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Tourism Malaysia

Why you should move to Malaysia in 2016

By Lloyd Green

Good news! If you’re thinking of relocating to Malaysia — maybe to volunteer, work at an NGO, study, join a big company, intern or simply enjoy your gap year — now is the best time. According to the 2016 global Cost of Living Index report collated by Numbeo, Malaysia is the 29th cheapest country to live.

Despite boasting one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies, Malaysia is an incredibly affordable place to live, retaining a Consumer Price Index of just 37.47. Remarkably, this is lower than neighbouring Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

 So, if you’ve just graduated, have the time to do something life changing, or are looking for that extra zest in life, why NOT come to Malaysia? We’ll tell where you get cheap food, eat out for less and rent a house for next to nothing?

What’s Cheap In Malaysia?

Johor Bahru is Malaysia’s cheapest city on the Cost of Living Index table with a CPI of 40.61. A one bedroom apartment here averages MYR1,325.00, while out of the city it drops to MYR833.33. JB also has the third least expensive McDonald’s combo meal in the world at MYR10, which is equal to $US2.50. In fact, Malaysia is one of the cheapest places in the world for eating out with Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur all polling in the Top 50 on the Restaurant Price Index list.

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On average you can get a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for MYR8 or $US2. Coffee is also cheap averaging $US1 in most places. Do expect to pay more at fancy shopping malls and outlets like Starbucks.

Is KL Really That Expensive?

shutterstock_150586619Kjersti Joergensen / Shutterstock.com

The cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is slightly higher compared to other Malaysia cities, but with a CPI of 44.48, it’s still 54 per cent cheaper than Singapore and has roughly the same CPI as neighbouring Asian capitals like Jakarta, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.

You will likely need at least $US400 to $US500 per month to cover all of your expenses in KL, with a room to rent as low as MYR800 ($US200) per month. This price can vary drastically depending on your location, with a one bedroom apartment in the city averaging MYR2400 per month, while out of the city the median drops to MYR1200.

Kota Kinabalu is the cheapest city in Malaysia for accommodation according to Numbeo, with its Rent Index at 7.63 (37th in the world), compared to JB at 12.24 and KL at 18.55.

The cost of transport in Kuala Lumpur is very competitive with a one-way ticket using the LRT or KTM less than $US1. If you commute every day, count on $25 per month for transportation.

Get Me Out Of The City

Transport between urban cities in Malaysia is also affordable, ranging between $5 and $15 for a bus ride, depending on the destination. A bus or train ride can take you to the green mountains of Cameron Highlands or the heritage listed cities of Georgetown, Malacca and Ipoh.

For Ipoh, catch the train as Ipoh Railway Station is located in the centre of town, whereas the coach terminal is some 15 minutes away. The tickets are MYR25 to MYR30 and you’ll only save five ringgit if you catch the bus.

The bus from KL to Penang is the best option as it takes you directly to the island and within five minutes of George Town. Tickets at MYR37 to MYR42.

Flying to Sabah and Sarawak can be expensive, but Air Asia offers deals all year round. Right now you can fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan for $US16 with the airline.

blogjun22Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 

Staying Long Term

Most people can enter Malaysia on a Short Term Social Visit Pass, which can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. Normally, this visa is valid for three months, but the visa conditions vary depending on your nationality.

If you plan to volunteer in Malaysia for longer than three-months, you might wish to apply for a Professional Visit Pass (PVP). This must be requested by the NGO you intend to work for while you are still in your home country

If granted, this visa is valid for up to 12 months and can be renewed for another 12 months, but only after a three-month break in between.

Contacting Home

Internet and mobile packages are also relatively inexpensive in Malaysia, with a minute of prepaid mobile averaging RM0.26 and 10 Mbps Internet with unlimited data priced at RM160.

So, whatever it is you decide to do in Malaysia, your time here be an exciting time in your life, and a great chance to stretch your own limits and discover your potential!

Check out the Top 30 Cheapest Countries to Live in 2016.

About the Author

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

New series of dishes and breakfast menu from Mama Nyonya FOOD Restaurant, Tmn Molek

Mama Nyonya FOOD Restaurant (N1.52416 E103.78535) has a new series of dishes available started from this December 2014 onwards! Beside the new menu, they also serve Nyonya style breakfast today, you can view through some of the dishes below…

The restaurant new business hour also changed from 7.30am – 5pm (weekday) and 11am – 8pm (Fri and Sat). That means the breakfast is available on weekday only and the dinner only during the weekend.

