Posts by Patbill

Your itinerary is super well put together for a solo traveler looking for maximum diversity in three weeks. You go from the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur to the muddy trails of Taman Negara, ending with the colonial vibe of Ipoh and the street art of Penang. It’s a dynamic trip, but the downtime in Malacca and Penang gives you a chance to catch your breath. Ending in Singapore is a great idea for a dose of futuristic modernity before flying home.

Thanks for your encouragement—it means a lot that you think my itinerary is great. Not everyone seems to agree, though...

I'll think about it

So, for the “full” days: 2 days in Kuala Lumpur 1 day in Malacca 3 days in Kuala Tahan 1.5 days in Cameron Highlands 1 day in Ipoh 2.5 days in Penang

In a travel itinerary, you only count full days when you wake up and go to bed in the same city, which means a "full half-day" doesn’t make sense—it’s a contradiction. So, in practice: - In Kuala Lumpur, I only see one full day, J3, - In Malacca, no full days, - In Cameron Highlands, only one full day, J11, - In Penang, 2 full days, J15 and 16, - And, even though you didn’t mention it here, only one full day in Singapore.

Regarding travel times: The longest trip is going to and from Kuala Tahan. Otherwise, the rest are 2 or 3 hours.

Come on, anyone who’s traveled in Southeast Asia knows that those 2-3 hours don’t account for packing, getting to the bus or train station, possible delays, then finding your new accommodation, dropping off your bag, and freshening up. Everyone knows that every stop eats up at least half a day, and you often arrive exhausted, making your argument about 2-3 hours unrealistic.

Does this hold up? (...) It seems fine and sufficient based on others’ comments, guides, and blogs.

So why did you come here asking for opinions?

At this point, your itinerary is still a marathon where you won’t have much time to enjoy the places you’re visiting. Your arguments, straight out of a sports coach’s playbook, won’t change that 😉.

So, with your full-day and travel-day proposals, here’s how it breaks down: J1: Departure on February 17, 2027 J2: Arrival in Kuala Lumpur – transport to Chinatown J3: Kuala Lumpur – sightseeing J4: Kuala Lumpur – sightseeing J5: Travel to Malacca J6: Malacca – sightseeing J7: Return travel to Kuala Lumpur J8: Travel to Kuala Tahan J9: Jungle trek Day 1 J10: Jungle trek Day 2 J11: Kuala Tahan – canopy at Bukit Terisek, Lata Berkoh J12: Travel to Cameron Highlands J13: Cameron Highlands – sightseeing J14: Cameron Highlands – sightseeing J15: Travel to Ipoh J16: Ipoh – sightseeing J17: Travel to Penang J18: Penang – sightseeing J19: Penang – sightseeing J20: Penang – sightseeing J21: Travel to Singapore J22: Singapore – sightseeing J23: Singapore – sightseeing J24: Singapore – sightseeing J25: Return flight

The only issue… I only have 20 days 😉

Hey Patrick. At 67, with 22 trips outside Europe under your belt, it’s clear you’re not just a tourist ticking off boxes, but a real traveler who knows how to compose your own journey. What stands out in your feedback is the elegance of independent, well-paced travel. No more falling into the overpriced national JR Pass trap that everyone used to buy on autopilot—you dissected your needs, opted for surgical precision (the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass), and handled the rest à la carte with an IC Card. At an average of 46 € per night on Booking in 2026, you prove you can explore contemporary Japan without getting slammed by tourist inflation. Special mention for your culinary philosophy. Skipping the Wagyu beef or Kobe hype—often just a gimmick for influencers—to focus on Onomichi oysters, okonomiyaki, a measured omakase, and those quick combini breakfasts with landscapes rolling by? That’s the essence of smart travel. It’s real, sensory, and far from Instagram clichés. Your route also shows a knack for balance: alternating solo introspection (the Shimanami Kaido by bike, the Nakasendo trails) with friendly connections. Choosing to step off the hyper-touristed paths while keeping a few powerful anchors (like the Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto or Miyajima) reveals a sharp sense of timing. In short, a raw travel journal without frills—one that makes you want to slow down and repack your bag. What’s your most vivid memory from that solo stretch on the Shimanami Kaido compared to the buzz of your urban stops?

Wow, what an amazing recap. Thanks so much for appreciating my trip!

And about your question on the Shimanami Kaido: it wasn’t an absolute must since half the route ran alongside marine warehouses, so the scenery wasn’t anything special. But it’s still a great memory for the other half!

