Kuala Lumpur - everything fake or what?
Backpacking-Asia.com - Your travel source for South-East Asia
Kota Bharu

Kota Bharu is the state capital of Kelantan.The name means ‘new city’ or ‘new castle/fort’ in Bahasa Malaysia. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia. In 2005, it had an estimated population of 425,294, making it the largest town on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.It’s known for its colourful markets and the muslim culture.

Pulau Kapas

Pulau Kapas is a small island located only about 6km off Marang in the east coast state of Terengganu (about 1h north of Kuala Terengganu). It has quite and relaxed atmosphere because it is bypassed by the majority of the backpacker circuit looking for a more remote place like the Perhentian Islands. Pulau Kapas only get fairly busy on the weekends when locals come to island. There are a few good snorkeling spots around the island. All accommodations and beach are on the west coast facing the mainland. The west coast is the weather side has no sand beach, only rocks - it can be reached after a short walk through the jungle. Pulau Kapas shuts down during the monsoon season between November and February.

Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang

Kuala Lumpur - everything fake or what?


a story by Andreas (Germany) written down at Red Palm Hostel in November 2004 about fake DVDs and watches and the art of negotiation. The original story and many more stories and picture on the german website MoveTivation.net Internetseite

There you sit in a restaurant on Jalan Alor, where one restaurant and stall is next to the other busily serving costumers even at 2am and there come 10-year old boys selling tissues looking at you with puppy eyes or beggers crawling around on their bare hands but also young, dynamic man with piles of DVDs. We already know that you can get shirts from Nike, shoes by Adidas, purses by Bree, shoes by Prada and of course Rolex watches here to ridiculous prices.

Though DVDs are new to us and are booming here now big time. The price for one DVD is 10-13 Ringgit, 2.00 - 2.30 Euro! And we're talking about a good quality DVD9. Quite Unbelievable. However: For risks and side effects ask frequent buyers or the hostel owner of trust. You have to be careful not to get DVD5 or DVD3 which has only been equipped with a DVD9 sticker. And, well, there are rumors that these incredible prices - just like at the above mentioned products - are only caused by the fact that we are talking about fake products wink
But as the Malaysian says: Only Genuine Copies! The Lonely Planet summarizes:

"Sungei Wang Plaza is especially good for camera gear and cheap (but possibly pirated) software and hardware components."


Who owns DVD-burner knows that problems can occur while burning and copying. There can be incidents where people just desolve into little squares. The fact that the movie "The Incredibles", just started being shown in the cinemas (Nov. 2004), is already out on DVD only worries Hollywood. Well maybe the buyer also provided they get a copy that has only been taped inside a movie theatre. Sounds and contrasts can be pathetic in this case.
Software-CDs with whole collections of applications cost a whopping 5 Ringgit. MS Office for just 1 Euro is even more irritating for us. They just have everything at stock. I even got the "Social Statistics Program" of my dreams in version 12.0 as well as all kinds of GIS-applications.

As we went shopping, Tilo (our hostel host and KL-informer) asked the sales person, if they had a certain malaysian film, which has been in the movies recently and is supposed to be really good. The guy said they don't have any Malaysian films. Foreign movies, that's okay. If there's a raid and you get caught and you will be - he crossed his hands - but that can be settled with money. But if there are malaysian films on the shelf, you would - he crossed his hands again - that would be a problem.

If you wanna buy cameras or notebooks you should be a professional negotiator. Though there a price tags on all good in the Plazas (shopping malls) but they are if at all just the start of negotiations. Basically the goods are priced about 1/3 more than they will be sold over the counter later. You also have an advantage in the negotiation process if you did some research on the web before of the actual price of the good of your choice. If you walk out of the store with your newly acclaimed camera and the sales person waves at you happily with a wide grin on his face then you know: I paid to much, much to much. That's what happened to me as I bought a new mouse for my notebook which was obviously constructed in the same way as a Microsoft mouse which I always wanted to own. It was prices 42 Ringgit and I managed to haggle it down to sweet 35 Ringgit. Nonetheless, it was a good deal for me as I saw the mouse in store near Stuttgart (Germany) for 39 EUR (about 200 Ringgit). Still I always realize, I love steady prices with no negotiations.
MoveTivation.net Internetseite
Have Your Say
If you want contribute some extra information, report some correction or just comment, please feel encouraged to do so.
Comments are moderated to avoid spam. It might take a few moments until they appear on the website before we approved the comment.
Add your comment here.

Comments:
Maggie harding
 

What type of DVD do I but that can be played on Australian dvd players

By Maggie harding on Jul 18, 2008


You need to be logged to write a comment. Log in here:

Forgot your password?


Not a member of the Backpacking Asia community? Register here!
Things to do & see
Cameron Highlands, Gunung Brinchang

highest mountain in the Cameron Highlands, accessible with 4-wheel drive on the highest road in Peninsular Malaysia ... more
Kuala Terengganu, Teregganu State Museum

Acclaimed as the largest museum in South East Asia, the Terengganu State Museum Complex houses century old artefacts and artworks of rich and colourful heritage ... more
BOOK HOSTELS
STORIES
Malls, Malls, Malls - Shopping in Kuala Lumpur
KL has an incredible density of big shopping centres. It seems like every other year a new mall is opening trying to outdo the others in size or design. Here's a list of the favourites among locals and tourists with more information and pictures of each shopping centre.
RANDOM LINKS
Berjaya-Air.com
flights to Tioman, Redang, Pangkor, Koh Samui
journeymalaysia.com
comprehensive malaysian travel portal
Destinations Guide
tips for some nature distinations
Cinema Online
Cinemas in Malaysia
tourism.gov.my
government tourism website

see all links
RANDOM GALLERY PHOTO
Pulau Kapas
beach
DID YOU KNOW?
Mat Salleh

The word malaysians use for westerners is “Mat Salleh”.

PRESS ARTICLES
Kuala Lumpur’s Eat Streets (Lonely Planet)

Feature Article on the Lonely Planet website about five KL must-eats to get you started: Roti in Brickfields, Noodles in Chow Kit, Malay food in Kampung Baru, Kuih (generic word for cakes and pastries) in Bangsar and Coffee at a Kopitiam (traditionally Chinese owned coffee shop) on Heritage Row