Firefly

The unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit indicated as RM, which is equivalent to 100 cents. Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20,and 50sen. Ringgit bank notes are issued in the following denominations RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100. Foreign currency and traveler’s checks can be converted to Malaysian Ringgit at banks or authorized money changers all over the country.

Thailand’s monetary unit, the baht, consists of 100 satang. Coin denominations (highest to lowest) are 25 and 50 satang, and 1, 5 and 10 baht. Notes are 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht. Current coins display both Thai and western numerals, but older coins have only Thai, so they can be confusing. Luckily, a small amount of of these are still in exchange.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks (which have the best rates), hotels (which charge high commissions) and, in larger towns, bureaux de change (generally open 0800-2000). Banks and official moneychangers give good rates with minimal variations. Banks charge commission on traveler’s checks; so changing larger denominations is more cost-effective.

The symbol used on all banknotes and coins are Rp. The name derives from the Indian monetary unit rupee.

The current rupiah consists of coins from 25 rupiah up to 1,000 rupiah and from banknotes of 1,000 rupiah up to 100,000 rupiah.

US$1 generally worth about 10,000 rupiah, the largest Indonesian banknote is therefore worth around US$10 only.

The 'Dollar' is the currency of Singapore. Coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 dollar. The series of notes was introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 1000 dollars.

Foreign currency and traveler’s checks can be converted to Singapore Dollar at banks or authorized money changers. Money changing services are available at Changi Airport and at most banks, hotels, and shopping complexes.

Local calls operated from public phones, whether coin or card can be used. International calls can be made from phone booths with card phone facilities or at any Telecom offices. Most hotels are equipped through IDD services.

View phone codes for Malaysia

Area codes begin with ‘0,’ which you drop when calling from outside the country. In Thailand, assistance numbers are 100/233 2771 when making an international call and 100/183 (Thai) or 1133 (English) for local calls. You can make direct international calls from private phones, via hotel switchboards in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, or from central post offices in these and all other towns. Bangkok’s 24-hour overseas telephone center is next to the GPO on Charoenkrung Road. There are also international telephone shops in popular tourist centers. Dial 001 to get out of Thailand, the country code, the area code and then the number.

View phone codes for Thailand

The country dialing code is 62.

Telephone numbers in Indonesia has different systems for land lines and mobile phones: land lines use area codes, while mobile phones do not.

For land line area codes, the digit "0" is added in front when dialing domestic long distance from within Indonesia, but is always omitted when calling from abroad. Instead, callers would use the Indonesian country code +62, followed by the area code, without the "0". Domestic phone numbers in large cities have 8 digits, and in other areas 7 digits.

View phone codes for Indonesia

Singapore's country code is 65. There is no city code for Singapore. Local calls can be made at any public phones by using card or coins. International calls can be made from public phones by using card phone. Calling cards such as Hello Card from Singtel is also another option for different international countries.

Singapore has three main telecommunications operators - SingTel, StarHub and MobileOne (M1).

View phone codes for Singapore

Passports
Malaysian government recognized all National Passport or Internationally recognized Travel Document. Any person not in possession of a Passport or Travel Document that is recognized by Malaysian Government must get a Document in lieu of Passport. Application for the Document in lieu of Passport can be made at any Malaysian Representative Office abroad. Holders of Travel Documents like a Certificate of Identity, Laisser Passer, Titre de Voyage or a Country’s Certificate of Permanent Residence must make sure that their return to the country that issued the document or the country of residence is guaranteed. . The former must have enough pages for the embarkation stamp upon arrival and be valid for at least six months at date of entry. The latter should be endorsed with a valid re-entry permit.

Visa
Foreign nationals who need a Visa whether using Single entry Visa, Multiple Entry Visa and Transit Visa to enter Malaysia must apply and obtain a Visa in advance at Malaysian Representative Office before entering the country. A visa is an endorsement in a passport or other recognized travel document of foreigner indicating that the holder has applied for permission to enter Malaysia and that permission has been granted. Foreign nationals who require a Visa to enter Malaysia must apply and obtain a Visa in advance at any Malaysian Representative Office abroad before entering the country. Visa, which has been granted, is not absolute guarantee that the holder will be allowed to enter Malaysia. The final decision lies with the Immigration Officer at the entry point.

How To Apply For A Visa
Application for visas should be made at the nearest Malaysian Missions abroad. In countries where Malaysian Missions have not been established, application should be made to the British High Commission or Embassy. The applicant should present himself together with the following documents:

• Passport or Travel Document
• Form IM.47 (3 copies)
• Three (3) passport sized photographs
• Return or onward - journey traveling ticket
• Proof of sufficient funds

Passports
Visitors have need of a passport valid for at least 6 months after entrance into Thailand. Before traveling, make sure that your embassy can replace your passport if it is misplaced. Make copies for yourself and your family at home for classification. Make contact with the police and your embassy/consulate immediately if you misplace your passport.

Visa
Free, 30-day visas are available to 56 nationalities, including citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (60 days) and most European countries. This on-entry visa is extendable for up to 10 days. Other nationalities get 15-day transit visas, extendable if there is no Thai embassy/consulate in their country.

