With USD500 Budget, Travel in Sarawak
A Journey By Road in Sarawak
Start from Sematan, that is the southern tips of Sarawak to initiate your journey by road. From Sematan, drive to Lundu town, that is around 20 minutes drive. Both this town is famous for its wonderful and serene beaches. Then the trip will take us to Bau town which is celebrated as the gold mining town during the White Rajah era. Bau also common for its lime stone caves and the intra border shopping, that is Serikin, about 30 minutes from Bau town. From Bau, another 20 minutes, we reach Kuching, that is state capital of Sarawak. It’s a booming city.
In Kuching, there is a lot to see and admired. Once it was a centre for the British Empire, rules by the White Rajah. Interesting places to visit are the world renowned Culture Village, Kuching Waterfront, State Museum, Benuk Longhouse and the Borneo Highland Resorts. There also lots of world class Hotels here, beside cheap Motels and lodging houses.
From Kuching, Serian, a small town,a 60 minutes drive from Kuching, is another stop-over. This small town is well-liked for its inter-border terminate over. Famous for its local products markets, and usually travellers will stop here to have a rupture before continuing their journey.
Next move is Sri Aman, a 2 hours journey from Serian. It is another town in the interior of Sarawak. Nowadays it is popular for it natural phenomenon, locally known as “Benak”, or in English, the “Tidal Bore”. From Sr Aman, the stride continues to Betong, which is about 40 minutes drive from Sri Aman. Its has nothing much to offer, excepts for the tranquility of the interior of live. Around this division, another administrative centre in Sarawak, there is a few places one can go, such as the the popular Batang Ai Resort. More adventurous to go out, use long boats to visit to the interior, which has been shown in the Discovery Channel sometimes before, under the exotic foods and life style channel. In this area, one really can sample the life of the Iban long houses.
Take another 2 hours amble from Betong, then it is Sarikei. This town has a lot to offer and cheap Hotels are easy to finds. Just an easy going place, one can move around visiting the interior to feel the rural life’s. Most native here is the Ibans, Malays and the Melanau’s.
Sibu, about 1 hour roam from Sarikei, is a city in the making, and the main bustling economies activities in the central situation in Sarawak. From Sibu, beside using the normal land and air transportation’s, transportation by rivers is common here. It is here where the mighty and longest river in Malaysia are, the Rajang river. Sibu is situated in the river basin. Through Sibu, we can visit Kapit, and by 2013, the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam will be the largest hydroelectric dam in Malaysia, come alive, is in the interior of central region of Sarawak.
Need a bit of excitement, take about 3 hours scurry from Sibu to Mukah, a original administrative division in Sarawak It is an upcoming town, turning into a city. Eminent for it deep seaport, that is Tanjong Manis, and one of its famous traditional celebrations for the Melanau ethnic groups, that the biggest majority ethnic in Mukah, that is “Pesta Kaul”. It is also the major producer of Sago in the world.
Then, travel to Bintulu, that is about 5 hours journey from Mukah, or 4 hours from Sibu, is another administrative division. Here, it is famous for its gas and oil industry. Its here where the Similajau Protected Wildlife Centre is situated. It also has a beautiful beaches to admire.
Then, Miri, another administrative division, its a city now. Its took about 3 hours journey from Bintulu. Here, it is where the world noted Batu Niah Cave and the Mulu Caves is situated. Miri has a lot to offer, especially its interior region. It is also a border city with the Sultanate of Brunei. Events Miri famous are the Jazz Festival and the Triathlon of Similajau. Want to have a bit more, come to the interior of Miri, the like of Bario, which is in the highland, can only be reached by air, or on foot, wow, it will acquire around 3 weeks journey.
The last administrative centre of Sarawak to visit is Limbang. By roads through Brunei, or by air, or more adventurous, by the four wheel drive. Limbang is a lucky town, bordered by Brunei, and the Sabah, another state of Malaysia, which is situated in Borneo. Here. to feel the trill of four wheel drive, come and visit BaKelalan, famous for it apple, the only places that plant it in Malaysia.
For the current forex exchange, USD 1 equivalent to RM 3.30. So if you have USD 500, that will equivalent to RM 1500. That will be more than enough for you to travel to the four main cities in Sarawak, that Kuching, the state capital, where you first space foot in Sarawak, Sibu, the central situation city of Sarawak, then Bintulu, the city famous for it oil and gas industries, then Miri, the northern region city, near to the Sultanate of Brunei.
Kuching, where you set foot in Sarawak, spend your time for sightseeing around two days. The cost will be around RM 200, that covers your hotels for RM 150 and foods for RM 50. Then you can fade with a bus to Sibu for 6 hours journey, and it cost you RM 40. In Sibu, spend your time there for two days, and the cost is around RM 200, that covers your hotel and food.
From Sibu, take a bus journey to Bintulu for 3 hours journey, and it cost you around RM 20. Spend another two days in Bintulu, and the cost that covers your hotel and food, will be around RM 200. Then, Miri will be your last destination. Take a bus from Bintulu to Miri for three hours journey, and you only needs to spend around RM 20. In Miri, spend for two days, and the cost you have to pay is around RM 200.
For 8 days, that the tightest schedule for traveling to the four main city in Sarawak, you only need to spend for RM 880, far less then the RM 1500 budget. So you collected have that RM 620 luxury to spend, and that quite a lot of money, compare to the average income for the people of Sarawak of USD 250. The budget can be far less, especially with your hotels bill, if you travel in a group of 4, where you can share your hotels room, and this will give you more luxury to travel by taxi to certain interesting places that this cities have to offer.
Tips about hotels: Go for cheap and clean hotel, with average rent RM 70 per night. Its air-con, hot and chilly bath, free soap, shampoo, bath towel, and a TV too.
Tips about eateries:Go for coffee-shop that serve mostly noodles and rice. Avoid classy restaurant, because it will cut thin your budgets. Most shop that serve food is shapely, but you might face trouble in communications.
Warnings:Don’t and avoid going around at night. Go to the food outlets that is nearest to your hotels if you need to dine unhurried at night. Walks where there is lots of people, and be always alert to avoid unnecessary dramatic situation.
The conclusion is, it is a worth holiday to spend in Sarawak. You will have all the trill, and adventure to put on your travel dairy, beside have the opportunity to withhold your worth journey in your camera.
