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The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei is the definitive guide to these three arousing and attention holding Southeast Asian countries. There’s elaborate coverage of Malaysia’s superb natural attractions, including Taman Negara – the Peninsula’s main national park, with it is four gateways – and, in Sabah and Sarawak, Mount Kinabalu and the limestone pinnacles at Mulu. Great beaches and islands likewise get full attention, including the islands of Langkawi, the Perhentians and the dive mecca of Sipidan. There’s a great deal on the indigenous tribes of Borneo too, including how to make upriver trips to traditionalisti longhouses. The book also provides the lowdown on Singapore’s burgeoning amusement scene – from substitute gigs to cutting-edge theatre – and uncovers the mystery charms of secluded Brunei. All the background you need to get the best out of these multicultural nations is here, including a feed vocabulary to aid you order the best Malay, Chinese and Indian fare, and perceptivenesses into local etiquette.

Review"Guidebooks devote few pages to Langkawi, but the Rough Guide's Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei is the most helpful." -- Condé Nast Traveler

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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Malaysia

Malaysia's fast-growing capital, Kuala Lumpur (or just KL) makes much the same introductory impression as does Singapore, with high-rise hotels and air-conditioned buying goods malls, and characterful ethnic areas like Chinatown and Little India. The seat of government for the federation, KL is likewise the social and economic driving strength of a nation eager to better itself, a fact reflected in the growing number of architect bars and restaurants in the city, and in the booming manufacturing industries surrounding it. A light rail transit system around KL is the latest sign that it is gearing up for a mass influx of visitors for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. But this is a city with resolute determination rooted in tradition, where innovative Malay executives might have a cellular phone to hand, but will never miss Friday prayers. And even though the city is altering speedily - the skyline appears to be redesigned yearly - life on the busy streets still has a raw feel, with markets and feed stalls crowded in amid new banks and businesses.

Less than three hours south of the capital lies the birthplace of Malay civilization, Melaka, a ought to on anybody's itinerary. Much further up the west coast is the firstborn British settlement, the island of Penang, with old colonial buildings and a vibrant Chinatown district adorning it is capital, Georgetown. In amid KL and Melaka is a string of old tin-mining towns, such as Ipoh and Taiping, which provided the engine of economic alter in the nineteenth century. For a taste of Old England, head for the hill stations of Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Maxwell Hill, where cooler temperatures and lush countryside provide plenteous prospects for walks, rounds of golf and cream teas. North of Penang, there's a more Malay feel to the country, with Alor Setar forming the last stronghold before the Thai border. This far north, the premier tourist destination is Pulau Langkawi, a standard duty-free island.

Routes down the Peninsula's east coast are more relaxing, running past the sleepy kampungs of the mainland - Merang, Cherating and Marang - and the stunning islands of Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang and Pulau Tioman. The state capitals of Kota Bharu, near the northeastern Thai border, and Kuala Terengganu, further south, are showcases for the best of Malay traditions, craft production and performing arts.

Crossing the Peninsula's mountainous interior by road or rail allows you to effort into the unsullied tropical rainforests of Taman Negara. The park's four thousand square kilometres has sufficient to keep you occupied for weeks: trails, salt-lick hides for animal-watching, a high canopy walkway, limestone caves and waterfalls. Other interior routes may take in a ride on the jungle railway, which links east and west coasts, and visits to the southern lakes, which retain communities of indigenous Malays.

Across the sea from the Peninsula are the Bornean states of Sarawak and Sabah. For most travellers, their initial taste of Sarawak is Kuching, the old colonial capital, and then the Iban longhouses of the Batang Ai and Batang Lupar river systems, or the Bidayuh longhouses close to the Kalimantan border. Sibu, much further to the north on the Rajang river, is the starting-point for the most stimulating trips, to more authentic Iban longhouses. In the north of the state, Gunung Mulu National Park is the essential destination, it is extraordinary razor-sharp limestone needles providing demanding climbing. More remote still are the seldom explored Kelabit Highlands, further to the east, where the mountain air is refreshingly cool and flora and fauna is abundant.

The main reason for a trip to Sabah is to conquer the 4101-metre granite peak of Mount Kinabalu, which is set in it is own national park, though the lively innovative capital Kota Kinabalu and it is idyllic offshore islands have their moments, too. Beyond this, Sabah is worth a visit for it is wildlife: turtles, orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills are just a few of the exotic residents of the jungle, while oceanic Pulau Sipadan has a host of sharks, fishes and turtles.

Singapore For a good deal of first-time travellers to Asia, Singapore is the idealisti starting point, with Western standards of ease and hygiene, and dazzling consumerism, alongside established Chinese, Malay and Indian enclaves and the architectural remnants of the state's colonial past. Singapore likewise justifiedly holds the title of Asia's gastronomic capital, with snacks at simple hawker stalls, high tea at Raffles, and exquisite Chinese banquets merged in their high quality. Most humans find a few days in the metropolis is long sufficient to see the sights, fill buying goods bags and empty pockets, before moving on.

Brunei Few travellers crusade into Brunei, which lies amid Sabah and Sarawak, perchance put off by the high transport and accommodation costs. Certainly you'd do better to wait until you reach the east Malaysian states if you intend to visit longhouses, forests or river systems. For those who do pass through, however, there are few more stirring sights than the spectacle of the main mosque in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, towering over the water village below, which is culturally a million miles away from the state's latest attraction, the Disneyland-style Jerudong Playground.

Most helpful client reviews

8 of 8 persons found the following review helpful.
Not bad...but could've been better
By A
This guide is great, at least from a pre-trip standpoint. When it comes to planning a trip to Malaysia, the historical and cultural distinct elements of the book are above reproach. The writers distinctly recognise their way around the country. But that doesn't translate into using the book when you get to Malaysia. While hotel prices are listed, they're done so using a code system, forcing readers to proceed flipping back to the key located early on in the guide. I've relied on Lonely PLanet's guidebook before, and I'll keep doing so - only because it is layout is superior to the Rough Guide.

5 of 7 humans found the following review helpful.
does not integrate much..
By A
this rough guide isn beauteous much the same as the other guides.. as general in singapore it holds the standard places.. orchard, little india, sentosa, east coast and the general touristy places. It does not include the heartlanders area eg. Hougang, Yishun etc. For eg, in woodlands.. it only mention the the zoo.. did you know that's a huge Shopping Mall in Woodlands called the Causeway point.. nect to the MRT station.. As for eating places.. it fail to capture the good places for local food.. may interest the feed lovers and those adventourous sufficient to try..

It ought to include a share on the heartlanders.. I'm sure numerous tourist may want to see our locals their way of life.. for eg a tour of an HDB estate (public housing) that may include the market, the coffeeshop, look at the flat inside out.. etc.. the peculiar and distinct characters of the heartlanders.. etc.. other than as supposed or expected tourists may think S'pore is just of the "place"

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
great book - invaluable!
By A
This book was a godsend on our recent trip. On the Island of Langkawi we found the counsel on boat trips to the coral reef saved us a lot of money.

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