Singapore, an island across the strait from Malaysia, is an easy introduction to Asia. The super clean city state is a mix of luscious greenery and gleaming modern skyscrapers with a smattering of historic houses and landmarks. A melting pot of cultures – Chinese, Malay, Indonesian and Western – reflects the mixture of people who have settled here.
By contrast, Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis jam-packed with exotic sights, smells and sounds. Waterways such as the mighty Chao Praya river and the famous khlongs (canals) criss -cross the city. Ancient temples sit side by side with shopping malls, while street food vendors are dwarfed by skyscrapers with glamorous, al fresco rooftop bars.
Kuala Lumpur lies somewhere in between—both geographically and atmospherically—with its mix of thriving markets, modern malls, the world’s tallest twin towers and colonial mansions. The city features a magnificent 100-year-old railway station in the Moorish style, all arches and minarets, which is an attraction in itself. On certain journeys passengers can alight on the platform while the train makes a pitstop just before dinner. And they’ll spot the Petronas Twin Towers sparkling in the darkness as the train continues on its way.
Similarly, passengers embarking and disembarking at Bangkok will experience the excitement of Hualamphong station, a neoclassical building that’s also celebrating its centenary in 2016. For Singapore, passengers embark or disembark at a railway station over the border in Malaysia though they’ll check in at the iconic Raffles hotel – a suitably glamorous, colonial experience – before joining the Eastern & Oriental Express.