Kuala Lumpur Visit Advise Needed

**Dixiecat** · 25th April 11, 08:48 AM

I'm arranging a business trip to Kuala Lumpur within the next month or so and I'm turning to the global nature of this forum, looking for advise regarding local customs and tips ranging from recommended hotels to dealing with local transportation.

Posting here or pm would be fine. Thanks in advance!

**macwilkin** · 25th April 11, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

I'm arranging a business trip to Kuala Lumpur within the next month or so and I'm turning to the global nature of this forum, looking for advise regarding local customs and tips ranging from recommended hotels to dealing with local transportation.

Posting here or pm would be fine. Thanks in advance!

Maybe someone in this group could assist a traveling Highland dancer?

http://www.ssas-online.com/

T.

**CDNSushi** · 25th April 11, 09:32 AM

Hey! I've been to KL. Interesting place. My top recommendation, would be to arrange for a full-day tour with your hotel's concierge. That's what we did (my wife and I) and it was a good decision. I do NOT recommend just going out and exploring on your own, the main reason not being safety, but because the worthwhile tourist sites are far apart and not very convenient to get to.

We paid a reasonable fee, and a really nice fellow picked us up by car, and drove us to all the places we wanted to see -- it was essentially a private, custom tour just for the both of us.

We visited: the Batu Caves, a pewter factory, a batik factory, the royal palace, a rubber tree.... (not a plantation.... We stopped at the side of the road and the guide just took us to a rubber tree and explained and showed us how the rubber was harvested), the Menara KL Tower, we would have gone up the Petronas Towers but they were closed that day, and at the end of the day he dropped us off in Chinatown where we shopped for fake EVERYTHING (knockoff Louis Vuitton gear, Omega watches, etc...)

Advice: WATCH your stuff like a hawk! My wife had some things stolen in an instant! Happened so fast, it was unbelievable.

Remember that Malaysia is a MUSLIM country... Even though the Malaysians are a lot more laid back than in the Middle East, it is a popular tourist destination for Saudis, Arabs, and Muslims from many countries... Women DO NOT have an equal status with men, and my wife and I saw and experienced that in a very big way.

Do some research before you go... Go to the Lonely Planet website... Buy a Lonely Planet guide book for KL...

In the Chinatown market, don't EVER pay the price stated. You can generally haggle them down to at least 60% of the original offer.

The penalty for simple possession of illegal drugs in Malaysia is death. They tell you this on the plane coming over... Not that I think that ANY of the rabble would be a part of such a thing, be sure you keep an eye on your bags at all times and don't EVER agree to take a package for someone...

That's all I can think of for now, but please feel free to PM me if you want any details on anything else...

Enjoy your trip though! The food was fantastic! And the culture was very unique.

**Dixiecat** · 25th April 11, 11:46 AM

Well, I'm hoping I might get a day to relax, but I'll be there servicing some equipment. I'll have to work until it's done which shouldn't take more than 2days, but I'm booking for 5 just in case.

Women DO NOT have an equal status with men, and my wife and I saw and experienced that in a very big way.

Now that, sucks. I haven't told my sponsoring company that they're getting a female tech, just to avoid problems before things are booked. I didn't have any trouble in Tunisia doing the same type of work, but I'm the only tech available for this job and I want any waves I cause to be small.

I've whipped off an email to Canadians In Malaysia group. I just need to confirm whether I need a visa or not. Even the Malaysian government website is slightly confusing on that regard. As far as I can ascertain, I don't, but nothing like being refused entry on a trip that will take 24hrs.

btw, I'm hoping to route my flights back through Tokyo for a day's vacation. Too late for a Quaich party.

**CDNSushi** · 25th April 11, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dixiecat

btw, I'm hoping to route my flights back through Tokyo for a day's vacation. Too late for a Quaich party.

True, but if you send me a PM with your arrival/departure info, I MAY be able to arrange to meet for a quick pint or wee dram. (And, for the record, that offer applies to any of the rabble who happen to pass through my neck of the woods)...

Now, as for the male/female thing... Don't be concerned. Malaysians aren't quite like THAT. The country has plenty of non-Muslim men & women as well, and they all try to tolerate each other as well as possible... Sexism reveals itself in far more SUBTLE ways... But it is certainly perceptible under some specific circumstances.

Definitely look into the visa, but I suspect it can't be TOO hard. My wife's cousin and his family (mom, dad & two kids), Canadian, all lived and worked in KL for several years recently and did just fine...

**Dixiecat** · 26th April 11, 08:08 AM

Oh, just so you know what I'm doing there:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/bu...lines&emc=tha3

I do tech support for the scanner and related peripherals.

**Dixiecat** · 12th May 11, 08:15 AM

And, it's official!

Scheduled to be in KL from June 4-9, then Tokyo from June 10-13.

Anybody in either location up for a get together?

**CDNSushi** · 12th May 11, 06:37 PM

I've sent you a PM in regards to the Tokyo leg of your trip.

And yes, echoing Dix's post -- if anyone happens to be in town and available on June 11 (Saturday night) we could organize a bit of a kilt night.

**NorCalPiper** · 19th May 11, 06:05 PM

We live right next door to a Malay couple. Their kids actually have kilts and they LOVE the Scottish thing. But to the point, I can ask them directly anything you'd like. Do you need a place to stay? Things to do? Let me know and you'll get first hand advice.