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anakha posted:My personal recommendation would be either of two places, at near-opposite sides of Luzon: Thanks this is helpful, though its difficult to get to those places from the Clark airport. I might do the overnight bus option.
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Jun 20, 2011 03:18
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Selector posted:Is one week enough to have any kind of fun in Thailand? What kind of travel time am I looking at from the states?
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Jun 20, 2011 06:37
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Macunaima posted:Penang. Take the train from KL to Butterworth, and then the ferry across the strait to Georgetown. Stay in Georgetown, or at Batu Ferrenghi. The street food in Georgetown is some of the best you'll find anywhere in the world, and the island has some excellent beaches. Thanks for this. Definitely something we will be checking out.
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Jun 20, 2011 14:51
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Dudes, this thread is awesome however I cannot digest all of it at once so I ask for help. The lady and I have been arguing over vacation for a god drat month because she wants to go to some generic resort on any generic Caribbean island and I want to go Nepal so as a compromise I convinced her Thailand was good for drinking and being on the beach. She has been watching The Bachelor and apparently they filmed there or something so it was easy to convince her. We're planning on going for 10-12 days the last week of August or first week in September. How could we best spend our time there? The postcard beach thing is a must for her and I'd be happy as long as there is plentiful beer close and a place for me to go diving. I imagine we'd fly into Bangkok. Budget isn't a big problem. I don't care where I sleep but she probably does. Back to reading this thread from page 12 now.
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Jun 21, 2011 06:36
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Fly to BKK, catch another flight to Koh Samui, then get a ferry to Koh Tao. Diving, beer and beautiful scenery galore.
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Jun 21, 2011 08:13
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Yeah, another vote for Koh Tao...! Sairee probably isn't the most postcard beach for her but there are lots of others on the island, and there's beer and diving all over the place.
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Jun 21, 2011 10:38
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mintskoal posted:Dudes, this thread is awesome however I cannot digest all of it at once so I ask for help. You probably want a package tour, or at least some days where you have a guide showing you around. It's not wildly expensive, and you'll get a lot more out of your comparatively brief time in Thailand that way than you will trying to puzzle everything out on your own. Also, I'm in LA right now and I got my first หมูนำ้ตก (pig waterfall) since I came back from Thailand two and a half years ago. It was amazing. I did get faked out at lunch by another restaurant in Thai Town that served it as a bland rear end soup (wtf) and then tried to charge us double for our food, but if any of you are in the area, check out Crispy Pork Gang for some legit good Thai food. I also scored a ton of Beer Lao for an upcoming camping date and to give to my future brother-in-law, and a Thai language book about "farang society", which I'm hoping is going to be as entertaining as I think it will be. Also a big rear end copy of the latest Matichon to read on the plane ride home to gently caress with people. (What's that white boy doing reading dem crazy squiggles?). I'm pretty much done with learning Thai, but it would have been awesome to live somewhere with such a big and vibrant Thai community while I was more into it. Tampa has a wat that does a decent lunch on Sundays, but that's about it.
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Jun 21, 2011 11:17
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Right now I am located in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia and apparently all stuff like Nike sportswear, Adidas etc. is manufactured in Malaysia and therefore dirt cheap. Before I go to the store and empty my wallet, I want to ask if anyone know if I should expect even better prices in Hanoi or Bangkok? And I am 100% this is not bootlegged products as it is an official Nike store. I am also considering buying a camera now that I am in Asia. Where should I expect the best price of Kota Kinabalu, Hanoi and Bangkok? I know I can deduct VAT in Bangkok (7%).
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Jun 21, 2011 12:14
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Nothing wrong with bootleg as long as the product is genuine and the price is cheap.quote:I am also considering buying a camera now that I am in Asia. Where should I expect the best price of Kota Kinabalu, Hanoi and Bangkok? I know I can deduct VAT in Bangkok (7%). What kind of camera? A SLR or a point and shoot? Even with Tax free or whatever. Genuine cameras and electronics are pricier compared to US internet prices. Don't even think about getting stuff in Hanoi. It's really limited and pricey. Not sure about Kota Kinabalu but I suspect to be the same. Bangkok is 10% more than Hong Kong/Amazon internet pricing and similar to Singapore. If you are from the UK/Europe/Australia on the otherhand, then go for Bangkok I guess? Better to order from a parallel import online...
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Jun 21, 2011 18:24
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Also, I'm in LA right now and I got my first หมูนำ้ตก (pig waterfall) since I came back from Thailand two and a half years ago. It was amazing. I did get faked out at lunch by another restaurant in Thai Town that served it as a bland rear end soup (wtf) and then tried to charge us double for our food, but if any of you are in the area, check out Crispy Pork Gang for some legit good Thai food. I also scored a ton of Beer Lao for an upcoming camping date and to give to my future brother-in-law, and a Thai language book about "farang society", which I'm hoping is going to be as entertaining as I think it will be. Also a big rear end copy of the latest Matichon to read on the plane ride home to gently caress with people. (What's that white boy doing reading dem crazy squiggles?). I'm pretty much done with learning Thai, but it would have been awesome to live somewhere with such a big and vibrant Thai community while I was more into it. