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Kuala Lumpar in pictures

18/5/2020

 
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Kuala Lumpur

This is part of a series of posts where I look back at some of my favourite pictures from different cities that I have visited. You can read the rest of the series here.

​Kuala Lumpur ranks highly when I think back to all the cities that I've visited. It has all the positives that I love about cities in south-east Asia like good food, culture, it's relatively cheap and the people are friendly. It manages to do all that despite not having the history that cities in places like Thailand and Vietnam have. You can read my full review of Kuala Lumpur here, and the 5 things I loved about Kuala Lumpur here.

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Thai Islands in pictures

30/9/2019

 
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The Thai Islands

Did you know there are 1430 islands in Thailand? These are split between the Andaman Sea (on the west), and the Gulf of Thailand (on the eastern side). I visited a handful of these during my time in Thailand, each of them with their own unique character, different in their own ways. I spent most of my time in the southern islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

I previously shared pictures from my trip to northern Thailand, and although probably not the best photos I've ever taken (on a phone that was basically a potato), I decided to share some photos from my trip to the south for completeness. You can read about my adventures in Thailand here.

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Singapore in pictures

4/2/2019

 
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Singapore

For a rich person, Singapore must feel like a bit of playground. The whole city seems to be geared toward wealth and money. However, I found, that even a little money can go a long way here if you spend it wisely. 

I've made two trips to Singapore now, and got to know the city a little better. Sure, it can be a little pretentious, a little in your face - and yep - it can seem a little fake (although not to the extent of Dubai). However, scratch the surface, and you have a beautifully complex city that has something for everyone. Neighbourhoods, with their own vibes and energy, and landmarks that leave you breathless. You can read about my first trip to Singapore here, my second trip here, and 5 things I loved about Singapore here. But this article will cover my journey through the city state in a series of pictures.

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5 things I loved about Kuala Lumpur

22/10/2018

 
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Not many cities have surprised me the way that Kuala Lumpur did. I didn't have particularly high expectations when I visited, but I was completely blown away by the character of this city. Often overlooked for Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore, Kuala Lumpur is one of the best examples of old meets new and a must visit city. It has incredible food, jaw dropping architecture, it's cheap and there's a decent Sikh population out there. I had quite an adventure in KL and my detailed review can be read here. You can also read top 5 lists of other cities that I have visited here. As with most places I enjoy, it's difficult narrowing the list down to just 5 things I loved about KL, but I've given it a go.

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5 things I loved about Singapore

23/7/2018

 
Singapore, downtown, sikh, travel

Update

I originally wrote this list a few years back, but earlier this year I visited Singapore for the second time (you can read about it here). I realised that the things I enjoyed about Singapore had shifted a little, and therefore I probably needed to update this list. 

That's exactly what I've done, so read on for my 5 favourite things about Singapore

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Batu Caves, Malaysia

7/5/2018

 
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Summary

Airport Rating N/A
Reception of locals N/A
Cost: £
  • Limestone caves that were developed in the late 19th century as a place of worship for the nation's Hindu community.
  • A short one hour distance from KL to the north via public transport.
  • Total cost of the journey is less than £2 and entrance to the main Temple Cave is free.
  • Main Sights: Statue of Murugan, Temple of Murugan, Temple Cave, Dark Cave, Ramayana Cave.
Despite being built just over 10 years ago, the entrance to the Batu Caves with the large statue of the Hindu God, Murugan, has become one of the most famous images of Malaysia. Stories of the caves' history, and a desire to see the statue in person led me to taking the very short journey north from Kuala Lumpur to the site of the Batu Caves. This article covers my thoughts from the caves as well as sharing how to get from Kuala Lumpur to the Batu Caves.

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

23/4/2018

 
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Summary

Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: ££
  • The capital of Malaysia is a very unique mix of being incredibly modern, yet vastly underdeveloped in many areas.
  • No specific issues with airport security uniquely problematic for Sikhs, but the airport is generally an unfriendly place, with odd procedures.
  • Incredibly cheap, especially compared to nearby Singapore.
  • A lot to see and do, with cheap transport connecting the city to Batu Caves in the north.
  • Main Sights: Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, KLCC Park, Thean Hour Temple, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Jalan Alor, Petaling Street Market, Tapak Urban Street Dining.
My visit to Singapore gave me the opportunity to take a side trip to nearby Kuala Lumpur, giving me my first taste of Malaysia. The city is relatively new, established in its modern form some 30 years after Singapore, yet somehow it feels comparatively ancient. I managed to spend 4 days in the city, and although I'll write a separate article on the Batu Caves, this post covers my thoughts and observations on an often overlooked city.

