Do not really know how to start telling you about my Malaysia and Singapore travel. We came back a few days ago and I still have that feeling of having been inside a mega spin for two weeks and then spit out here in Italy, where everything was remained unchanged. After all, two weeks is not a long time, but if you go to the other side of the world changing many places in such a short time, it might seem.
In this last week of August, still half in vacation mood, I’m going to tell you about these two amazing weeks. The easiest thing for me is to start with a post with some tips, itinerary and things to see: I hope this will be useful to those who are dreaming of a travel in Singapore and Malaysia. It has been a tiring journey, but that really filled my mind and heart.
::
Non so bene come iniziare questo post: in realtà non so proprio da dove partire per raccontarvi del mio viaggio in Malesia+Singapore. Siamo rientrati da un po’ di giorni e ho ancora la testa piena di immagini e di cose: la sensazione è quella di essere stata dentro una mega centrifuga per due settimane (una centrifuga caldissima, che lessa le verdure, esiste??), e risputata fuori qui in Italia dove tutto è rimasto immutato. In fondo, due settimane sono niente, ma sono tantissime se vai dalla parte opposta del mondo, e ti sposti tante volte.
Questa settimana “cuscinetto” un po’ di vacanza un po’ di rientro al lavoro la dedicherò proprio a raccontarvi queste due settimane incredibili. La cosa che mi riesce più semplice è partire con qualcosa di pratico, itinerario e liste varie, che spero tornerà utile a chi vorrà intraprendere un viaggio simile: nei prossimi giorni invece in arrivo tante immagini, tanta architettura, tante cose.
Ma andiamo con ordine, ok?
Why a tour in Malaysia+Singapore
I’ve always dreamed of visiting Singapore. I have a weakness for hypermodern metropolis, on the kind of Tokyo, and Singapore with his being born from scratch, has always fascinated me. From Singapore to Malaysia it is a short step (just a bridge that links them), but actually a far distance in the way of living and in the culture. That’s why I went for a tour of Malaysia: I chose to visit the Peninsular Malaysia instead than the insular side, because richer in terms of architecture, even if less on the natural side.
Here’s my two-week itinerary in Malaysia and Singapore:
Perchè ho scelto la Malesia+Singapore
Singapore è una di quelle città che ho sempre sognato di visitare. Ho un debole per le metropoli ipermoderne, sul genere di Tokyo, e Singapore con quel suo essere nata da zero, occidentale ma geograficamente in Oriente, mi ha sempre affascinata. De gustibus. Da Singapore alla Malesia il passo è breve (un ponte che le unisce) quanto lunghissimo: un’altra cultura, un altro mondo. Ed eccoci quindi in tour per la Malesia: ho scelto di girare la Malesia peninsulare, tralasciando invece quella insulare, che dal punto di vista naturalistico è certamente invece la parte più interessante (bello eh ma io non mi ci vedevo molto nella giungla, ecco).
Eccovi il mio itinerario di due settimane in Malesia e Singapore:
SINGAPORE+ MALAYSIA TOUR | THE ITINERARY
1.
SINGAPORE (2 days – 2 nights)
OVVERO, BELLA SINGAPORE, MA VOGLIO LA MIA VALIGIA
We left Italy from Venice airport at 12 pm and at 9 in the after morning landed in Singapore. I must tell you that my first impression of Singapore was not as exciting as expected: too hot, really. And my baggage left in Abu Dhabi didn’t help (thanks Etihad). I then changed my mind, of course.
What we’ve seen:
- Little India area with its colourful houses
- the view of Downtown from Esplanade park at evening
- Clarke Quay at night (with the most expensive beer I’ve ever drunk)
- Marina Bay Sands and its rooftop. We entered the Infinity Pool, that is open just for the hotel guests, thanks to a local guide!
- Gardens by the Bay: we entered the Cloud Forest and saw the Supetrees Grove at night with their amazing light and music show
Where we stayed:
- Wanderlust Hotel > cool interiors with Pantone rooms and a lobby filled of crazy things; located in Little India, near Rochor crossing
Find more about Singapore here
2.
KUALA LUMPUR (3 days – 3 nights)
OVVERO, DELIRIO DI CALDO E TRAFFICO, MA BELLE LE TORRI
We left Singapore at 5 in the morning, for a flight to KL departing at 7.30 a.m. Oman Air was not a bad flight! Didn’t expect to find that crazy long queue at KL airport passports check. Took the taxi to city center: here taxi are cheap and you will soon realize how cheap is to live here compared to Sga. Kuala Lumpur is absolutely crazy: hotter than Singapore (yes), so traffic congested it’s even difficul for pedestrians to circulate, full of contrasts. But Petronas Towers view at night will make you think that is really worth the visit: once in a lifetime, you must see them!
What we’ve seen:
- historical center, with Merdeka Square (forget about historical center we are used as Europeans, here is everything messed and congested)
- Chinatown with its temples (Sri Mahamariamman) and its Petaling street
- Petronas Towers: at day by the guided tour to the top, by night from Marini’s on 57 rooftop bar (loved!)
