Vacation deals: Malaysia, boleh!

SINGAPORE — The recent announcement that the Singapore terminus of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail will be located in Jurong East has once again sparked off chatter about how much quicker — and easier — it will be to visit our closest neighbour. Coupled with talk about relooking proposals to build a third crossing into Malaysia (following the Second Link and the Causeway) called the “friendship bridge”, and the increased number of ferry trips between Changi Ferry Terminal and Tanjung Belungkor in Johor, it all sounds very hunky-dory if you want to head north of the border.

Of course, these efforts are going to take a while: The High Speed Rail will be completed before 2020, for one. But with currency exchange rate the way it is, along with the Travel Malaysia 2015 fair happening this weekend, there’s no better time to check out what our neighbour has to offer, holiday-wise. We picked out some fun and easy ways to indulge in a bout of shopping, eating and chilling out.

CRUISE TO TIOMAN AND REDANG

No, we’re not talking about taking those slow boats from Mersing after a long bus ride up that route on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Now, there’s now an easier way, with Star Cruises’ three-night cruise on board the Superstar Gemini. Chan Brothers is having a promotion where prices start from S$516 for the Tioman/Redang cruise, so you can definitely sail there in comfort. Alternatively, city slickers can cruise to Kuala Lumpur or Malacca with the two-night cruise (prices start from S$228). You can check out the Chan Brothers’ booth (E07) at the Travel Malaysia Fair, which is on until tomorrow at the Singapore Expo, Hall 6B. Admission is free.

TREAT YOURSELF IN IPOH

The first treat is that Tigerair will be starting its inaugural flight from Singapore to Ipoh from May 29, with flights to the Malaysian city four times a week. The once sleepy town is looking like it could be the next Penang — albeit with stronger coffee. Like Penang, Ipoh has always been known for its excellent food with famed coffee shops (Kong Heng and Thean Chun being a must for foodies). Last year, Penang’s street art darling Ernest Zacharevic did seven art works on the walls of Ipoh’s Old Town. Even its boutique hotel scene has heated up — check out M Hotel, Happy * and Sekeping Kong Heng, a blast-from-the-past hotel housed in the same three-storey neo-classical building as the iconic coffee shop.

S$1 FLIGHTS TO MALAYSIA

You have until tomorrow to take advantage of this offer and, yes, you read right: You pay only S$1 — for the base fare — for your one-way ticket to Penang, Kuching, Langkawi or Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia. (With surcharges all in, this translates to one-way fares that start from S$35.) How’s that for a cheap weekend getaway? Serene Lim