Hello, So, are you still sticking to your tightly scheduled marathon?

I’m still going for 3 weeks, though...

Actually, 18 days/17 nights on-site—it’s not the same for a short trip...

So, for the "full" days: 2 days in Kuala Lumpur 1 day in Malacca 3 days in Kuala Tahan 1.5 days in Cameron Highlands 1 day in Ipoh 2.5 days in Penang That seems good and enough based on everyone’s comments, guides, and blogs. As for the trips: The longest is going to and from Kuala Tahan. Otherwise, the rest are 2 or 3 hours—nothing unbearable.

I’ll be in Malaysia next March after a trip through Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines... Hope to meet up if luck’s on our side!

I’ll be there from February 16th to March 4th (then leaving Penang for 3 days in Singapore—returning to Brussels on March 7th).

hello as I mentioned in my first post, I’m not going there to hit the islands and beaches, so your itinerary idea doesn’t really excite me… Sorry and there are also full days with nothing but travel (days 5, 8, and 18).

3 full days in Kuala Tahan 1.5 days in Cameron Highlands 1 day in Ipoh 3 days in Penang

I’m still going for 3 weeks though... Any alternative suggestions?

After traveling to North America (Canada, USA), Central America (Mexico and Costa Rica), South America (Bolivia, Peru, Argentina), Africa (Namibia, Egypt), the Middle East (Oman), Asia (India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bali), and Japan twice... There are still plenty of far-flung destinations left to discover. Planned: Jordan in October and Malaysia in February. And on my next wish list: Guatemala, Colombia, Uganda. So much more to explore!

Thanks for following this travel journal, and see you soon! Patrick

I continue my way through Kowloon toward the "Temple Street Market." Not great. I spend 5 minutes there because it’s selling junk "made in China" for tourists and a few street food stalls.









At 7:30 PM, I’m back along the bay to watch the sound and light show on the buildings across the way. To be honest, aside from the pretty illuminations and the stunning nighttime view of the bay, the show’s a letdown. No sound and just a few light variations on a handful of buildings. I expected better.











Walking back to the Kowloon train station is a bit of a hassle. In the dark—with not many people around to point me in the right direction, and no signs anyway—I have to cut through a huge mall. In short, it takes 30 minutes to finally get there. I spend the rest of my Hong Kong dollars at the airport. Yikes, a beer costs 99 HKD, which is 10 €. Okay, it’s a big one, but that’s Singapore prices. Flight’s at 12:45 AM. Here we go for a 13-hour-40-minute flight. Day 20: Arrival in Brussels at 8:25 AM Another amazing trip to add to the list.

I head back down to central, walk through a few shops to cool off because I’m drenched in sweat, and catch the Star Ferry for the bay crossing. Another truly beautiful moment.









This time, I’m exploring Kowloon. Here, it’s a more "local" area. I spot a small snack place to eat dim sum and crispy duck. I’d exchanged euros to get 200 HKD, and now I only have 100 HKD left. Luckily, I’d already paid for the return train to the airport and the SkyTrain online.

Third difference: the Chinese are less disciplined when crossing streets. I ask a police officer for directions to the "sky train." People say the Chinese aren’t very friendly. Not true. The cop takes his time and helps me find my way using his own phone. Oh, I forgot to mention—I no longer have 4G coverage, so I’m only using the "maps.me" app. Meh, it’s not great because with all the pedestrian walkways, it’s not easy to get your bearings. I take the sky train up to the Victoria Peak observatory. There’s a beautiful clear sky, and the view over the whole bay is amazing. Surprisingly, there aren’t too many tourists. A lot of people come at the end of the day to watch the sunset.

Hello,

1 That’s the average number of full days per stop.

Who’s the tour operator or agency?

Hi, I didn’t quite get "number of full days per stop"??

And no... no agency. I mentioned traveling solo. I put this itinerary together myself

Day 19: Bye bye Tokyo. Hello Hong Kong

Japan’s transport system is still impressively efficient

Subway then train to Haneda Airport. My flight takes off at 10 AM and lands in Hong Kong at 1:45 PM. Right away, I notice differences from Japan as soon as I step into the restrooms. Cleanliness isn’t up to the same standard, and there’s no charging station for phones. A 30-minute train ride to reach Central Hong Kong. As soon as I exit, the second shock: the temperature. It’s 33°C (91°F) with a feels-like of 38°C (100°F), and the humidity is intense. I spend the whole afternoon walking past big department stores with their doors wide open, hunting for air conditioning. The “Central” area is packed with towering buildings. Lots of pedestrian bridges help you cross the busy streets. There are plenty of colorful trams and double-decker buses.

