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Oops, you guys were joking about it and now it happened.
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Mar 8, 2014 10:10
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Here's a very stupid question but I'll be happy if I get an answer. I'm flying with air Asia and would be taking a line cutter with me for diving, basically this What is the likelihood it gets pulled if I try to take it in carry on? I've found security here terms to be fairly relaxed but don't really want to get it confiscated our have to run back and try and organise checking a bag at the last minute. Winners if anyone's here might have relevant experience. Obviously there are bigger things to worry about with flying as recent events have shown. Hopefully this is my biggest worry.
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Mar 8, 2014 18:09
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Posting which airports that you'll be flying out would help because some just didn't give a gently caress about stuff in my bags while the Siem reap airport staff gave me grief over a nail clipper.
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Mar 8, 2014 19:15
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ReindeerF posted:Oops, you guys were joking about it and now it happened. Minor tinfoil hat/crazy speculation time here, but... I heard on the radio this morning that three stolen passports were used on this flight that went missing. That smacks of terrorism to me, which has me wondering if the plane went down because it was hijacked. IF that's the case, what kind of terrorists would be taking a plane that was traveling from KL to Beijing? Muslim extremists related to Xinjiang (or not related to it, but "fighting in solidarity" or whatever other phrase they might use)? Not sure we'll ever get a satisfactory answer unless they find the black box and it indicates engine trouble rather than any passenger-caused difficulties, but it's something to think about.
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Mar 8, 2014 20:18
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But if it was a terrorist plot, wouldn't the terrorist group already claim responsibility? Just for fun, I'm going to  myself if it's a hijacking or terrorist plot.
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Mar 8, 2014 20:36
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CronoGamer posted:Minor tinfoil hat/crazy speculation time here, but... OTOH the plane was probably full of Mainland Chinese who cheat on every exam they can and forge any document they're able to, even when they don't have to. I happened to have a chat with an immigration official here in the US who was basically Mr. Rogers but immediately flew into a tirade about the way Mainlanders act during their investigations once he saw me curl my lip about a recent short stay in Beijing due to China also being unable to run an airport. I'm sure there's also all kinds of gross human trafficking that goes on on that route. There are also rafts of people who have legitimate reasons to conceal themselves from the Chinese government (Tibetan Buddhists, Falung Gong people, etc). In any case, I'd probably put the cause of "three stolen passports" more toward the usual third world ripples than terrorism, even if the passports were appropriate for three twenty something bearded males.
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Mar 8, 2014 20:56
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caberham posted:But if it was a terrorist plot, wouldn't the terrorist group already claim responsibility? Well, not necessarily, right? I mean if they had intended to do something bigger with them, not just crash the plane but either a negotiation or a specifically directed crash, maybe they wouldn't want to claim responsibility in the hopes of giving it another shot in the future. I don't know, this is fully admitted speculation and just tossing ideas out there, but it crossed my mind. Sheep-Goats posted:OTOH the plane was probably full of Mainland Chinese who cheat on every exam they can and forge any document they're able to, even when they don't have to. I happened to have a chat with an immigration official here in the US who was basically Mr. Rogers but immediately flew into a tirade about the way Mainlanders act during their investigations once he saw me curl my lip about a recent short stay in Beijing due to China also being unable to run an airport. I'm sure there's also all kinds of gross human trafficking that goes on on that route. There are also rafts of people who have legitimate reasons to conceal themselves from the Chinese government (Tibetan Buddhists, Falung Gong people, etc). That point about the trafficking is actually an excellent point, and I really don't know how frequently passports are stolen/used, so it's fair to say any range of things could have happened. I think I've just been really interested in the Xinjiang terrorist/"separatist" trend lately, and wondering if we're going to see more of a homegrown terrorist movement growing in China as a result. Since the Tiananmen square care incident back in October, I think I've seen at least one attack every 6 weeks or so. Makes you wonder. But I'm definitely not a China expert.
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Mar 8, 2014 21:15
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Tomato Soup posted:Posting which airports that you'll be flying out would help because some just didn't give a gently caress about stuff in my bags while the Siem reap airport staff gave me grief over a nail clipper. Flying out of KL LCCT to Kota Bharu. KL side I know they don't give much of a gently caress, at least regarding liquids any way. Also how long do you reckon before the Chinese government starts demanding apologies for the handling of the incident?
