With the help of Malaysia's last working steam locomotive, the Peninsular Line railway service is initiating nostalgic daily excursions between Singapore and Malacca this month.
The 6-hour-and-15-minute one-way trip will take passengers through southern Malaysia's tropical jungles, rubber plantations and paddy fields. The train's two saloon cars, compartment car, bar car and cafe lounge car have been refurbished to capture the luxury of Malaysian trains of the 1940s and 1950s.Prices range from $257 a person for a one-way trip from Singapore to Malacca in a saloon car to $438 for a round trip in a compartment seat.
Tickets can be booked through a travel agent or through the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, (212) 302-4861.
Rio de Janeiro
Touring Rio de Janeiro was less dangerous last year than in 1994, according to the Specialized Police Branch (Divisao Especializada de Atendimento ao Turista), created in 1992 to help foreign tourists who are victims of crime. Thefts and robberies involving tourists dropped 21 percent in 1995: 1,223, down from 1,547 in 1994. Last year 790,000 foreign tourists visited Rio, an increase of 438,000 over 1990, according to the Brazilian Association of Travel Agents.
Of the crimes registered, 31 percent occurred on Rio's streets, 27 percent at beaches, 12.9 percent in hotels, 7.6 percent on buses, 6.9 percent at tourist spots, 5.9 percent in rented apartments, 5 percent at bus stations, 2.2 percent in stores and 1.5 percent at airports.
Copenhagen
The Danish capital plays host this year to a cultural calendar of more than 400 events celebrating artists from around the world and home-grown talents like Hans Christian Andersen as the city serves as Europe's official 1996 Cultural Capital.
Copenhagen is the 12th city to assume the title of Cultural Capital.
For information and a calendar of events: Danish Tourist Board, 655 Third Avenue, 18th floor, New York, N.Y. 10017; (212) 949-2333.