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OTHER PRACTICAL INFO Attire On the whole, Malaysians attach considerable importance to proper attire. When in public, dress casually but appropriately. Shorts and flip-flops are frowned upon at academic institutions and in most offices and places of business. Short-sleeve shirts are fine for both sexes, but shoulders should be covered. Be sure to bring an umbrella, as it may rain. Banks There are five banks operating around campus. CIMB Bank and Bank Islam ATMs are located at PUSANIKA while Bank Simpanan Nasional, Bank Muamalat and Bank Rakyat are housed at the Unikeb Building. CIMB also maintains sub-branch at the PUSANIKA building providing basic transactions. Full facilities are serviced at the main branch at Unikeb Building. Several banks, most prominently CIMB maintains a number of automated teller machines (ATM) at PUSANIKA and Unikeb. All banks are open on Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. Dining Food is the least of your problems at UKM! There is no shortage of choices to pick from. All halls of residence (Kolej) operates a cafeteria that is open to all. PUSANIKA is the centre of food and refreshments on campus, from café mocha to the local teh tarik, as well as a variety of local Malay, Chinese and Indian delights to cater to every taste bud. For light snacks in between classes, chances are there is an eatery near your place of study to get a quick bite. Most eateries operate non-stop from breakfast on to tea time. Only the Kolej cafeterias and the PUSANIKA canteen serve dinner. However, if you are in the mood for something upscale or are doing some social entertaining, hop on to the KRU restaurant for some fine dining while soaking in the breathtaking sights of the international class golf course. All food served on campus is halal. Internet You can get online at our Tun Seri Lanang library which is only a walk away from the conference venue. Two computers labs with internets facilities are available for users to access e-mail, the Library's online databases and other sources of information on the internet. Users are charged RM1.00 for every 50 minutes. Language The national language of Malaysia is Bahasa Melayu, and practically all people in Malaysia use it. Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan As a result of the different races gathered in this country, many different languages are spoken. Obviously, Bahasa Melayu (the Malay language) is the predominant language but English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Tamil and Hindi are also widely spoken. Also peculiar to Malaysians is "Manglish" or Malaysian English - a curious combination of all the different languages spoken in Malaysia and English. One thing you must bring home from Malaysia is the knowledge of when to properly place the "lah". Maps (in pdf format) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia campus map Medical services Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Location: Student Health Centre Building Telephone: 603-89215115, 603-89215087 (Medical) 603-89215283 (Dental) Fax: 603-89213583 The university provides comprehensive health and dental care to all students and their families for a nominal fee. Male and female doctors are available for consultation and treatment. Consultations are made on a walk-in basis or by appointment. In most cases, patients are treated at the health centre for outpatient consultation. However, in cases where necessary referrals are made to the university hospital located in Cheras for continuing treatment. Money The most convenient way to have access to local currency is to use your ATM card, although your bank will probably charge you for this service. There are ATMs all over the PUSANIKA area and most accept any card. Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. You may also bring a small amount of cash (USD or EUR) for emergencies. It is not recommended to bring travelers’ checks, as they are rarely accepted, and at very bad rates at that. We would advise you to use the banks as your moneychanger. Museums Royal Selangor Museum: Malaysia is home to the world's finest pewter and Royal Selangor is its most well known name. Visitors to the country often include the Royal Selangor factory in their travel plans and with the completion of its new ultra modern Visitor Centre, a visit will be even more fascinating. NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM: We have several museums with art galleries. The nearest and the easiest will be the museum at KLCC. NATIONAL MUSEUM: the establishment of the National Museum is as; " a non profit making, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to public which acquires, consignee, researches, communicates and exhibitions for proposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment." Post Office The post office is located at Pusanika which is very close to pur conference venue. Official opening hours are 8 am to 5.30 pm. It is open from Monday to Saturday. Sightseeing Kuala Selangor Nature Park: A huge sanctuary, it should ideally be explored on foot. There are 5 walking trails in this park and journeying along any of these, you would encounter different bird and animal species. It is advisable that you should roam around the park in silence. The more silent you are, more is your possibility of encountering rare fauna. This park makes for a great sightseeing destination in Selangor, Malaysia. Carey Island: Home to the Mah Meri tribe. They are renowned for their traditional woodcarvings that portray figures representing spirits of their ancestors. You however need special permission from the Golden Hope Oil Palm Plantation authority to visit this island. Indah Island: Another sightseeing attraction in Selangor, Malaysia. This relatively unspoilt island seems so far away from the modern civilization and an ideal place to escape into tranquility. The scenic beauty of the island is breath taking and chances of photography abound. Kuala Kuantan: Offers the most fascinating sightseeing opportunity in Selangor. This place is famous for fireflies. Millions of fireflies from over 130 species, literally light up the night sky. For an unforgettable experience take a trip down the river on boat in the evening and enjoy the constant twinkling. This place is a must visit for anyone. Morib Beach: A perfect get away from the din and bustle of city life. This more than a mile long beach is covered by fine sand and to see the sun go down in the sea is a memory to treasure for lifetime. Putrajaya and Cyberjaya: The city is part of an ambitious Malaysian scheme, the Multimedia Supercorridor, a projected business zone replete with high-technology facilities.. Putrajaya is located along the South Growth Corridor of the Multimedia Super Corridor or more commonly known as MSC, and is neighbors to the high-tech Cyberjaya. Entering into Putrajaya is like visiting a totally new country of its own. The township is excellently planned and very deserving of its name "Intelligent Garden City". This is a place where development does not interfere with nature. A model garden city, yet Putrajaya does not lack in the field of information and multimedia technologies. It is only located about 10 km from UKM. Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC): Located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, fondly known as KLCC. Designed to be a "city within a city", this 40 hectare (100-acre) site includes the KLCC park and PETRONAS Twin Towers to lend a prestigious address to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Petronas Twin Towers: the world's tallest twin buildings. They were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top, the original height reference used by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from 1969 (three additional height categories were introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996). Shopping Suria KLCC: Is a 1.5 million sp. feet (140,000 m˛) shopping complex located at the base of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It is located on 6 floors, with anchor tenants Isetan, Parkson Grand, Tanjong Golden Village, Signatures Level 2 Food Court and Marks and Spencer. Suria is the native Malaysian word for Sunshine. It was opened on August 31, 1999 Alamanda Shopping Center: A shopper's paradise, right in the heart of Putrajaya. Be it shopping, food, entertainment or leisure, there's more to Alamanda than just great design and landscape; it's a shopper's destination providing endless shopping madness, fun and exciting entertainment and mouth-watering range of treats. Chinatown (Petaling Street): It is a bustling market serving as a bargain hunter's paradise and one of the premier shopping areas in the city, which is distinct in oriental atmosphere. To experience Petaling Street (Chinatown), you should go at night! It's a place that never sleeps. The jostling crowd and noise are part of the fun of visiting Petaling Street. Without these, it just wouldn't be right. Telephone services Local and international telephone calls can be made from your hotel room, but a cheaper option is to call from using a calling card which can be optained from the convenient store. Weather Malaysia's weather is mostly hot and humid. There are two Monsoon seasons, but the one from Nov-Feb that affects the East Coast is the strongest. During that period, the West Coast has its best weather. From June to October is the rainy season on the West Coast, but in Malaysia, it can and does rain at any time. No one can predict the weather!