Four weeks in the Far East Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Singapore and Malaysia February 1980 Our route round the far east (blue is flights, red is overland) Bangkok, Thailand 31st Jan. We flew on Saudia from Riyadh to Bahrain, then on 1st Feb we flew on Cathay Pacific to Bangkok and stayed four nights at the Rajah Hotel in Soi Nana, Sukhumvit Road. We went on the temple tour, to Wat Trimitr with its solid gold buddha .... .... Wat Pho .... .... Wat Benchamabophit, then Wat Phra Keo with its great golden stupa .... .... the Grand Palace, Wat Sracket and a boat ride across the river to Wat Arun. Manila, Philippines On 5th Feb we flew Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Manila and stayed four nights at the Silahis hotel. We had a ride in a Jeepney taxi and visited Fort Santiago. We went out into the countryside on a trip to rice paddies, the Pagsanjan river where they were towing coconuts up the river, a Filipino village and Tagaytay volcano. Hong Kong On 9th Feb we flew Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and stayed five nights. We visited Kowloon, Tiger Balm Gardens, Central district, went to the top of the Peak and got the Star ferry across the harbour. We admired the bright lights, the night markets, the harbours, the restaurants and the street life. We went on a tour of the New Territories, to Repulse Bay, Kam Tin walled village and a duck farm. We visited Causeway Bay and Aberdeen harbour, where we went to the huge Jumbo floating restaurant with tanks of live lobsters. Macau On the 14th we crossed the Zhujiang estuary on a boat to Macau which was still a Portuguese colony. We stayed at the Mondial hotel and visited St Paul's cathedral, some temples and Lou Lim Iok gardens. China We went by coach on a day trip from Macau across the border into China, where bicycles were everywhere and tourists were still a curiosity in 1980. We visited Dr Sun Yat Sen's birthplace house in Cuiheng village (now part of Nantang township in Zhongshan city) and visited the Longrai commune. We had lunch in the main street of what they called Shaky City (Shekki or Shiqi, the old name for the core city district of Zhongshan) and saw the Shiqi river. Bangkok again 16th Feb. We flew Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong back to Bangkok and stayed two nights at the Rajah Hotel. We visited the floating market and the crocodile farm .... .... saw traditional Thai dancers at the shrine on Ratchadamri road, had a look at the Central Department Store and had afternoon tea at the lovely old colonial Oriental Hotel. Several times we had delicious ‘Chai House beef’ at Chai House restaurant in Soi Nana. Singapore We got the sleeper train from Bangkok for two nights via Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, where we stayed for three nights in the historic old wing at Raffles Hotel for 130 Singapore $ per night (in the days before it was refurbished and became ultra-luxurious). We explored the river, the food markets and some temples and went on the cable car. Malaysia Then on 23rd Feb we hired a car and drove back through Malaysia. We visited the old town and harbour at Malacca (or Melaka) .... .... then continued to Kuala Lumpur and stayed two nights (possibly at the old Grand Hotel, now long gone). We visited the historic city centre and the Batu caves. On 25th Feb we drove to the Cameron Highlands for a Devon cream tea at the Old Smokehouse .... .... then continued to Penang and relaxed on the beach, staying two nights at Sri Pantai motel. We visited George town, some temples and the beach. Finally on 27th Feb we got the overnight train from Butterworth near Penang back to Bangkok, flew Cathay Pacific back to Bahrain on the 28th, stayed one night and flew Saudia back to Riyadh on the 29th. If you would like to see more of our travels just click the map.