Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
202
4000
); for
MasterCard,
call
&
800/804-
594;
and for
Visa,
call
&
800/800-159.
Both numbers are toll-free from anywhere
in the countr y. For mor e on cr edit car ds
and what to do if y our wallet gets stolen,
see Appendix B: Malaysia Fast Facts.
TRAVELER'S CHECKS
American Express and Thomas Cook trav-
eler's checks can be cashed at banks,
hotels, and licensed money changers.
Unfortunately, they are often not accepted
at smaller shops. F or mor e on trav eler's
checks, see chapter 3.
6
HEALTH
STAYING HEALTHY
Whether you are exploring a city, the rain-
forest, or the beach, y ou'll need to protect
yourself fr om exposur e to sun and heat.
Drink plenty of fluids and av oid the out-
doors during the middle of the day , if
possible. Day or night, mosquito repellent
is a must.
The U nited S tates Centers for D isease
Control (CDC) then advised trav elers to
Malaysia to avoid contact with live or raw
poultry.
DIETARY RED FLAGS
The
tap water
in KL is supposedly potable, but I don 't
recommend drinking it—in fact, I don 't
recommend drinking tap water anywher e
in M alaysia. Bottled water is inexpensiv e
enough and r eadily av ailable at conv e-
nience stor es and food stalls. F ood pr e-
pared in hawker centers is generally
COMMON AILMENTS
TROPICAL ILLNESSES
Malaria
has
not been a continual thr eat in most par ts
of Malaysia, even Malaysian Borneo.
Den-
gue fever,
on the other hand, which is also
carried by mosquitoes, remains a constant
threat in most areas, especially rural parts.
Dengue, if left untr eated, may cause fatal
internal hemorrhaging, so if y ou come
down with a sudden fev er or skin rash,
consult a physician immediately. There are
no prophylactic treatments for dengue; the
best protection is to w ear plenty of insect
repellent—the breed of mosquito that car-
ries dengue bites during the day , as
opposed to malaria-carrying ones that bite
at dusk. Choose a pr oduct that contains
DEET or is specifically formulated to be
effective in the tropics.
In 2003, SARS seemed to skip right
over M alaysia, but
Avian I nfluenza,
or
Bird Flu, has found its way her e, particu-
larly in the nor thern state of K elantan.
11
safe—I have yet to experience trouble, and
I'll eat almost anywher e. If you buy fr esh
fruit, wash it w ell with bottled water, and
carefully peel the skin if y
ou ar e r eally
concerned.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
Consult a physician if y ou develop a high
fever or diarrhea that lasts longer than 24
hours. My r ecommendation, if y ou need
medical attention, is to consult the man-
ager of your hotel or resort. All hotels and
resorts have reputable general practitioners
on call who speak E nglish. F or extr eme
emergencies, hotel staff kno ws the closest
hospital and best way to get ther e.
We list
additional
emergency num-
bers
in Appendix B, p. 297.
