Most Bangladeshi tourists who visit their home country start their first overseas trip with India, followed by Thailand or Malaysia. This continuum is very popular for Bangladeshi tourists because of the cost, travel, and Visa availability. Malaysia was my second overseas tour after India. Malaysia is a country of people of different races, religions, and cultures. Traveling to Malaysia is very attractive for Bangladeshi people. The lush greenery, the winding paths of the mountains, and the embrace of the sky with the clear blue sea water all seem to have merged into one in Malaysia, the mother of nature. Malaysia is one of the most visited places in Asia to get close to the diverse culture and traditions. The country is home to many Malay, Chinese, and Indian nationals, and other ethnic groups. This diversity of people has made Malaysia a melting pot of different cultures. It rains almost every day in Malaysia, a country of one season. The weather outside is hot. All kinds of tourist facilities are kept in Malaysia under government supervision. In Malaysia, the eyes will be dazzled. Again and again, it seems that every structure starting from the country’s roads is made for tourist attraction.
Preparation:
Moti Bhai was my roommate when I was a bachelor. After many days I met him and was sharing about my India tour. During the chat, we decided to travel abroad and fixed the destination as Malaysia. A Visa is required first before traveling to Malaysia, as a Visa is mandatory for all Bangladeshi citizens to travel to Malaysia except for official passports. Although getting a tourist Visa for Malaysia is not a hassle like in many other countries, we processed the Visa through an agent. After getting the Visa comes the turn of flight selection. I booked the flight in advance by observing the difference in flight prices on different airlines on different dates. I booked the return ticket on AirAsia about a month before the trip. As we finalized our travel plans and days, I gathered various information with the help of the internet and started making notes. At the same time, I endorsed the dollar in the passport and ensured that the credit cards were open abroad.
It takes only three and a half hours to reach the country by air from Bangladesh. After the flight started, I was a little confused by the news of harassment of Bangladeshis at the Kuala Lumpur airport and various misleading information from multiple people, but my morale was intact. There were 18 Bangladeshi tourists on the AirAsia flight we went on. After arriving at the Kuala Lumpur airport, I saw a terrible situation. Out of 18 tourists, only me and Moti Bhai’s immigration was successful. The remaining 16 tourists were kept at the airport jail without being allowed to enter Malaysia to be sent back to Bangladesh on their return date. The immigration officer checked all my papers and asked some questions, and I answered correctly, and after showing some Malaysian ringgit, endorsed dollar, and credit card with me, we were let in. However, the reason for not allowing the rest of the 16 people to enter Malaysia was inconsistent with the information and documents they provided. There was also a suspicion that since Bangladeshi worker Visas were closed in Malaysia, many went on tourist Visas and did not return.
Sightseeing:
There are different types of beauty in every part of Malaysia. Cultural diversity, abundant fauna of deep forests, and some of the best sea beaches in the world – this country has it all. Malaysia’s glittering sights and mesmerizing natural sceneries multiply the interest of travelers. Everyone from East to West mainly comes to Malaysia to enjoy the realistic view. I am giving a brief description of the places we have visited in the country which are colorful in mountains and sea.
Kuala Lumpur: Very few people have traveled to Malaysia and have not been to Kuala Lumpur. The capital city of Kuala Lumpur is very modern and sophisticated. Along with old historicism, many touches of modernity can be found here. The city is well known for its distinctive modern architecture. Looking at this city, it seems it is a colorful city with a festive atmosphere. Petronas Twin Towers, Islamic Arts Museum, Lake Symphony, Batu Caves, Jalan Alor delicious street food, etc., are enjoyable.
Petronas Towers: The main attraction of Kuala Lumpur is this tower, known as one of the world’s most innovative skyscrapers. Malaysia is known to the world mainly because of this hundred-story building known as the Twin Towers or Petronas Towers in Malaysia. It takes 45 minutes to visit here through a tourist guide. There are sky bridges, observation decks, and a gift shop to explore.
China Town: This is the place to visit to discover the old city of Kuala Lumpur. Although the old town was born here, China Town is now entirely developed with the time change. There are several places to visit in Chinatown, such as Minara Tower, Merdeka Square, The Zhongshan Building, Central Market, and Petaling Street Market.