Alternatively, you be able to pertain at a Thai embassy/consulate in your country for a 60-day tourist visa, extendable for 30 days. Extensions are available from immigration offices around Thailand, but the main center is in Soi Suan Phlu in Bangkok. Whatever your nationality, verify entry conditions from your own country.

Passports
All travelers must have their passports valid for six months from date of entry to Indonesia. Return tickets, documentation for onward travel and proof of sufficient funds (US$1,000 or valid credit card). Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival for a fee of US$10 for seven days or US$25 for a stay of up to 30 days, provided the passport contains at least one unused visa page for the visa-on-arrival sticker. A visa can also be purchased prior to arrival. Passengers holding an APEC Business Travel Card do not need a visa provided the back of the card affirms that it is valid for travel to Indonesia.

Visa
Visas are not required for:

1. Nationals of Indonesia
2. For tourist visits up to 30 days by nationals of: Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Ecuador, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders), Macao (S.A.R. passport holders), Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam provided holding onward/return tickets & entry/exit from certain airports & seaports (full list obtainable from Indonesian Embassy)

Types of Visa and Cost
Single-entry: £35. Multiple-entry: £125 (business only). Transit: £15. Tourist visas issued on arrival: minimum US$25, depending on port of entry. Fees are non-refundable.

Validity
Single-entry: Three months from date of issue for a maximum stay of 60 days. Multiple-entry: One year, with each stay lasting no longer than 60 days. The first entry must be within three months of date of issue. Transit: Three months from the date of issue for a maximum stay of seven days.

Visitors who exceed their 30-day stay will be fined US$20 per day. Besides, visitors staying longer than 60 days risk large fines and may face deportation or imprisonment.

Passports
Singapore Government recognized all National Passport or Internationally recognized Travel Document. Any person not in possession of a Passport or Travel Document that is recognized by Singaporean Government must get a Document in lieu of Passport.

Visa
Visas are not required for Commonwealth citizens, British passport holders, and Republic of Ireland citizens for a stay of up to 14 days. All onward visitors should have passports valid for at least three months from the time of arrival.

A 14-day permit into the country can be issued to visitors. Extensions beyond a month can be obtained; however, applicants should have valid passports, onward or return tickets and onward facilities (like visas, entry permits, etc.) to their next destination and carry enough funds for their stay in Singapore.

Malaysia mostly operates on a normal eight-hour working day system with Saturdays as a half-day workday and Sunday is the off day. All public service departments and some banks usually close on the first and third Saturday of the month. Department Stores and supermarkets usually are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Conversely, states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, Friday is a day of rest with Thursday as half days workday.

Private sector hours are generally operates from 9am to 5pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday) while government office hours are usually from 8.30am to 5.30pm work on a five-day week. At present, many private sector companies operate on a five-day week.

Starting from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Government officials (e.g., immigration) will open their desks. Soi Suan Phlu Immigration Center is open Monday to Friday and Saturday in the mornings. If your tourist visa expires on Sunday or holiday you can pull out it on the next working day. Banks open from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m on weekdays. No banks and government offices will be opened on public holidays.

Department stores open roughly at 10 a.m. and close between 8.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Other businesses are open around 8.30 to 9.00 a.m. until 5.30 or 6.30 p.m., while a few family-run shops are ready all day. Pubs and clubs are open from about 7.00 p.m. until the early hours - times vary. Restaurant hours are differing too because some close at 5.30 or 6.00 p.m. even as others keep on open until midnight and later.

Bank Hours are usually from 8am to 2pm, Monday-Friday
Office Hours are from 8am to 4pm, Monday-Friday (Government) 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday (Commercial)
Shop Hours are from 10am to 10pm daily

Business hours are from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Fridays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Shopping hours are usually from 10 am to 9:30 pm daily.
Banks are open from 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday and from 9.30 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. However, some branches stay open till 3 pm.

Tipping is not a way of life in Malaysia, but is fast becoming one, depends entirely on you. Most hotels and large restaurants have already included a 10% service charge in addition to the 5% government tax to the receipt (indicated by the ++ mark on menus and rate cards) so tipping is needless.

Taxis in major cities of Malaysia are using a meter. Currently the rates are at RM2 for the first two kilometres and 10 sen for every following 200 metres. On the other hand, there’s a surcharge of 50% levied between midnight and 6am.

Restaurants frequently put a 10% service charge on serving of food bills, in which case a tip is not needed. If there is no service charge, 10% of the bill is a proper tip, but this can be expensive if your bill is quite high. Many Thai people just leave the loose change.Twenty baht is usual for hotel porters, although you may think that the maid who has cleaned your hotel room all week deserves substantially extra. Pizza delivery boys should get as a minimum a dollar (about 40 baht).

The exact amount of a taxi fare can be paid, but it is now ordinary to round it up to the nearest 5 baht. You should always tip a personal tour driver; around 100 baht for a day’s driving is well.

Tipping is not necessary in Indonesia. All hotels services inclusive of 21% tax. 11% is government tax and another 10% is service charge. Therefore, tipping is not mandatory. However, if you want to tip, give 5-10% of the total bill.

Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore. It is prohibited at the airport and discouraged at hotels and restaurants where a 10% service charge is included in the bill. A tip should only be exercised when the bill does not include a service charge.

Wearing a light, cool, and casual clothing is suggested. For more formal occasions, men should wear jackets, ties, or long-sleeved batik shirts whereas women should wear dresses.

Light cotton clothing is suitable of the day. Don’t worry about carrying too much clothing with you, as almost everything can be bought nearby, at a fraction of the price you will pay at home. Do remember that the tropical sun can be quite severe so don’t forget your hat, and a good sun glasses is very useful.

Take light clothes, as the weather is warm-to - hot throughout the year Dress is generally informal in Indonesia. Light fabrics are recommended due to the warm, humid climate. For men, a jacket and tie is considered appropriate when making officials calls or non formal occasions.

You can also follow local custom by wearing a long-sleeve batik shirt. It is recommended to bring a sweater or light jacket for travel to mountain areas. Shorts and beachwear are not considered appropriate except at sports facilities and on the beaches, and never appropriate for visits to temples, mosques and other places of worship.

Loose and light summer clothing is recommended, especially for outdoor activities like sightseeing. "Smart casual" is usually acceptable everywhere except for formal business dining or when specified in an invitation. Smart casual usually refers to shirts (long or short-sleeves but not T-shirts) or blouses, and trousers or skirts.

Generally the country is warm throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 21′ to 32′ Celsius in the lowlands, which is low as 16′ Celsius in the highlands. Annual rainfall is heavy at 2,500mm (100 inches). On a rainy day, thunder and lightning often go together with the deep downpour, which normally lasts for about an hour or two. The high humidity level at 80% throughout the year favours light and sweat-absorbent material like cotton for daily dressing.

Commonly, Malaysia has two different seasons. The dry season occurs during the southwest monsoon during May till September. The northeast monsoon brings the rainy period to the country from mid-November and March.

Thailand’s weather is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and conquered by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals are moved to criticize about the high temperature. The beginning of the South West Monsoon held in June, and brings with it the rainy period, which continues occasionally till the end of October.

From November to the end of February the weather is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand.

The north and northeast are normally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 2 degree Celcius.

Indonesia’s tropical climate makes it an ideal holiday destination all year round. The two seasons here are distinct: dry and wet.

From June through September, the east monsoon ensures dry weather; while from December through March, things are wet from the west monsoon rains. Temperatures during the wet season are comfortable at 21 to 33˚C (cooler at higher altitudes). The rain falls hardest in December and January, when humidity is 75 to 100 per cent.

May through August is the best time for a visit to Indonesia as the climate is at its coolest and the rains are light. If you plan on travelling to high altitudes, you’ll want to carry some warm clothing, especially for visits to mountain villages.

Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore is generally hot and humid. Average temperatures hover around 30 C and 22 C.

November and December is the rainy season. June-August is considered to be the best time to visit, but even then it rains often.

Traditional and local delicacies that are sold by Food hawkers make up the everyday scenes in big or small towns throughout the country. Try our “teh tarik”, a smoothened, creamed tea, and “roti canai”, a fluffy pancake prepared by a local person of Indian Muslim ancestry. “nasi lemak” and a variety of kinds of Chinese noodles are also popular. People from all walks of life common these food stalls.

Delicious (and often spicy) cooking that is the definition of fresh is created in this country. Eating in Thailand is usually an excellent experience, but misunderstandings can occur. In large hotels and international restaurants the service is unsurprisingly good, but in a different place it might not be. When ordering your food, ask the waiter to write down and say again the order. Couples/groups ordering individual dishes should request that everyone’s food arrive at the same time. Orders sometimes disappear between the table and the kitchen, so if you think something is pay no attention to, inform the staff sooner rather than later.

Aromatic spices and a variety of hot chili peppers are the essence of most Indonesian dishes. Rice is an important part of the national diet for most of the archipelago, but in the eastern islands corn, sago, cassava and sweet potatoes are more common. The enormous wealth of the surrounding seas and oceans, as well as fresh water fisheries, provides an abundance of sea food which can be traditionally served in a number of exciting ways, including baked in banana leaves.

As the population of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, pork is usually not served except in Chinese, international restaurants, and non Muslim regions such as Bali and Papua. An extensive assortment of tropical and sub-tropical fruit and vegetables can also be found year-round to tantalize your taste buds.

One of the best things about being in Singapore is undoubtedly the food. It is no secret that Singaporeans eat and drink with a passion.

Singapore’s multi-cultural diversity is reflected in the variety of local cuisine it has to offer, from Chinese to Malay, Indian to Peranakan. Singapore cuisine has influenced one another for decades. Foreigners who visit Singapore ought to try out some of our local delicacies.

Some of Singapore delicacies include Satay, Roti Prata , Fried Kway Teow (fried black noodles- normally served with cockles), Hokkien Noodles (seafood noodle delight), Hainanese Chicken Rice, and some of our local desserts like Ice Kacang (flavoured ice with ingredients like red bean and jelly), Chendol (coconut based dessert), and Grass Jelly (a refreshing black jelly)