I have found Asian countries have so much to offer to the world for people of all interests and tastes – but many western travellers are nervous due to the cultural differences. Their loss is of course, our gain,  and that is no more true than in Singapore and Malaysia. These neighbouring countries are in themselves an adventure of cultural heritage, beautiful scenery and gorgeous weather. Considering that the countries are a half hour drive away from each other, there’s no real reason why you shouldn’t visit both!

Singapore is a lively and bustling city with a plethora of attractions and shops for tourists and natives to enjoy. The whole city is simply beautiful with the tall, elegant buildings providing shade for the many million city dwellers. One thing that will strike you is the great pride Singapore takes in its cleanliness which is evident after spending just an hour there. The outside ground is pretty much spotless due to the laws and regulations strictly upheld by Singapore citizens. I am reminded of my first trip to New York where I was attacked by bird droppings and entered my hotel with chewing gum stuck on my backside; rest assured this will not happen here! I simply have never been anywhere else in the world that maintains its streets in the way that Singapore does.

In addition, the public transport system in the city makes it extremely simple (and cheap) to see everything you want to in the city. You use what’s known as an “EZ Link” card to travel around the city. The EZ Link card contains a balance (which you can top up, much like London’s Oyster card) and can be used across the trains, buses and taxis.

My personal highlights from Singapore are as follows:

Orchard Road – A massive shopping road containing famous high street brands as well as markets for those local deals. Expect to see that Dior handbag for sale in a Dior shop at 10% off the Western prices, and that same Dior handbag for sale in the Market with 90% off… I’m not advocating the counterfeits – just acknowledging them!

Clarke Quay – Singapore’s historical riverside quay with shopping centres, bungee slings and more. On your first visit you will arrive at the Quay and wonder why you don’t live here – think of Queenstown’s ‘edge’ in a region the size of 100 football fields – it’s bustling and packed with energy and I promise you will spend at least a half day here.

Universal Studios – It’s a theme park, it has rides, it has many attractions… yes it is a clone of other theme parks – but remember you are (probably) thousands of miles away from home. There is, even though I hate to admit it – something satisfying about eating a Big Mac out here.

Malaysia is less technologically advanced than Singapore, although that’s not to say that it doesn’t make for a great and memorable experience. Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia’s capital, contains an abundance of activities and sights to see. These range from cultural restaurants to massive towers and shopping centres. KL is home to the world’s tallest pair of twin towers, which is open to the public. It’s a beautiful spot with lot’s to see and do within the towers. Within the towers, there’s a huge shopping complex available for the public. You won’t find a collection quite like it anywhere else in the world.

In addition to the towers, there’s also the KL tower, a massive structure with a viewing platform at the top. The KL tower can be used as a vantage point to see the whole city. Looking at the city from the skies is something nobody visiting KL should miss out on. This is because you can only fully appreciate the beauty of the city from this breathtaking point of view. Malaysia has more to offer than just KL, with amazing beaches and traditional Malay towns to visit.

And these Malay towns are what a lot of people actually go travelling for, when visiting you are made to feel welcome and sometimes (not in all cases) you are treated like a local citizen – there is something undeniably humbling to see a Malay child walking to school – it’s just like the life you have lived, but different.
Author: Rachel is a travel blogger who loves exploring the earth one place at a time.  Follow along with her at Explore-Earth travel blog.

Photo Credit: Photo 1 is shared courtesy of flickr user jjcb via creative commons licensing.

Here are our favorite “nights” of sleep from our journey around the world:

The Good Sleep

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one night.  The best night of sleep I had on the whole trip was probably in Buenos Aires, in an apartment Danny’s parents rented – I was horribly sick and needed the creature comforts of home.  But the most memorable night of sleep?  I’d have to say it was camping in South Africa’s Kalahari National Park listening to the lions roar throughout the night. Earlier in the day they had wandered within a few meters of the camp’s electric fence while Danny was cooking dinner – a crazy experience to say the least.  Drifting off to sleep in the middle of nowhere under an African sky  listening to lions, it was like a surreal dream.  I won’t say I wasn’t a bit anxious about the whole thing, but I slept surprisingly well and it’s a night of sleep I’ll never forget.

The Bad Sleep

Have you ever been in a flooded tent?  When we pulled into the Malealea Lodge in Lesotho we set up our tent in an area that looked safe from water.  The caretaker told us we’d be find in water – perhaps it was a question lost in translation or perhaps the downpour was just unusual- but at some point in the night it began to rain.  A few drops turned into buckets, and we awoke soaked from the ground up.  We’ve probably camped hundreds of nights out in the woods, never have I ever woken up to inches of rain inside the tent.  Scrambling to a) get out of the tent and b) to save our worldly possessions we looked like a 1930s comedy act.  The two stooges.  Chalk it up to being half asleep, but we managed to get out of the tent, get into a small unlocked rondavel and crawl into two warm, dry beds.  In the morning we dried everything out on the grass- you can bet we didn’t stake up there the next night.

