Malays or Malaysians. How to piss off: Malaysian. Taman Negara National Park, Pahang

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Malaysia consists of two parts Western and Eastern, between which lies the South China Sea. The capital of the state is the city of Kuala Lumpur with a population of over a million people. And in total, almost 28 million people live in Malaysia. The official language in the country is Malay, although many others have also become widespread. Today, our tourists are just beginning to discover Malaysia, so let's try to dispel the main myths about this country.

In Malaysia, you can only communicate in Malay. The other extreme would be the assertion that it is possible to do without knowledge of the local language. Our compatriots living in Malaysia state that they still have to learn the Malay language for 3-5 years of residence. But the fact that without it you can’t live at all turned out to be a lie. In trade, business, English is the main language, and different ethnic groups use this particular language for communication. You can, for example, hear the conversation of Indian women who communicate with each other in bad English, and not in Malay or their native language. A similar situation is observed with the Chinese living in the country, they are so used to communicating in English that even at home they continue to use this language. Interestingly, in Malaysia, the majority of the population speaks two languages ​​- English and Malay, and the local Chinese and Indians also have a third, their own language.

In Malaysia, there is Islam, which is extremist in nature. It is often mentioned that women in this country are completely wrapped in black, and bearded men in white robes go everywhere with them. In fact, these are not locals, but Arab tourists who come to relax from their hot climate. In Malaysia itself, it is not at all necessary for a woman to wear a headscarf, the choice lies solely with the person and is more connected with family traditions and upbringing. Islam is the state religion, especially since 70% of the population are Muslims. By the way, the laws of Islam apply exclusively to Muslims, but the rest of the population, which professes Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and other religions, is subject to secular laws. Along with Muslim holidays, non-Muslim holidays are also celebrated in the country. At Christmas, everything is decorated with Christmas trees, which are strewn with foam snow, Santa Clauses walk around and the corresponding songs sound.

It has become a tradition in Malaysia to invent English names for themselves so that foreigners can remember them more easily. Faced with a Malay named Peter or John, it seems that this myth is true. In fact, these names are not English, but Christian. And this faith in Malaysia is practiced by about 10% of the population, mostly Catholics and Protestants. In this country, you can meet the Chinese Stephen Ong or the Indian John Amaladass. And for them, their own names are not at all outlandish, since they themselves are Christians, this is the faith of their ancestors. So the names are born not at all to please visiting Europeans. Interestingly, Christian Malaysians are more reverent about religion than the average Protestant Englishman or Catholic Italian, knowing much more about their faith.

Malaysia is a God-forgotten corner, as it is located at the end of the world. Geographically, of course, the country is indeed significantly removed from Europe, being, by the way, on the equator itself. Further than Malaysia are only New Zealand and Australia. However, thanks to the developed tourism, the country is connected by flights with many countries of the world. This contributes to high competition, which means low prices. A flight from Tashkent to Kuala Lumpur will cost the same as to Moscow. And the best resorts of Southeast Asia are located nearby - only 1-3 hours of flight, which allows you to visit them on weekends, as if visiting a summer house.

Malaysia has no ties with the outside world, existing on its own. Many tourists believe that the remoteness of the country leads to the fact that the mail goes to the country with long delays, and telephone calls are very expensive. In fact, communications in the country are quite developed and cheap. Calling Moscow costs so much much cheaper than calling from Moscow to Malaysia. In the countries where they call most often, the tariffs are much lower, this applies to England, India. Foreign companies are happy to discover Malaysia. This is due to the fact that the country is officially open to foreigners from a legislative point of view, and the local population is very friendly to visitors. There is also practically no language barrier, as almost everyone speaks a special dialect - Malaysian English.

Malaysians prefer extremely spicy food. In fact, this myth is very close to the truth. Most Malay and Indian food is quite spicy or heavily spiced. And for an unaccustomed European, even such food will still seem spicy. But there is always the opportunity to taste Chinese food. The fact is that 30% of the population are Chinese, so many Europeans generally eat only Chinese food for the first time, which is in abundance. If you wish, you can also find Western food restaurants, which range from fast food restaurants to prestigious restaurants of various European cuisines.

