ok so it hasnt ended....some of you may know Ive decided to go back home to Australia but I cant resist the temptation of doing a little more travel on the way. Most people complain how there how long the flight is from london to aus and that its gotta be routed through asia. Blah. Whatever. At no extra cost (to the tickets) why not see some of the south east :thumbup:

At the moment it looks like Malaysian or Singapore airlines are coming out on top with flights back home. That means a stopover in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. So Im thinking of doing a two week loop around the penninsula area. Its kind of hard to get off the beaten track with it being the wet season so Ill have to stick to more touristy spots.

Any ideas for a itinerary? Im thinking Singapore, Melaka, KL, Penang, some of the east side and Palau Tioman. Tips and knowledge much appreciated ;)

ev

I say Thailand as your stopover. Then you can make trips to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos -- all the cool places. Plus, the Thais are great people...

worldwidemike

Thanks wwm. I had come by Thai and stayed in Bangkok only a few days. I was hoping to further explore Thailand on the way home but it hasnt come up on any searches - not even on their official website, so Im not sure what the deal is. Does anyone know if they still do the London - Bangkok - Perth route? I would have thought so...

ev

I just checked on Thai's website. It shows you able to fly from London to Bangkok, and also from Bangkok to Perth. However, like you said, when you put them together, it says it doesn't recognize the route.

I'd say telephone Thai Airways reservations over there. Sometimes, you just need to talk to a human!

worldwidemike

Thanks for checking wwm. A bit strange. When I did ask at the travel agent today specifically about thai they gave me a price but about a £100 more. After reading some books about Malaysia the last couple of days Im kind of amped to do it and so think Ill stick with that choice. Plus I know it wont be the last trip to europe so Ill probably do Thailand at another date. Cheers mate.

ev

i'm itching for reviews of kuala lumpur and singapore both = give it up, ev baby!
(well, once you're home and settled and all!) :kisscheek:

Alright, I am resurrecting this thread because I am fairly positive you did indeed go to Malaysia and Singapore Ev.

In similar fashion, I am buying my tickets to Australia and Japan this weekend :stoked: and for $10 extra, I can have a stopover in Singapore on my one way from Sydney to Tokyo.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit I know next to nothing about it. I want as long as possible in Australia so I'd probably only have 2-3 days at most for this stopover. Is it even worth it? I think it probably is, but how much can I see in just say 2 days? I know it's pretty small and I've been reading up a bit just now.....

Advice! Tips! Please! Ev, come back!

Or anyone else who has been to Singapore.

Damn, this is great...I wasn't even planning to get this stamp! :stoked:

Singapore is probably the most westernized country in Asia. It is very clean, very well organized, etc. The people also act much more western than what you would see in say, China or Thailand. English is very widely spoken as it is the offical language of commerce in Singapore and the majority of the population are very well educated.

It is quite a fusion of ethinic Chinese, Malays, Indonesians and other SEA ethnic groups. There is also a sizeable expat population. There is not much to "see" per se - it is a small island with no real beaches, temples, or other historical type sites.

That said - you might as well still check it out given your opportunity. There is a decent nightlife, some good food. Also, if you wanted, you could easily get to Malaysia from Singapore via ground transportation as well. I will be there in a few weeks for work and am looking forward to it as it is a fun place. I wouldn't recommend it as a destination unto itself worthy of say a week's holiday, but a two day stopover is just about right to check it out. (It is not cheap, however, so keep that in mind). The following hostel is supposed to be good, though I have never stayed there personally:

The Inn Crowd

Good luck!! :cheers:

Thank you so much! That is very helpful. I am VERY excited!!

I don't planning on buying a guidebook b/c it's just 2 days and I don't want to lug it around (I'm already wondering how I'm going to have 1) Australia, 2) Japan and 3) Japanese phrasebook) but will try to get some ideas online. If you know of any good websites, that would be great too! :cheers:

Here are a few websites I found helpful in planning my Australia trip:

Boots n' all Australia
BUG Australia
Adventure Tours Australia
Lorkin Australia Guides

Here are a couple of cool hostels I stayed at and highly recommend:

On the Wallaby
This one is oustide of Cairns and was part of a two day tour I did up into the Atherton Tablelands.

Trekkers Backpackers
Just outside Surfer's Paradise. Really nice little place.

I agree with LFoD that there isn't too much to see. Everything is clean, high tech and carefully laid out. Think of Singapore as a food and shopping extravaganza rather than a sight seeing destination! Alcohol is so expensive it isn't even worth it. :thumbdown:

The Raffles Hotel is worth a look and a nice example of colonial architecture (I had to have my 'Singapore Sling' at the Long Bar). There is also many Chinese and Indian temples, churches and mosques dotted all around the city.

I have stayed at The Inn Crowd and recommend it. If you don't stay there make sure you stay at another place that has air conditioning - when you have limited time you want to have the energy to make the most of your stay!

ev