Driving to Malaysia

The Know Your Malaysia Road Signs post series serves to help foreign travelers to Malaysia understand the road signs used for safer driving and comfort. (So you don’t panic when you are lost!) This part of the series covers some of the terms/nouns of key places you would see on highway road signs.

17 Commonly Used Malay Terms for Special Places and Nouns

Check out previous parts of the series below:

• Part 1 – Traffic Sign Language: 18 Commonly Used Malay Terms for Traffic Signs
• Part 2 – General Terms: 23 Commonly Used Malay Terms for General Road Sign Usage

Bahaya – Awas – Berhenti! These are the most common and most critical road signs that you need to know when driving in Malaysia. Do you know what they mean? (Read Know Your Malaysia Road Signs Part 1 if you don’t.)

The Know Your Malaysia Road Signs post series serves to help foreign travelers to Malaysia understand the road signs used for safer driving and comfort. (So you don’t panic when you are lost!) This part of the series will cover the basic terms and nouns you are likely to encounter in most road signs in Malaysia.

23 Commonly Used Malay Terms for General Road Sign Usage

Welcome to Part 2 of the Best Road Trip Destinations Series! Click here if you missed out on Part 1 on Historical City Tour in Malaysia. Check out the recommended destinations below for a city retreat getaway! If you have time for a longer holiday, you can even drive your way up to visit them all.

Top Destinations in City Retreat

3. Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia (Image from Destination360)

At Cameron Highlands, Malaysia’s largest highland resort located at the northern tip of Pahang state, you can find the most beautiful panoramic scenery. Embrace the nature and village lifestyle – butterfly, strawberry and honey bee farms, tea plantations, Tudor-styled country inns, bird-watching, and trekking. Situated at 1,500 m above sea level, the Cameron Highlands is perfect for a cool getaway from the heat of the lowlands. And don’t forget to have some tea and scones, which has been a tradition since the English colonial days.

Driving time: approx. 7.4 hours (645 km) from the Singapore-Malaysia Causeway / 3.5 hours (300 km) up from Kuala Lumpur

4. Genting Highlands

Genting Highlands, Malaysia (Image from Resorts World Genting)

For those who prefer the more modern type of activities – casino, theme parks, shopping, skydiving, rock climbing, bowling, arcade, performances, cineplex – the Genting Highlands is the hot spot for a weekend of ultimate fun for both locals and foreigners. A perfect “European” getaway without having to travel around the world – enjoy the cool weather, Snow World, and city-themed attractions! Like Cameron Highlands, Genting is situated 2,000m in altitude, so make sure you bring enough warm clothing with you.

Driving time: approx. 5.4 hours (396 km) from the Singapore-Malaysia Causeway / 1.5 hours (51 km) up from Kuala Lumpur

Driving in Malaysia can be very tricky if you don’t know the language – all the road signs are in Malay! (Trust me, it is tricky enough even without the language barrier :p) So to help you get around the country with more comfort and ease on your road trip, I’ve created a “Know Your Malaysia Road Signs” post series. The first part is on common traffic signs and the terms used.

18 Commonly Used Malay Terms for Traffic Signs

It is so beneficial not only for your children but for you as well, to go camping. So many kids never get to really appreciate nature with today’s world of video games and so many parents are incredibly busy with their day to day lives that they don’t have the opportunity to really bond with their children and quality memories. Camping offers all of this. Camping with kids should be planned out though to ensure a smooth and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

1. Plan the trip with your kids – By planning the camping trip with your children, it gives them more of a rewarding ownership experience of the event. You can discuss places to go and find out things they would like to see on their adventure. You should plan some meals of what you will want to eat and go shopping together. You may also want to make lists of everything you will need and then let them try to follow the list and pack their belongings giving them a sense of accomplishment.

2. Do a test run in the backyard – Doing a mini trial camping trip in the backyard can really help prepare for the real thing. You can teach them how to set up their tent and try out their sleeping bags. Experiment with a bit of outdoor cooking and use this opportunity to plan activities for the real camping trip.

3. Teach them about the outdoors – Many children do not know much about nature which is why they may not respect it. It is a great learning experience for them to take a hike and observe different plant, animal and even inspect species. Seeing just how beautiful a spiderweb is covered with morning dew in the the sunlight may combat a few fears for them later. It also teaches them the importance of chores like collecting firewood, hammering in tent stands, cooking and clean up. Everyone has a designated job and they are equally important to making sure the adventure is a success.

4. Plan your supplies wisely – Knowing what to bring and what you will need can literally make or break a camping trip. Your children will need extra shoes and clothes and even in the middle of summer they will need something warm to wear at night. It can get chilly at night and you are always better safe than sorry. Sunscreen and insect repellent are both very important and a first aid kit is always hand “just in case”. Even if the weather man says all sunshine, pack the rain gear. The weather man has been known to be wrong on at least one occasion. Flashlights are important but glow-sticks can also be handy to hang around the tent and site. You will need plenty of snacks and a lot of water. You can never have too much water and if you do, you can always bring it home.