The Ugly Sleep

If you thing something small can’t have a big impact, think about the mosquito.  Our night in Harar, Ethiopia will forever be the worst night of sleep in my life.  Earlier in the evening Danny had suffered from some digestion issues that left him feverish, shaking and slightly delirious.  With the water out at the hotel, I spent the evening running buckets of water back and forth from our room to the cistern in order to force flush the toilet.  Without our mosquito net and first aid kit, we had broken the two rules of backcountry camping – we had left our survival gear behind.  Needless to say, Danny spent the night feverishly running to the bathroom to kill all assortment of bugs when the lights turned on, only to return to bed to be bothered by mosquitoes.  Zipping around the room all night it felt like we were at war and Danny was the walking wounded.  Getting up for a 3am is generally not easy, but that morning we were all too happy to evacuate and get out of Harar.

Ever had a truly memorably night of sleep on the road? What about a bad?  Ever suffered an ugly night of sleep?  Make us feel better about our GBU, share yours!

In essence, Working Holiday Visas allow you to travel while you’re already traveling.

How can you say no to that? (Unless, of course, you aren’t eligible for a WHV, in which case, I’m really sorry and you should stop reading right now.)

Then I thought back to my first experience on a WHV in Ireland. I had just turned 22 and had absolutely no idea what to expect. My only experience with visas had been swiping them at the mall. Hostels were a completely foreign concept, and I was convinced they were full of people who wanted to steal my stuff.

Moving overseas is scary. Finding a job is scary. Being alone is scary.

But quit trying to talk yourself out of it. I’m here to tell you why you should do it anyway.

1. It seems so complicated. Do I really need a visa?

My friends Alexa and Cole fill out tax forms for fruit picking in Bundaberg, Australia.

Look. Life is complicated. Do you want to travel or don’t you?

If you’re not confident filling the application forms out on your own, I can personally recommend the BUNAC program. It costs a little bit more, but in return you get assistance with your working holiday visa application, a helpful handbook, and an orientation once you arrive.

Red tape is an unavoidable part of working abroad, but it’s not a reason to avoid it altogether.

And YES. You need a visa.

2. I’d love to take a working holiday, but it’s expensive.

When I worked in London, one pound was worth two dollars. Bad at first, but great when I got paid.

A mortgage is expensive. Vacations are expensive. That daily Starbucks habit is expensive.

Traveling is all about priorities. Yes, the initial outlay for a WHV can be pricey. You need to pay the visa fees, airfares, and bring enough money to survive on until you find work. But if that’s what you really, truly, want to do, it’s worth it. Remember that you’ll be working once you arrive, so it’s not one long vacation. There is a paycheck in it for you.

Just between you and me, though – it can feel like one long vacation. Especially if you’re working in Australia.

3. What if I don’t find a job?

You might not LOVE your job, but you should be able to FIND one.

This was the number one question I got from people before I left. It’s legitimate, but extremely unhelpful. The real question you need to ask yourself is, “What if I don’t find the job I want? What kind of work am I willing to do?” If you’re open to fruit picking, bar work, and retail, relax. You will find a job. If you refuse to take a job that isn’t explicitly linked to your degree, sit down and reconsider.

The key thing to remember is that this is a working holiday. It’s not a career, even if some of us *ahem* pretend that it is. You must be flexible and persistent in your job search. Do something different. Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Have fun.

4. What if I don’t find an apartment?

My first flat in Galway, Ireland. Shared with an American & 2 Irish students.

Finding an apartment in a foreign country is surprisingly like finding an apartment at home. All you need is a little bit of patience and a cash deposit.

Okay, a lot of patience. Of course, I can’t guarantee that you’ll find a place; but I did it! In Galway, London (four times!), Coffs Harbour, Auckland, and Christchurch.

And if I did it, you can do it. Look in the papers. Talk to people in your hostel. Get on Google. You might share a studio apartment with someone else. You may share a house with strangers. You could find your own place. There’s no knowing how it will turn out, but don’t stress. It works out in the end.

5. What if I don’t meet anyone?

I met this guy within days of arriving in Auckland, New Zealand. See? Easy.

At first it was tough. I can be pretty introverted and had to force myself to start conversations with strangers. My friends at home actually told me afterwards that they’d been worried I wouldn’t talk to anyone.

But it got easier and easier. Suddenly, I was living with people I’d just met, going for drinks after work, and, well, making friends. I’m not going to lie – travel can be lonely, especially if things aren’t going smoothly. But give it time. You won’t be alone for long.

So what are you waiting for?