Malaysia

The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 6 (Rough Guides)
$24.99
"The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei" is the ultimate travel guide to these three exciting Southeast Asian destinations. Discover this dynamic region; from the turquoise beaches of Thailand, spectacular Gunung Mulu National Park, Mount Kinabalu, historic temples and the Perhentian Islands, to amazing Singaporean cuisine and lively nightlife. Packed with detailed, practical advice, this guide provides up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and recommended restaurants, shopping and festivals, for all budgets. Fully updated and expanded, coverage includes Taman Negara, Penang and Singapore, and magnificent Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. You'll find expert background on Malaysian, Singaporean and Brunei history, with full colour features exploring Malay culture and Borneo's longhouse architecture. Explore all corners of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei with the clearest maps of any guide and practical language tips. Make the most of your holiday with "The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei".

The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
$21.99
this rough guide isn pretty much the same as the other guides.. as usual in singapore it contains the usual places.. orchard, little india, sentosa, east coast and the usual touristy places. It does not include the heartlanders area eg. Hougang, Yishun etc. For eg, in woodlands.. it only mention the the zoo.. did you know that's a big Shopping Mall in Woodlands called the Causeway point.. nect to the MRT station.. As for eating places.. it fail to capture the good places for local food.. may interest the food lovers and those adventourous enough to try.. It should include a portion on the heartlanders.. I'm sure some tourist may want to see our locals their way of life.. for eg a tour of an HDB estate (public housing) that may include the market, the coffeeshop, look at the flat inside out.. etc.. the peculiar and distinct characters of the heartlanders.. etc.. otherwise tourists may think S'pore is just of the "place"

Lonely Planet Kuala Lumpur Melaka & Penang (Lonely Planet Travel Guides) (Regional Guide)
$21.99
I purchased this guide and the DK Eyewitness Malaysia/Singapore guide about a month before I went on my trip to KL. I just returned last night after spending a week there.

Let me just say that the LP guide is awesome! It is packed full of all the info you could possibly want to know and it also includes maps of the different areas of KL as well as transit maps. It describes in detail the different things to do in KL, where to stay(as well as phone numbers) and where to eat.

A lot of restaurants in KL don't give many details on their menus so you're not always sure what exactly you're eating, but this KL guide includes a food glossary so you can quickly look up most foods. I found it very helpful because I have issues with trying to eat something when I have no clue what it is, even if it is delicious.

As far as shopping, it did include information on all the major shopping areas in KL.

I carried this guide with me everywhere I went. I used this book a whole lot more than my DK guide, but I would still buy both. If you're planning a trip to KL, I wholeheartedly recommend this guide!

Malaysia:A Pictorial History 1400 - 2004
$39.95
Having been a frequent visitor to Malaysia for the past 27 years, this book presents a very detailed and comprehensive pictorial history of Malaysia. Unlike many books, it divides the various states and cities into separate sections thus one can follow their progress and development as the history of Malaysia unfolds. It emphasizes the important states and cities throughout various periods. Penang,as the important state during the early days and ending up with Kuala Lumpur in the late 20th century. This book captures the sound, aroma and the color of Malaysia as seen thru the hawker stalls, rubber plantations, the stately houses, and the padangs. Old pictures of Penang and its capital of Georgetown show the splendor of Beach Street, Northham Road, and the beaches that still exist for the most part today. After viewing this book, the reader will come to two conclusions. The book is sufficient to feel that one has visited Malaysia or it will urge a person to visit Malaysia to pursue the aftermath of the book. This is a book that should be part of any collection about Southeast Asia.