Welcome to Sarawak, translated to Malay language as ” Selamat datang ke Sarawak”. Thank you in English, will be ” Terima kasih “. I in English, will be ” saya ” in Malay language. Can you benefit me, in Malay langauge will be ” boleh tolong saya “, and sorry will be ” minta maaf “.
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How to Go to Balicasag Island
Balicasag Island in Bohol is one of the best diving sites in the world. The island is situated more or less four kilometers southwest of Duljo Point in Panglao reef. This island is surrounded by a sandy coralline beach making it ideal for vacationers.
The island is fringed by a narrow reef shelf about nine to 49.5 meters wide. You can find hard coral cover the tops of the submarine cliff and many gorgonians at the button. You will enjoy seeing the different kinds of colorful marine life such as reef fish, sponges, big jacks and so many Barracudas and Mackerels. That is one of the reasons why so many foreign and local divers savor this area.
Tagbilaran City has an airport, receiving flights from Manila and Cebu. The flight times are about 1 hour and 20 minutes respectively. Panglao Island is connected to Bohol mainland near Tagbilaran City by bridge, so you can go to Panglao Island by car in 45 minutes or less. After you arrived in Panglao town proper, you can hire a boat that will bring you to Balicasag Island.
If you finish in a resort like Panglao Beach club or the Bohol Tropics, they offer services to bring you to Balicasag Island. Most resorts will charge you P2,200 to 3,000 for this service. But you will be seeing not only the Balicasag islands; you will be enjoying watching Dolphin too. Aside from that, you can ask the boat driver to derive you to the snorkeling site that you can enjoy snorkeling. Don’t forget to bring your snorkeling gear with snorkeling shoes. And bring some biscuits to feed the fish, so that the colorful fish will around you to eat your biscuits.
That’s a very enjoyable experience to see the colorful marine life that likes a friends moving around you to catch your biscuits. So next time you plan a vacation, don’t forget to put in your list the Balicasag Island in Bohol, Philippines.
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Guide to Malaysia
General Culture:
History:
During world war II the British were in the control of the country that was then called Malaya. In 1942 the Japanese invaded and ousted the British. In 1945 when world war II ended the British resumed control of the country. Malaya’s independence movement had started under the guidence of Tunku Abdul Rahman and in 1957 Malaya gained independence with Tunku becoming their first prime minister.
Information taken from www.geographia.com/malaysia/history04.htm
1957 – explain day:
After Malaya gained independence on August 31, 1957 they were presented with a number of new problems. The first impart to be resolved was which territories would be included in the fresh state. In 1961 the country became known as Malaysia as it is now. This was after prime minister Tunku persuaded Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak to join Malaya in a federal union. In 1965 Singapore opted out of the union as we now perceive it as an independent country from Malaysia.
Information taken from www.geographia.com/malaysia/history04.htm
The formation of Malaysia caused opposition from both the Philippines and Indonesia because they both believed they had territorial claims to eastern parts of Malaysia.
Information taken from www.istc.org
Another challenge for the newly formed Malaysia was that of national identity. The people of Malaysia were a real mix of races and culture and uniting them under a common flag was not an easy task. Malays represented the majority and were given the key positions in government, national religion became Islam and the National language became Malay. It was the Chinese that dominated business and trade and the result was many Malays were suffering economic hardship. The government which was controlled by the United Malay National Organization passed the novel Economic policy that aimed to increase opportunities for the Malays by establishing various quotas in their favor. This decision did not appease the Chinese. In 1969 there were violent riots in Kuala lumpar between the Chinese and Malays the country was site in state of emergency for two years, this is the most painful memory in the nations history. The last two decades have been very successful for Malaysia with ample growth, prosperity and significant progress in accelerate relations. Many attribute this progress to Prime Minister Mahahir bin Mohammed who led the country since 1981.
Recent History:
As a member of the British Commonwealth Malaysia proudly presented the Commonwealth Games in 1998. Most recently Malaysia was hit with the secondary shadow wave of the 2004 tsunami which traveled at 160 km/h. The impact resulted in 68 deaths and $25 million of pain, areas affected were Penang, Langkawi, Kedah, Perlis and Perak. In the resort areas of Langkawi and Penang shapely up efforts were quick and beachfront hotels were back to fat operating capacity within two weeks.
Information taken from www.istc.org
Country profile:
Malaysia is located in Southeastern Asia bordering with Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei. There are 13 states 11 in western Malaysia these are Perlis, Pahang, Perak, Penang, Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Malacca, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan. East Malaysia consists of Sabah and Sarawak. The total area size of the country 329,750 sq km, and is slightly larger than New Mexico in comparative size. The typical climate is tropical. Malaysia has possible natural hazards of flooding, landslides and forest fires. Malaysian population is 24,385,858 and has a population growth of 1.78%. The ethnic breakdown in Malaysia is 50.4% Malay, 23.7% Chinese, 11% Indigenous, 7.1% Indian and others such as Americans, Europeans 7.8%.
Information taken from www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/my.html
Crime:
The overall crime rate in Malaysia is low and violent crime against foreigners is rare the most common crimes against foreigners is petty theft and credit card fraud. The new biggest issues are with purse snatching and credit card fraud. Although burglaries do occur they are rare in occupied residencies and are also rare in apartments.
Information from www.osac.gov
Malaysian Government system:
The present administrative center is located in Putrajaya. Of Malaysia’s 13 states nine are headed by their Royal Highnesses, the sultans. Penang and Melaka and the states of Sabah and Sarawak are under the care of the governor. The federal territories in Sabah which includes capital city Kuala Lumpar each have a Mayor. Putrajaya is located unprejudiced 25 km south of Kuala Lumpar and houses the Government office complexes. Putrajaya is a futuristic city that houses people in a lavish mosque and comes complete with its own wetlands and nature highlights.
The head of the Malaysian nation is known asYang di-pertuan Agong and his position is shared with the Sultans of the nine royal states. Elected by his fellow Sultans the Yang di-Pertuan Agong keeps his place for five years then passes on the duties to another Sultan. The very first Yang di-Pertuan Agong was given the spot based on seniority. The Malaysian government system is a parliamentary democracy and similar to the British system. The democracy is headed by the Prime Minister and his deputy. A host of minsters all work closely together to implement the government polices that are so crucial to future development of Malaysia.