In Malaysia, food is completely different, there is not even the usual potatoes and bread. In fact, potatoes are on sale, while there are several varieties, and its price is unremarkable. Yes, and the main fruits that are familiar to us are, and at a price comparable to Asian countries. But if you want to eat varied, and not just fruits, you will either have to use local products or lay out a tidy sum. Bread is also baked, only its purpose is different - it is used mainly for sandwiches. The roll is sold already sliced, and the composition is unusual, it seems soft and wet. But this is not a problem either, because in any bakery you can buy ordinary "European" bread, which, however, is more expensive.

In Malaysia, the seasons change each other, as elsewhere. For Malaysians, the phrases "last autumn" or "this winter" are incomprehensible. Theoretically, there are only two seasons in the country - this is the rainy season and the dry season. You should not think that there is little rainfall in the dry season - there are quite a lot of them, it just becomes even more during the rainy season. The equatorial climate is to blame for everything, therefore in Malaysia there are no seasons in our understanding, and sunset and dawn are observed almost at the same time every day - at 7.15 in the morning at 19.15 in the evening.

In Malaysia, everything is twice as expensive as in Singapore. For some reason, our tourists believe that everything is much cheaper in Singapore, bypassing Malaysia. Singapore is a really interesting country, but not in terms of prices. Everything is twice as expensive there, starting with the exchange rate. What costs SGD 5 in Singapore can be found in Malaysia for RM5. And this despite the fact that the Singapore dollar is equal to 2.5 ringit. Not surprisingly, many Singaporeans travel to the border state of Johor to buy cheaper gas and groceries there.

All household appliances in Malaysia cost literally a penny. Indeed, most of the equipment, from mobile phones to plasma panels, is cheaper in the country than in Russia or Europe. However, the price is not several times less, as many believe. In Malaysia, there are a large number of fakes, which just differ in low cost. There are places in the markets where cameras and phones are simply piled up in a big pile or lie in a basket - all for ridiculous money. But it is better not to ask about the origin of such technology. And such places are unpopular even among the Malays themselves, who prefer to purchase original products. True, love for real products does not correlate with music, films and software - just like in Russia.

Malays do not have a sense of humor. In fact, jokes, of course, go around the country, although a different mentality leaves its mark. For example, humor is not so much funny as smart; Malays like to have a certain subtext in it. Respectful locals do not particularly like to tell jokes about rulers, limiting themselves to insignificant characters or representatives of the opposition. As in Russia, there are jokes about local Proton cars, just like our Zhiguli, but they don’t like to laugh at ethnic topics.

In Malaysia everything is ruled by the sultan. The political structure of the country is absolutely unique! It is the only state with a constitutional elective monarchy. The fact is that Malaysia has 13 states, 9 of which are monarchies. Monarchs elect a king and viceroy from among themselves every five years, usually based on seniority or length of reign. However, the positions of both the king and the sultans themselves are representative, the country is actually led by the parliament and the prime minister.

Singapore has never had anything to do with Malaysia. First, being so close and having nothing in common is simply impossible. Secondly, when the state of Malaysia was created in 1963 (as a union), Singapore was also part of it. However, the friendship was short-lived, and two years later Singapore declared independence and was admitted to the UN. Today, 14% of Singaporeans speak Malay, and the national anthem is also played in the same language.

There is nothing interesting for a tourist in Malaysia. In addition to just getting to know the colorful country, it is highly recommended to visit the three main museums of Malaysia: the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur, the Sarawak State Museum, and the Sabah State Museum. They present the richest archaeological and ethnographic collections. In Kuala Lumpur, be sure to visit the Lake Garden, in Kuching - the Palace of the White Rajas, in Georgetown - the Pagoda of 10 Thousand Buddhas, in Seremban - the Seri Menanti Palace. In general, the tourist will not be bored if only the travel route is carefully planned.