Hello everyone! I’m heading off solo in February and wanted to share my rough itinerary with you. Does this sound doable? PS: I’m not really into beaches.

D1 Departure on February 17, 2027 D2 Arrival in Kuala Lumpur – stroll through Chinatown and visit the Petronas Towers D3: Kuala Lumpur – Chow Kit Market, Batu Caves, Little India, Bukit Bintang downtown area D4: Early morning bus to Malacca. Explore Malacca in the afternoon and evening D5: Another 2–3 hours in Malacca in the morning, then bus back to Kuala Lumpur. Merdeka Square area. Stay in Chinatown D6: Bus trip to Kuala Tahan. Night tour D7: Morning – canopy walk and Bukit Terisek hike. Afternoon – off to Lata Berkoh D8 & D9: 2-day jungle trek in Taman Negara National Park D10: Head to Cameron Highlands D11: Morning hike through the plantations. Afternoon still to be decided D12: Morning – excursion to Mossy Forest and Sungei Plantation. Afternoon bus to Ipoh D13: Morning – Mirror Lake / Sam Poh Temple area. Afternoon – explore downtown Ipoh D14: Morning train to Penang. Afternoon – wander around Georgetown D15: Morning – Penang Hill and Keh Loh Temple. Afternoon – Georgetown D16: Bus to Butterfly Garden and Spice Garden. Late afternoon – Burmese and Thai temples D17: Morning flight to Singapore. Afternoon – Chinatown and Marina Bay tour D18: Morning – Gardens by the Bay area. Afternoon – Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Kampong Glam D19: Morning – The Ridges area and Botanical Garden. Afternoon – Little India, then back to Chinatown before 11:15 PM return flight D20: Morning arrival

Next up, Kencho-ji Temple. Okay, but compared to Kyoto’s temples, it doesn’t quite measure up. That’s the issue when you can compare temples!







I spend time in the charming Komachi shopping street. Lots of great shops!



I head back to Tokyo in the late afternoon. I take the opportunity to relax at the hotel and pack my suitcase since I’m leaving very early tomorrow morning.

Meet-up at 7 PM with my French friends at the restaurant *Kiyomachi Koisigure* in Shinjuku—such a lovely setting! Another excellent spot before one last stroll through Kabukicho.

Quite a few stairs to reach the northern tip of the island, along the water before heading back to the center to catch the train for a short trip to Kamakura.









I’m in line at a small restaurant specializing in bonito fish. Great choice with the platter at 1780 yen.

Then I head to Hokoku-ji Temple. Meh, I’m disappointed. It’s nothing special, nor is its tiny bamboo forest. Hasedera Temple, which I saw last year, was way more interesting.

... loops around Salta ... Yep, a compact car is enough ...

It depends where you're going: for example, the road to Mirador del Hornocal is very rocky, ....

We did the organized 4x4 excursion from Humahuaca. It would’ve been really tough in a compact car otherwise

Day 18: Excursion to Enoshima and Kamakura Departure by train from Shinjuku to Ofuna Station. From there, I take the suspended monorail to Enoshima.



After a quick breakfast by the sea, I enter the peninsula. No tourists yet at this early hour (9 AM).









I head up to the observatory and wander through the pretty adjoining gardens.

Hi Patbill, I read your travel journal with interest because my trip planned for 2027 looks a lot like what you did! I’ll just add the Valdés Peninsula and skip Bariloche. I have a few questions: - For the loops around Salta, you mentioned changing cars. Did you get a 4x4? I’ve read several blogs where people said a compact car was enough, even on gravel roads. - Do you still have the contact info for your guide Carolina in Humahuaca, or her last name? - When you crossed to the Brazilian side of the falls, what did you do with your luggage? Are there lockers? Thanks in advance. Sophie

Hi there: - Salta loops: We changed vehicles because our trunk wouldn’t open anymore. And yes, a compact car is enough. - Carolina’s WhatsApp is +5493885709358. She’s amazing. - At Iguazu, we stayed 2 nights: arriving from Salta, then one day to see the Argentine side, and the next day to see the Brazilian side. We left our luggage in storage at the hotel before heading to the airport.