Trip details:
Langkawi to Kuala Perlis ~ Ferry / Kuala Perlis to Kangar ~ Taxi / Kangar to Butterworth ~ Bus / Butterwort to Georgetown (Penang) ~ Ferry / Penang to Johor Bahru ~ Plane /
Johor Bahru to Singapore ~ Bus / Singapore to Johor Bahru ~ MRT / Johor Bahru to Melaka ~Bus / Melaka back to Johor ~ Bus / Johor back to Penang ~ Plane and eventually back to Langkawi the same way we came.
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Singapore Skyline |
We set off around 6:30am to catch the 7:30 ferry from Langkawi, but when we arrived in Kuala Perlis we were told; "No bus from here, have to go to Kangar" This came as a complete surprise as normally all buses from Butterworth stop at this ferry terminal. So we jumped in a taxi, which cost us 15RM and arrived just 3 minutes before the bus was leaving to Butterworth. The buses we experienced in Malaysia are very comfortable and cheap and we like travelling with them, lots of leg room. Just always have a jumper with you, as some of the buses are absolutely freezing.
We arrived safely in Butterworth took the ferry across to Georgetown and went on from there with the bus to Penang airport. We had booked our flights well in advance with Air Asia, when they had an offer on so it was cheap to go by plane to Johor. Once we got from the airport to the bus station in Johor Bahru we knew, our hotel was only about 600m away but there was a problem, called a 6 lane motorway. No way could we get across by foot and when we asked a girl at the bus station how we could get to our hotel she warned us not to walk, it would be too dangerous, too many bags get snatched, especially from tourists. Ok, so we looked out for a taxi, but how come there is never one around when you need one. Eventually a guy offered to take us for 15RM and we were glad for the lift. (We later found out this trip by taxi would cost no more but 6RM) oh well, you win some and you lose some and we were just glad to be in our hotel, the
Golden Court. We were pleased with the place, nice rooms friendly staff and a complimentary breakfast (Malay style)
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Entrance hall to the border |
After a good night`s sleep we went by taxi to the border to Singapore where we caught a bus on the Malay side taking us to the nearest
MRT station in Singapore. The bus stops at the border, you have to walk across and catch the bus on the other side, all I can say: "Well organised chaos" but you find that at every bus station in Malaysia.
We made our way with the MRT to Geylang where our hotel the Orchid81 is situated and even though we knew it was in the red light district in Singapore, we did not expect prostitutes
right outside of the hotel, together with their pimp who kept driving around on a little moped collecting the money from the girls. When we sat outside one evening having a cigarette, all of a sudden all the girls around the hotel (about 8 of them) started running and disappeared within seconds, but no wonder, a police car came around the corner. Once they had gone, all the girls came back and took their positions as before, but the pimps were busy on their phones ringing others up, we guessed to warn the of police presence. It was better than TV :) We would not recommend this place to anyone though. The rooms are small, the manager unfriendly, but at least it was cheap and easy to find.
In Singapore we went to see the famous
Marina Sands Bay Hotel an absolute must when you are there. The architecture is well amazing and when you go to the top and see the skyline and pool (free tours available, check when you pay the entry fee) you are quite breathless.
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Marina Sands Bay Casino, Hotel Theatres etc.. |
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The pool at the top |
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Girls posing at the top |