Five Days Four Nights Multi-Destination Journey: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca

Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have always been top choices for Chinese travelers' first overseas trip. I, however, only got to experience this classic route after visiting many other countries. Since I had already been to Malaysia and Thailand, I had to arrange a trip to Singapore soon!

Last time I was in Malaysia, the country had not yet implemented visa-free travel for Chinese citizens. Now that it has, my impression is... there's no difference except no visa fee! Customs is as inefficient as ever. After getting off the plane, queuing for entry takes at least two hours. The ten counter staff work at a 'lightning' pace, and there's nothing we can do about it. There are currency exchange booths and SIM card vendors at the airport. The exchange rates at the currency booths aren't great, but prices in Malaysia are low, so you don't need much cash—exchanging a few hundred to a thousand ringgit is enough. For the SIM card, I chose Tune Talk's 7-day data card again, 55 RMB for unlimited data, and Alipay is accepted.

We stayed at a hotel in the city center, an area packed with star-rated hotels in Kuala Lumpur, within walking distance of Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor. It took about an hour to drive from the airport to the hotel. I was a bit shocked along the way: at midnight, downtown Kuala Lumpur was still brightly lit and bustling, as lively as if it were 7 or 8 PM. Tourists with Asian and European faces were everywhere. It's truly a city that never sleeps, and as someone who loves nightlife, it really won me over.

The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we officially started our itinerary! Our first stop was Petaling Street. Malaysia is made up of three main ethnic groups, and Chinese people are an important part of it. As the local Chinatown, we had to visit Petaling Street.

However, the first thing we saw was a bunch of stalls selling all kinds of fake bags, shoes, and watches. Most of the vendors were Black. Curious, we asked about prices and were shocked when the price dropped from 200 ringgit to 10 ringgit—so we ran away! Of course, many of the food vendors were Chinese, from Fujian, Chaoshan, Shaanxi, and all over. Since we were full from breakfast, we didn't get to try much, but the soy milk was good, the sweet potato balls were okay, and the young coconuts were very cheap.

Near Petaling Street, there is a beautiful Hindu temple and some Chinese clan associations. You can enter the Hindu temple after taking off your shoes. We happened to witness worshippers performing a lamp-lighting ceremony, with live music that was very captivating. We respect others' beliefs, so we just observed. Hindu architecture is very colorful and full of dopamine, with figures dancing and singing. Although we couldn't understand the meaning, it was very distinctive from an artistic perspective, and there was an inexplicable mystical quality.

In May, Malaysia feels like 35°C. It was bold of us to venture to Merdeka Square at noon. But since we were in Kuala Lumpur, we had to check in at this spot no matter how hot it was. After all, it's one of the largest squares in the world, with the tallest flagpole. Hot or not, we endured! Back in Korea, I saw the Stone Hall in Deoksugung Palace, which resembles the White House. I have to say, transplanting the White House into a Korean palace is a bit forced. In contrast, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, with its unique Moorish architecture blending Christian and Islamic cultures, is a stunning architectural highlight of Kuala Lumpur.

After half an hour at Merdeka Square, we were melting, so we quickly got back in the car to cool off. That's the advantage of having a private car. I saw many online guides recommending taking a hop-on-hop-off bus for a city walk in Kuala Lumpur. In this heat, you'd get heatstroke, so forget about walking!

Next stop was the Royal Palace of Malaysia. Although the King of Malaysia is rotated among nine states, each king is incredibly wealthy and holds real power as the country's supreme leader. We couldn't enter the palace, but we saw the cavalry changing guard at the gate and got a peek inside. The horses on duty looked like they didn't want to work at all—they stood lazily and shook their heads wildly. It seems slacking off is a universal phenomenon among workers (and horses) worldwide.

The heat made us crave something cold. Our driver found us an Indian restaurant and said we wouldn't be disappointed. It was hard to communicate with the Indian staff, but luckily a Chinese person eating there helped translate. OMG!!!!! This 2.8 ringgit bag of milk tea was so delicious!!! Sweet, fragrant, and smooth—one sip filled me with dopamine. The driver wasn't lying! In Malaysia and Thailand, you never have to worry about bad milk tea. Every shop has a master of pulled tea, truly the best!

Satisfied, we headed to another famous Kuala Lumpur attraction, the Batu Caves, a Hindu holy site. Our expectations weren't high, as we had heard the crows, monkeys, and bats were fierce and the place smelled bad. But when we arrived and looked up at the giant statue, we were in awe. This statue is of Lord Murugan, the tallest statue of Murugan in the world. A person's height is probably only as big as one of its fingers. Murugan, the god of war and courage, is said to have defeated the demon at Batu Caves. He stands before the cave like a guardian spirit, protecting countless lives within. The 272 colorful steps looked daunting, so we didn't climb them, missing out on the cave's aroma and mystery. But as a religious site, every detail exudes strong Indian culture. Having such a place in Malaysia highlights its religious and humanistic tolerance.

