| Part 1: Introduction
This was a brief 10 days trip to Malaysia meant to relax a bit after
the intensive Iran trip.
Basically I spent a few days in KL, four nights in Pinang and three
nights in Sabah.
was chosen because it offers a mix of beach activities and sightseeing
due to the proximity to Georgetown and other sites on Pinang island.
The beach is nothing special and in fact the sea water is unbelievably
dirty, but it was nice to spend a few days on the sea with the family.
Pinang has - together with Melaka - been nominated as a UNESCO world
heritage site, due to its rich colonial heritage.
The area around
the Tip of Borneo is interesting and suitable for a mix of beach
holiday and cultural experience. There are several good beaches around
the tip of Borneo with clean seawater and good tourist infrastructure.
In addition there are interesting local villages which one can visit
and experience the local culture. The island of Banggi is still largely
undeveloped and not suitable at the moment for tourists.
Kinabalu is slowly developing its waterfront into an attractive area
with cafes, restaurants, shopping malls and nice views.
still moderate if compared to holiday destinations in Europe. On the
other hand however prices in Malaysia have been rising in the past
Due to its
mixed ethnic background Malaysia offera a wide variety of cuisines:
local Malay, Chinese and Indian. Restaurants and food stalls are
everywhere. The least expensive food is available in food stalls, very
often with surprisingly good quality. Almost all shopping malls in
Malaysia have food courts with a large number of food stalls.
end four or five star accomodation is still less expensive in Malaysia
than in western countries, although at the upper end room
can be very high. Basic, affordable accomodation is still available in
most places. In Sabah there are a number of hotels and resorts designed
to blend with the traditional local lifestyle: these are homestays and
longhouses built with traditional materials, most of the time not
/ Exchange rate (August/early September 2011)
1 Euro = RM 4.23
1 Euro = USD 1.45
ATMs are everywhere, so that you can easily get cash with a
Cirrus/Maestro ATM card. You won't need traveller cheques.
phones and prepaid cards
time I used a prepaid card of DiGi (initial cost was minimal, RM 5 or
so, recharges started at RM 10). Moderate call
cost. Internet flat rate for RM 8/day. Coverage was good in
places I stayed, although 3G coverage was only available in the larger
cities (KL, Pinang, Kota Kinabalu, but for instance not Kudat).
hotels offered free wireless Internet I used this to surf the web and
check my emails. Otherwise I relied on a 3G phone (SIM card from DiGi)
which I used as a modem for my notebook computer. Internet cafes are
everywhere and charge less than RM 4/hour.
Tropical climate, hot and humid. Typical weather pattern of blue sky in
the morning with gradual clouds buildup over day and overcast skies in
the afternoon. Except for Pinang it didn't rain much during our stay,
because August/September is still mostly dry season in Malaysia.
The usual set of vaccinations for tropical countries (consult your
doctor). These include polio, Hep A, tetanus,
diphteria, typhoid, although this list may be subject to change.
Malaria tablets are recommended if you go to the interior rural regions
of Malaysia and Borneo.
A valid passport is necessary. EU
nationals automatically get a three month visa upon arrival. This also
holds for nationals of many other countries - check with the Malaysian
embassy in your country.
No issues here. Malaysia is a
very stable and peaceful country.
- The beaches around the Tip of Borneo are well
suited for a beach
holiday. Nice, soft sand beaches, clean water, snorkelling possible off
- Surprisingly well preserved Runggus longhouses
in Bavanggazo near Kudat.
Kinabalu is developing its waterfront area. In combination with
the nearby islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman national park, Kota
Kinabalu is slowly turning into a place where it makes sense to spend
several days. In the past KK was just a place where to pass through, on
route to the more interesting destinations of Sabah.
- The beach in Batu Ferringhi (Pinang) as well as
all beaches on
Pinang island. Beaches everywhere else in Malaysia are just so much
- The blue taxis in KL, which are much more
expensive than the standard taxis.
used the usual mix of inexpensive AirAsia flights to cover the larger
distances and shared taxis and taxis to get around locally. Some
locations in Sabah can only be reached with a taxi, because public
transportation is either missing or complicated. I got ripped off in KL
by the driver of a blue taxi who made a big detour instead of using the