The Prime Minister is the leader is the political party and general elections are held every five years. The Prime Minister names his cabinet and then discusses the appointment of ministers with the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Malaysia has seen tremendous growth especially within the last 25 years. The current government takes issues such as Education, Healthcare as well as Social Security. As part of a continued effort to help the entire Malaysian society Schools and Hospitals are heavily subsidized by the government. One issue that the Malaysian government are very serious over is Drug Trafficking. On this issue the government is not willing to negotiate. Depending on the proper circumstances the penalty is either death by hanging or life imprisonment. These penalties have been handed out to both the locals and foreigners and is one area the government will rarely compromise.
Information taken from www.kuala-lumpur.ws/ourgovernment/index.html
Religion:
As a very diverse and multi-cultural country all of the worlds major religions are represented in Malaysia. The biggest religion is Islam, as in many Muslim countries Islam has seen a major revival in the past 10 years. All of the Malay population are ardent Muslims and to suggest anything less would cause great offense to a Malay. The Koran is the main source of religious law for Malays although few are proficient in Arabic. All Malay children are sent to learn and read the Koran. There is an annual Koran reading competition and passages of the Koran are read at Malay ceremonies. It is appropriate for visitors to be discreet in dress and behavior.
The Chinese religion is a combination of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The Taoism is do with harmony with the universe. Confucianism is concerned with the political and good aspects of life and Buddhism takes care of the afterlife. The view that the Chinese have three religions isn’t quite correct as the religions are combined into one. At the first level the religion holds the belief of the innate vital energy is things around us such as rocks, trees, rivers and springs. At the second level idol care for sets in with people from the distant past both real and mythological are worshiped as gods. On top of this are the beliefs of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.
Hinduism flourished in the courts before the coming of Islam in the 15th century. Hinduism was used to bolster the authority of the ruling classes. It believed to have come about due to the early Hindu traders across the Indian Ocean. Relics and remains have been found in Kedah as further evidence.
Sikhism owes it belongings mainly due to the British connection. The Sikhs believe and worship in the one and only god who is formless, thus idol adore is evil and a sin in the Sikhs scriptures. The Sikhs dwelling of admire is known as Gurdwara. All are welcome at a Gurdwara regardless of urge, religion or sex. The Sikh Fresh Year is called Vasakhi and celebrated each year in April.
Christianity was bought to the country in fraction by International trade. Some Persian traders were Nestorian Christians. In the middle ages Catholic Diplomats, travelers and priests traveled through on their way to China. Churches were established in the area with the coming of the Portuguese in 1511, Dutch in 1641, and the British in 1786. Christian missionaries played a key role in the field of education and medical services by establishing Schools and Hospitals in various parts of the country.
Information taken from Tourism Malaysia www.asia-planet.net/malaysia/religion.htm
Malaysia National Day:
Malaysia gained its independence from the British on August 31st, 1957 and now celebrates their independence ever year on August 31, this is often known as National Day. In Malaysia the National Day celebrations are known as Merdeka. On the eve of Merdeka there are lavish celebrations in a carnival atmosphere with dancing, spectacular fireworks and performances by local artists. The Malaysian national flag known as Jalur Gemilang is raised at midnight while the Malaysian citizens chant Merdeka. On Merdeka day itself exhibitions are displayed showing the history of Malaysia there is also firework displays. This is an official holiday day in Malaysia.
Information taken from www.travour.com/tours-to-malaysia/festivals-in-malaysia/merdeka-celebration.html
Malaysian Currency and Asian Financial Crisis:
The currency in Malaysia is the Ringgit it is divided into 100 sen and the currency code MYR. In Malay the currency of Singapore and Brunei is also known as Ringgit for this reason the Malaysian Ringgit is abbreviated to RM. The translation of the Rinngit in Malay is jagged which was originally used to describe the serrated edges of Spanish silver dollars that were heavily circulated in the space. In 1997 Malaysia suffered as a result of the Asian financial crisis. Foreign whisper investment started to fall at alarming levels. Ringgit started at 2.50 to the dollar and moved to 4.80 to the dollar at the bottom as capital flowed out. The kuala Lumpar took a drastic change starting out at 1300 fell as low as 400 points in just a few short weeks. The Malaysian government reacted to this by doing two things pegging the Rinngit to the dollar and refusing aid from the International Monterrey Fund(IMF). The rinngit was pegged to the dollar 3.80 to a dollar. Malaysia also refused aid, as it often came with specific lending conditions. By making these decisions Malaysia ensured that they were not as badly hit by the Asian Financial Crisis as Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The GDP was affected with a 7.5% contraction in 1998.
Things quickly improved afterwards with growth of 5.6% in 1999 and much improvement in 2000 with growth towards 8%. The Malaysian government then made efforts to rebuild the economy to the levels it was at before the Asian Crisis. This was achieved by massive government spending as Malaysia recorded budget deficits in the years that followed. Malaysia then took full advantage of its biggest trading and investment partner the United States. Malaysia saw a spacious increase in exports of electronic and electrical products to the United States. There has been continued period of low interest rates due to no significant inflationary pressure. Malaysia that enjoyed faster economic recovery than its neighbors, however in many way they have yet to have achieved the same levels as before 1997. The pegging system was abandoned in July 2005 and Malaysia reverted to floating system and within an hour China followed this move. The ringgitt began to strengthen a percentage against major world currencies. Since December 2005 there has been no further strengthening of the ringgitt this is despite large positive novel legend surplus meanwhile foreign reserves have started to topple at a rapid rate. The current exchanage rate states that one US dollar is equal to 3.68 ringgit.
Information taken from www.respond.com/topic/economy-of-malaysia
Languages:
With half the population of Malaysia Malay the official language on the country is Malay. Also heavily spoken are English and Chinese languages of Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka,Hainan and Foochow. Other major languages are Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi and Thai. In Eastern Malaysian areas there are indigenous languages because this is where most indigenous live and the most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan.
Information taken from www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/my.html
It is spellbinding to note that English is the principal language used in Business in Malaysia.
Information taken from www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm/malaysia_etiquette.htm
Climate:
The climate in Malaysia is generally tropical and humid. That being said there can be a significant difference between the climate in the lowlands and the highlands. The temperature range in the lowlands which includes capital city Kuala Lumpur is 70 – 90 f although it can be hotter during the summer months. Generally Malaysia has high humidity which is typical 80%. The highlands can have cooler temperatures even in the summer months areas such as the Cameron highlands with temperatures around 60 f fairly celebrated.
As is common in many tropical countries Malaysia has two distinct seasons the wet and dry season. Typically the dry season runs from May to September and the wet season runs mid November to March. Generally Malaysia has heavy annual rainfall of around 100 inches. On a typical rainy day there is often a heavy downpour with thunder and lightning. This will usually last for an hour or two.
