Whether you are going on a solo excursion, a holiday with your partner, an outing with your group of friends, or a trip with your whole family, you want to come back fuller and more abundant than the time you departed — in experience, insight, and skill.
Here we have gathered some tips and advice that you can use for when you travel in Malaysia, Singapore and Hatyai to avoid any mishap and get the best out of the trip.
Photos credit: Spicy Icecream
Eat the street food
Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand are well-known for their culinary delights — and the most prized is the street food. Hawkers and vendors gastronomy unique to these locations have received accolades from many, including renowned magazines Forbes and CEOWorld. Tried, perfected for generations, and far from the fine-dining scene, you can find authentic culinary heritage in the street food culture.
National favourites range from spiced barbecued satay, glossy stir-fried char kuey teow to the wonderfully spicy and sour tomyum. And when the fasting month of Ramadan comes, you should check out Bazar Ramadan for the gloriously spectacular fare.
There is nothing fancy about eating street food — that, we know. But it sure is one of the best ways to get an authentic feel and pulse of a place.
Photo credit: Lonely Planet
Interact with locals
To truly immerse yourself in a culture, put your phone down and interact with the locals. Surely you can get the best recommendations of local restaurants, spots to catch beautiful sunsets and more this way.
You can even ask real questions about their work and life and share your own. Just remember to be respectful of differences in opinions, religions, lifestyles, and interests of the locals (and your fellow travellers).
Photo credit: G Adventures
Connect with nature
There are many opportunities to connect with nature in these parts of Southeast Asia, where you can find glistening grey-white waterfalls to the hidden peaks above the clouds — with some possessing the most picturesque scenery.
For example, in Malaysia, there is the National Park; in Singapore the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; while in Hatyai the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary among other natural wonders. If you can find a way to go beyond merely getting some fresh air, these are the hearts and true beauties of the world.
Photo credit: Blog Lovin’
Avoid travel burnout
Travel burnout means the traveller has somehow lost interest in the trip, as well as become anxious and hostile. To avoid this, allow flexibility in your travel plan and remember to go at your own pace.
Let go of the idea of perfection and acknowledge the aspects that you enjoy. So you missed that train, or your wallet got stolen, so what? Things happen, maybe this is the time to take a long walk along the beach or sit in a public park for a few hours to reflect and rejuvenate your spirit.
Travelling should be an experience that helps you grow as a person and learn new things personally. Remember to slow down. You don’t have to travel on an aggressive schedule just for the sake of ticking off everything in your checklist. Give yourself more time to get lost as good things happen when you take the time to explore.
Photo credit: The Travel Intern
Pack light
Learn to pack light. Packing light doesn’t mean sacrificing style or comfort, but to carefully rethink and research the essentials, since most of the things you THINK you need, you do not. One tip, if in doubt, leave it at home. And in case you later find that you need that item, it is always possible to purchase it at your destination.
You do not want to drag a piece of bulky, overweight luggage around during your travel. With a small suitcase, you can chase down your train should you wake up late one morning, or squeeze into the consistently packed RapidKL bus in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. We can vouch for a light suitcase in saving sanity.
Photo credit: Wanderlust
Take care of your health
It is understandable that when you are always on the go, your body might experience stress, and this is not good in the long run. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, wear sunblock and use hand sanitiser. Also, it would be best to cut down on junk food and include plenty of vegetables and fruits in your diet. You can find healthy snacks virtually in a lot of grocery stores throughout these countries. So stay healthy, we only have one life.
Photo credit: Business Types
Buy travel insurance
You must know now that it is entirely safe to travel in South East Asia, particularly Singapore. However, if there is one thing that you must do before your travel, it is to buy travel insurance. We have all heard far too many horror stories about travellers who have gotten into medical emergencies or criminal incidents while travelling. So get travel insurance for your peace of mind, it makes a huge difference.
Photo credit: Saleduck
Plan your travel budget
For most of us, the hardest part about planning a trip is figuring out the budget. It can give headaches and is all around messy, but you can always find deals and discounts online. We recommend Saleduck where you can save hundreds, or even thousands of Ringgit in discounts for flights, hotels, tours, and train bookings. Even when buying travelling essentials!
– Check out CatchThatBus promotions and promo codes for your bus travel: https://www.saleduck.com.my/catchthatbus
– For Travel and Vacation promotions and promo codes:
https://www.saleduck.com.my/deals/travel-and-vacation
Hopefully with these tips and tricks, you will make the best out of the journey you are going to embark on!
Featured Photo Credit: The World Pursuit
*This article is written in collaboration with Saleduck
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