If you decide to walk around the city of Johor Bahru, don’t do it alone because this is one of the easiest and best ways to be safe and try to keep it to day hours.

Secondly, if you are purchasing anything, please use change or small bills, if possible, don’t show your wallet or money to anyone and keep it close to your body, refrain from “wow, that was cheap or saying something like that.

If you are wealthy or even reasonably so for that area, don’t do anything to show your wealth, keep jewelry to minimum and clothing simple

Be cautious of strangers asking for change, ignore them because if they have your attention, you are more likely to be mugged at a knife point, better act disinterested and keep walking.

Finally, and completely different from your personal safety, be careful about water in Johor Bahru, boil all tap water and if possible drink only bottled water.

For the budget conscious or outdoor enthusiast  Sg Pauh Campsite in Taman Sedia just between Taman Rata and Brinchang is a basic amenity campsite with running water and showers.

A very popular hostel is Father’s Guest House in Tanah Rata. It has dorm and private rooms and you can book tours from here.

For as little as 8RM you can rent a dorm room bed in Daniel Kang’s Traveler’s Lodge in Tanah Rata, They offer hot showers, DVDs, a pool table and nightly bonfires, where you can barbeque your own food.

Owned by friendly Indians, The Twin Pines offers great value rooms from 12RM to 75 RM with internet, cable TV, hot showers and a small garden.

On Jalan Mentigi lies The Cameronian Inn with its cute cottages and lovely garden., afternoon tea and strawberry scones, and mix of dorms and private rooms.TV room with ASTRO. 4-Bed Dorm: RM10, Private Double Room w/shared bathroom: RM50.
In Brinchang there is the Hotel Chua Gin, with its inexpensive rooms and apartments.

For the less budget conscious there is The Bala’s Holiday Chalet in Tanah Rata. One of the most ancient colonial buildings in Cameron Highlands which started life as a school. Within walking distance of Tanah Rata this mock English guest house has lovely lawns and spectacular mountain views, just the place to contemplate and enjoy tea and scones.

In 1999 some tourists were abducted from Sipidan Island to the Phillipines, however, they were quickly rescued and the waters have been patrolled more extensively since this one incident.

Bag-snatching or being pick-pocketed is rare, although, it has happened usually by moped and if you are using a bicycle it is unwise to put valuables in the basket

Walking around darker streets at night can bring problems with drunken beggars, prostitutes and even during the day child beggars can be relentless and frustrating. The trick is to develop a good attitude. It is very unfortunate that small children, often illegal immigrants find themselves in such desperate situations and as a matter of conscience there are many organizations here which can be donated to if you so wish.

However, when walking the streets if you do give to one child you will be pestered by twenty more which will make for a great deal of inconvenience and who knows who, where or what you are actually financing with your hand out?

The police station is located near the public harbor and the blue and white uniforms of the motor cycle cops are easy to spot

Medical care is of a very high standard here as in most of Asia here are some names and phone numbers of Medical Centers and Dentists.

Damai Specialist Centre O88-270243

Dr. Roland Chia Dental Surgery. 088-21 5802

Raffelesia Medical Centre. 088-27 2620

The main hospital was established in 1943 as a small health clinic with only one Hospital Assistant along the main road of Tanah Rata.

The Outpatient Department (OPD) is located on the ground floor and opens from 8.00am to 4.30pm daily from Monday to Friday. On Saturday, it opens from 8.00am to 12.50pm. It is closed on all Public Holidays.  Foreigners have to pay RM15.00 for each OPD visit. This charge does not include laboratory investigations and procedures done in the Hospital. Medication is included.

Emergency radiological services are available. Ultrasound services for maternity cases are available.

The Inpatient Facility has two wings, with one wing for Maternity and Gynecological cases and the other wing for general medical, surgical and pediatric cases.

There is a labor room catering for normal deliveries as well as instrumental deliveries. Patients requiring a Caesarian Section have to be referred to Hospital Ipoh.

There are no charges for admission into the wards for Malaysians but foreigners are charged RM50.00 for a delivery. Admission is by referral from the OPD or Casualty.

The Casualty is situated on the ground floor and caters for emergency cases during and after office hours. After office hours, patients ring the bell at the front or inform the Ward staff upstairs. There is always a Doctor or Medical Assistant On-Call.  Foreigners are charged RM15.