- KLCC park area
- Kampung Baru malaysian village
- Bukit Bintang area with its huge malls and Jalan Alor, the street food road
- Lake gardens and Brickfields area
- Batu Caves (absolutely do not miss this amazing indu site)
Where we stayed:
- THE FACE Suites > can’t imagine something better, with a fully equipped brand new apartment and a crazy infinity pool on rooftop, with Petronas and Menara towers view!
Find more about Kuala Lumpur here
3.
MALACCA (1 day – 1 night)
OVVERO, IL TRATTAMENTO PRINCIPESCO TROPPO BREVE PER ESSERE VERO
We left KL at 11 in the morning to take the bus for Melaka. Didn’t expect to find such an organized bus terminal and a new and comfortable bus! In 2 hours we were in Malacca. I loved Malacca, and maybe I would have stayed a little bit longer there. It’s a cute historical city, on a human scale, and once you come here from KL you will appreciate this a lot!
What we’ve seen:
- Unesco historical center by night
- Unesco historical center by day with a guided tour: discovering Chinatown, Jonker Street and traditional temples + Chinese shops
Where we stayed:
- The Majestic Malacca > Find more about it here
4.
PENANG (1+half day – 2 nights)
OVVERO, CREDERE DI ESSERE IN CINA MENTRE SEI IN MALESIA
We left Malacca at 2 in the afternoon for a flight to Penang, north Malaysia. Malindo Air plane was really small but ok. Penang is an island and it is known as the ‘Pearl of Orient‘. We soon realized why: this part of Malaysia has a great historical heritage and Chinese background, and looks really different from other areas we saw.
What we’ve seen:
- Georgetown Unesco historical center, with a tour to discover its street art: Armenian Street, Chinatown, Little India
- Clan Jetties, the Chinese slit village
- Kek Lok Si, the buddhist biggeest temple of Malaysia (love!)
- Northern cost, with a hop on hop off bus that was great for visiting the island with a city and a beach route
Where we stayed:
- Noordin Mews > Beautiful heritage hotel, close to Unesco city center.
Find more about Penang here
5.
TIOMAN (2+half day – 3 nights)
OVVERO, TALMENTE FIGO CHE MI SALE LA FEBBRE A 40
Reaching this corner of paradise was undertaking. We left Penang to reach Johor Bahru by plane, then took a late evening bus to Mersing, and at 6am in the morning took the ferry to Tioman. Ferries are the only way to reach this island and due to the low tide there are some days when ferries run just very early in the morning! [ add to this that: we waited the bus for two hours, it was delayed even if nobody seemed to care; our ferry stuck in the low water, so we were picked with some small boats to the island instead. Usually shipping time: 2 hours; for us, lucky travellers, it was 4 ]
Fortunately this was worth the travel, as Tioman is really a green paradise: uncontaminated green forest, inhabitated by monkeys, with just some wooden villages and resorts near the beach, incredibly warm water, light sand. Maybe everything was too great and relaxing to cause me a 40 degrees fever, lah?
What we’ve seen:
- the delightful idleness
Where we stayed:
- Berjaya Tioman Resort > Ok, lots of Italians and tourists, but three days here just by eating and doing absolutely nothing were great!
6.
SINGAPORE (2 days – 2 nights)
OVVERO, PULIZIA E ORDINE COME VI AMO
Coming back from Tioman to Singapore was less frustrating: 2 hours by ferry, than 5 hours by bus (you need to do 2 stops for passport check, in Malaysia and Singapore borders, that’s why it’s so long). You can’t imagine how much we appreciated Singapore once back there , really more than the first days 😉
What we’ve seen:
- Boat Quay, really nice area for dinner and drink after dinner
- Chinatown (that’s to say, the tidiest Chinatown I’ve ever seen)
- Orchard Road and its crazy malls
- a walk along Merlion Park, Jubilee and Helix Bridge at sunset, to enjoy Marina Bay Sands Wonderfull show
- Tiong Bahru area
Where we stayed:
- Hotel Clover the Arts > Find more about it here
Footnote
If you are looking for a relaxing trip, this is not for you. Everywhere is freakin hot and, unless you are in Singapore, English is quite incomprehensible. But regarding transfers there’s room for improvement: maybe I would go before to Penang and then to KL to head then in Tioman, as our transfer was really crazy!
But if you are looking for a travel to fill your mind and soul, this is for you 🙂
Postilla
Se cercavate un viaggio rilassante, questo non fa al caso vostro. Ve lo dico, non voglio nessuno sulla coscienza. Fa ovunque un caldo fottuto (scusate il francesismo, ma il termine è perfetto) e, Singapore a parte, i malesi parlano un inglese incomprensibile…anche se giuro si sforzano tanto per farti capire le cose e dappertutto abbiamo trovato persone cortese e gentili, me li sarei portati a casa! Per quanto riguarda l’itinerario, con il senno di poi invertirei Penang e Kuala Lumpur, che è collegata molto bene a Mersing (quindi a Tioman) da moltissimi pullman, in modo da abbreviare il nostro delirante trasferimento all’isola.
Ma se cercate un viaggio che vi riempia testa e cuore, questo tour della Malesia fa al caso vostro 🙂
::