We were lucky—it rained every day in Malaysia during our trip, but it cleared up when we were out and started pouring again as soon as we got in the car. On the way back to the city, we passed Little India. It was raining too hard to get out, but I gradually felt that there weren't as many Chinese in Kuala Lumpur as I imagined; the Indian atmosphere was stronger. Since I never planned to visit India in my lifetime, it was nice to experience its religious culture and food here. After all, the Indians living in downtown Kuala Lumpur are well-educated and not intimidating (no offense intended).

The final highlight was, of course, Kuala Lumpur's and even Malaysia's most iconic landmark—the PETRONAS Twin Towers (KLCC). The towers stand tall side by side in the city center during the day, but at night, adorned with lights, they are at their most dazzling, shining like diamonds in the night sky. I've seen my fair share of international city buildings, but I was still captivated by this nightscape adorned with the Twin Towers, unable to look away... I was even more grateful for a great travel companion who discovered the Vertigo bar on the top floor of the Banyan Tree hotel. With a per-person spend of 60 ringgit, you can overlook all of Kuala Lumpur. It's hard to describe the moment we stepped outside and saw the Twin Towers right in front of us. I could stare at them all night. What a wonderful evening!

There's a mall at the base of KLCC, and on the fourth floor, there are two local chain restaurants popular on social media. Starving, we chose Little Penang Cafe. Their signature nasi lemak with sauce was very good. Malaysia is truly a country that pairs well with rice—all kinds of strange sauces have their own unique flavors, perfect for eating with rice, even the hotel's breakfast buffet offers them. The laksa was brightly colored, looked appetizing, had a fresh and fragrant soup, rich and savory—Chaoshan people would have no trouble accepting it. The seafood fried kway teow was full of wok hei, turning simple carbs into a perfectly arranged calorie bomb. The satay skewers surprisingly had a strong ginger flavor, which worked well, but wasn't particularly amazing. The meal was good value, mainly due to the great location and pleasant dining environment. After all, the premium restroom on the first floor of the mall charges a fee.

Kuala Lumpur reminded me a lot of Hong Kong. Pavilion KL felt like Central's Landmark, the area around Merdeka Square resembled the Court of Final Appeal, and Bukit Bintang was like Causeway Bay. The city center is very bustling, with dazzling lights, luxury brands everywhere, crowds of people, street performers, and eye-catching billboards on bridges... I have to say, Kuala Lumpur showcases the infinite charm of an international and diverse city, exceeding our expectations.

As a tourist, you can't miss Jalan Alor at night. Walking along Jalan Alor, tourists jostle each other, and the stalls are dazzling. If we hadn't just eaten, we would have had serious trouble choosing. However, this street turned out to be the biggest disappointment of our trip. The durian was expensive and ordinary, and the famous snack shop 'Wong Ah Wah,' which even Eason Chan has visited, was a tourist trap. Their signature chicken wings were burnt black and mediocre. The stingray ordered by the table next to us was also rated as dry and not tasty. Serving took at least half an hour, prices were high, and they charged 3 ringgit just for sitting down with our own water. The service was terrible. I don't know what people go there for—avoid it at all costs!!!!

After finishing our day trip in Kuala Lumpur, we began our journey to Putrajaya. Putrajaya is Malaysia's new administrative center. The entire city looks like it was built specifically for the government, full of official and political planning. How should I put it? Putrajaya, touted as a 'garden smart city,' is beautiful and peaceful, with excellent greenery and complete facilities, but... it seems a bit too perfect? The city felt severely lacking in human presence: there were hardly any cars on the roads, let alone pedestrians. The commercial and residential buildings along the streets were neatly arranged, but occupancy seemed low. The flowers, trees, and lakes were all exquisite, with no flaws, but it felt like we were on patrol here, making us uncomfortable. The Putra Mosque and Merdeka Square looked very solemn and majestic, also empty of people, and were the best photo spots of the trip. Nearby, there was a Moroccan-style palace that was quite distinctive, already popular on Xiaohongshu, great for photos—worth a visit.

Southeast Asia at noon is deadly. Once we got in the car with air conditioning, we didn't want to get out. Luckily, our next stop was Malacca, a two-hour drive that perfectly avoided the peak heat.

Located on the north coast of the Malacca Strait, Malacca City is Malaysia's oldest historical city, founded in 1403, a veritable historical and cultural city. It was once the capital of the Malacca Sultanate, with an excellent strategic location, a place contested by armies in ancient times. It was later ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and with Chinese immigration during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the city became even more legendary. The Malacca I had longed for, mentioned countless times in textbooks—we are coming!!!!!!!

