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Get around and Sightseeing
Malaysia
By plane
Largely thanks to budget carrier AirAsia , Malaysia is crisscrossed by a
web of affordable flights with advertised "promotional" prices starting at
RM9 for flights booked well in advance. Flying is the only practical
option for traveling between peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, as well as
reaching some of the more remote outposts of Borneo. State carrier
Malaysia Airlines also has competitive fares if booked in advance,
and their offshoot Firefly has a handy network radiating out of Penang.
Berjaya Air also flies small Dash-7 turboprops from Kuala Lumpur and
Singapore to its own airports on the resort islands of Pangkor, Redang and
Tioman. Prices are steep (from RM214 plus fees one way), but this is by
far the fastest and more comfortable way of reaching any of these.
In Sabah and Sarawak, MASWings, operates turboprop services linking
interior communities, including those in the Kelabit Highlands, with
coastal cities. MASWings took over the rural air services network from
FlyAsian Express on October 1, 2007, which in turn took the service over
from Malaysia Airlines 14 months before that.
By Train
Long-distance trains in Malaysia can rarely match road transport in terms
of speed, but state operator KTMB provides relatively inexpensive and
generally reliable services around Peninsular Malaysia (but not Sabah/Sarawak
in Borneo). The main western line connects Butterworth (near Penang), Ipoh,
Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, while the eastern line runs through Gua
Musang and the Taman Negara National Park to Kota Bharu, near the Thai
border and the Perhentian Islands.
There are several train types and fare classes. First and second class are
air-con, third class has fans instead. For sleeper trains, KTMB's epitome
of luxury is Premier Night Deluxe (ADNFD - between Singapore and Kuala
Lumpur only) featuring individual cabins containing two berths and a
private shower/toilet unit. More economical are the Superior Night (ADNS)
sleeper cars, which have upper and lower berths along each side, each bunk
having a solid partition at each end and a side curtain for privacy. The
carriages shake and rattle quite a bit but are comfortable and clean.
The Jungle Railway is a daily eastern line service which stops at every
station (every 15-20 min or so) between Tumpat (close to the Thai border)
and Gemas, including stops at Gua Musang, Kuala Lipis and Jerantut. It's
3rd class only, meaning no air-con and no reservations, and some stops may
be lengthy as it's a single line and all other trains have priority -
hence the "Jungle Train" waits in side loops along the way so that
oncoming or overtaking trains can pass. Tourists may use this service to
travel to Taman Negara National Park (Jerantut) or the Perhentian Islands
(closest station to Kota Bharu is Wakaf Bahru). Some find it to be a
fascinating and stunningly scenic ride; others feel there's not much to
see when you're in the jungle.
Eastern line night trains (for which reservations are possible and
recommended) also have 2nd class berths and seats, and some have 1st class
sleepers too.
Tickets can be booked and even printed online at KTMB's site. Enquiries
and reservations can be made by phone at KTMB's call centers +60 3
2267-1200 (Malaysia) or +65 6222-5165 (Singapore).
By car
Malaysia has an excellent highway network, culminating in the North-South
Expressway from Singapore all the way to the Thai border. Petrol slightly
cheaper than market prices at RM2.70/litre, but tolls are payable on
expressways.
Traffic drives on the left.
Beware of reckless motorcyclists, especially at night. At traffic lights,
they will accumulate in front of you. Let them get away first to avoid
accidents.
In general, cars and motorcycles might not always indicate line changes
and often change from the far right to the far left at the very last
minute. Always be aware of what the cars in front are doing!
Care is needed when driving in larger cities, such as Kuala Lumpur.
Problems include apparently suicidal motorcyclists, massive traffic jams
throughout the day, and bewildering roads especially in the older parts of
the city where planning is virtually nonexistent. Out of town however,
cars and motorcycles are the best and sometimes the only way to explore
the country. Some of the more rural areas have motorcycles and scooters to
rent for as little as RM25/day, a great way to explore the local area or
larger islands like Langkawi.
To avoid the hassle of driving, taxis are a good way of getting around.
They are available in major towns and cities but are most abundant in
Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs. Taxis in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs are
metered but when demand exceeds supply or during rush hour, they may ask
for a fixed price before commencing travel.
A few tips for unmetered journeys: (1) If you live in an expensive hotel,
quoting a nearby destination such as a restaurant or shopping mall might
save you some money. (2) Once the haggling is done, hop into the taxi, sit
back and don't question the driver - the fastest route between two points
in Kuala Lumpur is almost never a straight line!
By bus
The cheapest way to travel in Malaysia is by bus. All towns of any size
have a bus terminal offering connections to other parts of the country.
There are many companies of varying degrees of dependability, but two of
the largest and more reliable are Transnasional and NICE/Plusliner.
24-seater "luxury" buses are recommended for long-distance travel.
If travelling on holidays or even over the weekend, it is advisable to
reserve your seats in advance. Note that air conditioning on some buses
can be extremely cold so don't forget to bring a good sweater, pants and
socks, especially for overnight journeys on luxury buses!
Warning: Bus drivers (especially on more "rural" routes) sometimes drive
carelessly, speed like maniacs, overtake on blind corners, etc. The vast
majority of journeys are problem-free but some horrific accidents
attributed to reckless driving have, however, led to a crackdown and a
nationwide hotline and SMS number for reporting these drivers/vehicles
have been set up. These numbers are conveniently pasted on the back of
every single large vehicle in the country.
resource : http://wikitravel.org/en/Malaysia |