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"

This guide is great, at least from a pre-trip standpoint. When it comes to planning a trip to Malaysia, the historical and cultural aspects of the book are above reproach. The authors clearly know their way around the country. But that doesn't translate into using the book when you get to Malaysia. While hotel prices are listed, they're done so using a code system, forcing readers to continue flipping back to the key located early on in the guide. I've relied on Lonely PLanet's guidebook before, and I'll keep doing so - only because its layout is superior to the Rough Guide.

Even if your not planning on taking a trip to Malaysia anytime soon, this book will prove an interesting read for those who love learning about the world. I recently took on the task of writing a paper about Malaysia for a college-level geography class. There were certainly more traditional reference guides at my disposal, but I found this book to be more informative than any other book I used. Unlike most other travel guide series', Rough Guides do an excellent job of not only making sure travelers know where to stay and what to eat, but how NOT to make fools of themselves by ignoring local customs and traditions. This guide through Malaysia is no exception. The section on Singapore and Brunei provide significant, and substantial information, while the chapter on Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, answered every question a traveler could possibly think of. Every part of the guide proved truly helpful in my research and study. And more than anything, it has inspired me to visit the place that I've learned so much about as a good travel guide should.