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The Best of Singapore & Malaysia

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The Best of Singapore & Malaysia b524585 Ch01.qxd 4/22/03 8:53 AM Page 1 1 The Best of Singapore & Malaysia I could spend a lifetime exploring Singapore. I’m in awe of the cultural myster- ies and exotic beauty of the city’s old mosques and temples. As I pass the facades of buildings that mark history, I get nostalgic for old tales of colonial romance. Towering overhead, present-day Singapore glistens with the wealth of modern miracles. And when I smell incense and spice and jasmine swirling in wet topical breezes, I can close my eyes and know exactly where I am. The longer I stay in Singapore, new curiosities present themselves to me. Singapore thrives on a history that has absorbed a multitude of foreign elements over almost 2 centuries, melding them into a unique modern national identity. Beginning with the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, add to the mix the original Malay inhabitants, immigrating waves of Chinese traders and workers, Indian businessmen and laborers, Arab merchants, British colonials, European adventure-seekers, and an assortment of Southeast Asian settlers—this tiny island rose from the ingenuity of those who worked and lived together here. Today, all recognize each group’s importance to the heritage of the land, each adding unique contributions to a culture and identity we know as Singaporean. I’ll confess, many travelers complain to me about how westernized Singapore is. For many, a vacation in Asia should be filled with culture shock, unfamiliar traditions, and curious adventures. Today’s travel philosophy seems to be that the more underdeveloped and obscure a country is, the more “authentic” the experience will be. But poor Singapore—all those lovely opium-stained coolies and toothless rickshaw pullers are now driving BMWs and exchanging cellular phone numbers. How could anyone possibly find this place so fascinating? With all its shopping malls, fast-food outlets, imported fashion, and steel skyscrapers, Singapore could look like any other contemporary city you’ve ever visited—but to peel through the layers is to understand that life here is far more complex. While the outer layers are startlingly Western, just underneath lies a curious area where East blends with West in language, cuisine, attitude, and style. At the core, you’ll find a sensibility rooted in the cultural heritage of values, religion, superstition, and memory. In Singapore, nothing is ever as it appears to be. For me this is where the fascination begins. I detect so many things familiar in this city, only to discover how these imported ideas have been altered to fit the local identity. Like the Singaporean shophouse—a jumble of colonial archi- tectural mandates, European tastes, Chinese superstitions, and Malay finery. Or “Singlish,” the unofficial local tongue, which combines English language with Chinese grammar, common Malay phrases, and Hokkien slang to form a patois unique to this part of the world. This transformation of cultures has been going b524585 Ch01.qxd 4/22/03 8:53 AM Page 2 2 CHAPTER 1 . THE BEST OF SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA Southeast Asia R ed CHINAC H I N A RRiver ive TAIWAN r MMacaoacao MMYANMARY A N M A R HongHong KongKong ((BURMA)B U R M A ) HanoiHanoi LuangLuang PrabangPrabang HaiphongHaiphong HaikouHaikou Gulf of LAOSL A O S P A C I F I C CChianghiang Tonkin HHainanainan MMaiai O C E A N YYangonangon M ek VVientianeientiane o n g HueHue Luzon R. THAILANDT H A I L A N D DaDa NangNang Bagio City HHoioi AAnn Manila BangkokBangkok VVIETNAMI E T N A M T H E P H I L I P P I N E S Andaman CAMBODIA South Puerto Galera KKoo SSametamet Mindoro Sea Samar PPattayaattaya NNhaha TTrangrang PPhnomhnom China PPenhenh Panay GGulfulf ooff Sea Cebu ThailandThailand HoHo ChiChi MinhMinh CityCity Cebu City ((GulfGulf ooff SSiam)iam) (Saigon)(Saigon) KKoo SSamuiamui Negros Bohol PPalawanalawan S u l u Palau PPhukethuket S e a Mindanao LLangkawiangkawi IIslandsland KotaKota Zamboang BharuBharu KotaKota PPenangenang KinabaluKinabalu Isabela IslandIsland PPeninsulareninsular KKualauala TTerengganuerengganu BBandarandar SSerieri MMalaysiaalaysia BBegawanegawan SSabahabah KKuantanuantan C e l e b e s S KKualauala BBRUNEIRUNEI MMedanedan t r LLumpurumpur TTiomanioman IIslandsland S e a a i t t a o i e f MMALAYSIAA L A Y S I A a M r S MMalaccaalacca SSarawakarawak t a S la JohorJohor BharuBharu KuchingKuching a Halmahera c r c ca a s c SSINGAPOREINGAPORE s u a l k a o SSumatraumatra PPontianakontianak M M KKalimantanalimantan M O L U C C A S Sorong PPadangadang BBalikpapanalikpapan (Borneo)(Borneo) JambiJambi Bangka