Malaysia

[Tight minge]

His profits plummeted when I left, that's why he's miffed ;-) Yes still in touch with him but not so frequent. Only been back to Europe once in the last 8 years. He's been in the papers (including in Scotland) and the TV the past few weeks as he has been running a soup kitchen for the homeless out of his pub.

[welshbairn]

22 minutes ago, Tight John McVeigh is a tit said:

His profits plummeted when I left, that's why he's miffed ;-) Yes still in touch with him but not so frequent. Only been back to Europe once in the last 8 years. He's been in the papers (including in Scotland) and the TV the past few weeks as he has been running a soup kitchen for the homeless out of his pub.

Just googled it, good man. Hope he's doling out his tinned haggis, not as bad as it sounds. 

P.S. When I was there his chef hadn't turned up so he had to do the job and wasn't in the best of moods.

[Tight minge]

He is a decent guy. Think yesterday he was doing Scotch Broth. I'm not a fan of expat places overseas (especially out this way), but his is a great pub and a great starting point for a trip to Budapest.

Do miss living in Budapest, but after a few years of the novelty of winter wears off it becomes a challenge to get through. Now 24c is cold for me.

[welshbairn]

7 minutes ago, Tight John McVeigh is a tit said:

He is a decent guy. Think yesterday he was doing Scotch Broth. I'm not a fan of expat places overseas (especially out this way), but his is a great pub and a great starting point for a trip to Budapest.

Do miss living in Budapest, but after a few years of the novelty of winter wears off it becomes a challenge to get through. Now 24c is cold for me.

Found a wee vid of him in his pub but hesitant of posting it given recent ID stalking incidents. If you're ok with it?

[Tight minge]

Makes no odds to me. I try to avoid any of the nonsense on this site.

[welshbairn]

 

[hk blues]

I'd disagree with you on Singapore and probably Cambodia.
Cambodia has its moments, but can also be frustrating and lacks infrastructure (obviously) compared to Malaysia. Horses for course on that one I suppose. Cambodia's certainly worth seeing.
Singapore is terrible. Makes me want to set fire to my face.
You're right about the others. HK, Thailand and Vietnam all have a lot to offer.

Horses for courses as you say JTS98, but from what you're saying is it not the case that places are being evaluated from the perspective of living and working rather than travelling? The OP was looking for advice as a toursist. That's why I don't think a tourist would even notice too much the frustration and lack of infrastructure in Cambodia and would certainly be able to enjoy 4 or 5 days in Singapore, there's plenty to do for that short time. (Terrible and make you want to set fire to your face - as a tourist it's really not that bad, surely?). I'm a fan of KL b.t.w. but feel as a tourist I'd enjoy Cambodia and Singapore more...caveat being if i was spending just a few days.

Just throwing in my own perspective, having spent a long time (10 years) in Hong Kong I always hesitate to comment on how good it is for tourists because I don't necessarily see it as being that great. But the vast majority of feedback is positive so obviously I'm looking at it from a different perspective having lived there.

Interestingly, if we look at the stats comparing HK visitors to Singapore, HK (45m) dwarfs Singapore (16m)but 80% of the HK visitors are mainland Chinese so only about 9m non-Chinese tourists came to HK - that would suggest Singapore is more attractive than HK all things being equal. I'm using a hefty chunk of poetic licence their but still.

One thing I'm sure you, and Tight John McVeigh is a tit would agree on, is that all of them are better than Dundee!

[doulikefish]

Horses for courses as you say JTS98, but from what you're saying is it not the case that places are being evaluated from the perspective of living and working rather than travelling? The OP was looking for advice as a toursist. That's why I don't think a tourist would even notice too much the frustration and lack of infrastructure in Cambodia and would certainly be able to enjoy 4 or 5 days in Singapore, there's plenty to do for that short time. (Terrible and make you want to set fire to your face - as a tourist it's really not that bad, surely?). I'm a fan of KL b.t.w. but feel as a tourist I'd enjoy Cambodia and Singapore more...caveat being if i was spending just a few days.



Interestingly, if we look at the stats comparing HK visitors to Singapore, HK (45m) dwarfs Singapore (16m)but 80% of the HK visitors are mainland Chinese so only about 9m non-Chinese tourists came to HK - that would suggest Singapore is more attractive than HK all things being equal. I'm using a hefty chunk of poetic licence their but still.