5. Make special memories – bring your camera or a few disposable ones. Perhaps one for everyone? Children grow so fast so you will never again have the opportunity to duplicate these memories. You can keep a journal and all take turns recording what you did, learned, like and disliked and then when you’re cooped up in winter on a snow day with nothing to do, you can make a scrapbook together of your camping trip.

Road trips are fun – like adventuring, the process of getting there and discovering things on the way is all part and parcel of the “fun” part. But long distance driving can be exhaustive. In some unfortunate cases, it may even lead to severe car accidents. Therefore, we must plan our driving schedule carefully to ensure that we are always alert and wary of any unexpected road conditions.

Castrol posted good list of 23 tips for safe driving. But don’t be daunted by the big number hehe. Of course, you are not expected to memorize the 23 tips word for word, so here’s the takeaway version. Make sure that you DO remember the following four rules:

4 Rules to Safety Driving

• Be an alert, well-rested driver
• Be cautious when trying to pass another driver
• Maintain your distance from other drivers while driving on a multilane highway
• Drive cautiously when road conditions are poor

“About 20 major decisions are needed for each mile driven; drivers must frequently act in less than one-half second to avoid a collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.”

23 Tips to Drive Safely

1. Get a good night’s sleep before setting out.
2. Plan to drive during normal waking hours.
3. Pull off the road and sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.
4. Drive with a companion if you can. Talk to each other and share the driving.
5. Plan to take a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
6. If you experience difficulty focusing your eyes or keeping your head up, can’t stop yawning, have trouble thinking clearly, remembering the last few miles, or staying in your lane, it’s time to stop and catch some shuteye.
7. If the vehicle you are trying to pass speeds up, let it go. Don’t get into a drag race.
8. Don’t take risks. If in doubt, don’t pass.
9. The most important rule is to maintain a safe following distance. For every ten miles of speed, stay one vehicle length away from the car in front of you. For example, if you are driving at a speed of 40 miles per hour, you should be a least four car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you. Keeping this safe distance whenever possible will greatly reduce your chances of collision.
10. If you can’t see beyond the vehicle in front of you, increase the distance between you. The driver in front of you might swerve into the next lane to avoid a slow or stopped vehicle and put you in danger of a collision. If you have to stop unexpectedly, get off the road and use your emergency flashers
11. Always try to pull your vehicle completely off the road. Leaving even a part of your vehicle sticking out into the roadway can create a serious hazard.
12. If you have to pull off onto the shoulder, turn on your flashers, whether it’s day or night. At night, drowsy drivers watching your taillights could follow you onto the shoulder, thinking you are still moving.
13. If an emergency forces you to stop and park on the roadway, immediately put your flashers on.
14. Carry triangle reflectors or flares in your trunk. In the event that you must pull over at night placing them around your car will make you more visible to other drivers on the road, thus reducing the chances of your car being hit.
15. Use moderation in judging safe speed. To maintain a safe stopping distance, slow down, but not so much that you become a hazard to drivers behind.
16. Apply brakes gently and steer without jerky movements.
17. Beware of travelling too slowly on slick, banked curves. You might slide sideways into opposing traffic or off the road.
18. Slow down or pull off the road in conditions of reduced visibility
19. Use care in judging safe speed. Keep your vehicle clean, especially the headlights, windshield, and tail lights. Use emergency flashers, if necessary.
20. Get off road and wait for conditions to improve, if necessary. Watch out for pedestrians
21. Slow down to avoid a pedestrian who may step in front of your vehicle. It is difficult for pedestrians to correctly judge how fast you are approaching. If you are going faster than normal for the area, pedestrians may think they have time to cross when they don’t.
22. At night, pedestrians often assume you can see them because they can see your headlights so easily. Invest in a membership with a roadside rescue service
23. A membership with Triple AAA or a similar roadside rescue service will come in handier than anything else when you find yourself stranded.

In my post on 3 Tips for a Budget Holiday Road Trip, I wrote that rented cars are most economical for road trips. Here are five reasons why:

1. No (to low) maintenance cost.

Long distance driving causes a lot of wear-and-tear to the car parts (tires, brakes etc.), and maintaining these parts can be costly. Bringing private cars on the road simply just wear your car out faster, requiring more frequent servicing. It also adds to your disadvantage on the mileage when it comes to reselling your car. Driving rented cars can save you a lot of trouble and money.

2. No more fretting over car breakdowns or car loss.

The worst thing that can happen on a road trip is to have the car break down or even stolen! Your entire schedule can be put way off because you have to contact for help or lodge a police report. Then you have to worry about getting your car fixed so you can continue on your journey and finally drive it back home, or in the car lost case – make other arrangements to return home (and get a new car). The solution is much simpler if you rented a car instead. Just ring up your rental company – they will bring you a new car.

