First Christmas far away from home

After just under an hour of flight (luxury) we arrived in Kuala Lumpur and were pleasantly surprised right away, because the people there spoke much better English than the Thais. So we easily found our accommodation, which fortunately was right next to a large mall including a supermarket. So we bought some food and liters of water, as always, to supply ourselves for the next few days. Because even in Malaysia, tap water is unsuitable for drinking, brushing teeth, and cooking.

The plan for Kuala Lumpur was mainly to spend Christmas as beautiful as possible away from home. That's why we decided to extend the three Christmas holidays to nine. And what makes Christmas so beautiful besides spending time with family? Exactly, lots of delicious food.
That's why we tried to incorporate at least one "special" meal every day - which we managed quite well.
On the first day, for example, we discovered a chocolate restaurant that is probably paradise for all sweet tooths. From chocolate-covered pancakes and waffles topped with fruits to warm brownies with a molten center, they had everything your heart desires.
On the following evenings, we tried our way through the candy section in the supermarket, including Asian delicacies, and thus expanded our culinary horizon. However, the highlight awaited us on Christmas Eve: we treated ourselves to an extensive dinner including appetizers and desserts at the Hard Rock Cafe. And in between, we also indulged in many little things.

Of course, Kuala Lumpur has many other beautiful things to offer besides delicious food. The most famous landmark of the city is the Petronas Twin Towers and the adjacent park. When we visited on the first day, we immediately noticed that Malaysia is much more structured and cleaner than Thailand. In Kuala Lumpur, the average standard of living seems to be higher than in Bangkok. The city center and its countless malls are very modern and the parks are picturesque and well-maintained.

During the days around Christmas, we also visited China Town, the Central Market, Kampung Baru, the Eco Park, and many other places.
We particularly liked the Batu Caves and the adjacent Hindu temple with its famous colorful steps leading up to them.
On the first Christmas day, we even attended a church service in the middle of the city. We all thought it was great that Christmas is celebrated in Kuala Lumpur, even though many people are not Christians. This is because, as we were explained, in Malaysia all religions live together peacefully and therefore celebrate their most important festivals together.
On the second Christmas day, we devoted ourselves to completing a little surprise for our families.
We ended the last evening comfortably at the so-called "Heli-Bar". A bar on a helipad on the roof of a hotel, with breathtaking views of Kuala Lumpur, including the Petronas Tower at night. That was probably the perfect ending to our 9-day Christmas, the first time without our families.

The next morning, we continued to the airport early and then headed towards Singapore. Again, the flight only took just under an hour, and yet something completely new awaited us. Already on the way to the accommodation, we could see how modern Singapore is. In the coming days, we had to keep reminding ourselves that we were in Asia and not in Europe or America.

We made the most of the time we had and explored pretty much everything Singapore has to offer: the Harbour Front, China Town, Clarke Quay, Orchard Street, and of course the entire Marina Bay including the Merlion Park, Marina Bay Sands, and the famous Gardens by the Bay.
We also spent New Year's Eve in Marina Bay, at a free concert by various Asian artists, followed by a spectacular fireworks display against a breathtaking backdrop. For all of us, it was a completely different New Year's Eve, as none of us had ever celebrated the new year in a comparable way. But we were all thrilled by the music and the great atmosphere, and of course by the most extravagant fireworks we had ever seen!
In general, Singapore offers countless attractions every day, such as light or water shows, or even a "carnival" and street musicians.

The day after New Year's Eve, we slept in and packed our suitcases for our last destination together, Bali, in a relaxed manner.

We all really liked both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The modern cities combined with the Asian influences are definitely worth a visit! However, you can always quickly see how developed the different countries are. So tiny Singapore is very rich compared to its neighboring countries, which is reflected in the infrastructure and the city itself, but also in the cost of living.

Just like at home, Christmas and New Year's Eve passed by in the blink of an eye.. we will now enjoy the last 3 1/2 weeks in Bali to the fullest before we return to Germany.