Bukit Bintang: Those who have traveled to Malaysia have nothing to reintroduce to Bukit Bintang. Because there is no shortage of places to visit in Malaysia, this Bukit Bintang must be seen differently. Jalan Bukit Bintang is one of the main roads in Kuala Lumpur. Beautiful architecture, famous brand shops, restaurants, and bars have been built around this road for tourists. In short, all the logistics for tourists are here. Hence, tourists flock here because of the availability of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Putrajaya: Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, is a haven of aesthetic beauty. Nature has filled this city of Malaysia with both hands, and the town was founded in the eighties by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Putrajaya is a well-planned, organized, and traffic-free city, one of the world’s most modern and artistic-architectural examples. Putrajaya is thronged on weekends to enjoy the clear water and green and blue natural beauty.
On the day I came back from Malaysia, my phone got destroyed, because of which I don’t have the photos from the Malaysia tour in my collection, and I found two pictures also because of social media.
Pahang: Malaysia is a country of natural beauty surrounded by mountains, plains, and seas. This country in Southeast Asia is called the land of eternal spring. But this same country has a heterogeneous climate. Cool-weather prevails over a large part of Pahang state in a temperate country all year round. Cameron Highlands is a city in this state.
Cameron Highlands: There are few places like Cameron Highlands in the Asian continent. It is a beach located in the Pahang state of Malaysia. This place is the first choice for many beach lovers for their vacations as it is famous for its cool weather and clean environment. The city of clouds has flower beds, strawberry gardens, cactus valleys, butterfly parks, tea gardens, and enchanting fountains. Kingdom of Clouds Every moment in Cameron Highlands is a different enchantment. Travelers have a great time snapping pictures of mountains and clouds. Cameron Highlands tea gardens are a bit more beautiful than any other tea garden. The beauty of the night is different when traveling to Cameron Highlands. And if the moon’s light illuminates that night, then there is no question. If you spend the night in a mountaintop cottage on a moonlit night, you will feel like wandering in the middle of the sky.
Cost:
The cost of traveling from Bangladesh to Malaysia is also not very high. Malaysia is unique as a destination for nature lovers on a budget. We had to pay 13000 BDT to the agent for the Visa and 18000 BDT to buy a return ticket from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur on an AirAsia flight. In Malaysia, hotel rent, food, and drink costs are less than in Bangladesh in most cases. Being a tourist-friendly city, Kuala Lumpur has many hotels at high or low prices—more benefits for those who can drive a bike/car. Rent a bike/car for the whole day and roam as you wish. Don’t worry; the price of fuel oil for bikes or cars is meager here. Malaysia is known as the food paradise of Asia. The food quality is quite good throughout Malaysia, and all types of food are available at reasonably low prices. As a result of the presence of people of all races, religions, and cultures in the Asian continent, the food here is also diverse.
Some Essential Tips for Malaysia Tour:
- As Malaysia is a one-season country, you can visit anytime; however, the seven months from November to May are the most fantastic time to visit Kuala Lumpur.
- Buy the essential “SIM” first at the airport in Malaysia.
- To avoid crowds, you can buy tickets online in advance for various places, including KL Tower and Twin Towers.
- Downloading the offline map of Malaysia on your smartphone will be very useful.
- Street food shops are usually closed during the day, so if you want to eat fruit, you must go out in the evening.
- Jalan Alor Road is famous for its food. Within 10 ringgit, you can eat your fill, which is very close to Bukit Bintang.
- Try to drink bottled water and carbonated drinks in Malaysia. Tap, shower water, or ice cubes should be avoided.
- Heavy winter clothes are unnecessary, but it rains a lot in Malaysia, so it is better to carry a raincoat.
- A special Travels Pass is available in Kuala Lumpur, making it convenient to visit the whole city.
- There are many shops around the main road in Bukit Bintang with reasonable prices for shopping.
- Due to the humid weather throughout the year, mosquitoes and various mosquito-borne diseases are at risk in Malaysia. Although the risk is low in Kuala Lumpur and other major cities, travelers should be cautious when traveling to East Malaysia.