Drug possession carries the death penalty. And this is indeed the truth. The law, which provides for the heaviest penalties for possession and distribution of drugs, was adopted in the country in 1975. True, an incident recently occurred, the court acquitted two twin brothers, one of whom was accused in this case, since it was impossible to determine which of them was guilty. Their appearance and DNA were identical. In general, the law is harsh, regardless of social status.

In Malaysia, people's heads are cut off, a hand is cut off for theft, you can go to jail without a trial, etc. There really is a death penalty in the country - execution, but no chopping off of fingers or limbs is observed. The state for minor violations (spitting in a public place) is content with large fines, although it does not follow this very strictly, as, say, in Singapore.

Malaysia has a very good education. Malaysia is a former dominion of England, which has led to the fact that the country has many branches of the largest universities, while the cost of education is relatively low. Naturally, a good knowledge of English is required. At the same time, the 3 + 1 system is widespread, according to which the last year you can study in the country in which the main university is located. The cost of studying in Malaysia at a prestigious university is 2-3 times less than in England. Therefore, many residents of eastern countries, including the Central Asian republics, are increasingly sending their children to study in Malaysia.

Two-faced Janus can be called one of the largest states of Southeast Asia, if it were not so called a two-faced person, giving him a negative characterization.

But Malaysia really looks like an ancient Roman deity, which was depicted with two faces, young and old, facing in different directions.

The thing is that the country is divided by the South China Sea into two parts - Western and Eastern. And this division is by no means formal: the combination of Malay, Indian and Chinese features of peninsular Malaysia contrasts with the unspoiled, even sacral nature of the island part of the country's wildlife.

Climate and weather

Malaysia is located near the equator, so regardless of the season, the country will meet the traveler with a hot and humid climate with an average annual temperature of +27 ° C and rainfall of 2500 mm. The coolest time here is from November to January, however, this “coolness” is accompanied by +26 °C. It can be even colder in the mountains: in the vicinity of Kinabalu, the highest point in the country, the thermometer can drop to +10 °C. It is not easy to endure the summer months in Malaysia: the temperature maximum of +33 ° C is combined with a high level of humidity. Therefore, people of advanced age and those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases should not come here. Heavy rains are in Malaysia, one might say, all year round, however, most often they are short-lived. The climate of the peninsular and island parts differs slightly: West Malaysia is largely influenced by continental air masses, while East Malaysia is dominated by sea.

Nature

The Malay Peninsula, the northern part of the island of Kalimantan with the adjacent islands - this is Malaysia. The peninsular territory is mostly flat, the highest point is Mount Gunung Tahan (2187 m). East Malaysia is rife with mountainous scenery: the states of Sarawak and Sabah are separated by a mountain range Crocker with the highest point of the country - the peak Kinabalu(4095 m). The mountains extend along the entire border with Indonesia.

Malaysia is completely riddled with small, but full-flowing rivers all year round. Among the largest can be called a river Rajang(760 km).

What is really surprising is the diversity of flora and fauna in Malaysia. Malaysia, of course, can be called a Mecca for people who are able to appreciate the ingenuity of the creator of all life on earth. About 20% of all known animals in the world are found here, and a fairly large number of species are rare. For example, only in the forests of Kalimantan you can see rafflesia, the largest flower in the world with a diameter sometimes reaching 1 m.

Attractions

Malaysia is a paradise for lovers of ethnological and historical excursions, because here the corners of virgin tropical nature are interspersed with ancient temples and places of worship, including mosques, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian churches, and even the Serpent Temple.

Developing the theme of the amazing bio-diversity of the country, let's say that the place where all this diversity can be contemplated in the highest concentration is the national park Taman Negara with an area of ​​436 hectares. And this is just one of the many Malaysian parks and reserves, the largest and most popular with tourists.

Those who want to enjoy the perfection of the water element should definitely visit the island Lankawi where is the waterfall Telaga Tujukh, whose seven streams form seven beautiful lakes. By the way, the whole island can be called one big attraction, because it is simply overflowing with an unprecedented number of unique natural complexes.

