Desaru, Malaysia There was a group of NUS exchange students going out Sunday night to watch the fireworks go off as Singapore welcomed in the Chinese Lunar New Year. (Why no pictures? Singapore didn't have any fireworks due to the economy - cheap skates!). While talking to a few friends about where to travel for our Monday & Tuesday holiday, we heard a group talking about going to Desaru, Malaysia. We decided that it was easier than trying Bintan, Indonesia (which required a more expensive ferry, purchase of a visa, and no promise of a place to stay). So began the unplanned Ballad of Francis the Malaysian.... We were leaving Singapore aboard a small ferry aka "Dum Boat" for a short S$10 ride to middle-of-nowhere, Malaysia. We had be given warning that Singapore's customs would be
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