Bao3niang wrote:Another thing I don't like about Malaysia is how it's also a very automobile dependent country, a legacy of its past ties (as well as current) with the West. This surprised me at first, but Malaysia has one of the highest rates of car ownership in all of Asia (3rd I believe). As a non-driver who's far from being best mates with vehicles, Malaysia would definitely not be a place I'd like to live in
This is very true, in Malaysia even only a few miles out of the few cities, you need your own transportation, a car or at least a motorcycle.
There is very little public transportation available, even in places you might expect it to be, often even no taxi service.
I cannot say there is no public transportation at all, but waiting time is considerable. You expect maybe a bus every 20 or 30 minutes, but it is only every 2 or 3 hours... something like that.
A problem is also about overregulation of traffic laws, it's similar to UK. People are reluctant to help you out.
For example in Thailand, if there is no public transport showing up, you might ask any pickup-truck driver or motorcycle rider who is moving in your direction to take you and give him some small money for the gas station as thank you.
In Malaysia however nobody will take you, claiming restrictions because of insurance contract, police checks etc. etc. I also found driving around with a rent-a -car not really a pleasure, there are good streets, but terrible restrictions regarding speed, parking etc. etc.
It is true that Chinese and Muslim became more mistrusting during the last decades, often avoid each other but they will still communicate with a typical foreigner like me.
However I found Indian people most reclusive, and the worst of my experiences were all those many people who keep second homes and are from Saudi Arabia. Even Malay Muslims were complaining openly to me how ignorant and greedy they are.
While I was in Malaysia, there was never any greeting, and absolute no conversation coming from any of these men towards me, and women are totally covered up in black, moving around like 'ghosts'.
I later bought my second home in Thailand, in Pattaya/Jomtien area. Much better, cheaper, friendlier...in every aspect.
I think, nowadays Malaysia is not really a place fitting to Western foreigners anymore. It's a mixture of British discipline regarding general laws, Muslim rules if you consider dating there certain groups of women, Chinese loud rude behavior, the Indian intrusive businessman expecting you to buy something from him follows you all the time, etc.
For a Western tourist to stay a few days for sightseeing, that's OK, but living there for long-stay? Not me...