Casinos and shopping

[Guest JTS98]

15 hours ago, hk blues said:

Interestingly, if we look at the stats comparing HK visitors to Singapore, HK (45m) dwarfs Singapore (16m)but 80% of the HK visitors are mainland Chinese so only about 9m non-Chinese tourists came to HK - that would suggest Singapore is more attractive than HK all things being equal. I'm using a hefty chunk of poetic licence their but still.

 

I think that may be down to location to a large degree. Quite a lot of people stop off in Singapore for a few days on the way to or from Australia/New Zealand. To go to Hong Kong you have to really want to go to Hong Kong. To my mind Hong Kong is a vastly superior destination.

[Booker_d]

In KL use uber. Dont take taxis. Maybe grabcar at a push. Both uber and grabcar have phone apps.

East coast try Perhentian or Redang. Depending on the time youre there it may be baby turtle hatching season. Fly to Terengganu then take a boat.

Hire a car at the airport when you arrive in Langkawi. Its pretty cheap and good for getting around the island. Try the manhatton chip shop in the north of the island, surreal and decent food. There are 2 duty frees connected to each other (but different owners) next to the aquarium. Cheap booze. Also if going to langkawi from kl then fly from subang. Saves you going to klia2 which is about 40km outside the city.

[hk blues]

Casinos and shopping

Hong Kong doesn't even have casinos...that just leaves shopping!

Anyway, as I'm sure you're aware Singapore has a wide range of attractions for tourists; in my opinion its main issue is it's just too small which explains why those who have lived there are often not big fans. To visit as a tourist for a few days It's perfectly enjoyable. To me anyway.

[hk blues]

I think that may be down to location to a large degree. Quite a lot of people stop off in Singapore for a few days on the way to or from Australia/New Zealand. To go to Hong Kong you have to really want to go to Hong Kong. To my mind Hong Kong is a vastly superior destination.

You'd be surprised at how many people stop off in Hong Kong en-route to even farther-flung destinations. With its excellent airport it is well-positioned to serve a huge range of onward destinations and does.

Personally, I feel Hong Kong is superior to Singapore, not vastly but superior nonetheless. The reason I threw out the visitor numbers wasn't to make a case for Singapore being better, more to show that despite what we might think, the data doesn't necessarily support that.

[Tight minge]

You'd be surprised at how many people stop off in Hong Kong en-route to even farther-flung destinations. With its excellent airport it is well-positioned to serve a huge range of onward destinations and does.

Personally, I feel Hong Kong is superior to Singapore, not vastly but superior nonetheless. The reason I threw out the visitor numbers wasn't to make a case for Singapore being better, more to show that despite what we might think, the data doesn't necessarily support that.

Hong Kong does have good access to Macau in relation to casinos.

Before I ever came over to Asia I was talking to a friend who suggested Hong Kong was 'Asia for beginners' which, at least then, it was very true. That being said, Singapore would be kindergarten.

I think there is a perception of home comfort/security for some (westerners) coming to Singapore especially regarding food (over Hong Kong).

Singapore is also a good start/end point for travelling through South East Asia. Hong Kong is good for the less touristy China.

As stated before, Singapore has been a major stopping off point between OZ/NZ and Europe and probably captures more of that market than Hong Kong.

I think it's a combination of things that may skew the tourist figures for non Chinese, putting Singapore ahead.

Living here just now, with a 2 month old baby and ease of doing business, Singapore is great, but I've been to both Hong Kong and Singapore as a tourist and worked in both and all in all Hong Kong is considerbly better.

My wife has lived in both Hong Kong and Singapore and also prefers Hong Kong.

I think for most Hong Kong will always come out on top (until the Chinese really screw it up).

If it didn't have the baby and was staying in Asia, although preferring HK over Singapore I would pass on both and go for Ho Chi Minh.

It was a great place to live 8 years ago and looking at the development recently it will be a cracking city in the future.

So Hong Kong over Singapore every time. Singapore has a lot of nice attractions and a nice marina, but looking over Victoria harbour to HK is always a beautiful site.

One of the best, most peaceful and value for money 10 minutes you'll get anywhere in the world is crossing on the start ferry.

[doulikefish]

On 21/01/2017 at 13:49, hk blues said:

Hong Kong doesn't even have casinos...that just leaves shopping!

Anyway, as I'm sure you're aware Singapore has a wide range of attractions for tourists; in my opinion its main issue is it's just too small which explains why those who have lived there are often not big fans. To visit as a tourist for a few days It's perfectly enjoyable. To me anyway.

