Our travel journal of Malaysia
Bangkok 14th July 1998.
Our circular tour of Singapore and Malaysia.
We have left Vietnam behind us and arrive on
the 24th June in Singapore (City – State with
2,8 million inhabitants). Singapore belonged to the English
Commonwealth till 1965. Our first impression was how clean the City was and not without
reason. Anyone who throws anything away – chewing – gum or a cigarette stub
– are threatened in a Moslem state – Singapore has a
large number of Moslem inhabitants – with corporal punishment.
Fascinated by the large shopping centres of this large city we could spend hours
contemplating the goods from all over the World. Among all well known designers of fashion
and jewellery World is also the offer of the computer area very large. I could not pass by
without purchasing something. Then the new developments from Japan and other Asiatic
countries are available here first before they arrive in Europe.
Of course we did not ignore the culture side – a visit to Sir Stanford
Raffles a statue that has found its site in this city. He was the first
Englishman to set foot in Singapore in 1819 – Singapore
was then a crown colony until 1946. One of the most beautiful hotels – from the last
century – is also named Raffles. We visit other evidences
from this time. The Courthouse, The Library,
Fort Canning and St George Cathedral.
Also the legendary park with its Cricket Clubhouse. With a boat trip upon the Singapore
River we see old but restorated ware – and fish houses. The merkmal
from Singapore is also on our list, The Merlion Lion
Monument.
After 4 days our visit to Singapore is over, then we are collected the next morning, the 28th June, for our further journey to Johor Baru in Malaysia. On arrival we rent a car – type Proton, a car that is produced in Malaysia. Our booked arrangement included this car as did also the booked hotels for the 2 week circular tour of 2'360 kilometre. The trip takes us along the west coast to Malakka (the same named federal state) and Kuala Lumpur the capital of this country with 1 million inhabitants.
Here we have a extra day to visit the city a little closer. Here is the English Colonial past but also the Moorish past to be seen. We visit among other things the market in Chinatown, the Freedom Square, the Historical Museum and the Sultans Palace.
Our journey takes us further inland to the Cameron Highlands the English noticed very soon the mild climate that these 1'000 Meter high plateau’s enjoyed and planted tea and strawberry plantations, and the winning of honey and exotic plants and fruit – things did not grow in cold England.
Our return to the coast brought us to the island Penang, a holiday paradise, that invited us to bathe and just be lazy. After this breather (one must mention here that a World tour can be exhausting) we travel further across the country to the east coast on this long journey. We admire the disciplined way of driving of the Malaysians and the very good conditions of the roads. (completely different to Vietnam) in Koto Baharu (capital) the sultanats Kelatan in west Malaysia with 170'000 inhabitants. We visit the Cultural Centre the story of the here reigning sultan.
We wonder again over the living together of different ethical groups, Chinese, Indian, English, Portuguese, and Malaysians. We were told that this was legally regulated on the practical side is it a little different, then there are two divisions of the races – Malaysians for the political side and the Chinese for trade and money.
We travel further south where we visit the holiday regions – Terengganu on the Peninsula Malakka and Cherating. We find here beautiful beaches that invite us to bathe.
On the 12th July this stage of our journey ended and we boarded in Singapore the Eastern and Orient Express, a luxury train which took us to Bangkok in Thailand.