Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip report Singapore to Thailand

Hi
just returned from 18 days in SE Asia. Had a great time but on reflection would do a completely different trip next time. Flew from Australia to Singapore via Darwin. While we enjoyed Singapore we found it very sterile, we could have been in Canberra. From Singapore we caught a bus to Malacca and stayed in the old Portuguese quarter. Malacca was a real contradiction. Stayed at the Century Mahkota. it was tired but fine we had a two bedroom apartment that overlooked the straits of Malacca. Opposite was a huge shopping centre and right behind that was the ruins and red square. We had the best steam boat at a local restaurant with all the locals showing us how to cook and laughing loudly at us as we did it. The second night we ate in a local food hall and being the only westerners there caused much amusement to the other diners but the food was great.

From Malacca we caught the bus to KL and then the sleeper train to Butterworth. The train was great although basic and the toilets stunk by morning but it was all fun. Had a few vodkas in our cabin which helped pass the time. Arrived at Butterworth in time to get the sunrise ferry to Penang. We stayed two nights at the Cheong Fattze Blue Mansion in Georgtown which was wonderful. Friends were participating in the Penang Dragon Boat Challenge in the Breast Cancer Survivor team which was a great event over three days.We then moved to the Bayview Beach Hotel for two more nights which was fine. Had the biggest bed I have ever seen, couldn't find my husband in the morning!

We fly Air Asia to KL and then onto Phuket. No problems at all and the planes were new and on time. Luggage was slightly overweight but they didnt charge excess which we had been warned about.
We are great fans of Bali and we found Phuket to be a larger and louder version of Bali. We enjoyed it, stayed at the Patong resort right in Patong. Our hotel's back gate led into Bangla Road where all the bars are. No noise surprisingly and the girls/boys in the bars were quite funny wanting to dance with me for some reason as I walked past each night. Found a great Irish pub 'Sruffy Murphys' where we spent several hours each night dancing to the great band. Did a day trip to Phang Na Bay and went canoeing which was a great day. Very commercial but fun neverless. The weather in Phuket was perfect for our 6 days in June after worrying that it would rain all the time it was excellent. We did lots of other things too many to mention here. Learnt a valuable lesson not too leave the shopping till the end. Found Phuket very expensive and the stall holders not very willing to bargain. They kept saying that the Europeans would pay full price until they realised that not many were coming this time due to the World Cup and suddently prices were more reasonable. Flew Tiger Air back to Singapore for our return trip our luggage was about 7kg overweight and again no excess charges and a great flight. No-one warned us about the 550baht departure tax and I had spent most of our money so had to beg for 150 baht (thanks to those who gave!. We booked into the transit hotel at Changi as we had 12 hours transit. IT was wet and windy in Singapore so didn't venture out of the airport. Transit hotel was good.

Would I go again. Definately but would miss the places we went. All a bit western except maybe for Malacca. Next time will go to Bangkok and into Northern Thailand instead.

Cheers
kim