We were really hungry, so we quickly searched for top-rated restaurants and chose Wild Coriander, a traditional Nyonya restaurant with great reviews. OMG, I am so grateful to those commenters! This restaurant excelled in environment, service, and food quality. The shaved ice, hand-mixed rice, fish egg tarts, laksa, and even the seemingly simple mushroom chicken were all delicious. I even got to eat something I would rarely find even in Shenzhen or China—durian cendol!!! Ah~ the rich durian flavor combined with the shaved ice below was truly a divine treat. Durian lovers, you must try it!!!

Unfortunately, the sun was too strong and the weather too hot, so we could only go out after 16:00. Many of Malacca's museums were already closed, so we could only see their exteriors. Of course, landmarks like the Dutch Square, St. Paul's Church, and the Porta de Santiago still bear historical traces, as this place has experienced many wars and colonial rules. Taking a slow trishaw ride and feeling the remnants of this ancient city under the sunset was also a good choice.

Of course, we had another important task at sunset—to catch the sunset at the Malacca Straits Mosque. Here, we could see the Malacca Strait, once the busiest in the world and written about in history books, with cargo ships passing by from time to time, trying to write their former glory. This building, blending Middle Eastern and Malaysian styles, looks like a palace floating on the sea, emitting colorful stained-glass light under the pink-purple sunset glow, charming and lonely by the sea. Note that the best viewing angle for this mosque is not inside but from the outer seaside—just follow the crowd. The entrance fee is 5 ringgit, and they give you a bottle of water, great value.

After nightfall, the banks of the Malacca River and Jonker Street are the best choices. Jonker Street felt much better than Jalan Alor. It's also a lively night market, but mostly with ready-to-eat items you can see. The Chen Jin Fook souvenir shop is great for photos, with strong air conditioning—fine to visit during the day. Mama Makan Cafe is also a highly-rated restaurant. The sambal shrimp and the fish wrapped in something called 'otak-otak' were delicious, and the chicken oil rice was super fragrant—definitely recommended. Malaysian milk tea really is never bad—just buy any and drink it up. It's cheap too.

We hadn't fully explored Malacca when it was time to head to Singapore. Traveling from Malaysia to Singapore, including immigration, takes about six hours, a long distance prone to traffic jams. The only thing Malacca left us with was our last breakfast. Our driver took us to eat authentic Hainanese chicken rice. I don't know why Hainanese chicken rice is so popular in Singapore and Malaysia, but the chicken rice balls and chicken here were really, really delicious—the chicken was tender with unique sauce, the rice balls were oily and fragrant, with a light saltiness that kept us eating nonstop. Four of us shared one chicken for a meal, and the bill was less than 100 RMB—so cheap we laughed.

We arrived in Singapore in the afternoon. The hotel was small and exquisite but well-equipped, giving a sense of 'land is gold.' My companions freshened up and headed to Chinatown. If you couldn't get by with Chinese in Kuala Lumpur, in Malacca and Singapore, it's basically a Chinese-speaking world. Chinese coverage is very high, and there are many domestic brands. Mixue Ice Cream & Tea is practically ruling the world, haha. I felt a sense of familiarity and sighed: Mixue is truly cheap everywhere!

Of course, prices in Singapore are much higher than in Malaysia. For dinner, we chose Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and also tried Yakun breakfast. I thought Yakun only sold toast, but who knew their toast could be so delicious? The bread is toasted until fragrant and crispy, spread with kaya jam and butter. When you put it in your mouth, the texture is incredibly rich, and the aroma lingers—so addictive! To be honest, their milk tea isn't as good as Malaysia's, and the traditional way of eating raw eggs isn't for everyone, but this toast is simply the best. It's a delicacy I can hardly find the same in China. Sad. As for Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, it was also good. The rich tea soup is bottomless refills, which is very nice. But this flavor has already been replicated very well by many Singaporean restaurants in China, like Shenzhen's Shi Shijiu and Jin Yeke—they can basically recreate the taste one-to-one.

On this trip, Oriental Enlightenment invited local business owners and KOLs from Singapore to dine with us. Discussing business models and local customs with locals was so interesting! Singaporeans are considered first-class citizens in Asia, enjoying top-notch government benefits and business environment. The government also provides ample protection for Singaporeans. For example, a company can only hire one Chinese for every nine Singaporeans, maximizing job security for citizens. Singapore's business model is relatively simple and not as competitive as in China. More importantly, the monetization model of influencers in China hasn't yet become popular in Singapore, so Chinese companies going overseas might have some opportunities. No wonder so many people want to immigrate to Singapore.

