Joanna James
A land of diversity, home to plenty of attractions, Malaysia has something for everyone. Of course, when travelling to foreign lands, it is always important to keep cultural considerations and local traditions in mind. Here are a few such things, well worth knowing before you visit.
Before visiting Malaysia (or any other country for that matter), you should learn more about its local culture and make sure to be respectful towards it. This includes the way you dress; when heading to sacred sites or places of worship in Malaysia, dress conservatively covering bare knees and shoulders. At such sites, you should also remove your hat / cap as well as any shoes / sandals; this removal of footwear should be followed when entering a local's home too.
Bargaining or haggling over items, especially at markets in Malaysia is something you can do and which if done right, can result in some great discounts! It also provides an ideal way to mingle with locals though do keep in mind that generally, prices on food items are fixed. It is also important to remember that when bargaining to always be polite, smile and not be aggressive; courteous and pleasant "negotiations" on the price will go a long way.
Though sightseeing or shopping may be amongst your top priorities, do make time to savour the distinctive cuisine in Malaysia too. While different parts of the country feature diverse dishes, the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is one of the best places for a foodie tour especially at restaurants in Bukit Bintang. You will find an eclectic array of cuisine be it Malay, Indian or Chinese on offer, while not to be missed is a visit to the Jalan Alor locale; within walking distance of properties like The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel, it features hawker stalls, Chinese seafood restaurants and more.
While Malaysians are friendly and will most often have no issue with having their picture taken, it is always polite to first ask. Make sure not to take pictures that may be deemed disrespectful towards local religions or places of worship too. Though it is common to see Malaysians smile, sometimes they may do so when uncomfortable / shy, so as a rule of thumb, always ask before capturing photographic memories of the people you encounter.
As with many cultures in South East Asia, in Malaysia too, it is deemed disrespectful if you touch a person on the head; this includes children and elders as well as monks or other persons connected with religions here. Additionally, it is important to not show the soles of your feet in such a way as to point at a person or religious statues such as those of Lord Buddha.
In Malaysia, as with other Asian cultures, the left hand is not used to receive or give gifts or objects as it is considered disrespectful or unclean. This also applies to when using your hands to eat; always use your right hand instead of the left. You may pass or receive objects with both hands however, just don't only use your left hand!
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