Backpacking on a budget

Budgeting for your trip in Malaysia

As mentioned before, try avoid bringing in so much money on your trip and carrying cash around as this gives you a reason to spend money on things you don't need. Give yourself a limit or a small amount suitable to your day plan and work on that. This leaves you limited choice to spend and use it for what you really need. Avoid using the ATM as most banks usually charge and people seeing you taking cash out immediately makes them think you are a millionaire with a pad in central London. No.

If you are seeking alcohol or would like some as part of your meal or on a night out it is expensive from 14-20RMB but food go as low as 5-8RMB. This depends on where you are. Soft drinks go as low as 1RMB and 7/11 the convenience store is perhaps your best shot if you like somewhere dirt cheap and legit. 

Public transport is cheap with at least 10RMB usage a day. Travelling on the KTM Komuter or Transit would be at least 1RMB to the next stop or two but you are probably better off walking. Taxis charge 3RMB for the first half mile. Avoid 'touts' offering cheap taxi service as they often end up making you pay more which is silly. We ain't fools. But I am never taking a taxi again! I only did the first time from KL Sentral with a pre-booked coupon because of the storm and I just couldn't be bothered. This I regret.

 To save even more food money, do catch the free GO KL Bus service which takes you where you are more likely interested to go to - these are the green lines and the purple lines, the blue line doesn't really go where you would want to go. You really don't need to be spending so much here. So you can get anywhere by foot without needing any tourist assistance (or even falling into a scam trap). They speak fabulous English in this country and signs are translated already. Like Thailand, some of their languages are similar to the English language such as their words are pronounced as they are spelt. If you're lost, just ask someone! 

Bargaining with anyone can be difficult but by suggesting that your friend paid less or you found the same product elsewhere for half the price usually works. Don't be fooled by begging shop owners needing money - they are happy to price their products for what they're worth yet sell openly to 3 times the price just because they can. If they say 15, test it by saying 5 and see what they do. Some of the results are fascinating. 

Tips: Avoid ice cubes in side-street stalls and cafes as they are usually made with unboiled water which is unsafe. Also cut fruit from stalls right by the road. You wouldn't as you shouldn't consider it as health and safety. Easily avoid pooing yourself wet or vomiting by eating sensibly from sensible eateries and stalls. Although it is hard to tell, maintain your health is essential for fighting any illnesses you could catch or develop. Bring Vitamin C tablets with you or take daily immune system tabs to strengthen yourself. 

Since it can be screamingly hot outside, going to place with fierce air conditioning is not necessarily is great thing. The constant temperate drop and changes can be a tiny health risk giving you fever development or a simple flu. Try cover your face while sleeping in your hotel room with all-night air con and drink plenty of water if feeling drowsy from the heat. Being ill while travelling is the worst possible situation to experience.