Information taken from www.expatkl.com/v3_geography_climate2.php? ref=1
Education:
Education in Malaysia is available from a number of different sources generally these are government sponsored schools(public schools) private schools or homeschooling. Station and local government has very little influence on the curriculum or any other major aspects of education and standardized testing is common place. The education system is overseen by Malaysian Ministry of Education and the 2006 budget is 1.2 Billion RM. The Malaysian Ministry of Education was established in 1956. Generally the primary languages of education are Malay, English, Mandarin, Chinese and Tamil.
The stages of education in Malaysia is Pre-school, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Tertiary Education and Postgraduate. Only Primary Education in Malaysia is mandated by the government it is not a criminal offense to neglect the education needs of a child after six years of considerable education. The Primary and Secondary education in government schools in handled by the Minsitry of Education, but for Tertiary education policies are handled by the Ministry of Higher Education which was created in 2004.
Another type of schools in Malaysia are Islamic Religious Schools. These schools concentrate on the teachings of Islam. Subjects include early Islamic history, Arabic and Fiqh. It is not required but some states require all muslim children from six to twelve to attend as a complement to the required primary education. The secondary school system is based of the British school system and is 5 years of schooling referred to as forms 1 – 5. At the end of the five years students must sit an examination known as SPM, which is the Malaysian Certificate of Education examination. As of this year on the English SPM paper student are given a GCE ‘O’ Level grade as well based on the essay portion of the exam. This secondary grade is not part of their final certificates but is included on their results slip. Earlier this year there has been widespread criticism stating there is to much emphasis to A’s. There is also debate on the number of subjects being taken for the SPM with some students taking as many as 16 which is deemed as unnecessary.
There are several options open pre university which has come under some amount of criticism. The first option is staying on to study get 6 which is a two year program again based off the British A-Level program. The program is split into two parts the lower six for the first year and the upper six for the second year. Another option is matriculation which is a one year program open to all students. That being said 90% of the places are reserved for Bumiputeras. Bumiputeras represent 60% of the total population in Malaysia and the majority of them are Malays. Many people are of the opinion that the matriculation is a bit of a cop out and is generally regarded as an easier route than form six, and unbiased stands to give the Bumiputeras population an easy route to university. There is also the option of attending a private college there are several options for students their. The main ones are the British A-level program and the Canadian matriculation program. There is also the option of other national system such as the Austalian NSW Board of studies Higher School Certificate or the American High School Diploma with AP subjects. Even more recently the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is becoming more popular as an option before university.
University level education is referred to as Tertiary education and in order to come by into a public university must have completed either the matriculation or STPM, which is the British A-level system or six accomplish. Doing well in these exams doesn’t ensure university entrance as selection is based on a number of factors and no guidelines exist. Racial quotas are a controversial issue is public university selection that seem to favor the Malay population. There was evidence of this in 2004 when 128 students who gained the best ever grades for a university application 5 A’s on the STPM. All of these students were denied their first choice of medicine and the only thing they had in common was they were non-Malay. Although all these students get offers from private institutions many did not glimpse medicine because of lack of funds.
Post graduate degrees are an option after students have completed their first degree and master degrees are becoming more and more celebrated. Many of the private and public universities now offer master degrees. As an alternative to a university degree students may study professional style vocation courses . The religious schools do not offer a route to university forcing students to continue their studies in a foreign country. .
There are racial issues in schools with concerns that students are not encouraged to mix with the various races within Malaysia. This is being blamed on the amount of Islam being taught in schools and is coming into all areas not just religious classes.
There has been many issues as regards to language taught in schools in Malaysia especially because Malay is the national language. Schools that were not considered national schools were using the Chinese languages, but there has been some reform. Now English is used to say key subjects such as English and Mathematics to ensure Malaysia doesn’t get left behind in the global world. Also because of this issues surrounding language the Chinese languages are now offered as electives.
There are also gender concerns at the university level with considerable less boys than girls in tertiary education. Certain statistics show that twice as many girls are in public universities than boys, and there is also a high drop out rate amongst boys. The problems this may cause in the workforce strangely seems to of worked itself out. Only 5% of women are working in management and professional positions in the country.
Information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki_education_in_malaysia
Malaysian Culture:
As discussed the biggest portion of the population of Malaysia is Malay and all of Malays are Muslim. Due to this fact many of the culture values and customs in Malaysia are based off Islam beliefs. Some Malay men wear a black velvet cap this is called the songkok and many Malay men wear the songkok on Fridays. Friday is the Muslim pray day and services are attended in a Mosque to accommodate this Friday lunch time is from 11:30 to 2:30 pm. Muslim men must cover their heads with the praying on Fridays within the Mosque. Malay women can wear what they like although they must mask their heads for prayers. Be aware that there are prayer rooms in many public places, make sure your aware what it is and don’t mistake it for the rest room.
Be aware of the local culture towards touching, kissing and hand gestures. In Malaysia it is considered rude to touch another person in crowed situations keep your hands close to you to demonstrate your culturally sensitive. Deliberate touching such as hand shaking is acceptable, but be aware you may receive more of a touch on your hand than a handshake. Among conservative people men do not shake hands with women, but bow to each other. Be especially careful as regards to children touching their head is not acceptable. People in Malaysia believe that the head is spiritually and vulnerable and if not handled carefully may injure. Couples be aware that kissing in public is not generally acceptable this is the case even amongst relatives and children. Be especially careful of assert pointing with one finger in fact it is only done as a deliberate insult. If you earn yourself in a situation where you want to point something out do so with your entire hand. Children are taught that if they point their finger at a aesthetic body it will drop off. Definitely don’t crook your finger and ask someone to reach to you this is used by prostitutes to encourage custom. Be aware that it is considered polite to retract your shoes before entering someones house or temple. Generally you should dress conservative short shorts and short dresses/skirts may cause offense. Also your get better service if your dressed conservatively. Don’t criticize the government this is seen as a great insult.
Information taken from www.dalat.org
An unusual Malaysian concept is the open house. Typically when someone hosts a festival friends, families and strangers visit the hosts house to wish them well and enjoy the feast. During festival season there is an annual pilgrimage of city folk to their respective hometowns, and cities like Kuala Lumpur can often become ghost towns during this period. There is an alternative to club culture common with the young. The sight of unhurried night food stalls come as accepted places to hang out all through the night and demonstrates how places like Kuala Lumpur never sleeps.
