Hi all...

Ive just joined Fodor's and I was wondering if you could help me out a bit...Im staying in Kuwait and Im travelling with my family to Australia in Jan 2010. My brother-in-law is getting married and we are going to attend the ceremony...Out trip is of a duration of around 3 weeks...So, we're planning to stay for 2 weeks in Australia and on our way back would like to visit Singapore or Bangkok or Malaysia for the remaining one week...But Im kinda' confused as to how which place i should go to and for how long !!!! Can you help me ???

Just wanted to add that I have a 2 year old son !!

Reshmi, are you asking about a choice between Singapore, Bangkok or Malaysia, or about where to go in Australia?

If you're asking about the Asian destinations, you should re-post on the Asia forum.

Either way, it's a good idea to provide some info about what you're looking for in a vacation - cities (cultural and entertainment attractions), outdoor activities and so forth. That will help us to help you.

Oh...Ok...Thanks a bunch...I will repost in the Asian Forum...

But in any case, can you give me an idea about the must-see places in Melbourne in the two weeks that I have ?? Since I have a two year old, can you give me some feedback on places that would interest him as well ?? Some entertaining attractions !!!

With the two weeks in Australia Reshmi, and seeing as it's January [ be getting hot in places inland ], you could just split your time between Melbourne and Sydney.

Both have world class Zoos and also a few different Wildlife sancuaries, Healesville Sanctuary is not far out of Melbourne and a couple of must dos that he could like would be the Puffing Billy steam train ride - http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/ and also take a tour down to Phillip Island for Koalas and The Fairy Penguin Parade - http://www.phillipisland.net.au/penguinparade.html .
That'll be a late night especially with daylight saving, the Penguins not likely to come ashore until 10 pm at earliest and so in looking at something like a 11pm tour bus departure you'll not be back in Melbourne until well after midnight.

But if Junior can have an afternoon and earlier evening nap and be wide awake he'll love the little penguins.

Both cities also have great botanical gardens with Melbournes having quite a large lake where you can feed ducks and should be able to see some other birdlife and possibly butterflies. They do actually have a small section especially for children as well, not sure about that for Sydney but plenty of bats hanging in trees for him to see.

Then in Melbourne there's the Fitzroy Gardens just on eastern edge of CBD where you'll find Captain Cooks cottage [ an oversized dolls house] and also a Tudor Village model.

You'll also likely find some of the major stores could have special childrens activities running through January which is major school holiday time, and Councils do that kind of thing too.

Take him on the Melbourne Trams and there is what is called The City Circle Tram, a free one that does a complete circuit of the city CBD abd redeveloped docklands area, and just across the Yarra from the Docklands area is The Polly Woodside in Dry Dock Maritime Museum and likewise up in Sydney you have Darling Harbour and the Maritime Museum there which is much bigger - but a chance to show him some old sailing ships.

To get to Darling Harbour, there's a monorail system which most children seem to enjoy and of course in Sydney there's the different ferry trips you could take if the weather is OK and he takes to going on a boat.
Melbourne has a few different ones using the Yarra and top end of the Bay to Williamstown and the river ones at least will be on smoother water and perhaps a good idea to try that first.

That'll get you started and for your Asian stopover I'd think Singapore would be by far the best with a child as it's so easy to get around, the airport not far out of the City and plenty to do too.
You could go and have Breakfast with the Apes or Orangutans they may be.
Every Sunday, there's a particular location where a lot of older Singaporeans who have birds as a hobby go with their birds in cages - might be interesting for him.
Sentosa Island there is a bit of a giant playground, there being a little train service and a great gondola ride to get across if you like or use the ferry.
Chines Gardens which also contains a small Japanese Garden section is also well worth a visit.

Thanks so much for the reply...This is surely going to be useful on our maiden trip !!!!

I second the recommendation for the Sydney zoo. (I haven't seen the zoo in Melbourne.) Sydney also has a fabulous aquarium, which I think your son would enjoy.