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Return to Singapore

9/4/2018

 
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Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££
  • My second trip to Singapore, and first in almost 5 years, gave me an opportunity to spend close to a week in the city state
  • Singapore Changi Airport is consistently voted the world's best airport, and as a Sikh I had no issues with airport security
  • Singapore is very safe for any traveller, and I saw a fair few Sikhs during my time there
  • Not quite the 'sterile' place it's made out to be, with areas like Geylang, Bugis St, Little India and Chinatown having lots of character
  • Main Sights: Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India, Sri Mariamman Temple, Buddha Took Relic Temple, Arab St, Orchard Road, Supertree Grove
I recently had the opportunity to head back to Singapore, my first trip to the city state in almost 5 years. If you read my previous article on Singapore, you'll note that I only stayed a couple of days and mentioned it was one of the places I'd like to visit again, only with more time to spare.

Well I finally had the chance to revisit it, and I spent almost a week exploring areas of Singapore that I didn't have a chance to see the first time around. Read on for more about my views and observations about one of the more divisive places in Asia.

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Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in pictures

4/12/2017

 
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Vietnam

It's one of only a handful of one party communist states in the world and is best known in the west for two very violent wars that were fought in the territory in 20th century.

There is no doubt the Vietnamese people have had a rough couple of hundred years. After first being colonised by the French, they were then overrun by the Japanese during the Second World War. Two bloody wars of freedom followed, first defeating the French, and then defeating the Americans.

The country was, for decades, an international pariah. However, a shift to a more markets based economy has seen the country post impressive growth figures and is now one of the fastest growing economies in the world. In addition, a tourism sector that was destroyed by war is also thriving. I paid a visit to two of the major cities in Vietnam; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), capturing the life of these two distinct areas of the country; two areas that were once bitter enemies, now reunited as one Vietnam.

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Northern Thailand in pictures

5/12/2016

 
Sikh, travel blog, thailand, buddha, travel

Ancient ruins, mountains and countryside

Northern Thailand refers to the mountainous north of the country, a whole world away from the golden beaches and blue seas of the south. The area roughly corresponds to the mountainous area bordering Myanmar and Laos, however in this article I have gone as far south as Sukhothai, which is about 4/5 hours north of Bangkok.

The north of Thailand is one of my favourite parts of the world. The amazing history of Sukhothai is complemented by the cosmopolitan twin cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the former being one of the highlights of my visit. 

Sukhothai is famed for its historical park that has literally hundreds of statues of Buddha and ancient temples that are best explored by cycling. It was about an hour into the long journey north from Sukhothai that I began to feel a difference in the climate and landscape. The humidity and flat terrain of the south was slowly replaced by a crisp air and mountainous landscape. The road was bounded by greenery on all sides and the hectic pace of Bangkok tranformed into a slow crawl.

Up until the early 1900's the Lanna area of the north was relatively independent and the natives are still fiercely proud of their local traditions and customs. I was lucky enough to visit Lampang, a city the northerners refer to as the 'last true paradise' of Thailand. Staying in a village about an hour outside the city was one of my favourite experiences and I spent my time there visiting local cottage industries as well as a school.

Further north is Chiang Mai, a city becoming increasingly popular with tourists. The night market in Chiang Mai is incredible and the nightlife in general is very lively. The area has a significant Burmese influence, not just due to its proximity to the country but also having lived under Burmese rule. The city is the capital of the north, built in a valley, surrounded by mountains and is a great starting point for treks further north to the hill tribes. It's also a great place to spend a few days (or weeks) exploring the many temples, restaurants or getting lost in the streets.

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    British Sikh, born in the Midlands, based in London, travelling the world seeing new cultures.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Rob.Bertholf, wwward0, jasleen_kaur, tc_manasan, blacklerphotos, miguel_discart_photos, Vallausa, fabrizio-russo, free pictures of money, miguel_discart_photos, thedescrier, falco500, François Lacroix, falco500, frankieleon, Rareclass
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