Information from www.best-of-langkawi.com
Malaysian Food:
Malaysia has one of the worlds truly diverse cuisine. Its possible to have a different dish every day for a year and still not try them all. The good news is that eating out in Malaysia is relatively inexpensive. The major different types of Malaysian cuisine are Malay, Chinese, Indian and Nyonya.
Information taken from www.asia-planet.net
As is generally true in Asian cuisine rice is a staple diet and can be eating for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Rice is generally eaten almost exclusively with your fingers. Fish, Chicken and Beef are all very popular choices in Malay cuisine. There is no pork in Malay cuisine as this is against the Islam beliefs. Popular dishes in Malay cooking are Nasi Dagang, Keropok Lekor/keping, Ayam Goreng, and Laksam. Nasi Dagang is princply a rice dish made by the mixing of cooking rice and glutinous rice. Keropok Lekor/Keping is a popular Malay fried snack, the Keropok is made of grounded fish mixed with sago. Its comes in two main forms the long chewy ones are known as Lekor and the thin crispy Keping. It is typically served with a chili dip. Ayam Goreng is a spicy fried chicken dish. Laksam is made using wheat and rice flours and is steamed. The gravy to accomply it is made of purified fish and mixed with coconut milk.
Information taken from www.marimari.com
The Chinese dishes use rice as a staple served with a number of vegetables and heavily featured are noodles in many variates. Indian food are principly very provocative but a lot of other flavors are also added to give a delightful combination. Nyonya food is in a way a different type of Chinese food with influences from many areas including incorporating Malay cuisine. Generally the food in Malaysia has some really wonderful flavors, there are all different kinds of Asian cuisine as well as flavors from all over the world. There are also many tropical Malay fruits perhaps the most notorious is the Durian which has an strong unpleasant scent, but is a exact delicacy that commands a high note. Its often described as the king of all fruits.
Information taken from www.asia-planet.net
Conducting Business in Malaysia:
General Management:
The biggest principle thing that dictates moving Malaysia forward is Vision 2020. The understanding first started in the year 2000 and the aim is to become a fully developed country by the year 2020. The year 2020 was selected because when referring to eye sight 2020 is seen as perfect clear vision. This is an analogy of where Malaysia wants to be by the year 2020. The vision is based of the strength of the Malaysian economy prior to the events of the Asian Financial crisis. The Malaysian economy has since recovered and is in a strong position.
Information from www.unpan1.un.org
Negotiations:
People in Malaysia are firm believers in the relationship come to business. Don’t try and urge a deal because people in Malaysia are much more interested in doing business with people they know. A good way to begin to earn trust and get to know your Malaysian counter part is small talk. Be patient and expect it to take time before you reach an agreement. A word of caution once you have a written contract that doesn’t valuable mean that much, as its aged to continue to negotiate after the contract.
Information from www.worldroom.com
There are three key concepts to enjoy in mind while negotiating with Malaysians these are Face, High context culture and Fatalism. Face is a conception evident in a lot of Asian cultures, to lose face is to lose control of ones emotions and cause public embarrassment it is seen as a negative behavior. Malaysians will often use laughter to conceal their true feelings and avoid losing face. Be aware of this concept because if you cause your Malaysian counterpart to lose face you may severely affect your business relationship. High context cultures are more interested in indirect communication such as body language. Direct answers are rarely given because Malaysian want to preserve the relationship they feel the main purpose of communication is developing relationships rather than exchanging information and facts. Malaysians will look to prevent disagreements and preserve harmony as these are distinguished values in Malaysia. Fatalism also plays a astronomical fragment in negotiations and this is the belief that success, failures, opportunities and misfortune are due to the will of god. This is indispensable to remember because in Business Negotiations it will be hard to persuade based on evidence or hard facts. Especially the Malay Malaysians will instead make decisions based on subjective feelings and Islamic faith. Again patience is the key and remember Malaysians are likely to fabricate decisions based on personal factors or their subjective feelings than on facts and figures.
Information from www.communicaid.com/malaysia-business-culture.asp
Also be aware when setting up business meetings that whenever possible its best to not schdule meetings for Fridays. These is because Friday is the Muslim pray day.
Information from www.communicaid.com
Business and Social Protocol:
When introduced to a Malaysian person refer to them by their first name preceded by their appropriate title such as Dr or Mr. In Malaysian business there is large portion of people from Chinese descent and will typically have a three syllable name and the surname precedes the first names. For instance a Chinese Malaysian called Lee Ming-teh should be referred as Mr Lee.
Information from www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm/malaysia_etiquette.htm
Although the different groups of people have slightly different ideas on how they view time the general rule is its best to be punctual. Generally the language of business in Malaysia is English, however be aware that communication with government officials should be conducted in Malay. Titles are very important in Malaysian business culture they are important to show how important an employee is in an organization. Again ensure that you address all your Malaysian counterparts correctly. There is a level of respect in organizations, for instance employees don’t address their managers by first name. They would be addressed by a title such as sir or madam followed by there proper title for instance Dr Chang. When meeting for the first time with your Malaysian counterparts a firm handshake is appropriate. Remember though that men and women in Malaysia do not typically shake hands so unless initiated a nod or bow is what is best. In the business world it is not musty to give gifts this is because they can often be seen as a bribe. If you are given a gift then accept it with both hands and wait until you have left your Malaysian friends before opening it. Remember to reciprocate with a gift of equal value to ensure you don’t lose face. Remember loss of face could ruin your business relationship so this is very critical. Business cards are typically exchanged after an initial introduction and with a huge proportion of Malaysian business people Chinese it would be useful if the business card was written in Chinese on the other side. Also be sure to carefully examine the business card before placing it in a pocket or briefcase.
Information from www.communicaid.com
Gift Giving:
One of the most important thing to find out before giving a Malaysian person a gift is what origin they are and even more important what religion they are. Remember Malays are Muslim and of the Islam religion whereas Chinese are not. If giving gifts to a Malay never give alcohol or products made from pigskin as these are against the Islam religion. Also remember if your recipient is a Chinese Malaysian then alcohol is appropriate. Another cautionary imprint is avoid yellow where possible both as a wrapping and as the actual gift. This is because yellow is a color associated to royalty in Malaysia.
Information from www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm/malaysia_etiquette.htm
Remember Malaysian are keen to establish a relationship before they trust you this also pertains to gift giving. Its important that before you mediate giving a gifts you remember Malaysians favor relationships and if you don’t have a personal relationship with the recipient the gift may be seen as a bribe. An overly expensive gift is generally not a good idea as you could acquire in trouble with the authorities as the gift may be seen as a bribe. If you receive a gift do not reciprocate with a gift of greater value.
