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'''Malaysia''' is a country in South Eastern [[Asia]]. It has borders with [[Thailand]] to the north, [[Singapore]] to the south, and [[Indonesia]] to the west and south. Its Capital city is [[Kuala Lumpur]]. The country is separated in two parts : the Malay Peninsula, and the north of Borneo Island.Currency is the Malay Ringgit : 1 RM = 0,23€ = US$1,36 (october 2011)

'''Malaysia''' is nice for hitching. There is a ''real'' expressway running on the north-south axis from the [[Thailand|Thai border]], via [[Kuala Lumpur]], towards [[Singapore]]. Stay on the gas stations with the nice food stalls. It is pretty easy to get a ride there, and in . In rural areas it's even easier, but lifts will be shorter. On the onramps on-ramps of the highway after the toll booth you can usually hitchhike as well, and staff are unlikely to bother you.__TOC__Unlike in other countries in Asia, it's possible not advisable to hitchhike right on the motorway. Police won't bother, but cars are much more unlikely to stop, if they are too fast or there is no safe place to regularly stop multiple cars at once. The only problem being that Having a sign with Tumpang written on it can help especially if you choose to walk on the drivers are often heading lots Epressway. Expressways vary in amount of different directions than indicated on shoulder and some portions have patrols (police who help with accidents and breakdowns) who will gladyly give you a ride to get your signbutt off the expressway.

Drivers usually speak English and stop easily. Cars are modern and fast. Local roads seem generally to be are often in a good condition, and are fast and enjoyable to hitch.

== Gas stations ==You can usually find tasty cheap meals for about 2 or 3 euro, and thus don't need to carry a lot of food, if any at all. Cold showers, a real treat in the hot climate, are often available free of charge[[File:Towards KL.jpg|thumb|Towards KL]]

== Number Plates = Gas stations ===It You can come handy to know where the car goes before askingusually find tasty cheap meals there. Cold showers, at a petrol station for exemple. Malaysian [[license plates]] are generally black with white letters and Numbers. The pattern is XXX-9999 or XXX-999. The first letter indicates which state real treat in the car comes from:* A = [[Perak]] (Capital: [[Ipoh]])* P = [[Pinang]] ([[Georgetownhot climate, Malaysia]])* W = [[Kuala Lumpur]]* B = [[Selangor]]* J = [[Johor]] ([[Johor Bahru]])* M = [[Malacca]]* N = [[Negeri Sembilan]]* R = [[Perlis]]* K = [[Kedah]]* D = [[Kelantan]] ([[Kota Bahru]])* T = [[Terengganu]]* C = [[Pahang]]* KV = [[Langkawi]] (an island in the north-west)* Q = [[Sarawak]]* S = [[Sabah]]. Those states are in eastern Malaysiaoften available free of charge. If you see a plate with S as a first letter in Peninsular (West) Malaysia, chances are the car is from [[Singapore]]* L = [[Labuan]]* H = Local Taxi

A list can be found on wikipedia : [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Malaysia] == Border Crossings Main Cities == === with * [[ThailandKuala Lumpur]] ===* [[File:Malaysiathailandborder.jpg|thumb|220px|right|[[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] tries thumbing up lifts at Bukit Ayer Hitam border George Town (ThailandMalaysia).]]At the ''Bukit Ayer Hitam'' border with Thailand User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] wasn't allowed to ask motorists in the car immigration area for a lift [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/]. Go to the rest area and ask there! === with [[BruneiGeorge Town]] (East Malaysia or BorneoPenang) ===Malaysians are paranoid about immigrations issues, so if you go from Eastern Malaysia to * [[BruneiMelaka]] you get your passport stamped like crazy.  === with * [[IndonesiaJohor Bahru]] ===There is a ferry from * [[MelakaIpoh]] to [[Dumai]], [[Indonesia]] (20USD) and police will give you real trouble if you try to leave by a cargo boat (if you can even enter the port. If you make it please inform us here.)In [[Georgetown]] there's a small marina with private yachts. But it's easier to get a free ride with a boat in * [[LangkawiKota Kinabalu]]. Most of the boats go to Indonesia.

