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.

Dealing with Culture Shock? How ?

Do more Research 

Learn as much as you can about the new location before you go. This refers to the positive and negative sides of being in the region or country. From which sides people drive on to local cuisine and culture, sometimes even local religion, it is always good to understand more before stepping into a country. If possible, learn a few phrases of local greetings or daily conversations.

Willing to Learn

Be open-minded and willing to learning. Ask questions. If you are going to a place which has a different language or slang, consider taking a few courses in that language. One of the best way to combat cultural shock is actually to blend in the local scene. Mastering a few local “trick of the trades” will be helpful all the time.

Build new positive friendships

Even if you’ve done really good research, having someone who can help you in avoid culture shock and even coping up with the local pace. Surviving another culture is favourably easier when you have a person to guide you through the new little everyday experiences when you are travelling abroad.

Have an Adventurous Spirit

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “do something that takes courage every day,” . This is especially important for travelers when it comes to Survival 101 in a different culture. The only way to survive out of the monotonous comfort zone is to actually treat every day as an adventure ..

Stay in Touch with Family and Friends

Perhaps one of the most important element of all. This can give you some comfort while away, and it will help you to minimize reverse culture shock when you get back home. Spending some time conversing with family and friends back home will ease the anxiety of adapting to a new culture.