Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore: Melting Pots that Seem to Work!

Thailand seems to be backpackers' paradise now, so if you want to avoid them, you're better off in Malaysia. The people are nice, the scenery incredible, and you won't be surrounded by heaps of riff-raff. The throngs of tourists that are ruining other countries don't seem to plague Malaysia. It's an intriguing mix: the Malaysians, who are very nationalistic yet very polite and welcoming, and the Chinese, who dominate some cities like Penang, and haven't suffered the hardships that have ruined the lives of their cousins in Indonesia. Enjoy the lush scenery and gorgeous buildings, and in the meantime, you'll look up and see a building that remains from the British colonial era. Explore beautiful temples and dine on the best Chinese food in Penang, wander endlessly through the night markets of Kuala Lumpur, and sweat profusely as you try to see all the sights in Malacca. Oh, and don't forget the street food. I think Malaysia has the best street vendor fare anywhere! At the tip of Malaysia is Singapore. Yes, it's quite antiseptic, and actually, I found Singapore to be very boring. After weeks of trekking in Southeast Asia, however, it's a nice place to get refreshed, stock up on supplies, and eat those goodies you've missed while touring around nearby countries.

Singapore

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Questions? You can ask me at leonkaye@yahoo.com