My last trip (TR Malaysia & Singapore)

[hagi]

Malaysia & Singapore

Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures and people, people speak english very well and are well educated. Nightlife isnt that common in Malaysia, because it is a musselin country, alcohol is quite expensive but life in general is really cheap.


Penang (3 nights) (guesthouse near Komtar bus station - bus from airport, 6 ringit)

Penang is an easy going city not that crowded and has his charm.

Did a riskja tour first night and enjoyed the colonial city charm. Had a good talk with the riskja cyclist and found out mongering is quite expensive and not common. Although there were mongering possibilities I wasnt in Malay for nightlife so just had some food / drinks in Hawker stalls in the evenings.

Second day I visited the most laid back building I had ever seen .... the Komtar. The better view and alternative was Penang hill .... where a train brings you slowly through the top of the hill which gives you a beautifull vieuw over penang Seaside. Alternative was to walk but I am quite lazy on holiday .... really worth a visit and easy to reach by public bus.

Third day went to Batu farrenghi beach (public bus) ... very nice for a walk or a swim but missed the beer bars next to the beach.

Penang (5/10) ... maybe because it was difficult to make the switch after 2 night BKK and 2 nights Patts


Perhentian Islands (becil) (3 nights)

Booked my diving trip with water colours .... (6 dives, beach front lodge with toilet and shower and food incuded; 1000 ringit)

My delirium this trip .... snorkling and diving with sharks (coral reef sharks), turtles and a 1000 different species of fish.
Great experience - 20 km offshore there are 2 islands (becil and pasar) which you can reach by speed boat .... so you are really ' in the middle' of the ocean.

Can recommend diving company Watercolours for sure.

Perhentian (9/10) with your girlfriend along, it would be for sure 10/10 .... really romantic at night



Taman Negara Jungle (2 nights) (mini van from Kota Bahru) (local guesthouse 10 ringit a night ... but never again)

Nice scenery during the mini van trip (last 100 km) but it really took a while to reach the gate through the oldest jungle in the world. There was also a possibilty to do the last 50 km by boat but I was short in time.

Did a jungle trip myself on the first day .... hikes are marked, but maybe difficult to understand, didnt like hiking the jungle ..... only thing you see are trees, other trees and more trees .... everything is packed and it is really f*cking hot over there. The alternative is to take a boat trip which I did the other day and I was a lot more relaxed and I really enjoyed the trip.

Did also a guided tour to a local tribe and a canopy walk high in the trees .... coool.

2 nights were more than enough because the lack of comfort but it was my own fault ... did not book in advance and the better guesthouses were already taken.

Taman Negara is not a 'must seen' IMO but anyway ... 7/10


Cameron Highlands (3 nights - Father guesthouse - 40 ringit)

Exhausted mini van trip from Taman Negara through the highlands. Although, it was worth the trip; the scenery is quite the same as in austria or switserland, needless to say; no snow and more than 100 curves needed to reach the highlands.

Booked a half day trip upon the tea plantages whitch was a must do - such a beautill scenery combined with a nice walk through the jungle. Unfortunately the timing for seeing the largest flower in the world; Raflesia - which lives just 10 days a year - was 2 days too late ... such a pitty.

Second day there was an indian ritual - depending the stand of the moon - which was quite impressive. People were hooked and there was a whole parade set up.

Highlands (8/10)



Kuala Lumpur (3 nights - oriental inn, chinatown) (Bus trip from the highlands 5 hours)

KL really is an easy going city, compact and easy to discover by foot. (if you are in good shape) Highlights were of course the twin towers (you can go to the bridge in between for free) the Temara tower (not a must visit IMO), chinatown nightmarket and the shopping malls.

In KL there is one clubstreet for mongering, I visited beach club shortly - think girls are more expensive as in Los but it is a crowdy place so it might be possible to find a girl you like.

Went also a night at one of the most respected clubs in malay; Zouk (entrence 50 ringit) where "the malay rich" were crowded together dancing on techno beats! Had a great time over there.

KL (8/10)


You can travel through malaysia by bus but it takes time ... alternative are cheap flights; wizzair and air asia but it is impossible to fly to the jungle or to the highlands.
Although the malay food was recommened in the lonely planet it wasn t my cup of tea - on the other hand I really appreciated the spicy indian dishes!
If you are only up for mongering - you have to avoid malay - if not, it is a beautifull country to visit and if you are a diver it is a must do!


Singapore (3 nights) (Hotel in red light district area Lorong 6)

Singapore has an excellent public transport system which makes it quite easy to visit town. Town is very clean but is not much more than shopping malls ... where you can do some fair deals.
Orchard road is known for nightlife but I don't have any experience over there.

Visited Sentoso island but was not my cup of tea, went shopping and walked through the city.

Spent most of my time having a beer at the lorongs - a chain of streets with a lot of drinking / eating houses, where you can eat and order a drink at a beer girl (= hired by the brewer and work on commission - these girls/guys try to sell you their beer; going from beer lao till Guinness) At night, street prossies come out or you can go to one of the bars where prossies come and go.
Be aware: can't compare the nightscenery at the lorongs with loss at all ... and for sure, it has no charm - not my cup of tea.