3. Personal traveling time and schedule.

With rented cars, you don’t have to worry about missing your flights anymore. You can even make last-minute changes to your destination with no additional charges or fear of no available plane tickets. Start and stop your journey anytime and anywhere you want, and enjoy the extra privacy fun (loud music, sing along, chatters etc.) on the way.

4. Great for larger groups or family outings especially with kids.

Sometimes the car that you drive everyday to work is not the car that you should drive on a road trip. Say if you are taking your kids on a camping trip, you will need a car that can carry all your camping equipment. You probably won’t want to bring your favorite car to the muddy grounds either. Whether it’s for camping or sightseeing, renting a car offers the flexibility to get the right type of car for the right occasion. Plus, being able to personalize your traveling time and schedule makes travelling in larger groups easier and more comfortable.

5. Enjoy the luxury of driving new cars without actual investments.

For those of us who just love cars and driving, wouldn’t it be fun to drive in a different car every once in a while? It’s a holiday after all, so enjoy it – not endure.

Now that you have decided on a road trip for your next weekend getaway, it’s time to pick a destination! How about…Malaysia!? “Not again,” you say? Well, don’t fret yet! There’s more to the eye than just the shopping and the Twin Towers in Malaysia.

Coming up on this blog are the most recommended destinations for a holiday road trip in Malaysia. I have sorted them into different themes. Part 1 is on historical city tour. Of course, if you have time for a longer holiday, you can always drive your way up to visit them all!

Top Destinations in Historical City Tour in Malaysia

1. Malacca

The Red City, Malacca (Image from Jayce Ooi's Paradise)

First pick is the oldest city in Malaysia, a popular choice among tourists for its rich historical heritage. Malacca is named “The Red City” because of this Dutch landmark architecture, The Stadthuys. While a part of Malacca has been redeveloped into a modern shopping district, much of the traditional culture has been preserved and sometimes, redesigned. The trishaws!

Beautifully decorated trishaws in Malacca (Image from MyWiseWife.com)

Other attractions not to be missed include Taman Mini Malaysia, a cultural park showcasing examples of kampong houses to represent the different architectural style and lifestyle from the 13 states in Malaysia, and Fort A’Famosa on St. Paul’s Hill, signature site back from the Portuguese colonial days.

Not forgetting that Malacca is home to many local delicacies!

Driving time: approx. 2.5 hours (213 km) from the Singapore-Malaysia Causeway

2. Penang

Georgetown, Penang's capital (Image from HugoLim.com)

The “Pearl of the Orient”, Penang, is known to be one of the most picturesque and romantic cities in Asia. It is also a famous food paradise, of which, its nasi kandar, char kway teow, hae mee and Penang laksa are most popular in Southeast Asia.

Penang Global City Centre (Image from Archipedia)

Penang’s capital, Georgetown, is a history rich city – traditional shophouses, trishaws, old churches, temples, and mosques – it is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. At the same time, you will also find stunning evidence of modernization like the 60-storey Penang Global City Centre. And while you are there, don’t forget to visit these popular sites: Batu Ferringhi, Tropical Spice Garden, and Khoo Kongsi.

Driving time: approx. 7.5 hours (681 km) from the Causeway / 5.3 hours (483 km) up from Malacca

Looking for budget travel plans for your next long weekend holiday? A road trip might be your best shot!

1. Rented cars is the most economical solution for road trips.

Car rental companies normally offer a variety of ‘holiday car rental’ packages for holiday travelers to select from. Holiday car rental has to be affordable for travelers who are on budget and also wants to have a free & easy driving holiday.

Holiday car rental has been appealing to seasoned travelers and lately has attracted younger travelers that want to explore places that are less travelled. Competitive holiday car rental rate helps travelers to save money and enable them to go to places less-travelled where ordinary holiday travelers are unable to explore.

With the advent of intra-Asia travel, holiday car rental will continue to grow as it offers the benefit of leisure travel at individual pace. As a result, many rental companies are aggressively marketing their holiday car rental program to meet the discerning needs of travelers. Several holiday car rental companies have seen double digit growth and demand continue to increase for this segment of the business.

2. Plan your route wisely. Use Google Map or GPS Navigation.

A traditional way of planning your driving route is to purchase a printed map from a bookstore. Today, it is a lot more convenient to just route your journey on Google Map, then just print out the map with specific driving directions. But for the adventurous travelers, a GPS navigation system is their best choice. And more than often, a GPS Navigator is included in your car rental for just a little extra money.

3. Travel packages for overnight trips – Low cost and safety.

If you are planning an overnight stay, then you should check with your car rental company for any travel packages available. Many car rental companies do offer competitive travel packages to attract budget holiday travelers. Working closely with travel agencies, car rental companies are able to offer special rates on hotels, motels and inns, which sometimes also provide occupants with complimentary breakfast.

It is also usually safer to go with the hotels, motels or inns associated with your car rental company. Their relationships with your car rental company should indicate that they meet a certain quality standard and are more trustworthy.