Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is the former central station of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The building is one of the most beautiful railway stations* in Southeast Asia**, and it often ranks among the most beautiful railway stations in the world. The station was built between 1910 and 1917, and the building is notable for its unique […]
Notes on Rantau Prapat, and a rant about Google, Tripadvisor, KAI, and Tourism Indonesia
Rantau Prapat is a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Its main claim to fame is that it’s at the end of a railway line, which was what brought me there. There are things to do outside the city, but you wouldn’t know it from the railway website or Tourism Indonesia. And I’m going to rant […]
Notes on Medan: Gateway to North Sumatra
Medan is the largest city on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It’s the capital of the province of North Sumatra, and if you are visiting Lake Toba and/or Gunung Leuser National Park (for the orangutans) then you will pass through here. I have a soft spot for Medan as it was the first place […]
Notes on Koh Lipe: The beachiest holiday island in Thailand
This island in Thailand had everything I wanted in a tropical beach break. Ko Lipe is a Thai island in the Andaman Sea in Satun Province. It’s the most southerly island you can stay at before crossing the maritime border of Malaysia. Ko Lipe is about 3 km in length and 1.8 km at the […]
Notes on Hat Yai: Thailand’s laid-back southern city
Hat Yai is a city in Songkhla province in southern Thailand, near the Malaysian border. It’s a major travel hub, with a railway junction and international airport. There’s a good chance you’ll pass through here if you’re travelling to the Satun Islands or to or from Malaysia. Hat Yai is not a typical tourist city, […]
Notes on Koh Larn: A lovely little island cursed by its location
Ko Larn (or Ko Lan) is an island in the Bay of Bangkok off the coast of Pattaya. If you are familiar enough with Thailand then that geographical description alone would probably put you off visiting. If you aren’t familiar, the Bay of Bangkok is not famous for its water quality, and Pattaya is a […]
Where to stay in Georgetown, Penang – The best area to stay and the pick of the hotels
Penang is a state in Malaysia that includes the island of Penang and the strip of adjacent land on the peninsula. For most visitors when they say they are going to Penang they mean they are going to Georgetown, on the northeast tip of Penang island (Pulau Pinang). [Georgetown in relation to Pulau Pinang and […]
Notes on Manila: A tale of four cities
Metropolitan Manila refers to the 16 cities and one municipality that comprise the Manila National Capital Region (NCR). Metro Manila (as it is more commonly referred to) has a population of over 13 million, though some statistics also include surrounding provinces. As a visitor, that is an overwhelming amount of cities to choose from. The […]
Medan to Rantau Prapat by train (North Sumatra)
The train from Medan to Rantau Prapat is the longest railway journey in North Sumatra (266 km). It’s not a route that is useful from a tourism perspective, but if you are curious to take a trip then here is what to expect. Tickets I bought my ticket at Medan station on the morning of […]
Hanoi Airport Bus: Noi Bai International Airport to Hanoi Railway Station
How to get the bus from Hanoi Airport to the the Old City and Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoi Airport (Noi Bai International Airport) is about 27 km from the city centre, and the cheapest way to travel to and from the airport is by local bus. Bus 84 departs from the international and domestic terminal […]
