Which is better for a holiday Thailand or Malaysia – should we compare?

Malaysia is a country lying to the south of Thailand and has a land border with it, which divides the peninsula of Malacca roughly in half. Their proximity often leads tourists to the question: “which one is better for your vacation?” We’ll give you some interesting comparisons that will assess you decide what is preferable for you – Malaysia or Thailand.

We’ll give you a few curious comparisons.

Climatic differences

.

It is very interesting to accidentally change the frost or dank slush of the native land for the burning tropical sun. In deciding “what is better in Malaysia or Thailand” they can be decisive. Those who have been to Phuket, Bangkok or Pattaya may notice the differences in the weather.

The point is that on the latitude of the Thai city of Surat Thani there is a conditional boundary between the subequatorial and equatorial climate belt. The difference between them is that on the equator, the average annual temperature is higher and seasonal variations are almost imperceptible. There are only two seasons: wet, which lasts from September to March, and relatively dry – from May to September. And the seasonal differences in humidity are insignificant. The weather in subequatorial Thailand is more variegated and contrasting, and the dry season there can be really dry, though excruciatingly hot for northerners.

Differences-socialDeciding whether to choose Malaysia or Thailand you also have to consider the polities of the countries.

In deciding whether to go to Malaysia or Thailand you have to consider the polities of the countries.

Thailand is an absolute monarchy and a mono-ethnic country. All outsiders – Farangs – have a lower social status, regardless of the thickness of their wallet. Most Thai smiles on the streets are a tribute to politeness, nothing more. Discrimination is evident even in little things. For example, for foreigners the entrance fee to entertainment facilities is two or three times higher. And no matter how long you have been in Thailand, a year, five, twenty… you will still be a farang.

If you are a foreigner, you will still be a farang.

The main religion is Buddhism, which tolerates many liberties of behavior. For example, prostitution – it is sort of forbidden by Thai law, but the government turns a blind eye to it (although there is a version that the authorities condone this activity for fear of losing most tourists and revenue to the budget).

Street crime is a widespread phenomenon. The state language is Thai, with its own alphabet and very complex phonetic word formation (read about tonality of the Thai language), where a change in tone can change the meaning of what is said fundamentally. Not all Thais know English, and those who do speak “Thailish,” which has little in common with the original. At the same time, Russian is also widely used in tourist centers.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with a functioning parliament. The country is international, there are almost no differences by skin color. If they smile at you, you can be sure that you are being expressed sympathy. The state religion is Islam. That’s why morals are much stricter, beachwear is allowed only in tourist centers. But prostitution and street crime are suppressed very strictly. English, as a colonial legacy, is almost the second official language. The writing is in Latin script. In Russian almost no one communicates. The traffic is left-handed, and there is much more order on the roads. In Thailand, compared to Malaysia, in this matter is hell and chaos.

Tourist program

Malaysia is about half the size of Thailand. However, it is divided into two parts – Western (Malaya) and Eastern (Sabah and Sarawak) – by the South China Sea, so together with the territorial waters may not be equated with it. In terms of the volume of attractions it is not inferior to Thailand. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, is more picturesque thanks to its variable topography than Bangkok, which is built on a marshy plain. It has the world’s tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers.

Lovers of natural exoticism will also not be disappointed when visiting Malaysia. The picturesque Tioman Island, Langkawi Archipelago, Taman Negara National Park, the spurs of the Kinabalu Mountains, Batu Caves… The sights of this country may be listed for a long time, but it is better to visit them.

The rope bridge in Taman Negara National Park

With all that said, the number of tourists in Malaysia’s busiest places is an order of magnitude less than in Thailand. Everywhere is clean, quiet and safe. So the answer to the question “What is better for your holiday – Thailand or Malaysia? , – is solved unequivocally in favor of the latter. Well, that is in the case if you prefer relaxation and bliss.

.

Work-permanent-living

.

Friendliness toward outsiders in Malaysia is not just about domestic interactions, but is also supported by government policy.

In Thailand you can get a work permit (Work Permit) after going through seven circles of bureaucratic hell. And because of the lists of prohibited occupations you will not be allowed to work in a number of professions. In Malaysia you can get a job in 2-3 days with a visa for three years at the same time. There is no condition that citizens have priority in employment (regardless of qualifications).

If you are over 50 years, a special program “Malaysia My Second Home” will allow you to get a visa for 10 years, just by making a deposit of about four million rubles. And after one year you can withdraw two-thirds of the amount and spend it on your own needs. For example, to start a business. In Thailand, there is a similar program for migrating retirees, but the amount required for visa registration, is much smaller than in Malaysia and is 800,000 baht.

All business in Thailand is conducted only in Thai, so buy an apartment or house, various business transactions are difficult: the slightest grammatical error, and you’re out of luck. The Malaysians allow doing business in English, and business is done in one day at a time. Well, the Thai staff and their peculiar attitude to work is already a legend. In Malaysia, you can hire, for example, the same Chinese.