In general, listing the sights of Malaysia created by nature itself is a thankless job, because it is impossible to name everything, even if we limit ourselves to only the most interesting and amazing. Only one island of Penang will give the traveler an unforgettable experience of Serpent Temple, Bird Park, Orchid Garden, Butterfly Park…

Food

Malay cuisine is based on the gastronomic traditions of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Javanese, Sumatran cultures. You can get a fairly complete impression of its content if you go a little deeper into the Malay language. So, rice here is called " naxi", and all other products received the name " lauk", which means "addition to rice." Malayan rice is cooked in combination with beef, fish, seafood, flavored with sauces of various stripes (from spicy to sweet), which are prepared on the basis of coconut milk. Only noodles, which are also very often cooked, can compete with rice.

Those wishing to get the most complete impression of the culinary tastes of the Malays should definitely try the special fruit durian, the impression of acquaintance with which will certainly be the most unforgettable, but perhaps not the most pleasant, since this most valuable fruit in Southeast Asia has a specific nut-cheese taste. , exuding at the same time "incense", reminiscent, in the words of shocked eyewitnesses, a combination of smells of spoiled meat, rotten eggs and soldier's footcloths.

The favorite drinks of the Malays can be called tea and coffee, which are used here, without exaggeration, in astronomical quantities. Quite common in Malaysia and beer, which, by the way, is cooked quite well here. But hard liquor can only be tasted in expensive restaurants.

The peculiarity of the Malaysian catering system is that, along with small eateries serving real exotic, you can quite easily meet a restaurant with a menu familiar to Europeans and Americans. Dinner without wine in a decent establishment will cost an average of $23-26, and you can get a portion of local food for as little as $3.

Accommodation

Hotel bases in Malaysia and the cost of living in them are somewhat different in different regions of the country. The most popular resorts Lankgavi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Borneo- abound with hotels in 3, 4, 5 stars. True, on the island of Penang you rarely find bungalow-type hotels. There are fewer hotels in Borneo and they are mostly five-star hotels, but accommodation in them is cheaper than on other Malaysian islands and on the Malay Peninsula, and the level of comfort is the same.

Entertainment and recreation

Malaysia is not the right place for a party holiday. The only exception is the capital. Nightlife seethes with an inexhaustible stream of joy and fun in Kuala Lumpur, where, after dark, guests are welcomed by many bars and discos, where you can stay until midnight and longer. Nightclubs here can be found in two varieties: Chinese and European. The first will give the visitor a pleasant evening in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere of fun, the second - a quiet gourmet dinner and a little dancing. Gambling tourists can visit the casino. Just an hour drive from the capital and the instinct of the game is satisfied, and at any time of the day.

But for the lovers active rest Malaysia is a true paradise. First of all, this applies to divers and surfers. The islands are considered the most interesting places for diving. Sipadan and Mabul which are 15-20 minutes away from each other. Sipadan is famous for its vertical coral walls, and the island itself is the top of a cliff rising from a depth of 600-700 meters. Other diving resorts include the islands Tioman, Redang, Layang Layang. Surfers are sure to find something to their heart's content on the islands Pangkor and Kelantan, where there are excellent opportunities for boarding. The best time for surfing in Malaysia is from November to March, when the east monsoon gives beautiful waves to the “boarders”, but on the contrary, it interferes with divers.

Purchases

The flight to Malaysia is long. Therefore, since you are lucky enough to be in a tropical paradise with an industrial filling, you should only take away exotic. It would be unforgivable to ignore products made of batik (painted silk), which is a national handicraft here. Pareos, scarves, dresses, bathrobes with tropical landscapes can be bought at any shopping center. However, having visited the factory where this same batik is produced, you can not only make a better purchase, but also watch how the Malays create a miracle of textile art.

Few people know that it is in Malaysia that cups are cast for the winners of Formula 1. They are produced at the royal tin foundry. Of course, you won’t be able to take the cup with you, but jewelry, dishes, various cute trifles should be honored with your attention.

Brand hunters in Malaysian malls should love it. Items from summer collections, recent and last year, can be bought with quite significant discounts.

If we talk about the best places for shopping in Malaysia, then this is definitely Kuala Lumpur, the number of shopping centers which will amaze the imagination of even experienced shopaholics. And in most cases, these are not just shopping centers, but real entertainment complexes where you can spend time all day long.

