After our visit to the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, we decided on a whim to take an overnight train to Singapore! We arrived at the train station in Tanah Merah, Malaysia 7 hours before the train actually left in order to reserve our beds on the train. During our waiting time, we explored a little of the city, though there wasn't much to see.
Melissa slept on the top bunk.
Outdoor restaurants were lined along the river.
We enjoyed a drink as we watched boats go along the river.
It was not uncommon to see random cows roaming around many of the cities we visited in Malaysia, such as this one at the train station.
Next to the train station were also wild chickens.
Frank cooling off with iced chocolate milk in a bag. Everyone was drinking these, so we decided to give it a try...it was good, but strange.
Thank goodness for KFC where we ended-up eating lunch and dinner! Sometimes we just need a familiar taste from home.
Thank goodness for KFC where we ended-up eating lunch and dinner! Sometimes we just need a familiar taste from home.
We are officially "backpackers" now!
While we were waiting for the train to arrive, we met these adorable Malaysian children. We talked and played with them for a while, which was fun and made the time go by faster.
Overnight Train to Singapore
From 9pm to 11am (14 hours) we were on an overnight train from Northern Malaysia to Singapore. We each had our own bed that came with sheets and a pillow. It was REALLY bumpy, but we were able to sleep for most of it. Our tickets were only $21 dollars each, plus we didn't have to book a hotel room for a night, so it was much cheaper than flying.
The inside of the sleeper cars were lined with bunk beds that each had a privacy curtain. At the end of each car was a bathroom. Food was sold on the train, but we just brought our own snacks and drinks.
From 9pm to 11am (14 hours) we were on an overnight train from Northern Malaysia to Singapore. We each had our own bed that came with sheets and a pillow. It was REALLY bumpy, but we were able to sleep for most of it. Our tickets were only $21 dollars each, plus we didn't have to book a hotel room for a night, so it was much cheaper than flying.
The inside of the sleeper cars were lined with bunk beds that each had a privacy curtain. At the end of each car was a bathroom. Food was sold on the train, but we just brought our own snacks and drinks.
Melissa slept on the top bunk.
Frank was on the bottom.
Singapore
We were very impressed with Singapore. It was spotlessly clean and beautiful. It's official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, but English is the most common language used and is the language used to teach children at school. Visiting Singapore was almost like going back home to Florida. The streets were lined with palm trees and a mix of people from all over the world live there. Also, it was extremely hot (Singapore's only about 60 miles north of the equator).
A Fine City
Singapore is actually known for being "a fine city" because the government fines people like crazy if they break the law. They even sell "Singapore is a Fine City" T-shirts as a souvenir. Some of their laws are no smoking, no chewing gum, no littering, no urinating, no flower-picking, no bird-feeding, no water wasting, no eating and drinking in some places, and no spitting.
Durians? An INCREDIBLY smelly fruit that most Westerners cannot stand to be near.
Boat Quay
We spent most of our day in this area along the river, known as Boat Quay.
Outdoor restaurants were lined along the river.
We enjoyed a drink as we watched boats go along the river.
Some quaint shops and restaurants in Boat Quay.
Clarke Quay and Riverside Point
Not far from Boat Quay was Clarke Quay and Riverside Point, which was along the river as well. It was fun walking around and people watching. We saw so many Western families with young children here, it really was like being back in the States.
Not far from Boat Quay was Clarke Quay and Riverside Point, which was along the river as well. It was fun walking around and people watching. We saw so many Western families with young children here, it really was like being back in the States.
It was so hot that some children stripped down to their underwear to play in the fountains!
Chinatown
Chinatown
We visited Singapore's Chinatown, which was filled with tourist shops and red lanterns.
Little India
After visiting Chinatown, we took the subway to Little India. Wow, what a difference! It was not geared towards tourists at all, but was actually packed with people, primarily Indian men. We walked down a few blocks and it was really like being in India.
Last Stop: Kuala Lumpur
After only a day and a half in Singapore, we took a bus back to Malaysia to spend the remaining of our trip in Kuala Lumpur, the capital.