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Mar 9, 2014 01:19
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MrNemo posted:Flying out of KL LCCT to Kota Bharu. KL side I know they don't give much of a gently caress, at least regarding liquids any way. I'm surprised they didn't immediately asked for it. Losing radio contact completely is really weird and unheard of at this time and age. Domestic flights are usually more relaxed. They put your bag through a scanner but I don't know a line cutter well enough to think it may get picked up in the monitors. If it's the other way round (from kb) they don't give a single poo poo. From what I know Airasia is way more concerned about your bags being overweight (so they can charge you) than anything else.
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Mar 9, 2014 01:42
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Yeah echoing the human trafficking point. Singapore is a lucrative place for work. Hong Kong airport transfer terminal is used as a spring board to Europe and West Coast America. Thailand is also part of the sex worker circuit. Workers travel to Hong Kong, go to Malaysia, Thailand, and maybe Singapore on tourist visas.Sheep-Goats posted:OTOH the plane was probably full of Mainland Chinese who cheat on every exam they can and forge any document they're able to, even when they don't have to. China is still a developing country and has a lot of problems, but seriously?
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Mar 9, 2014 04:53
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Don't make me break character bro
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Mar 9, 2014 06:21
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caberham posted:How many days? And Budget with a capital B? You actually have a bajillion places to choose but gooooooooons are travel Thanks for this and other responses. Well it's gona take about $4k to get there so another $4k over 10 days would be a rough budget. So ~$400/day. So we'll be going the first two weeks in July. I just came to the realization that this is low season correct? So what's the weather and general environment like in the low season? Should I be happy that the prices are lower or is there a good reason it's low season? So what you suggest is roughly my overall idea. To get to Railay we should fly to phuket? Then take a domestic to Bankok and fly out from there? How are the domestic flights?
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Mar 9, 2014 18:12
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It's low season mostly because it rains a lot. Prices do drop a little. That said, there's a good chance you'll just have afternoon showers that cool things down a bit and vanish as quickly as they came. There's a remote chance that it'll just pour nonstop for days on end, but most likely the former.
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Mar 10, 2014 03:49
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Stumbled my way into Cambodia and just arrived in Siem Reap. Holy poo poo its hot.
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Mar 10, 2014 06:53
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Barfolemew posted:Stumbled my way into Cambodia and just arrived in Siem Reap. Holy poo poo its hot. You get used to it. Goonmeet? I'm only up to 2 so far 
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Mar 10, 2014 10:47
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duckmaster posted:You get used to it. Goonmeet? I'm only up to 2 so far Sure! Where are you at? Rough day tomorrow so we just chill at the hotel tonight (dyna boutique) Plan is to spend a few days here (angor wat tomorrow) and then head to Shinaukville (two or so days there and then to koh rong) That is as far as we planned, total we have about three weeks and end Cambodia trip to Phnom Penh. My number for cambodia is 013 563 212. Havent tested it yet, got it set up at the airport. Travelling with a friend.
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Mar 10, 2014 11:45
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Is anyone still on Koh Tao? Is it miserably busy right now?
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Mar 10, 2014 12:38
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Hello SEApeople, I'm trying to figure out where to go in early September (1st - 13th) and Hanoi / Vietnam is on the radar. I have a question. I know September is still rainy but how bad is it? I used the regular historical weather thing (wunderground) and while it says it's rained there every year during those weeks it doesn't say how much (always says 0mm). Will I be caught in a torrential downpour the entire time or is it like, an on-again off-again mild drizzle? Also a more open question - how do people find travelling solo? If I go it'll be my first time travelling alone (because I have no friends). Or uh, I don't suppose anyone else will be there during that time.
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Mar 10, 2014 18:33
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Rynder posted:Also a more open question - how do people find travelling solo? If I go it'll be my first time travelling alone (because I have no friends). Or uh, I don't suppose anyone else will be there during that time. Its not for everyone, but if there is one region in the world that is made for it... its SEA! Seriously, there will always be willing solo travelers around to join you, no matter what time of year. I've never done this, but have heard it recommended enough: Just hang around hostel lobbies/internet cafes. Plus, when fools start dragging you down, you can just part ways. Best of both worlds, really! Solo is the way to go. Scratch that "not for everyone" business. That applies more to places that aren't packed to the teeth with backpackers like the US and Europe. edit: The first time I went to SEA, it was with a really good friend of mine. Love the guy to death and had a great time, but spent way more than I wanted on rooms, because this guy always wanted loving aircon. When it came to food I eventually had to ditch him all the time because I was getting tired of over-priced red/green curry made for white people and lovely burgers. Second time was solo, and it felt like I was visiting an entirely different Thailand hahaha moflika fucked around with this message at 19:37 on Mar 10, 2014 |
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Mar 10, 2014 19:24
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Rynder posted:Hello SEApeople, I was in the same area at the same time of year (went from Hanoi to Saigon, then onwards) and yeah, it rained hard, but it didn't rain for long. I will admit that the rain did make navigating Hanoi streets on foot overly intimidating--hard enough to walk into traffic and expect it to stop; expecting it to stop when the guy driving that bike has a poncho flapping in his eyes and a cell phone in his hand just pushed my suspension of disbelief a little too far. You get used to it really fast, but for day 1-2 of travel, it's a bit rough. I did most of my travelling alone, as a woman. I wore a fake engagement ring for a lot of it, though I doubt it made much of a difference. Never really felt unsafe, and if you stay patient and paste a smile on your face, you can manage anything.
