Culture Shock! Malaysia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Culture Shock!

by Heidi Munan

With over three million copies in print, CultureShock! is a bestselling series of culture and etiquette guides covering countless destinations around the world. For anyone at risk of culture shock, whether a tourist or a longterm resident, CultureShock! provides a sympathetic and fun-filled crash course on the dos and donts in foreign cultures. Fully updated and sporting a fresh new look, the revised editions of these books enlighten and inform through such topics as language, food and entertaining, social customs, festivals, relationships, and business tips. CultureShock! books are packed with useful details on transportation, taxes, finances, accommodation, health, food and drink, clothes, shopping, festivals, and much, much more.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

Reviews

[Debra]

Pretty lamely written. Information is not pertinent, interesting or well-presented. Too much unnecessary detail in some instances (eg. Chinese and Indian wedding traditions) and a dearth in others. Don't waste your time or money on this book.

[Kllykl]

In 2023 - not everything is relevant anymore. However this book does offer interesting insights to local culture.

[David Roberts]

The book I read to research this post was Cultureshock Borneo by Heidi Munan which is an excellent book which I bought from a car boot sale. Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world after Greenland & New Guinea and is divided into 3 countries which are Malaysia, Brunei & Indonesia with the latter being by far the largest. Actually Brunei has changed its name to a name that still has Brunei in the title but is complicated. Many visitors to Borneo are shocked at how they treat their pets. There are wild dogs which scavenge and pet dogs aren't much better off being fed once every few days and left to fend for themselves with no walks or vets. Some of the wealthy have pets which are well and truly pampered including sometimes fighting cockerels and they do that as a sport here. In the towns the police tend to keep law and order but outside there the army will often have checkpoints even though there isn't a war going on. Much of the population is Muslim with only small numbers of Christians and only a few into traditional Animism. Native girls go around in groups and ignore the local men if they're leering. Tourists often say hello and are skimpily dressed which leads to the locals getting the wrong idea. They assume most foreigners have lower moral standards than them. Often if for example you come from Denmark and don't drink they will assume all Danes don't drink. They will also probably have little idea where your country is. The national languages are Malay & Bahasa Indonesian and they do appreciate you learning a few words in their language. Many tourists complain about the pace of life there but it's so hot you do learn to take things steady and not rush. Finally they do have a problem with snakes, centipedes and scorpions. Snakes are generally terrified of people and hopefully there will be a gardener who will know what to do. Some people call the police to deal with snakes & the usual practice is to jab a stick into one of the upper vertebrae killing it.

[Amanda]

Yet another place I want to visit...I love the architecture and culture of this area of the world. I am hooked on these Culture Shock books lately :)

[Lysergius]

A decent introduction to a fascinating place, lah!