About 9 of us visited the restaurant on one of the evening to try out the new dishes. Let me show you one-by-one…

*  Fish in brown sauce
*  Itik Sioh (duck)
*  Fish maw soup
*  Portuguese style steam sotong (squids)
*  Battered eggplants in sauce
*  Itik Tim (duck)
*  Ikan sambal garing (Fried mackerel fish with Nyonya sambal)

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Fish in brown sauce
– One of the special taste which you can slowly differentiate the sweet, sour, slight salty and spicy-ness of the fish in your mouth. The authentic mixture of Nyonya ingredients were great and we all like it!

Itik Sioh (duck)
– This was the first time tasting this authentic Nyonya Itik Sioh out of Malacca town. The gravy was tasty and really went well with plain rice. The duck was tender and succulent.

Fish maw soup
– The fish maw soup served with salted veggie, mushroom and chicken. Tasty and enjoyed the soup. The fish maw was prepared from raw by the restaurant, and it was fresh.

Portuguese style steam sotong (squids)
– Another Portuguese dish that we tried out of Malacca town. The ingredients were unique, spicy and sour, provided a different taste from local Johor Bahru town. The squids were steamed to perfection.

Battered eggplants in sauce
–  One of the ‘very special’ dish we had! Eggplant prepared with bean paste, it was crispy on the skin and juicy inside. Unforgettable! All of us like it very much!

Itik Tim (duck)
– Another Nyonya signature dish, cooked with authentic Nyonya recipe as home dish during the old era, we were fortunate enough to taste it today. Appreciated.

Ikan sambal garing (Fried mackerel fish with Nyonya sambal)
–  The fried mackerel fish was different from those available in the nasi lemak stall, it was really crispy and fragrance on the skin and moist inside. The sambal served with the fishes was the best combination!

They served the plain rice in the antique basket (correct me if I’m wrong) with the feel of rich Nyonya touch.

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All the dishes enough to ease our Nyonya temptation for the evening. Satisfied dinner in the comfort environment, not to forget the friendly owner (boss and lady boss) which remind me of the Nyonya culture.

Beside the new dishes, they also serve the Nyonya style breakfast in the morning session.

Breakfast menu :-

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They also serve nasi lemak and other noodles which I didn’t take the photos.
Among all, I like the Nyonya mee-suah and Nyonya Lontong very much! This 2 dishes are really unique within Johor Bahru area.

As all of us rated, Mama Nyonya FOOD Restaurant is one of the worth visit restaurant in Johor Bahru.

* The above comments are based on individual taste bud, not related to any commercial purpose.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Christmas Menu 2104 from Menu Please Bistro, Taman Maju Jaya, Johor Bahru

Christmas is around the corner, have you decided where to have your Christmas dinner?

Menu Please Bistro at Taman Maju Jaya is promoting the Christmas meal package for the “dinner on X’mas Eve dinner and lunch, dinner on the Christmas Day” on next week.
We were fortunate to have the first try on the Christmas package, and let me show what is all about…

The package is included the starter, main course, dessert and their special recipe of several type of cold drinks.

Starter – Duo appetizers
Smoke turkey frittata and mini mushroom soup
–  Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheese or vegetables.

Main course (choice of one)
Fish (RM78)
–  Pan seared salmon serves with pumpkin cream sauce and haricot vert

Duck (RM78)
–  Duck leg confit serves with slow baked orange and mash potato

Lamb (RM88)
–  Australian lamb serves with natural lamb jus and butter glaze chestnut

Dessert
Tiramisu
–  Popular coffee flavored Italian cake

Beverage
Cold
–  Double berries soda
–  Mango vanilla soda
–  Vanilla lime soda

Hot
–  Chamomile tea
–  Pepper mint tea
–  Jasmine green tea

In Chinese
Menu Please Bistro ???? ( 24/12/15 – 25/12/15)

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?????????????? 07-3360748
+60167388963 ( what’s app )

Smoke turkey frittata and mini mushroom soup

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Very special and unique appetizer I ever have in Johor Bahru. The frittata taste with a few combination of eggs, duck bacon, veggie and cheese. It difficult to describe the tastiness until you try it yourself.

Pan seared salmon serves with pumpkin cream sauce and haricot vert

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The salmon was cooked to perfection, the combination of the cream sauce was great!

Duck leg confit serves with slow baked orange and mash potato

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The duck leg confit was tender and yummy, the meat dropped off the bone easily, delicious!
We all like this special dish served by Menu Please Bistro and it’s hard to find the same dish else where around Johor Bahru for the moment.

Australian lamb serves with natural lamb jus and butter glaze chestnut

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The braised lamb was tender and succulent. It served with the lamb jus which enhanced tastiness of the dish, you will love this if you are a lamb lover.