However, from our conversations with various locals, one disappointing point was that Chinese families, aside from the first generation who migrated to Southeast Asia, whether born in Singapore or Malaysia, consider themselves Chinese but never identify as Chinese nationals. We share the same bloodline, language, and cultural roots, but there is an invisible, thick gap. I just hope that the common bloodline from years ago will not be forgotten by any descendant of the Yellow Emperor today.

Singapore at night is very pleasant. Relaxing at Clarke Quay, feeling the breeze, watching people from different countries party and have fun, sipping a little alcohol and chilling—it's a great enjoyment. Out of curiosity, I ordered a Singapore Sling. It was easy to drink, sweet and sour, quite likable. Now I have one more cocktail option. Until now, we hadn't really felt Singapore's unique charm. We were waiting for the last day to unveil its beauty!

God was really kind. On the last day, we had a bright sunny day with blue skies and white clouds that were beautiful.

First stop was Merlion Park—yes, it was here that we truly felt the beauty of the Lion City: a perfect combination of internationalism, modernity, and greenery. Across the bay, Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion face each other, complementing each other. Under the sun and open space, we felt refreshed from the inside out. Excited, we took photos of 'catching' the water spraying from the Merlion, hoping for good fortune!

Next, we went to Haji Lane. This area probably has lower Chinese coverage in Singapore, with more Indians, and the landmark is Sultan Mosque, giving it a strong Arabian atmosphere. Besides the distinctive Indian shops, the graffiti on the walls of the houses on both sides was very eye-catching, adding to the vibe of the street. Another major impression I had of Singapore was that the city is incredibly clean. Many places you can tell are old, but they are still well-maintained. Whether on main streets or alleys, the ground is impressively clean and absolutely odorless. Having visited many international metropolises, I can say Singapore is the undisputed number one in this regard, living up to its reputation as 'the city with the best urban infrastructure in the world.'

Lunch was at the highly-rated ZamZam, a Muslim restaurant. Various types of bread (naan?) were very delicious. The second floor had air conditioning, super comfortable. There were also Chinese staff, so communication was no problem (since we really couldn't understand Indian friends). By the way, I think Indian milk tea is still the winner. The milk tea here was smoother than Yakun's. The fish head and hand-mixed rice were okay, but the main thing was to eat the bread—all kinds of fillings were good, and portions were huge. Prices were relatively affordable. For 400 RMB, you could fill a table and still not finish.

If in the morning we felt Singapore's international modern charm at Merlion Park, then at Gardens by the Bay behind Marina Bay Sands, we truly revised our understanding of a garden city: it felt like walking into the world of Avatar, or getting lost in the Wizard of Oz. How can a city have such a beautiful forest? Time was limited, so we couldn't enter the skywalk inside, but the impact is still fresh in my memory. Garden city—Singapore definitely wins.

Next, we briefly visited Sentosa, which is more like a collection of theme parks, especially suitable for family trips. No wonder domestic children's overseas study tours often start in Singapore. I'll bring kids here in the future. Finally, we headed straight to our last destination—Jewel Changi Airport.

As the world's most beautiful airport, Changi Airport has made significant contributions to reducing flight delays: tourists come early to see the world's tallest indoor waterfall, arriving two to three hours before check-in. We were no exception—our flight was at 8-something PM, and we arrived at 4:30 PM.

The driver dropped us off at Terminal 1. To take the skytrain and see the waterfall, you need to go from T1 to T2, then from T2 to T3. The skytrain ride from T2 to T3 passes through Jewel, going right by the waterfall. It's well worth experiencing. After getting off the train, we entered Jewel and checked out the 40-meter indoor waterfall and rainforest landscape. It was magnificent!! I personally tested that the view from the fourth floor is the best. There is a restaurant called A&W? Actually, it's a restaurant called 'Fun Fun'? No, I think it was something else. Anyway, there is a place on the fourth floor serving toast similar to Yakun's. We couldn't resist ordering again. It tasted good, but not as good as Yakun. Here, we watched the waterfall while drinking milk tea, and looking up, we could see the world's only indoor cactus garden on the fifth floor. My God, Singapore, what other surprises do you have for us?

Oh, after passing through immigration, the beautiful Singapore airport left us one last treat—the waiting area had a large area of real trees! I'm really puzzled: how can this city, even indoors with so many plants, have no mosquitoes? I hope Singapore's mosquito control methods can be popularized worldwide, without seeking fame.

With that, our Singapore-Malaysia trip came to a perfect end. Thanks to the private car and the good weather, it was very comfortable and smooth. Most importantly, during these two stops, we not only absorbed history, culture, and local customs but also saw their diverse beauty: compared to China's magnificent landscapes, their 'people,' 'places,' and 'stories' are more worth exploring. As China's Asian allies and neighbors, we'll have plenty of opportunities to visit Singapore and Malaysia again. Wait for us~~~