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GENERAL INFORMATION ON CHINA
Language The
national language is Putonghua (the common speech) or Mandarin, which is
one of the five working languages at the United Nations. Most of the 55 minority
nationalities have their own languages. Cantonese is one of the local dialects
of southern China. As a written
language, Chinese has been used for 6,000 years.
Currency China＊s
currency is the Renminbi (RMB¥), usually called the Yuan. The official exchange
rate between U.S. Dollar and RMB Yuan currently is about 1: 6.2
(1.00 Dollar = 6.20 Yuan).
1 Yuan (known as Kuai, in some parts of China) = 10 Jiao 1 Jiao
(known as Mao in some parts if China) = 10 Fen
Chinese currency is issued in the following denominations:
Yuan: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100 Jiao: 1, 2,
5 Fen: 1, 2,
5
The Bank of China has exchange desks for foreign currency and travelers checks with
convenient hours at all hotels, airports and other shopping areas.
Many hotels and
state-owned stops now accept major credit cards such as Master Card, Visa Card,
American Express, JCB and Diners Card. Travelers should be
prepared to pay in Yuan when shopping in smaller shops, restaurants, and in
smaller hotels.
Visa
Requirement According to the Law
of the People's Republic of China concerning the Administration of Foreigners
Entering and Leaving the Country, all foreign tourists are required to apply
visas to enter China,
which can be done
directly
at
the China
Embassy. For Singapore passport holders, visa is not required if your stay is
less than 15 days as a tourist. However, visa is necessary for all travelers to
Tibet and it can only be acquired with the consent of
the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region or any one of its
foreign representative offices. Passport is required for visa application and it
must have at
least 6 months validity from the day of departure.
Time Difference There is no time difference between
Malaysia and China Electricity Telephone
Services There is GSM network coverage in
China, therefore mobile phones can work when roaming with a dual band or tri
band handset. IDD service is also available at all hotels and post offices.
China country code is 86 and outgoing international code is
00. Climate China has a
continental and seasonal climate. Most parts of
China: Temperate zone
Southern part: Tropical or subtropical zone (No
winter all year round e.g. Hainan Island) Northern part: Frigid Zone (No summer all year
round e.g. Harbin) Season and
Clothing Spring (Mar-May: 10-22°C) Jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long
sleeve shirts, travel shoes Summer (Jun-Aug:
>22°C) Light, causal short
sleeve shirts, sandals, caps, umbrella, rain wear Autumn (Sep-Nov: 10-22°C) Jackets, sports coats, light woolen
sweaters, rain wear, travel shoes Winter (Dec-Feb: <22°C) Overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats,
cap, gloves, cotton-padded shoes
Average Temperatures (Degree Celsius)
Water and Hygiene
In China, tap water is NOT safe to
drink. All water consumed must be boiled or
filtered unless it is bottled mineral water. Tourists are
recommended to drink bottled water when they travel in China. No
vaccinations are required for travel to China but it is advisable to check with
your doctor for current information and take the necessary precautionary
measures before you travel.
Travel
Insurance Prior to
departure, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses in case of injury or illness,
loss of personal belongings, flight delays etc. Tipping
It
is customary
to tip the China Local Guide and Driver in recognition and appreciation of their
services. A
guideline for tipping is as follows:
China Local Guide: RM5.00 per person per
day (inclusive of free day) China
Driver: RM5.00 per person
per day (inclusive of free day) Porter: RM2.50 per luggage
every time you check in/out hotel Shopping In general,
the shops in China are open daily from 0900 to 2000. Some stores remain open on
Chinese festivals. Large departmental stores can close as late as
2100-2200.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON EUROPE
Currency Euro has been implemented since 2002 and is legal tender in Germany, Holland, Italy, Austria, France, Belgium,
Finland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Luxembourg. Please change the
relevant currencies if you are visiting Switzerland, England, Denmark and
Sweden. It is recommended that you change your currency in Singapore to get a
better exchange rate. Major credits cards are accepted in big department
stores.
Visa Requirement Tourist visa is
not required for Singaporeans. If holding foreign passport, please ensure you
have the valid visas.
Time Difference Austria, Belgium, France, Germany,
Italy, Netherlands & Switzerland are 6 hours behind
Malaysia. Great Britain is 7 hours behind
Malaysia.
The time difference is subject to daylight savings. Electricity Telephone
services There is GSM network coverage in
Europe, therefore mobile phones can work when roaming with a dual band or tri
band handset. IDD service is also available at all hotels and post
offices.
Spring (Mar-May: 10-20°C) Long sleeve, gloves and warm coats
Summer (Jun-Aug:
23-33°C) Light clothing and
warm jackets (especially in Switzerland) Autumn (Sep-Nov: 10-20°C) A mixture of light & warm clothes &
a god warm coat Winter (Dec-Feb: -5- -10°C)
Woolen sweater, socks, gloves and mufflers. A good warm jacket / coat.
Average Temperatures (Degree
Celsius)
Water and Hygiene
Generally, hotels in Europe do not
provide hot drinking water. It is advisable to drink mineral water. For your
convenience, it is recommended to bring one or two bottles during your
travel.
Travel
Insurance Prior to
departure, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses in case of injury or illness,
loss of personal belongings, flight delays etc. Tipping
It
is customary to tip the
European Guide and Driver in recognition and appreciation of their services.