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Mar 10, 2014 21:59
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Oh While I didn't plan on trekking much like I hear a lot of people do (I'll probably stay in Hanoi the whole time, maybe do a toursity Sapa trip) a wall of water is still disheartening. I guess I can put it off until February when apparently it's nicer. I'm guessing the weather is why the flight I found was pretty cheap! Also thanks for the solo encouragement! Pixelante, does that mean you did some of your travels alone, as a man?
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Mar 10, 2014 22:16
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Rynder posted:Pixelante, does that mean you did some of your travels alone, as a man? What happens in Thailand stays in Thailand. It's a wall-of-water, but not for the whole day or anything. And well, you get wet. Whatever. Pack a couple of those plastic-bag ponchos, dance in the rain for an hour, then carry on when it stops.
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Mar 10, 2014 22:21
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Oh god I have to do stand up comedy on Wednesday and the only jokes I've got are about rape and pillage. Give me some hilarious topics to talk about, preferably SEA related. Or if not, about rape and pillage.
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Mar 10, 2014 22:21
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Sexpats. Deathpats. ESL teachers. Asian bananas being so much smaller than American bananas. And there's always the bottomless font that is racism.
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Mar 10, 2014 22:25
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asdf32 posted:Thanks for this and other responses. I was just in Railay, and I can share my experiences, although I was only there for about three days. First off, Railay is tiny. There are a few resorts, eight or ten restaurants independent of the resorts, a couple of convenience stores, and two beaches - Railay West, and Phra Nang, which isn't called Railay South but should be in my mind. Railay East isn't a beach, it's a mudflat. If you're looking for things to do, you're going to run out of them really quick, unless you want to spend a lot of time rock climbing. The cliffs there are great for that, I spent some time on a couple of them. And in the off season, there will probably be fewer other tourists, and it might be that not even all the restaurants are open, I don't know. It was pretty empty even when I was there in January, although that was likely due in part to the protests damping down tourism nationwide. Second, Railay is beautiful.  This was shot from one of the outcroppings at the southeast end of the peninsula. I've got lots of other pictures if you want to see some of them. Phra Nang is, by some definitions, a near-perfect beach (there are no waves at all, which may be a plus or minus), and the scenery is gorgeous. If you want to just hang out and relax, it's a fine place to do so. I personally would not want to stay in Railay for ten days. I think three or four would be about right - by that point you'll have eaten at all the restaurants, anyway. To get there, I flew into Bangkok, then took a local flight from Bangkok to the airport in Krabi, then a bus to Ao Nang, where I got on a longtail boat to get to Railay itself. (In my experience, longtail boat operators are no nicer than your average taxi driver, with the added edge of them knowing that you have to use their services because there are no alternates, which was the one bad thing about the trip).
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Mar 10, 2014 23:12
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Rynder posted:Oh The thing about the "wall of water" is that, yeah, it's a torrential downpour, but mostly only for an hour or two in the afternoons. Wake up early, get poo poo done, have lunch, head back to the guesthouse and nap/plan for the evening or next day while it rains, then take off again around 3 or 4. If you adopt the SEA lifestyle it all flows.
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Mar 11, 2014 01:18
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Rainy season is definitely a #fwp thing. What CronoGamer said.
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Mar 11, 2014 03:07
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Chair Huxtable posted:Is anyone still on Koh Tao? Is it miserably busy right now? Unfortunately I'm not there (but I'm counting down - four weeks to go and I'll be there for three weeks). Looking at the Internet it's not crazy busy but it's busy enough. Upcoming half and full moon parties will be stupid busy, as will Songkran.