Tiramisu

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Menu Please Bistro served one of the best Tiramisu within JB town. This was based of my individual taste bud.

Cold drinks
–  Double berries soda
–  Mango vanilla soda
–  Vanilla lime soda

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The mixture of these 3 cold drinks were exceptional, it’s the effort and the magic touch of Chef Jayson for the special festive season. Beside the cold drinks, they also serve hot Chamomile, pepper mint and Jasmine green tea.

Among all the 3 main courses, I prefer the duck leg. Because the dish is not common, and it’s difficult to catch the chance that serve by the restaurant. And for the cold drinks, I chose the Vanilla lime soda – it was so refreshing!

Select your choices from the Menu, enjoy the Christmas meal in Menu Please Bistro.
You may call the restaurant number 07-3360748 or whatsapp to their mobile number +60167388963 for reservation.

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Unique grilled fish stall spotted at Tawun Jetty, Lombok Island.

“We are providing individual and commercial Event Photography services to capture your precious moment within Johor Bahru.
‘Email’ me for more info. You can get my email by click on my profile. Thanks.”

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Tourism Malaysia

Ratatouille La Gourmet – Tea room – Bar

Ratatouille La Gourmet (N1.54783 E103.74606) is located at the corner lot of Jalan Adda 3/1 in Adda Heights, Johor Bahru.
Few months ago, Ratatouille was a stall in one of the food court situated in Taman Setia Indah. After several months of hardwork and effort by Chef Brian and the team, they successfully upgraded from a small stall to the well known restaurant in Johor Bahru today.
I admired their achievement!

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Ratatouille selected the white English theme as one of their attraction of the restaurant, it’s also became the ‘first’ theme’s restaurant in my favorite list.
The restaurant provide a clean and tidy outlook which really impressed! On the right side, there are some dining table for those customers who prefer natural air without air-conditioning.

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Greeted by the friendly staffs once we stepped into the restaurant. I love the deco very much! The area is spacious which provide a comfort and cozy dining environment.

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The windows at the both side have the white English tudor design, also choices for those diners who like to have window seat.

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There’s also a Victoria design’s sofa especially for those who enjoy their afternoon tea and scones…

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The dining area is comfortable for diner and even a small group of friends gather around…

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I was impressed by the owner’s idea with the well design and the provide different types dining tables for customers to choose their own preference.

Our food served on table pretty fast…let me show you the delicacies one-by-one…

Appetizer :-
Escargot – served in half dozen, with garlic breads side dish.

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Nice cheesy taste and the stuffing was not overly salty, always a good starter for your dinner.

Pepper steak.
Medium doneness, well prepared with pepper and served with mashed potatoes and ratatouille.

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I always like the steak of Ratatouille. Well marinated and the pepper level was just nice! If you are steak lover, you shouldn’t miss this!

Oxtail stew.
Whole oxtail being prepared for the dish. Magic cut by the Chef provide the true taste of the savory collagen within. The dish also served with potatoes, tomatoes and the nice beef gravy.

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Garlic bread, mashed potatoes and broccoli as side dish for Oxtail stew.

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Beside the delicious chewy bite of the oxtail, we like the beef gravy very much! The collagen was tender and fresh, we’re really enjoyed this Oxtail stew from Ratatouille La Gourmet.

Grilled Lamb Rack
Grilled rack of lamb served with broccoli, ratatouille and the mint sauce. (serve in medium doneness)

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The combination of the aromatic skin and the tender inside was marvelous! We took our time to taste this yummy lamb rack really slow…

Teriyaki Cod fish
Grilled cod fish bathing with teriyaki sauce, served with broccoli, carrots and mashed potatoes.

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The fresh cod fish with the Teriyaki sauce provide a perfect taste. It was juicy and nice to have for our dinner. It was a bit sweet for my personal taste bud.

Dinner won’t complete without the desserts…
Ratatouille signature cheese cake

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The signature cheese cake was rich with cheese but not overly sweet. Aromatic tiramisu was a favorite dessert for most of the customer in the area. Lemon sugar pancake was a surprise where the pancake doesn’t overly sweet and nice to have. According to the owner – Sherman, the Ratatouille Apple pie has a strong demand from the local, the special apple pie really filling after the main course.

The Ratatouille restaurant is also a perfect place for afternoon tea break with some cakes or scones, because of the special assign ‘Hi-tea’ area.

We will make our effort to drop by Ratatouille La Gourmet every now and then, not just only pass-by Adda Heights area. It is a excellent restaurant for lunch, tea break and dinner, even enjoy some beers in the evening.

Specially thanks to Brian and Sherman for the warm hospitality.