Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Internet Access
» Wi-fi is available at virtually all top-end hotels and backpackers guesthouses, at least in
the lobby, though some fancy places have the cheek to charge outrageous sums to go on-
line. These places almost always have one or more internet computers, for which there's
often a nominal charge. Midrange places, including Malaysia's Chinese hotels, are a
mixed bag, though more and more offer wi-fi.
» Internet cafes (that double as video-game parlours) can still be found in cities and large
towns, but they're becoming thin on the ground as smartphones proliferate. Access usu-
ally costs US$1 per hour or less.
» Western-style coffee shops and an increasing number of other eateries are wired for wi-
fi.
» Areas without internet access include many of Borneo's offshore islands and huge
swaths of the interior.
Legal Matters
» In Malaysia, certain drug crimes carry a 'mandatory death sentence', and when entering
Brunei you'll see Singaporesque signs reading 'Warning: Death for drug traffickers under
Brunei law'. Indonesia also has harsh penalties for the smuggling or possession of drugs.
» Gambling and possessing pornography are punishable by severe penalties.
» It is illegal to work without a proper working visa.
» The sale and public consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Brunei.
» Under Indonesian law, you must carry identification at all times.
Maps
Small-scale road maps of Borneo, some available online, are published by several com-
panies:
World Express Mapping Sdn Bhd
(
www.wems.com.my
)
Based in Johor Bahru, Peninsu-
lar Malaysia. Publishes serviceable 1:900,000-scale maps of Sabah and Sarawak (sold in
most bookshops in Malaysian Borneo) that include insets of major cities.