From [[Sabah]] (Borneo)One of the best places to Indonesia:There find boats on the West coast is no road crossing! You have to get a visa before(easy to get in [[Tawau]]).Only option seem to be speedboat to [[Tarakan]] or [[Nunukan]]Langkawi. === with [[Singapore]] ===There are two border crossings to [[Singapore]], from the Malaysian city marinas and a bay where a lot of [[Johor Bahru]]boats are anchored. One is Woodlands checkpoint A lot of boats come here to the north of Singapore, and the other is Tual checkpoint provision or to get things for their boats as the west. See [[Singapore]] for further informationsisland has a tax free status.

The country has a fairly fair amount of "native" Chineses ethnic Chinese and Indians who speak Mandarin or Hokkien for (Cantonese in Kuala Lumpur) in the case of the former, and Tamil for the latter. But usually everybody knows Malay language (known as ''Bahasa Melayu'' in Malay).As for englishEnglish, it is spoken in at every level, from zero to fluent, but generally you won't find encounter trouble to communicate communicating at least for the basics.

Some useful sentences phrases:

*Hello = Selamat Pagipagi (am)/Petangpetang (pm) OR Hi*Good bye = Selamat Jalan jalan OR Bye

*Thank you = Terimah Kasihkasih*My name is [[User:toortoth|Tourto]] = Nama Saya saya Turto*Have you eaten already? = Sudah Makanmakan?*Yes/No = Ya/Tidak but Yes/No works too

*Do you speak english? = Cakap bahasa EnglisInggris?*I know a bit of Malay = Saya tau sikit bahasa malayuMelayu*Saya = I/me/mine ; Anda = You/yours

'''Bahasa''' means '''languages'language'', hence '''Bahasa Malayu'bahasa Melayu'' = '''Malay Language'language'', or '''Bahasa Englis'bahasa Inggris'' = '''English Language'language''.<br />'''Tidak''' is the negation. It is also shortened to '/ ''Tak''' very oftenis the negative like English Not.

* '''Gg''' is always pronounced as in '''goat''' and never as '''germany'''* '''ngny''' is pronounced as the Spanish '''ñ'''

* '''c''' is always pronouced pronounced as the English '''ch'''

* The rest is more or less as the Spanish prononciationpronunciation.

If you want == Experiences ==* [http://therichmikehitchhike.com/route/ The Rich-Mike HitchHike] - Malaysia ranks as the 2nd best country out of 20 on the Rich-Mike HitchHike ('''20'000 km through 20 countries in 100 days''') *User [[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitched along the '''Silk Road from Istanbul to know more Malaysia''' and actually learn Malaywrote about his experiences here: [http://thumbingasia.blogspot.com/ Thumbing Asia From West to East] Don't hitch-hike at night! You'd need the luck to get dropped at well lit places. Otherwise people won't stop! Besides that, this online free set of lessons Malaysia is particularly good really comfortable to hitch-hike. I topped 120 km/h average hitching speed!* [[User: [MrTweek|MrTweek]] even hitchhiked in a group of 4 people and even though it was slightly slower than alone, they still made it to their destination without any problems and in 7 lifts.* [http://malaymarcandoelpolo.pgoh13com/como-es-viajar-a-dedo-autostop-por-malasia/ Information, tips and personal experiences of hitch-hiking in Malaysia. A 2021 km journey on 40 vehicles (only in spanish)], by Marcando el Polo* An aimless hitchhiker thinks Malaysia is a really easy country to hitchhike! Read about her experiences [https://anaimlesshitchhiker.com |Free online Malay lessons]/2016/10/31/hitchhiking-hiking-camping-malaysia/ here]

== Main Cities Personal Experience ==* [[Kuala Lumpur]]* [[Georgetown]] (Penang)Pls add info* [[Melaka]]* [[Johor Bahru]]* [[Ipoh]]* [[Kota Kinabalu]]== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==