Malaysia Fooding & Shopping

Malaysia - Fooding
Malaysian food is not one particular kind of food but a unique culinary spectrum originating from Malaysia's multi-ethnic population that has melded together sampling tastes, ingredients and cooking methods from each other. Malaysians relish and celebrate their diverse food. It is not uncommon to drive for hours to eat a really good bowl of noodles. As you can imagine, eatery standards are very competitive all over the country.

Each state in Malaysia has something different to offer in terms of culinary delights. Kuala Lumpur has the most diverse offering of foods from all over the world. Indulge in gourmet fusion cuisine created by talented chefs in designer restaurants, or sample an endless amount of goodies found practically bursting out of malls, store fronts and side-street hawker stalls. Melaka is a home to delicious Baba Nyonya food, much of it served in quaint cafes in historical shophouses. Penang is hawker stall haven, where the most delicious food requires you to wait for al fresco tables and costs as little as RM3.50 per dish. Ipoh receives many day trippers who come only to savour local favourites. Kelantan is the cradle of Malay culture and serves exotic Malay food rich in flavour and colour. When trying to decide on what stall or restaurant to visit, the rule of thumb is that the most popular place, especially among the locals, is normally the best.

This multi-cultural array of food has now come to be known all over the world as Malaysian Food. For gastronomic adventures fit for kings, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.

Key Tips
Much of Malaysia's food is spicy by western standards, but really not overly so. If you're concerned about spicy food, make sure to ask the the waiter or cook beforehand to make it less spicy.

Malaysia - Shopping
Malaysia is a premier shopping destination in Southeast Asia. Malaysians love shopping, which explains the vast number of luxury malls, stores and street-side stalls in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. If you are a shopaholic, the best time of the year to visit is during The Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival, around August – September when the entire country offers great discounts. Please check our listing to find out when the next Mega Sale Carnival is on.

From the antique and the exotic to modern electronic and audio-visual equipment, the constantly changing product range available in Malaysia includes an extensive collection of designer labels from the fashion capitals of the world. The exemption of duty on a range of items has resulted in more competitive pricing and makes shopping in Malaysia an even more attractive option. Malaysian duty-free zones are the islands of Labuan and Langkawi. There are also some duty-free shops in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, international airports and city centres. Duty-free items like cameras, watches, pens, cosmetics, perfumes, mobile phones, computers, cigarettes and liquor are among the cheapest in the world. Cash is accepted at night markets while major credit cards are accepted in most shops in the malls and shopping complexes.

Local regulations ensure items are price-tagged and prominently displayed, particularly at department stores in shopping complexes where prices are fixed. Sophisticated shopping malls where everything is designed for shopper convenience, contain banks, foreign currency exchange counters, restaurants, supermarkets and hundreds of shops offering a tremendous variety of goods.

For light, casual shopping, there are roadside stalls, bazaars and night markets in towns throughout the country. A major attraction is the colourful, bustling night market or 'pasar malam' - found in most neighbourhoods on certain days of the week - which stocks a bewildering variety of goods, local foods and fruits. Shopping at one is an experience to be enjoyed. Despite the low prices, bargaining at nights markets is acceptable. It can be quite a humorous exercise as the traders are generally enthusiastic and friendly. For delightful shopping at the best prices, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.