And any traveler will be pleasantly surprised by the fact that in all the cities of Malaysia where there are airports, as well as in the ports of the country, there are duty-free shops, and the islands Lankgavi and Labuan and are completely duty free zones.

Transport

The transport infrastructure here has reached a fairly high level even for an island nation. At the service of travelers are six international airports, the largest of which is located in Kuala Lumpur. It is most convenient to move around the country with the flights of the national airline Malaysia Airlines and the economy class company AirAsia.

Railway transport most common in the Malay Peninsula. Railway lines run through West Malaysia, linking Singapore and Thailand. The famous "Eastern" and "Asian Express" cross the entire length of Peninsular Malaysia. Their route is more than 2,000 km long, and they move from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, often stopping at the most picturesque places in the tropical jungle.

Well functioning between West Malaysia and the main islands ferry service. Using it, you can make a wonderful boat trip, and at the same time get to Penang, Lankgavi, Borneo, Tioman, Pangkor.

Through passage through the entire Malay Peninsula provides North-South Expressway. Moving along it, you can quite comfortably reach most of the settlements in West Malaysia. The network of bus routes of the Transnaional Express Sdn Bhd company connects the capital of the state with other major cities of the peninsula. You can also get to neighboring Singapore by bus.

Connection

Most mobile operators in Malaysia provide 2nd generation communications − GSM. The largest among them are CELCOM and DIGI, which, among other things, can offer 3G services. However, when roaming, these operators do not always function. 3rd generation communication, known to us as HSDPA, is provided by MAXIS.

Oddly enough, but the Internet in Malaysia is at a higher stage of development than mobile communications. Malaysian national provider Telecom provides almost ubiquitous access to the resources of the World Wide Web with an average speed of 3.6 Mbps.

WiFi is possible in almost all hotels for an average of $ 17 per day.

Post offices are open from 08:00 to 17:00, and in Kuala Lumpur also two and a half hours on Sundays (from 10:00 to 12:30). Postal services can be used in most international class hotels.

Connect with the world through telephony it is possible from a public telephone or at specialized points of Telekom. Most hotels are able to organize an international telephone conversation for a client, taking a small amount from him for services. For example, a three-minute conversation with Moscow will cost $7.

Safety

Malaysia is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia where holidays can promise a minimum of trouble. And if they happened, then, as a rule, it was the tourist himself who initiated them. Most of the precautions are for rules of conduct in a Muslim country. And this means that you should not allow yourself excessive frankness in clothing, even a shadow of disrespect for the traditions and symbols of Islam. When entering someone's house or temple, shoes must be left on the doorstep. It is better to use your left hand solely for the purpose of hygiene, having greeted a Malay with it, you will offend him to the core. In Malaysia, it is not customary to stroke anyone on the head, even small children, so guests of the country should not do this either.

The level of public safety in Malaysia is one of the highest among the countries of Southeast Asia, but you still should not show carelessness on the street.

Business climate

In the ranking of the best countries for doing business according to the World Bank, together with the International Finance Corporation, Malaysia occupies 18th line out of 183, ahead of Germany, Japan, China. It is noteworthy that Singapore, once a part of Malaysia, has been leading in this ranking for several years in a row. Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Malaysia occupies a leading position due to the introduction of an electronic system for filing applications with the judiciary, a “one-stop-shop” system that combines the procedures for registering companies, registering them with tax authorities, providing funds and employment.

Real estate

The real estate market in Malaysia is able to offer the buyer houses near the sea coast, apartments in high-rise buildings, villas, bungalows, industrial buildings, retail space. Transactions are best executed in real estate offices that have solid experience and know local laws. The transaction is simplified as much as possible, the average price is within $ 85,000 thousand.

You should not bring stuffed animals from Malaysia as a souvenir: there may be problems with customs, as tourists are often offered stuffed species from the Red Book.

Visa information

Residents of the CIS countries do not need a visa to Malaysia if the traveler has a passport and a ticket with a closed date of departure, and the period of his stay in the country is not more than 30 days.