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Traveling to Melaka
Being only 145 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur 225 kilometres from
Johor Bahru (and Singapore) there are precious few direct flights
to the city (and none from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore). Unfortunately
for both visitors and the city itself, there is no direct transportation
connection (bus or otherwise) between KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International
Airport) and Melaka. That said, most visitors traveling to Melaka
start from either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and the following information
applies to such instances.
Whether your journey to Melaka begins in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore
the most convenient and economical mode of transport to travel to
Melaka is by bus. Another option would be to take the train however
the nearest train station to Melaka is in Tamping - some 40 kilometres
east of the city. However with only 3 trains a day this is less
convenient, more expensive and again you will need to get to the
local bus station to catch the 26 bus and you will still end up
at Stasiun Sentral.
From Kuala Lumpur
There are several bus companies that run Express Buses from Kuala
Lumpur that leave on the hour and half hour from the Puduraya
Central Bus Station. For the most part with the number
and frequency of buses to Melaka you can just show up and hop on
the next one. However that said if you plan to visit Melaka on a
long holiday weekend it is best to show up the day before and secure
your ticket especially if you haven't used the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal
previously - this will give you better options and a chance to familiarise
yourself with the bus station.
The Puduraya Bus Central Station is
located on Jl Pudu Raya (just 2 blocks from the Swiss Garden
Hotel (click
here for map). The current cost (as of 2nd quarter 2004) is
only RM 7.90 (that's right - just over US$2.00!) per person. Buses
leave from 8.00am - 7.00pm and the trip takes between 21/2
and 3 hours depending on traffic and the driver's willingness to
drop passengers off during the trip. Express buses are large, clean
and comfortable making it a very enjoyable trip through Malaysia's
scenic countryside.
The bus will stop at the new Stasiun
Sentral (see sidebar) about 5-6 kilometres outside of Melaka's
downtown area necessitating a taxi ride into town.
From Singapore
The most convenient way get to Melaka from Singapore is with Transnational
Express Sdn Bhd which runs twice daily departures (8.30am and 10.00am).
The trip takes about 5 hours with buses leaving from the Lavender
Street Bus Station. The cost will be about SGD12.00. You can usually
purchase your ticket at the station on the day of your departure
however be advised that Melaka is a very popular with Singaporeans
on weekends and national holidays. If you plan to visit Melaka from
Singapore on a weekend best to get your ticket a day or two ahead,
if you plan to go on a long holiday weekend purchase your ticket
several days in advance.
Arriving
to Malaysia from Singapore
If you do originate from Singapore you will need to pass through
immigration and customs when entering Malaysia and the following
rules and regulations apply (same as applies when arriving to Malaysia
via an airline).
While many nationalities do not require a visa for short social
or business visits however there are nationalities that need to
obtain a visa prior to entering the country and Malaysia has specific
rules for obtaining and using a visa. For more information on visa
requirements click
here.
Foreign nationals entering Malaysia must present a valid passport
or travel documentation with a minimum validity of at least six
months beyond the intended stay period. Be advised that your passport
is also necessary for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and the
East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Together with your passport, you will need to present a completed
Disembarkation Card, Travel Declaration Form and Customs Declaration
Form to the immigration officer. With the Travel Declaration Form
you are required to declare the amount of currency you are carrying.
The permitted limits are detailed below.
Permitted currency limits:
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Residents and nonresidents
alike are permitted to carry into and out of Malaysia Ringgit
notes not exceeding RM1,000 per
person. |
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There is no limit
on the amount of foreign currency note and traveler's cheques
carried into Malaysia by residents and nonresidents. |
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A resident is permitted
to carry out of Malaysia, foreign currency notes including
trailer's cheques, not exceeding RM10,000 or the equivalent
thereof per person. |
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A nonresident is
permitted to carry out of Malaysia foreign currency notes
including traveler's cheques, only up to the amount brought
in. |
After presenting the Disembarkation
Card and TDF a thirty to sixty day permit is given to most nationalities
upon arrival (see
visa info). As a rule, coming overland though you may be given
only thirty days unless you specifically ask for a 60 day permit.
Extensions are obtainable at an immigration office in the country
for a total stay of up to three months.
After clearing immigration you can proceed to customs area.
Customs
Formalities
Once you have cleared immigration, proceed to Customs
area and present your "Customs Declaration" to the customs
officer. Be forewarned: trafficking
in illegal drugs carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.
Dutiable Goods
Certain goods such as the following, imported by visitors are liable
to duty: carpets, garments, clothing accessories, jewelry, chocolates,
handbags, spirits and alcoholic beverages, tobacco and cigarettes
(see below for more info). Visitors bringing in dutiable goods may
have to pay a deposit for temporary importation, refundable on departure.
To get your deposit returned the goods are to be presented at the
time and place of departure together with the deposit receipts.
Exemptions on Dutiable Goods
Foreign nationals visiting Malaysia for 72 hours or less (except
Labuan, 24 hours and Langkawi, 48 hours) receive a duty exemptions
for the purchase of souvenirs, gifts and items intended for personal
use up to a limit of RM200.00 (RM500.00 in Labuan and Langkawi)
Items include:
Wines and spirits - up to one litre.
Tobacco - up to 225g (200 cigarettes or 50 cigars).
One pair of leather footware.
New clothing - up to 3 pieces.
Cosmetics, personal hygiene items (not including powder, hair products).
Duty Free
vs. Free Duty
Goods
Duty Free Goods are items that
are exempted from import duty only in designated shopping zones
in Malaysia.
Free Duty Goods are goods that are free from duty nationwide
all the time.
Free Duty Goods:
Free Duty items include: Cameras, perfume, cosmetics, watches and
clocks, fountain pens and cigarette lighters (except plastic), computers,
cameras, portable radios, carpets made of jute, fishing equipment,
golf clubs (except balls) and most musical instruments.
Prohibited Goods - Below is a list of prohibited items:
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Flick knives and
daggers |
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Pornographic material.
Taped video cassette should be submitted for clearance by
Customs - as pornography is illegal in Malaysia |
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A special permit
is required for the carriage of firearms and ammunition. |
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All passengers
must declare the following items to the Plant Quarantine Office
upon arrival: plant produce and plant parts including fresh
plant produced and processed products, soil and growth/rooting
media, insects and other organisms, microorganisms, herbarium
and dried flowers. Penalty for failure to do so is up to RM10,000
or imprisonment up to two years or both. |
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Air Passengers
arriving from South and Central America and Central Africa
are required to report to the Plant Quarantine Office. |
Health
Regulations:
Be advised that a Yellow Fever vaccination is required for all visitors
coming from Yellow Fever infected areas or endemic zones except
for children under 1 year of age.
Upon passing Customs, you will pass rest rooms, moneychangers and
ATMs etc. Exchange rates at the bus terminal are not as good as
money changers in Melaka however there are not that money changers
in Melaka to begin with so if you do not have any local currency,
you will need to change some now for the payment of the taxi from
Melaka's new Central Bus Station to your hotel and now is a good
time to do so.
Now you proceed to your bus for the remainder of the journey.
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