Estimable business gifts include the following:
Pens
Desk Accessories
Items representative of your country
Good social gifts:
Food or other item representative of your country
If male be caitious of given a gift to a women because in the Malaysian culture this may display romantic intent. Malaysian business protocol requires that the man should explain gift is from his wife. Never wrap gifts in white this color is associated with death, blue, black and yellow wrapping should also be avoided.
Information from www.1worldglobalgifts.com
Gift guidelines for Malays:
If invited to a Malays home bring itsy-bitsy gifts for the family and present gifts upon leaving not arriving.
Good gift choices:
Alcohol free perfume for hostess
Toys for children
Fine cotton shirts for men
Food can also be good gifts but bear in mind that meat products must be halal which is the Muslim equivalent to Kosher.
Avoid the following:
Alcohol and products containing alcohol such as certain perfumes
Pork
Personal items such as underwear
Toy dogs or gifts that picture dogs
Gifts with images of nude or partially clad women even in artistic form
Guidelines for Chinese Malaysians:
Be aware that it is a Chinese custom to decline gifts three times before finally accepting this is done to prevent the recipient appearing to acquisitive. When you are offered a gift you are expected to do as the Chinese do. Give an even number of flowers to a Chinese person an outlandish number will only be perceived as a bad omen. At Chinese New Year it is customary to give a gift of money to children and service personnel in a red envelope. Again only an even amount of money. Red or Pink are the safest colors to wrap gifts for Chinese Malaysians.
Gifts to Avoid:
Gifts or wrappings where the colors are white, black or blue
Knives, scissors or cutting tools they suggest the severing of a friendship or similar close bond
clocks, towels, handkerchiefs, straw sandals
Guidelines for Indian Malaysians:
Hindus do not eat beef or use any cattle products, leather goods of any kind should not be given as gifts . The Indians believe that unusual numbers are lucky. When giving money give in odd numbers, and give gifts in exclusive numbers. Do not give any gifts of multiples of three because these are considered unlucky. Also don’t give the flower frangipani as it is considered a funeral flower.
Information from www.1worldglobalgifts.com
Preparation for assignment:
Language Lessons:
Although the national language of Malaysia is Malay it is not critical to be able to speak Malay to get business done. This is because the language of business in Malaysia is English. If you decide you would like to try and learn some Malay then we recommend the Berlitz Language Center located here in Kuala Lumpar the address is listed below.
Wisma UOA Building Ground Floor
50 Jalan Dungun
Kuala Lumpar
50490
Tel: +60 3 2093 1619
Information from www.languagesource.com
Cost of Living:
Generally the cost of living in Malaysia is relatively low. When looking for items around the markets a bargain can always be picked up and bargaining is expected. Generally Asian products are available at bargain prices from clothing to high end electronics. It is a good opinion to stay away from designer European and American goods which have been imported and will be high in price. A common feature in Malaysia are food stalls in the cities, which can be as cheap as RM 3.00 for a bowl of noodles. Another good thing to absorb in mind is that appearance doesn’t always matter. The less exciting looking places often have the best food. On average you can expect to pay around RM 80.00 for a party of four eating out at an ordinary restaurant. As a general rule its best to stick to the native cuisine although many international dishes are now served these are often the items that carry the higher ticket tags. An important note is that don’t go to expensive places just for superior service. The service in Malaysia is not well developed service can be dead, inept or even vulgar. Often restaurants up the price of the meal with alcohol especially fine wines. A typical glass of wine can cost RM20.
Accommodation:
Generally the cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is relatively low, but the city if fairly highly populated so finding appropriate accommodation may not be that easy. However we have taken the lead on this one and selected appropriate residencies. The position we have selected is SuCasa Service Apartments located at 222, Jalan Ampang City Center 50450 in Kuala Lumpur. These apartments have everything your need and is what is known as a Serviced Apartment. All utilities are included in the monthly rent and there is no lease to effect so you want be locked in. The location could hardly be better right in Kuala Lumpar center with easy access to all the Dining, Entertainment and shopping as well as the second tallest buildings in the world the Petronas Twin Towers. All apartments have:
Tastefully fully furnished
Fully equipped kitchen
Separate living and dining area
The building also features the following facilities:
Airy and spacious lobby
24-hour guest services
Foreign Exchange
Message Service
Security Deposit Box
Security lift card system
Fully equipped business center with secretarial service, courier service, Internet facilities & Travel Arrangements
Recreational facilities with Gymnasium, Swimming Pool
Housekeeping services
Laundry & Dry Cleaning
Maintenance Service
Limousine Service
Scheduled Shuttle Service
Parking Bay
24 hour security
Prices start at RM4,300 for a room bedroom which equates to about $1075 monthly.
The following may be useful:
Information taken from www.moveandstay.com
Public Transportation:
Taxis are relatively inexpensive, but you may have trouble getting the driver to use the meter. Typically Taxis are a bargaining process so precede with caution. In some places in Kuala Lumpar taxis work on a prepaid coupon system. This is often more expensive that metered rates, but cheaper than bargaining so it is generally recommended.
Almost certainly the best way to win around the city is the LRT or Light Rail Transit it is newly completed and fairly comprehensive. Below is a map of the routes.
Some useful stations are:
Bukit Bintang for shopping in the Golden Triangle
Bukit Nanas for clubbing at P.Ramlee
KLCC Kuala Lumpar center with twin towers and shopping mall
Masjid Jamek LRT interchange as well as access to Chinatown and Little India
Plaza Rakyat for puduraya bus region
There are also buses that work out quite well. All buses travel from hubs and they are all accessible through the rail network. There are several different bus operators and the system can be a little complex, but once you pick up used to it your be able to get around the city perfectly well.