Singapore (5,5/10) expected a lot more from Singapore but I was maybe looking too much forward to Phuket

[seafox]

Hagi,

You need to go over to Borneo and do the jungle tours and scuba diving over there if you think the Perhentian Islands were good.

[Nautilus]

I went to Taman Negara when i was a student. We camped at the grounds with good toilet facilities.

I saw a nice hotel and many chalets there.

Didnt know of guesthouses then.

Doubt i will go back there, wont survive hiking !!! 555

[PTG]

Took my parents to Taman Negara years ago when I was living in Sing. We stayed at the lodge in the park and it was nice with a/c, screens on the windows etc.

Lorongs in Geylang in Singapore are chock full of Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese girls, plus a generous portion of Thai girls.

[LivinLOS]

Cameron Highlands (3 nights - Father guesthouse - 40 ringit)

Exhausted mini van trip from Taman Negara through the highlands. Although, it was worth the trip; the scenery is quite the same as in austria or switserland, needless to say; no snow and more than 100 curves needed to reach the highlands.

I really want to ride the bike down to these highlands.. Saw a great travel show on a luxury hotel made out of an old colonial place.. very english gardens and croquet on the lawn kinda vibe.. Just looked odd in asia.

Problem is I want to take the bike and have fun on those 100 curves.. And yet Bee also wants to come ?!?!?

[Nautilus]

You mean this one? Cameron Highlands Resort, Malaysia – A YTL Luxury Resort

[hagi]

Hagi,

You need to go over to Borneo and do the jungle tours and scuba diving over there if you think the Perhentian Islands were good.

Even better over there? Really liked perhentian. But I am also sure I will go on a diving trip each time I go on holiday in South east asia.

If you have some info about Borneo I will be pleased.

[Nautilus]

Btw,

"the Temara tower (not a must visit IMO)"

Did you mean Telekom Tower the one with Revolving Restaurant ?

[Nautilus]

IF you want Borneo Diving Info i will PM you. I dive there once a year.

I will send you info.Cheers.

[hagi]

I really want to ride the bike down to these highlands.. Saw a great travel show on a luxury hotel made out of an old colonial place.. very english gardens and croquet on the lawn kinda vibe.. Just looked odd in asia.

Problem is I want to take the bike and have fun on those 100 curves.. And yet Bee also wants to come ?!?!?

Really liked the highlands ... I really can recommend. It took a while by bus (5 hrs from KL) but if you go by bike I don't think time will bother you. Way up to the highlands you pass a lot of local people selling stuff. Really has it charm.

In the village there are a lot of indian restaurants - you have to try the banana leaf then for sure .... really worth!

[Nautilus]

Really liked the highlands ... I really can recommend. It took a while by bus (5 hrs from KL) but if you go by bike I don't think time will bother you. Way up to the highlands you pass a lot of local people selling stuff. Really has it charm.

In the village there are a lot of indian restaurants - you have to try the banana leaf then for sure .... really worth!

Strawberry farm also and tea leaves

The history of the EnglishMan who got lost in the farm and never to be seen again.

Boh Tea !!!!

[hagi]

Btw,

"the Temara tower (not a must visit IMO)"

Did you mean Telekom Tower the one with Revolving Restaurant ?

Yes, I preferred the Petronas towers more. Telekom tower did not have a very good place to take great pictures.

But I have to say, I wasnt in the restaurant - sight could be much better over there.

[Nautilus]

Yes, I preferred the Petronas towers more. Telekom tower did not have a very good place to take great pictures.

But I have to say, I wasnt in the restaurant - sight could be much better over there.

Forget about it, just a buffet in a revolving restaurant,for about 1000 Baht.

[Nautilus]

Like other say, snokerling and diving go to East Coast in Sarawak/Sabah.

I went to there once,lovely. Sipadan Malaysia, http://www.impressions.com.my/sipadan/main.htm

[seafox]

Even better over there? Really liked perhentian. But I am also sure I will go on a diving trip each time I go on holiday in South east asia.

If you have some info about Borneo I will be pleased.

I did a liveaboard, the Celebes Explorer, for 10 nights in June 2008. There are lots of resorts on Mabul Island and there is also a resort a resort on Kapalai.

The main attraction out there is Sipadan Island, which is famous for its turtle population, but has lots of other marine life also. Schools of barracuda, bumphead parrotfish (up to 150 kilos), lots of wierd critters, a decent number of sharks, schools of moorish idols, pennant butterflyfish, and other types of fish, and nice coral, especially in the shallows.

You can not stay on Sipadan but the other islands that have resorts take speedboats out to there (40 minutes maximum).

And the diving on the islands where the resorts are is great for critters and small fish. Found blue ringed octopus, scorpionfish, 18 crocodilefish on one dive, crabs, shells, octopus, cuttlefish, squid, tons of nudibranchs, lots of cool stuff.

[hunter]

Although the malay food was recommened in the lonely planet it wasn t my cup of tea - on the other hand I really appreciated the spicy indian dishes!
If you are only up for mongering - you have to avoid malay

you should try the non-malay food in malaysia like rojak, satay, bak kut teh.
mongering malay - some taste good, some of them very wild in bed.
mongering indian - imagine your banana in the volcano or curry pot