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Mar 11, 2014 04:44
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What's diving like on Koh Lanta/the Andaman side of things? Aside from pricier than the Gulf.
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Mar 11, 2014 04:54
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Hey SE Asia Megathread! I just got a pretty cheap ticket from Beijing to Singapore and will be rolling into SE Asia early on the morning of April 1st. Have 8 full days after flying into Singapore and am gonna start researching what to do, but figured a few days in Singapore and a few days in Malaysia. I'm not a big city guy and after living in China for four and a half years I'm kinda looking to get away from the crowds and stuff. Was thinking a National Park or two in Malaysia and just relaxing in Singapore. Anyone have any advice about stuff that I would be ~~*CrAZy*~~ to miss? When I went to Europe in 2011 the European travel thread was really helpful so figured I would check here before I started planning my trip, though planning is a pretty loose word, I may just show up and see where I end up from there.
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Mar 11, 2014 05:38
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Get me on wechat and we can have beers thanks
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Mar 11, 2014 06:12
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MothraAttack posted:What's diving like on Koh Lanta/the Andaman side of things? Aside from pricier than the Gulf. I haven't dived around Koh Lanta but I've done a few day trips out of Khao Lak. The diving is excellent, even if the big stuff (whale sharks, manta rays) aren't around. It can be a bit tricky with currents but if you can survive diving at Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia then you'll be fine. The biggest problem is dive boats that sink  One thing I'd love to do once I figure my retarded ears out is a live aboard in Burma, from Ranong. Some friends did it a while ago and it completely blew them away. Finch! fucked around with this message at 06:23 on Mar 11, 2014 |
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Mar 11, 2014 06:19
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kru posted:Get me on wechat and we can have beers thanks Are you in Singapore? I'm thinking of only staying there for one night and then heading to Indonesia, would be down to meet up with someone though. Do you get PMs?
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Mar 11, 2014 06:24
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Rynder posted:Also a more open question - how do people find travelling solo? If I go it'll be my first time travelling alone (because I have no friends). Or uh, I don't suppose anyone else will be there during that time. I'm generally a person who's content being alone. Not that I'm asocial, but as I like being with good company, I also appreciate being alone with my thoughts now and then. For example, the whole travelling deal (planes, hotel and such) is just nice to deal with alone, during its ups and downs. It's also great to be able to do precisely what you want, when you want. No waiting nor compromising, only you decide. It's tough to explain, but it just gives a completely different feeling to be able to stop and look on the street and absorb impressions, at your own pace, with no one to influence you.
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Mar 11, 2014 10:15
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I feel quite the same, though there were a few points where a companion would have motivated me to do more when I got a bit "meh" in the last month. On the whole, travelling alone was great. Sleep when you want to sleep, walk when you want to walk, skip all the temples when you're bored shitless of temples. If I got lonely I could always find an expat or another tourist to speak English with, just about anywhere. I live alone at home, though, so acclimatizing to cultural isolation wasn't as big of a shock for me as it was for people coming from family homes or roommates. I met other travelers who swore by audio books when they were really missing a friendly voice in English, or Skyped every night. Coming home just about killed me, though. Couldn't tune out the conversations around me because they were all in English. I'd never noticed now much my regional dialect ends almost every sentence on a slight ? lilt, like we're always asking "is this okay? are you listening?" Drove me nuts for a week or so.
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Mar 11, 2014 23:54
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goldboilermark posted:Are you in Singapore? I'm thinking of only staying there for one night and then heading to Indonesia, would be down to meet up with someone though. Do you get PMs? Yes and yes
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Mar 12, 2014 02:30
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I've just learned a friend of mine will be in Bangkok from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon for a layover. I'm interested in hearing what people's ideas are for showing someone around the city for less than 24 hours. We are both guys in our early 30s if that makes any difference.
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Mar 12, 2014 06:54
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Go to a ping pong show /caberham Also I flew Malaysian airlines today and it landed where they said it would. I don't think there were any
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Mar 12, 2014 14:28
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb1vcaqAivY
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Mar 12, 2014 19:50
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Finch! posted:One thing I'd love to do once I figure my retarded ears out is a live aboard in Burma, from Ranong. Some friends did it a while ago and it completely blew them away. Yeah that would be pretty amazing. I expect the Mergui islands to be a top beach spot by the end of the decade. Right now they're still pretty Robinson Cruseo-esque, from my understanding, and the diving is pristine. I think some areas have been marred by dynamite fishing, though.
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Mar 13, 2014 04:49
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