Information from www.wikitravel.org
Visa requirements:
A work permit/visa in required in order to conduct business in Malaysia. With this visa you will be allowed:
Attend business meetings or discussions
Attend sales calls to potential Malaysian client provided that the employee represents a commercial entity outside Malaysia
Attend seminars or fact finding meetings
The business visa may be extended within Malaysia if valid business reasons can be given for the extension. There are some basic requirements to apply for a business visa these are:
Must have a plot and a employer outside of Malaysia and must be traveling to Malaysia for a defined limited period, not to exceed the authorized period
May not receive compensation from sources within Malaysia
Must have proof of adequate funds to defray expenses while on business visit
Must have specific, realistic and pre-determined plans for his/her stay in Malaysia
The period of stay must be consistent with the intended purpose of the trip
For the visa you will need:
Valid passport
Completed application form
Letter from employer stating the purpose and length of trip as well as financial responsibility during the business scuttle in Malaysia
Proof of legal residence in the country where the application is being submitted
Two passport sized photos
Travel itinerary
Application fee
Information from www.pubweb.com
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A Few of the Top Restaurants for a Romantic Evening in Cebu City, Philippines
A Few of the Top Restaurants for a Romantic Evening in Cebu City, Philippines
Living in a city of a million people makes for an abundant supply of restaurants, and people who live here really seem to love to eat. I think eating is the national pastime. But coming up with a list of top restaurants for a romantic evening here in Cebu City took some time and plan. Even though we dine out (on average) of at least ten times a week, romance isn’t usually part of the equation. But sometimes it is. I’ve noticed the bill is always higher at the end of a meal involving romance.
WATERFRONT HOTEL
The Waterfront, of which there are two in Cebu (Lahug and the Airport), is a number one choice for more than a meal, but the food is very good too. The hotel hires world-class chefs and serves the food in style. Filipino style… which usually means lots of service with a smile. You’ll find the luxurious lobby typically filled with foreigners sitting at their laptops or rapt in conversation. It’s an exciting environment, but not exactly romantic.
Up on the second floor, right next to the Pagcor Casino, is a little place called Sally’s Piano Bar. The woman who owns and operates this little gem is also the main attraction, Sally Rama. The food they serve comes from the same chefs who cook for the main dining situation. It’s four-star. But at Sally’s, between 8 and 2, you get the romance of live music with your meal. It’s very nice. It’s world-class at a less than a world-class price, but still much more expensive than an ordinary restaurant here in the city.
CAFÉ GEORG
We found Café Georg by mistake, while making a U-turn on Archbisop Reyes, just south of the Cebu City Country Club. It’s in a cool looking 2-story white building that is well maintained and exhibits a puny style.
The menu is one sheet, both sides loaded with food choices, with a heavy laminate that could well be used for a fan, but they’ve always got the air-con cranked up in this place, so no need. For us, romance is unbiased being together, even if it means sitting next to one another and reading a shared newspaper while waiting for the first course, which is always spinach and cheese dip with small toast. They have Lily’s favorite drink here, A& W Root Beer, which isn’t easily found in the Philippines. I usually drink San Miguel Pilsen, which is very easy to score. The total bill is always about 600 pesos (thirteen dollars U.S.). That’s about half of what the bill at the Piano Bar would have been.
There are now three Mooon Cafes within 10 kilometers of the others, while two years ago there was only the one, in Guadalupe, just past the Provincial Capitol Building. It’s an mature house turned into a restaurant with lots of private areas to dine (hence, the romantic part). They have live Spanish guitar music a few nights a week and the atmosphere is faux-Mexico, but they do a good job. It’s hard to find any good Mexican food in Cebu, but Mooon has it and lots of other choices too, native Filipino and American. A full meal for two will run between 400 to 600 pesos (about ten bucks) and we’re always fat, happy and romantically ‘satisfied’ when we leave.
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About Singapore
The exotic multi ethnic and cosmopolitan island state- city of Singapore is a unique brew of Malay, Chinese, Western and Indian cultures, located in Southeast Asia at the tip of the tropical Malay Peninsula. Close to the Equator, Singapore is actually one island with an area of 682 sq. km surrounded by nearly 63 islets. The capital city covers over 1/3rd of the area of the main island of the world’s smallest country. Predominantly, the population is Chinese but has a stout number of Malay, Indian and other ethnic groups.
With over 150 years of colourful history, Singapore derives its name from the Malay word, Singapora which means ‘ Lion City’ while another variation relates it to Sanskrit ‘Simha’ or lion. The rich culture and history traces its roots to the Srivijaya Empire which has roots in ancient Sumatra. It started as an outpost of the Sumatran Empire and later became a allotment of the Johore Sultanate in the 15th. century and 16th century. However, in 1617 the Portuguese burnt it down and downfall seemed imminent but managed to gain prominence in the 19th century as a trading post under the British East Indian Company. During the Second World War, it was under Japanese Occupation (1942-1945). In 1963, it joined the Federation of Malaysia but separated to become an independent nation of Republic of Singapore in 1965.
Today, the amalgamation of multi ethnic cultures, lifestyles and traditions have woven together to present a unique identity to Singapore and draws innumerable tourists from all parts of the world.
Sightseeing Highlights
The most glorious destination that all tourists head to is Sentosa Island. With a Mega theme park, Underwater World, Asia’s best oceanarium with a tropical theme that allows viewing of over 2,500 sea creatures ranging from sharks, sea dragons to dolphins and electric eels, from a 80 meter acrylic tunnel. It is begin from 9 am to 9 pm everyday.
Visit the first nocturnal Zoo in the world, Night Safari which encompasses an area of over 40 acres and is home to more than 120 species including 29% endangered animals. Other attractions with Night Safari park include Forest Giant’s Trail, Fishing Cat Trail, Giant Flying Squirrels and Bat Mangrove Walk.
For nature lovers and ecologically minded people, a visit to National Orchid Garden is a must. A part of Botanical Gardens of Singapore it has over 2000 hybrid varieties of orchids and 60,000 orchid plants on display.
Singapore Zoo also known as Mandai Zoo occupies 28 hectares of land and has over 315 animal species with over 2550 animals living in their natural habitat.Visit the Philately Museum, Singapore History Museum, the Asian Civilizations Museum and the Arts Museum, are some of these.
Butterfly Park and Singapore Insect Kingdom is not to be missed as they house over 2000 species of different butterflies and insects.
Jurong Bird Park is a delight with over 8,000 birds of 600 species of endangered birds, tropical birds, flightless birds and water birds from Southeast Asia
The Sultan Mosque and the Jama-at Mosque are some of the finest mosques in Singapore.
One of the oldest temples is Thian Hock Keng temple which was built in 1842. It is dedicated to the Taoist deity, Lord Matsu or God of sea
Experience
If you are looking to get the best out of your Singapore crawl, check out the pristine white sand beaches at Changi beach, Punggol beach, Sembawang beach and Sentosa Palawan beach.