The Pharmacy is situated on the ground floor and caters for ALL patients of the hospital. Only drugs prescribed by the Doctor or Medical Assistant are dispensed.

The Dental Clinic is situated on the ground floor towards the back of the building. The operating hours are the same as the OPD. The clinic is manned by one Dentist and 2 Dental Nurses.

All cases are by appointment. Walk-in cases are on a case to case basis.

Depending on the type of dental procedures, there will be a fee levied

There are no separate charges for the drugs dispensed.

By air
Located on the island of Borneo in Sabah, East Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is the most conveniently accessed by air. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) operates both domestic and international flights to and from the region. The main gateway to Sabah and the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the airport receives a number of flights from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and many parts of Malaysian Borneo. It also serves as a major hub for Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia and Fly Asian Xpress (FAX). The airport is located only 7kms from the city so you can easily take a taxi or a bus to the city centre.

By train (East Malaysia)
Travelling by train to Kota Kinabalu is a rewarding experience as you can experience the beauty of the countryside. Railway connects Kota Kinabalu with other major towns including Beaufort and Tenom. By sea, you can arrive at Kota Kinabalu’s harbour located in the city. There are ferries five times a day serving to two main destinations which are Labuan (2-3 hours) and Brunei (3-4 hours). Tourists can also make a trip to nearby islands from this harbour.

Once in Kota Kinabalu, the best way to travel around is on foot. From one end of the city centre to the other is less than 3kms. If you want to travel out of the city, taking a taxi is the best option as mini buses provided are very crowded and without air-conditioner.

However, those who plan to do business in Malaysia need to be aware that a small fee is often required in order to speed up transactions or release of goods. There are also a large number of Malays who act as middlemen to bring together two or more parties so that everyone can get the most from the transaction.

Typical business hours:

Government departments: 08:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 16:00 (may vary slightly), Monday to Friday and alternate Saturdays.

Retail: 10:00 to 18:00 (up to 22:00 in malls), every day – some traditional shops close on Sundays. Night Markets are common and close at 23:00

Banking: 10:00 to 15:30, Monday to Friday (and until 11:30 on alternate Saturdays) Many banks now offer night time services, but it is best to check with the branch and the bank for up to date information.

There are numerous border-crossing points between Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia also offers a very reasonable west-coast rail link. To get to/from Singapore, you have three options. You can either go across the causeway by land into Johor Bahru, catch a ferry or take the train.

Peninsula Malaysia has a fast and affordable nationwide bus system, and provides an excellent way to get around the country. Minibuses are also very common, and are the only way to get by public transport into Northern Malaysia from Thailand.

Peninsula Malaysia offers a comfortable and economical railway service too, though you’ll find there are only two lines: one linking Singapore to Thailand via Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth, the other linking centrally located Gemas with Kota Bharu on the north-east border.

Long distance taxis are around twice the cost of buses, but are more comfortable by half.  There are no boat services between Peninsula and East Malaysia. Rickshaws can still be found in some parts of Kuala Lumpur, as well as in provincial areas. The public transport system in Kuala Lumpur is in a sorry state especially during peak hours.

Malaysia Truly Asia

Holding its own among Asia’s best know destinations, Malaysia encompasses the best of the region’s outstanding characteristics, without the hassle or concerns of its neighbours. From the stunning beaches in Langkawi to the history on Penang and Sophistication of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers its 20 million annual visitors a completely satisfying experience.

On this site we cover the entire Peninsula and Borneo, including Melaka, the Cameroon Highlands, the islands of Perhentian and Redang, as well as Kinabalu, and the jungles and beaches of East Malaysia. Written by an old hand on Southeast Asia, this blog will soon be upgraded to a full travel site with hundreds of pictures and pages to help you plan your trip to Malaysia.

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, history, shopping, beaching, culture, backpacking or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this organised and mutli-cultural country, there’s something for you on this site. We’ve got the tourism on Malaysia covered.

The best way to see Malaysia is under your own steam with a rental car. This allows you to get around easily to the various rural areas of beauty. It’s best book online in advance using an online car hire comparator that lists the best deals from car hire companies in Malaysia