Questions About South East Asia

[mojo]

you don't peg me as the washing your loins i nthe sink type, so i would say about 2000 would do you well. air-con for travel and sleeping, boozing when you want it and good restaurants.

Now, be it known that from my experience the shopping in Thai is not exceptional. sure you can buy lots of cheap shit, but it is just that. sizing and quality are hit and miss in terms of markety/street stuff, and in the malls like MBK and others around Siam Square the deals are not that good. Keep in mind though that I was one a limited budget when I spent my time in Bangkok, it may differ if you have specifics.

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Bankok is grimy. I was so happy to get out of town to visit the Wats, then off to island hopping. Never made it to Chiang Mai, but it sounds good too. Ayudaya was pretty special (a must) Anyways, have fun!

[matéo]

I love Bangkok! There is something about the city you use as your jump off. The shopping seems decent when you're there but if you wanna do that check out Nam or China.

OMG Ko Lanta was amazing. Taking the entire day to scooter around the Island finding a beach to call your own, getting caught in a huge storm and watching it pass through you, stopping on the road for a family of monkeys crossing, visiting the sea gypsy village that was devastated by the tsunami and learning about the efforts still in place to make sure it doesn't happen again, Cheap accommodation, reggae music!!!!

Also Railay, Krabi. Smoking weed with the locals, Spending your days Active, climbing 200 meter sea cliffs and your nights shit faced drinking beer chang! taking a Valium the next morning for the absolute shit boat ride to the next island.

also PING PONG shows. LOL.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by matéo

also PING PONG shows. LOL.

PING PONG SHOWS @ PAT PONG

gawd,,,,for shame lol

[AGROculture]

ahhh South East Asia soon to be my home. As you know I recently spent 10 months there. I plan to live there hopefully in a year or so.

Whereever you end up let me know as I have a lot of friends in different cities that you could hang out with for a night or so.

My best advice is don't listen to any! My advice would be so different from other peoples advice and it really depends on your travel style. The tourist ghettos such as Khao San Road in Bangkok and so on are a must to experience but do your best not to spend most of your time drinking with tourists. Get out there and meet locals. I met a lot via the internet like couchsurfing and dating websites like POF lol!!!! But I seriously met a lot of great friends. In fact I speak to a lot of them EVERYDAY. I miss them dearly

And it turned places like Bali into a place that is full of culture and wonder rather than how most people experience it which is super touristville.

Go overland whenever possible as it's a great way to experience the culture as well. My best memories are looking out a bumpy hot bus window for many boring hours admiring the views and people watching.

Cherish every moment. Some places that you think you don't like at the time will end up being cherished memories

AGROjazz | Dave Jackson | Travel Blog has my views on the cities I've visited.

[AGROculture]

The first time I arrived in bangkok I thought it was pretty grimy also. Then I went to India, Manila, Jakarta and Phnom Penh and soon realized it's a beautiful royal city. A truely amazing place full of things to do

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by AGROculture

Go overland whenever possible as it's a great way to experience the culture as well. My best memories are looking out a bumpy hot bus window for many boring hours admiring the views and people watching.

Cherish every moment. Some places that you think you don't like at the time will end up being cherished memories

AGROjazz | Dave Jackson | Travel Blog has my views on the cities I've visited.

ahh dave i could not agree with you more on this.

some of my most meaningful times were on those long haul bus/train/plane journeys where all you really have is the veiw outside the window and the thoughts in your head.

when your stuck withyourself in a seat for 6-10-24 plus hours give you alot of time to reaaaaaaaaly get to know your thoughts and yourself.

its magic.

[mojo]

i can't wait to get away again.
thanks everyone : )

[brit]

Where is a nice place to stay in Bangkok, arriving at 3 am, i'd kind of like to spoil myself at a decent price before jumping into backpacking life.

[mojo]

Originally Posted by brit

Where is a nice place to stay in Bangkok, arriving at 3 am, i'd kind of like to spoil myself at a decent price before jumping into backpacking life.

It is a big city, i would recommend sorting out what you plan for the next day and then find a dec. place near there.

[brit]

I mean specifically a nice hotel, 5 star, the works...
I'm okay with living off nothing for 8 months but I want to live it up first.

[prozac]

Originally Posted by My!es

ps - too bad Oasis Air went under, they had like 480$ returns from VAN > HK :(

Did it ever occur to you that maybe that's WHY they went under?

[matéo]

Originally Posted by brit

I mean specifically a nice hotel, 5 star, the works...
I'm okay with living off nothing for 8 months but I want to live it up first.

my girlfriend and I stayed at this 5 star. It was amazing. Roof top restaurant, close to the shopping in siam, close to the markets.


Lebua at State Tower (Bangkok, Thailand) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor

I paid like 6 dollars us for a can of coke though lol.

[AGROculture]

Find out what the cut off time is for the 5 star hotel you are staying at is. For example if you get there at 3am and your check out is 10am, why spend all that money just to sleep?
If they let you check in at 6am then you have the entire day and night. I have a hunch it's 10am though. So I recomend getting something cheap or even midrange upon arrival and then checking into the 5 star when it maximizes your stay for the 1 day charge

[prozac]

^Yeah but jetlag and adjusting to the heat can be a bitch...I'd recommend 2 nights anyways if she's going that route.

[brit]

For those of you who have traveled long term, what did you do about insurance and what were your costs?

[Revolver]

posting in southeast asia thread while taking a sip of sang-som,

insurance? yes buy it.

but, i did do a 4 month tour solo through southamerica un-insured.

still, when i found i needed it...it was priceless.

I will always travel insured.

[brit]

Oh, I'm definatly getting it. Just curious what the options are as last time i did a long trip I was still under my mothers extended medical.

[matéo]

bcaa travel insurance is stupid cheap.

Brit feel free to add me to msn if you need anymore ?'s answered.

someofmybestfriendsaredjsathotmail.com

[prozac]

Originally Posted by brit

Oh, I'm definatly getting it. Just curious what the options are as last time i did a long trip I was still under my mothers extended medical.

RBC is the most comprehensive....

[AGROculture]

I just bought my ticket to The Philippines for my best buddy Ryan's (DJ Precise's) wedding!!
wooooo

Then hitting up Indonesia and Thailand just for the hell of it. It'll be my 14th time in Bangkok.
My 2nd home=)

I just had a look at the travel report on Voyage.gc.ca - Essential Information for Canadians Abroad | Information essentielle aux Canadiens Ã* l'étranger
Sure it's all true but wow, I found Indonesia to be the most rewarding, amazing place on Earth. I would move there in a second, the people are AMAZING!! Yet our government makes it sound like hell on earth! It's all true, they're not making it up but it I realise now that travel warnings should be taken with a grain of salt. You're about as likely to get blwon up by a suicide bomber in Indonesia as you are being hit by a plane in the USA

[brit]

just booked tickets to india...stoked

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by brit

just booked tickets to india...stoked

oh man awesome which area?

[brit]

hey dave what shots did you get before your trip, we are hitting up all the same countries you did with the exception of the phillipines.

[brit]

Originally Posted by Revolver

oh man awesome which area?

southern india, flying into Trichy. probably going to hit up manduri from there and then valkara,kerela backwaters, mysore,goa, hampi... kinda iffy on it right now. we wanted to go before but we couldnt find any returns under 500, airasia just put on a sale return total like $116 from malaysia

could only squeze in 24days, it will be a good introduction anyway I guess