[chewz]

As a European who lived in Malaysia for a few years I do agree. Malaysia is terrible trap.

First the amounts of sugar and carbohydrates like white rice is completly devastating. There is very little alternative like fresh fruits or protein in diet.

Milk is pretty bad and not tasty - usually low lactosis milk. There is no real cheese or real, good yoghurt etc. Food is of poor quality mostly - think junk food rather then freshly made and freshly cooked. It is tasty due to spice and sugar but not something you would like eating daily.

But more devastating then the diet is the lifestyle - due to climate mostly. There is very lityle outdoor activity in cities like KL - in this climate jogging, cycling or even walks in the park are out of question for most people.

Malaysia also has sub-par 3rd World city infrastructure - cars rule the cities and the pavements are terrible and dangerous to walk.

On the streets one can see a lot of Malayi people who due to lack of activity and carbohydrates intake are overweight and with symptoms of type II diabetes.

It is quite suprising that not that far North in Thailand - addmitedly better climate - cycling is as popular as in Italy and people exercise much more outdoors and look healthier.

I love Malaysia and they are sweet people there. Just it is a difficult place for me regarding sugar intake and lack of outdoor activity.

[cybergoat]

I'm not sure where you went to eat, but I found the food in KL to be of lower standard as compared to Melaka (which is famed for its hawker food) and Penang. In KL, I had to be shown to the good places[1], but in Melaka you'd be pretty set where ever you rock up!

But the fruits are amazing! There is so much variety of tropical fruits! But my comments about the pricing were based on my observations at the supermarkets -- it felt like the costs were quite high for fresh fruit & veg compared to simply eating out.

[1] Shout out to Klang Bah Kuh Teh. It's been my first stop many times once I've arrived in M'sia!

[chewz]

I would love to go get some good roti and kopi susu but I have left Asia SE a month ago for good.

I have pretty much enjoyed the food but it just isn't the kind of diet that you would recommend to anyone for health and and loosing weight.

Penang is a little better then KL because of more food diversity there and some really nice Indian, vegetarian restaurants. And the climate is also better then KL so there is more people jogging along the waterfront. But still it isn't a good city for biking.

[jpatokal]

For cheap fruit & veg, do what the locals do and shop at the wet market. Far cheaper than the styrofoam packs at the supermarket.

[thisrod]

It's hard to find good dairy products in a country whose population mostly can't tolerate lactose? Who would have guessed that.