Kuala Lumpur Packing List Tips by janettepang

Luggage And Bags: For check-in luggage, try using durable and preferably water-repellent suitcases/bags. I've seen incidences of damaged suitcases (especially hard-bodied ones) and luggages getting soiled.

They were not necessarily due to the fault of the carriers, although in many cases they were, but the main reason usually is because most travellers (especially from the west) come a long way .. and usually with a couple of transits or stops in other cities .. by the time they actually do get to Malaysia, they do become quite a state.

In any case, you will find things that are cheaper in Malaysia compared to your home country, so try to bring an almost-empty bag apart from essential toiletries and a few clothing for travel use. You can buy clothes or things as souvenirs or add them on to your shopping list ... t-shirts from night markets are usually just around £1 (RM6) or £2 (RM12) each for instance, but authentic branded t-shirts from shopping centres starts from almost £3 onwards.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Light airy clothing & shoes (comfortable water repellent shoes, e.g. avoid suede or nubuck ones), + a pair of sandals.

If you're on a budget & don't intend to shop for clothes, bring: t-shirts, jeans, bermuda shorts, + a few semi-formal clothing (e.g. slacks, sundress) if you're into formal concerts or fine dining.

A small pair of umbrella for sudden showers of rain or excess heat from the sun. If you are afraid of insect bites, bring along some insect repellent.

For guys, despite the heat, please avoid going out in 'singlets' as men here usually only wear them at home/under working shirts or for sports. Sleeveless is possible though.

For ladies, sorry to have to bring this up, but for those who are quite fond of going 'bra-less' underneath your t-shirts, etc.; please avoid that in Malaysia unless you're quite sure it won't be visible, as this is largely frowned upon and attracts unwanted attention (trust me, travellers usually attract lots of attention anyway).

Toiletries & Medical Supplies: Try to have some hepatitis shots before coming over if you're going to be adventurous with your eating habits in Malaysia.

For toiletries, it would be good to bring along or buy from Malaysia (due to the products being made more for the weather) some good cleanser and toner for the face as dust and grime can be quite a common place in a capital city. However, unless you're staying in some backpackers' hostel or hotels with no 'star' ranking at all, then you'll find yourself supplied with most of the usual hotel toiletries anyway.

Photo Equipment: A digital camera comes in handy ... even better with a videocam to tape those cultural events like traditional dances, handicraft making, etc. if you're into it.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: The same applies for camping and outdoor gear: water repellent items, insect repellent (popular ones are usually the roll-on stickes such as 'Tabard'), sandals, and a good pair of walking, sports or outdoor shoes.

Miscellaneous: If you plan to spend more using cash in Malaysia, then it's better to buy travellers cheques and cash them only when you need them in Malaysia as a better protection for yourself against pickpockets.

Oh yes, an important thing for travellers is the travel adapter for charging batteries, phones, etc. In Malaysia, we use the same type of power outlets like they do in Britain (e.g. the 3-point ones with square inlets). However, smaller 2-pins that are rounded (not the big ones) from Europe, can fit into those power outlets too .. locals usually just use a pen to poke at them, hahah .. or you take a plug from an electrical product and stick it on the top inlet whilst you shove the small 2-point plug in. Or to save you all that hassle and you're willing to pay for it, just buy and use travel adapters similar to those used for UK - the 3-pin ones.

Leave a Comment