•The people of Malaysia are called Malay.
•All Malay people are forced to be muslim.
•The punishment for a Malay person is imprisonment or whipping for switching from Muslim (known as speaking illy of Allah) to another religion.
•If a Malay marries a non Malay they both must become Muslim.
If one of your parents is Malay you must become Muslim.
•Every neighborhood has a mosque.
•Public prayer rooms are literally everywhere. Restaurants, parking garages, airports, malls—
•Malaysia was first a Portuguese colony then in the 1800’s a Dutch colony for 2 years then a Japanese colony and then was a British colony. The British gave Malaysia their independence.
•Malaysia has 14 states and each one has a sultan.
•Malaysia has a king and a prime minister.
•The king spent 2.5 billion RM on the new palace.
•The national flower is hibiscus ??
•There is a 300% tax on cars.
•17 years old for a drivers license
First 2 years of driving you are under probation. Nothing can happen in those two years. If it does you get your license revoked. Then you have to pay again and start all over. 1000 MR
•Average height of men here is 5.8
•Continental cars don’t last long in Malaysia due to the heat.
•Minimum wage is 900 RM a month.
•Public schooling is free. Most people make it through to university. Government will even help with paying for books.
•Healthcare is free.
•Guns are illegal. If you are found with a weapon you get the death penalty.
•All drugs are illegal and you get the death penalty if found with drugs.
•The death penalty is hanging.
•Every Neighborhood has a “food court”. It’s kinda like a food truck park.
(The food court)
•Durian is the king of fruits. Don’t know why because it tastes like carbon monoxide, creamy garlic, or a toilet.
(Durain and all her nasty glory)
•Don’t drink and durian. (The heat from the fruit mixed with alcohol can kill you)
•Durian was used as a torture device.
•KFC is big in Malaysia. They market to the Muslim community because they are not allowed to eat pork.
•The national dish is nasi lemak! Meaning “fat rice”.
•Hello: Appa Kabar
See you again: Jumpa Lagi
Thank you: Terimah Kasih
•Langkawi (the most NW island) has 104 islands during low tide and 98 during high tide- they are beautiful!
(Langkawi “The jewel of Kedah”)
•Langkawi was first found by pirates.
•Langkawi is home to the steepest cable car in the world!
(Thank you to the amazing men that gave us the free ride to the cable cars)
•The majority of the population in Malaysia are Malay, Chinese, and Indian with a Thai and middle eastern influence.
•Hindus get their cars blessed at the temples after they purchase them.
•Almost all fast food resturants are two story. (KFC/MCD)
•Motorcycles are huge for transport in Malaysia.
•Motorcycles are allowed to drive on the side walk.
•Malaysia is known as the food capital of the world.
•Malaysia is the first country I have been to so far for the people to have iPhones.
•There is a mall every mile in KL.
•Another way to greet people in Malaysia is “have you eaten?”
•Uber and grab are available in Malaysia! (Yay)
•The money is called Ringgit. The exchange rate is 4.4 Ringgit to $1 American dollar.
•Street food is absolutely amazing and great for a gal on a budget.
•You can be at a Hindu temple and hear the call to prayer. Typical Malaysia. They have so much culture and so much religion. I think Malaysia is the true melting pot of the world.
(Batu Caves Hindu temple)
/// Thank you to Jermaine for being the best Air B and B host/ friend/ and guide. Most if not all of these facts came from one car ride with him.
Thanks for reading and following along!
Xoxo,
Emily
(Malaysia at night/// KL tower on the left and the Petronas towers on the right)