A guideline for tipping is as
follows:
Local Guide/Assistant :
Euros 2.00 每 3.00 per person per day Driver : Euros 2.00 per person per day
Porter : Euro 1.00 per luggage per
way Restaurant : 1 每 12% of total
bill Taxi : 10 每 20% of meter
fare
General
Information on Australia
Language English is
the common and official language of Australia. Currency Australia＊s
unit of currency is the Australian dollar (AU$), comprising coins with values of
5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, $1 and $2; and notes with values of $5, $10, $20, $50
and $100. Visa
Requirement Everyone,
except holders of Australian and New Zealand passport, requires a visa to enter
Australia. Climate /
Season / Weather You can
visit Australia at any time of the year. In summer, the average maximum
temperature ranges between 25-35＊C and in winter between 10-15＊C.
Australia
has four definite seasons 每 spring (Sept 每 Nov), summer (Dec 每 Feb), autumn (Mar
每 May) and winter (Jun 每 Aug), Away from the mountains, Australia winters are
mild and temperatures generally do not fall below freezing.
Average Temperature
Electricity The
electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50 Hz. The Australian
three-pin power outlet is different from that in some countries so you will need
an adaptor. If your appliances are 110V, check if there is a 110/240V switch; if
not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V
shavers are usually found in leading hotels. Shopping Shopping
hours vary from State to State but generally major department stores open from
9.00am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, with late night shopping either on Thursday or
Friday until 9.00pm; and 9.00am-5.00pm on Saturday. Some States have Sunday
trading and major stores open from 10.00am-4.00pm. Department stores, gift
shops, fashion boutiques and specialty stores are abundant throughout
Australia.
Mobile Phones Australia
has both analogue and GSM digital networks. Check with your phone company before
leaving home about international mobile roam facilities available in Australia.
Time
Differences (No. of Hours Ahead of Malaysia) Western
Australia: No time
difference Eastern
Australia: 2
Hours North &
South Australia: 1.5
Hours
The time difference is subject to daylight savings. Water
All
Australia cities and towns have excellent public water supplies; tap (faucet)
water is fresh and safe to drink. Outdoors, it＊s always a good idea to boil or
treat water from rivers and lakes to be on the safe side. Tipping Tipping is
not the general custom in Australia and service charges, apart from the GST 每
the government goods and service tax of 10% - are not added to accounts by
hotels and restaurants. Porters, taxi drivers and hairdressers do not expect to
be tipped although you may do so if you wish. In better class restaurants, it is
usual to tip food and drink waiters up to 10 percent of the bill for good
service. At any time tipping is your choice.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON
AMERICA
Language U.S. English is the official
language for America. Currency US Dollars
(USD) are the currency used in America. The official exchange rate between MYR
and USD currently is about 3.8: 1 (RM3.80 = US$1).
USD currency is issued in the following denominations:
Notes: USD1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Coins:
Cents1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and USD1
Credit Cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discovery and Diner＊s Club are accepted in major hotels and
business establishment. Visa
Requirement Most visitors
to the United State required a visa. However, Canadians need only proof of
citizenship. There are 27 Countries under visa-waiver program (VWP) which are
Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom. All passports presented for VWP travel are
required to be machine-readable. Time
Difference The Time difference between America
& Singapore are as follows: East Coast - 13hours behind Singapore from
November 每 March
12hours behind Singapore from April 每 October West Coast - 16hours behind Singapore from
November 每 March
15hours behind Singapore from April - October Electricity
Telephone
services Only tri-band mobile phones can work
when roaming. IDD service is also available at all hotels and post offices.
Phone cards are also readily available. International Dialing code is 1.
Area codes: Los Angeles: 213, 310, and
323
New York: 212
Denver: 303
Chicago: 708, 630, 773, 312
New Orleans: 504 Climate Spring March 每 May 10°C -
20°C Summer June 每 August 20°C -
38°C Autumn September - November 10°C - 22°C Winter December - February 5°C -
12°C Season and
Clothing Spring (Mar-May: 10-20°C) Jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long
sleeve shirts, travel shoes Summer (Jun-Aug:
20-38°C) Light, causal short
sleeve shirts, sandals, caps, umbrella, rain wear Autumn (Sep-Nov: 10-25°C) Jackets, sports coats, light woolen
sweaters, rain wear, travel shoes Winter (Dec-Feb: 5-18°C)
Overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats, cap, gloves, cotton-padded shoes
Water and Hygiene
The water is safe
to drink throughout the United States and the standard of all hygiene is
extremely high. No vaccinations are required for
travel to United States but it is advisable to check with your doctor for
current information and take the necessary precautionary measures before you
travel. Travel
Insurance Prior to
departure, it is highly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover
unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses in case of injury or illness,
loss of personal belongings, flight delays etc. Tipping
Tipping is a customary gesture as a
sign of appreciation for services rendered. A general guideline for tipping is
as follows: Driver US$2.00 per person per day
(inclusive of free day) Tour Manager
US$2.00 per person per day (inclusive of free day) Porter US$1.00 per luggage
every time you check in/out hotel Shopping Shops are
generally open 10.00 每 21.00 hrs Monday 每 Friday, 10.00 每 19.00hrs Saturday
& Sunday. There are 24-hours stores in almost all large towns and certainly
in city districts. The rate of sales
tax varies by city and state and ranges from 4% to 15%. It is applied to the
price at the checkout. Emergency
Numbers Police : 911 Ambulance : 911 Fire : 911
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