Singapore has both thats what i meant

[Alex_14]

Booking flights today - £500 all in which isn't too bad.

Stopping off for a day in Dubai though on the way out - the bird is demanding it and I've succumbed to her demands for peace. Excited to die in the 45 degree heat in July, tbh.

[hk blues]

Hong Kong does have good access to Macau in relation to casinos.

Before I ever came over to Asia I was talking to a friend who suggested Hong Kong was 'Asia for beginners' which, at least then, it was very true. That being said, Singapore would be kindergarten.

I think there is a perception of home comfort/security for some (westerners) coming to Singapore especially regarding food (over Hong Kong).

Singapore is also a good start/end point for travelling through South East Asia. Hong Kong is good for the less touristy China.

As stated before, Singapore has been a major stopping off point between OZ/NZ and Europe and probably captures more of that market than Hong Kong.

I think it's a combination of things that may skew the tourist figures for non Chinese, putting Singapore ahead.

Living here just now, with a 2 month old baby and ease of doing business, Singapore is great, but I've been to both Hong Kong and Singapore as a tourist and worked in both and all in all Hong Kong is considerbly better.

My wife has lived in both Hong Kong and Singapore and also prefers Hong Kong.

I think for most Hong Kong will always come out on top (until the Chinese really screw it up).

If it didn't have the baby and was staying in Asia, although preferring HK over Singapore I would pass on both and go for Ho Chi Minh.

It was a great place to live 8 years ago and looking at the development recently it will be a cracking city in the future.

So Hong Kong over Singapore every time. Singapore has a lot of nice attractions and a nice marina, but looking over Victoria harbour to HK is always a beautiful site.

One of the best, most peaceful and value for money 10 minutes you'll get anywhere in the world is crossing on the start ferry.

The HK v Singapore debate is a strange one for me. It is obviously horses for courses, and as I said I'd put HK before Singapore but not as far as some might.

I really believe a lot of this can be put down to the fact that HK is more culturaly interesting and has a certain intangible something that Singapore doesn't - that said I still feel Singapore does have more to offer tourists than HK, at least tourists who want to do more than shop. And the data does tend to support that.

I also think that for a certain type of ex-pat Singapore is too sterile, something you could never accuse HK of. I still can't see me describing it as horrible t.b.f. though.

I do agree that the Victoria Harbour nightscene is magical but if you look at it every night as I did - my office overlooked it - it wears off. Admittedly, tourists won't experience that. The Star Ferry must be the best 20p you can spend. However, as a tourist once you've ticked both of them off the to-do list there isn't a huge amount left.

HCM (apologies for using abbreviations, I'm just lazy) is a place I loved visiting - went 4 years on the trot from HK and had a great time every time. Now, that's SE Asia is it should be. I doubt you'd get many agreeing it's ahead of either HK or Singapore in terms of living but I'd bet I'd be one if I'd had the chance. For a tourist I'd say it definitely lacked some of the things that the more sophisticated tourists look for but the last time I was there was probably around 8 or 9 years ago and it was developing quickly at that time.

[Tight minge]

Sterile is a fair way to describe Singapore.

Your right about living in a place and seeing the same sites everyday. It does wear off. But the Star Ferry is fantastic add to that to the trams and is a good way to relax in a vibrant city. But that's what HK has, a lot of variety

Your right about HCMC, there isn't much for a tourist to see, but living there was absolutely fantastic.

[Booker_d]

Booking flights today - £500 all in which isn't too bad.
Stopping off for a day in Dubai though on the way out - the bird is demanding it and I've succumbed to her demands for peace. Excited to die in the 45 degree heat in July, tbh.

Dont worry theres air con everywhere. Just remember to drink plenty water.

[Alex_14]

54 minutes ago, Booker_d said:

 

Dont worry theres air con everywhere. Just remember to drink plenty water.

 

I'll be bathing in water and sitting inside the shopping malls, she can go do whatever it is she wants to do. 

[S7C]

I absolutely loved Singapore. Very liveable. Perhaps not as exciting as other cities but I don't buy the sterile viewpoint. There's a wide range of things to see and do. A bit pricier but as with everywhere else it's possible to do it on the cheap.

Didn't think much of Kuala Lumpur. It was alright for a few days, but not much to see. The caves were filthy as well. Managed to get pissed on by a monkey there too