If shopping is on your agenda, then visit the best flea markets at Sungei Road ‘Thieves Market’, Clarke Quay (Sundays only, 10 am to 6 pm), China Square (Sundays only 10 am to 6 pm) or Far East Square (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 12.30 pm to 8 pm).
For a heritage tour of Singapore, acquire a trip to the historic Fort Canning ( Bukit Larangan), Fort Tanjong Katong within the Katong Park and Fort Siloso or even the World War II site of Civilian War Memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives due to the Japanese Occupation of Singapore during 1942-45.
For a rocking nightlife, hit the pubs. Some of the most celebrated pubs are AZZUCAR, Ministry of Sound, The Butter Factory, Attic and many more. There is no slay of entertainment in this beautiful island city.
Other Activities
From adventure sports to nature walks in the only remaining primary rainforest patch in South East Asia, popularly known as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Appreciate swimming, snorkelling, surfing, water sports to hiking and trekking. Art aficionados don’t have to miss out but can enjoy the thriving art and music hub of Singapore.
You can shop to your heart’s delight at Orchard Road or browse through Chinatown’s antique shops. Little India is famous for the Mustafa and other elite malls. Commuting is easy with MRT trains or fast lane Expressways.
Excursion
To see Singapore landmarks in a nutshell, take a roam to the Civic District, Cricket Club, the Padang, Supreme Court, the historic Parliament House, and City Hall. The most famous symbol of Singapore, Merlion present a picturesque view for carrying back memorable photographs.
If religious places are on your agenda, don’t miss out on the Hindu temples in Little India while the oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples, the Thian Hock Keng temple is a must study. Visit the heart of Indian community, better known as Little India has weak stalls, Indian goods, silk, incense and spices.
For a romantic trip, enjoy a beautiful dinner in the good style of royalty, aboard the M V Cheng Ho, a beautiful replica ship of the Ming Dynasty vessel Da Fu. It is a perfect dinner cruise along the attractive Singapore River with the backdrop of ships harbored in the Western Anchorage.
Shopping Delights
Synonymous with Singapore’s shopping experience is Orchard Road that showcases the major supermarkets, departmental stores, multi cuisne restaurants and hotels. Some of the best hotels are Hilton International, Le Meridien, Orchard Hotel, The Boulevard, Mandarin Hotel, Goodwood Park, Hyatt Regency and Orchard Parade.
You can go and shop at huge shopping complexes such as Orchard Point, Centrepoint, Forum the Shopping Mall, Paragon, Shaw Centre, Orchard Emerald, The Far East Plaza, Ngee Ann City, Orchard Plaza Wisma Atria, Far East Shopping Centre, Lucky Plaza, Orchard Plaza, Orchard Towers, Shaw House, Tanglin Place and Tanglin Mall. Other hot spots to shop are at Arab Street, Holland Village, Little India, North Bridge Road, Marina Square and Parkway Parade.
Restaurants
Apart from the local cuisines that you can sample, Singapore restaurants offer a multi specialty restaurants and eateries serving world class cuisines. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants that you can try out:
Rochester (Contemporary Western cuisine)
At Holland Village/Buona Vista
1 Rochester Park,
Singapore 139 212
Ph. 6773 0070
Aj’s Tandoori (North Indian cuisine)
At The East #01-03,
328 Joo Chiat Rd.
(Opposite Hotel 81)
Ph. 6440 1257
Bukhara (North Indian cuisine)
At Clarke Quay,
The Cannery,
Clarke Quay
Ph. 6338 1411
Café Modestos (Italian cuisine)
Orchard Parade Hotel
Ph. 6235 7808
California Pizza Kitchen (Pizza)
Orchard, Forum the Shopping Mall
Ph. 6836 0110
Maharaja Kitchen (Indian cuisine)
Little India, 42 Veerasamy Rd
Ph. 6299 3321
Long Beach Seafood (Chinese Seafood)
The East,
1018 East Coast Parkway,
Singapore Tennis Centre
Ph. 6445 8833
Transportation
All transportation in Singapore is world class and commuting all through the city is relatively easy. From boats, taxis, buses and MRT (Mass Rapidly Transit System) which starts from 6am to midnight as these are the safest and the cleanest commuting systems in the world. The fares are applied on the distance travelled. Tariff can be paid through Contactless Smart Card ‘ezlink’, single trip ‘Standard Ticket’ and Visitors Card.
For tourists, a Visitors Card at $45 is available to sightsee around Singapore that can be bought after presenting the passport. Included is a booklet of discount coupons for shopping, golf, restaurants and hotels.
Festivals and Cultural events
Chinese New Year, Chingay Parade (near Orchard Road.) and Hari Raya Puasa (celebrate the slay of Ramzaan and Thaipusam at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and Sri Thandayuthapani Temple located in Little India.
Buddhist festival of Vesak, the Dragon Boat Accelerate and the Dumpling Festival is one of the most well-known Chinese festivals with rice dumplings, lion dances, operas at Albert Hall. Well-liked among tourists is the Singapore Food festival with a mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese and more cuisines. From May to July, enjoy the shopping discounts in the Great Singapore.
National Day Parade, Hungry Ghost Festival and Lantern Festival are some of the other Chinese festivals. Hindu festival of Deepavali in Little India is charming to look at all decorated with flower garlands and oil lamps. Christmas is also renowned with equal gusto all over the country.
Destinations close to Singapore
Nearby destinations that you can visit while on a trip to Singapore or make a weekend trips are:
Kuala Lumpur- The capital of Malaysia is 4-5 hours by train or bus and a 35 minute air trip.
Johor Bahru- A Malaysian city known for budget shopping and restaurants.
Bintan- Just 90 km by ferry, this paradise like Indonesian Island has beautiful resorts for an Indonesian holiday experience.
Tioman- It is a Malaysian East Waft island that can be reached by boat and bus.
Batam- The nearest Indonesian island is a boat ride away.
Malacca- A small colonial town just 3 hours by bus.
Quick Facts
Capital: Singapore City
Coordinates: Latitude: 1° 22′ 0 N, Longitude: 103° 47′ 60 E
Climate/Weather: 24 ° C to 32 ° C through out the year
Official Language: Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English
Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)
Calling Code: +65
Best Time to Visit: All year round
Tourist Information
The High Commission of India
India House
31, Grange Road,
Singapore 239702.
Phone: + 65- 67376777, 62382538 (only for after office hour queries. Timing for emergency service procedures – 1730 to 2200 hrs)
Fax : + 65- 67326909