Sulawesi Jayapura C e r a m S e a I N D O N E S I A New Guinea PalembangPalembang Seram Belitung BBanjarmasinanjarmasin Buru JavJavaa SSeae a Kepulaua n IINDONESIAN D O N E S I A JakartaJakarta Flores PAPUA NEW GUINEA Java Weta Kepulaua BBandungandung SSurabayaurabaya n Flores MMalangalang BBaliali Timor LLombokombok Melville Bathurst Darwin A U S T R A L I A b524585 Ch01.qxd 4/22/03 8:53 AM Page 3 THE BEST OF SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA 3 R 0 500 mi ed C H I N A R N i ve TTAIWANAIWAN 0 500 km r Macao M Y A N M A R Hong Kong National Capital ( B U R M A ) Hanoi Luang Bashi Channel Prabang Haiphong Haikou L A O S PPACIFICA C I F I C Chiang Hainan Mai OOCEANC E A N Yangon M ek Vientiane o n g LLuzonuzon Hue Philippine R. T H A I L A N D Da Nang BagioBagio CityCity Hoi An Sea MManilaanila Bangkok V I E T N A M TTHEH E PPHILIPPINESH I L I P P I N E S PPuertouerto GGaleraalera Ko Samet MMindoroindoro SamarSamar Pattaya Nha Trang Phnom Penh PanayPanay Gulf of CCebuebu Thailand Ho Chi Minh City CCebuebu CCityity (Gulf of Siam) (Saigon) Ko Samui NegrosNegros BoholBohol Palawan SSuluu l u PPalaualau Phuket SeaS e a MMindanaoindanao Langkawi Island Kota Zamboang Bharu Kota Penang Kinabalu IIsabelasabela Island Peninsular Kuala Terengganu Bandar Seri Malaysia Begawan Sabah Kuantan CelebesC e l e b e s S Kuala BRUNEI Medan t r Lumpur Tioman Island SeaS e a a i t t a o i e f M A L A Y S I A a M r S Malacca Sarawak t a S la Johor Bharu Kuching a HHalmaheraalmahera c r c ca a s c SINGAPORE s u a l k a o Sumatra Pontianak MMakassar Strait MMolucca Sea Kalimantan MMOLUCCASO L U C C A S SSorongorong Padang Balikpapan (Borneo) Jambi Bangka SSulawesiulawesi JayapuraJayapura CCerame r a m SSeae a IINDONESIAN D O N E S I A NNewew GGuineauinea Palembang SSerameram Belitung Banjarmasin BBuruuru Java S e a Kepulaua n I N D O N E S I A Banda Sea Jakarta Sea GUINEA NEW PAPUA NEW GUINEA Java Weta Kepulaua Bandung Surabaya n FFloreslores Malang Arafura Sea Bali TTimorimor Lombok Melville Bathurst Timor Sea DarwinDarwin AAUSTRALIAU S T R A L I A b524585 Ch01.qxd 4/22/03 8:53 AM Page 4 4 CHAPTER 1 . THE BEST OF SINGAPORE & MALAYSIA on for almost 2 centuries. So, in a sense, Singapore is no different today than it was 100 years ago. And in this I find my “authentic” travel experience. When the urban jungle gets me crazy, I escape to Malaysia. Even Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, seems relaxed in comparison to Singapore. In fact, many Singaporeans look to their northern neighbor for the perfect vacation, taking advantage of its pristine and exciting national forests and marine parks, relaxing on picture-perfect beaches in either sophisticated resorts or quaint bungalows, taking in culture in its small towns, shopping for inexpensive handi- crafts, or eating some of the finest food in Southeast Asia. Malaysia offers some- thing for everyone—history, culture, adventure, romance, mystery, nature, and relaxation—without the glaring buzz of an overdeveloped tourism industry. It almost makes me overjoyed that few tourists venture here. My favorite part of Malaysia, however, is the warmth of its people. I have yet to travel in this country without collecting remarkable tales of hospitality, open- ness, and generosity. I’ve found the Malaysian people to be genuine in their approach to foreign visitors, another fine byproduct of the underdeveloped tourism industry. For those who want to find a nice little corner of paradise, Malaysia could be your answer. I’ve crept down alleys, wandered the streets of cities and towns, combed beaches, and trekked jungles to seek out the most exciting things that Singapore and Malaysia have to offer. In this volume I’ve presented the sights and attrac- tions of these countries with insight into historical, cultural, and modern signif- icance to bring you a complete appreciation of all you are about to experience. I’ve peeked in every shop door, chatting up the local characters inside. I’ve eaten local food until I can’t move. I’ve stayed out all night. I’ve done it all and writ- ten about it here. I can only hope you will love Singapore and Malaysia as much as I do. 1 Frommer’s Favorite Singapore Experiences Sipping a Singapore Sling at the of their world travels. Drink up, my Long Bar: Ahhhh, the Long Bar, friend; it’s a lovely high. See p. 180. home of the Singapore Sling. I like to Witnessing Bloody Traditions: come in the afternoons, before the Every so often, a magical Saturday tourist rush. Sheltered by long jalousie night comes around when you can shutters that close out the tropical sun, witness the Kuda Kepang, which is the air cooled by lazy punkahs (small not your average traditional dance.
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