - Ban giup toi duoc khong? (ban zoop thoy duc khom?)

6. What is this? - Cai nay la gi (guy nai la zee)  Clarify what items or food are.

7. How much? - Bao nhieu (bow nyew) This phrase comes up often when eating or shopping.

8. Do you have a cheaper price? - Ban co gia nao re hon khong? (Used in bargaining)

9. Water - Nouc (Water is crucial to survival and being able to ask for some is useful)

10. Where's the toilet? - Nha ve sinh… o dau? (ngha ve sin o dau?) Useful in a toilet emergency.


We hope that this short compiled list will turn out to be of help to everyone. Till next time, safe travels everyone!

Top 5 Slangs to learn when travelling to Malaysia

On the way

Usually used when you’re late for a formal event or a meeting session with friends. No matter what are you doing when the question is asked ( even still at home), Malaysians tend to use this 3 words to answer. A lot of times it is continued by Malaysians saying “ X minutes ah…”

Example:

A: Why so late? Everybody waiting for you , you know ?

B: On the way…on the way… 5 more minutes..!!

Cincai

The word “ cincai” literally means whatever. Malaysians use this word frequently when they are reluctant to make a choice or just to continue a conversation.

Example:

A: Where you want to eat today ?

B: Cincai lah.. Up to you…

Walao / Walao Eh

This phrase is often to describe the feeling of surprise or disbelief. Often, it is followed by a demanding question regarding the topic which strikes disbelief.

Example:

A: So sorry, I forgot to buy your share of tickets for the movie..

B: Walaoeh, How can you invite for the movie and forgot to buy my share leh ?

Tapau

Perhaps one of the most useful slang when it comes to travelers when buying food in Malaysia. “Tapau” means to take away servings of food.

Example：

A：Can I tapau a packet of Chicken Rice ?

That's why lah

The phrase literally translates into "that explains it" in proper English. Often used when Malaysians want to make a quick reasoning about something.

Example :

A: Oops..I’m being late again, coz’ stuck in the heavy traffic

B: That’s’ why lah.. always ask you to go out earlier but you don’t listen.