If you would prefer to travel somewhere
over land instead of sea, just over the bridge north of Singapore is Malaysia.
The most popular destination for short trips from Singapore is the state of
Johor, one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The capital city Johor
Bahru sits just over the water and takes about an hour to get to by car or bus
from central Singapore, depending on traffic of course. The Malaysian
government recently abolished the need to fill in immigration cards on arrival
via land so the process has become a lot faster, however, during peak times the
process can be quite slow. The main way to get to Malaysia from Singapore is
the Johor–Singapore Causeway. Completed in 1923 this is still the most used
road to get in and out of Singapore. Therefore it can get quite crowded. As
Johor is an easy weekend destination, Friday evenings can see very long waits
at the Causeway. As such a bridge was built in 1998 to help ease the congestion
on the Causeway. The price you pay for
this however is that the bridge, known as the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link,
is on Singapore’s west coast and thus further away from the Singapore city centre,
which also means it drops you in Malaysia quite far from Johor Bahru. In most cases you’d use this bridge if braving
the long drive or bus trip to Malacca or Kuala Lumpur.
The newest destination in Johor is
Legoland. Opening late 2012, the theme park has proved very popular with
Singaporeans seeking weekend trips. Situated closer to the Second-Link, this is
a great chance to use the second bridge. If catching the bus find out which bus
takes which route before buying your ticket. Legoland is obviously aimed
towards a younger audience, although there are some more grown-up rides like
roller coasters, but ultimately it’s a family theme-park aimed at kids. The
other main reasons Singaporeans visit Johor Bahru is for shopping. That might
seem strange as Singapore is famous for its shopping, but with prices in
Malaysia being a bit cheaper, sometime it makes sense. As a tourist though, you
might not see much difference in prices.
Further
north is Malacca. Being a 3-5 hour bus trip from Singapore and with bus tickets
costing as low as $15, it’s a great destination for those wanting to get away
but are restricted by budget. The main reason for visiting Malacca (spelled
Meleka in Malay) is for the culture. Years of former rule by the British, Dutch
and Portuguese has left such a mark on the area that the city centre has been
listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Popular past times are exploring the historic city
by foot or taking a boat on the Malacca River.
The next stop on any trip to Malaysia is
the capital city itself, Kuala Lumpur. Roughly an 8 hour bus trip or drive from
Singapore it’s much quicker and only a little bit more expensive to fly. With a
flight time of an hour, using one of the many budget airlines is the best
option. Highlights in KL are the food, which the locals will assure you is
better than in Singapore, a rivalry that will probably go on forever. Also a
must visit is Petronas Towers, at one time the world’s tallest building. Take a
ride to the top in one of the 29 double-decker passenger lifts to get amazing
and unmatchable views of KL and its surroundings.
For some completely different, the Cameron
Highlands provide a change of pace and some respite from the heat of South East
Asia. Located 200 kilometres (124 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, it’s also
possible to catch a luxury overnight bus all the way from Singapore. At 1,500
metres (almost 5000 ft) above sea level, the Cameron Highlands usually tops out
at about 23 degrees Celsius during the day, a sharp contrast to the heat of
Singapore and most of Malaysia. The main reason to visit the area is for the
nature. With the beautiful scenery of the mountains and numerous waterfalls, it’s
the perfect place to get back to nature after the hustle and bustle of
Singapore or KL. The Cameron Highlands is also the home of the world’s largest
flower, the Rafflesia. As the flower lives deep in the forest you’ll need to
get yourself a 4WD vehicle or sign up for a tour to see it.
Separated from by Malaysia by nothing but a
narrow strait, Singapore is the perfect jumping off point for a trip to
Malaysia. Whether by plane, train bus or car, anything from a day trip to a weeklong
adventure is easily done. Just don’t forget your passport.
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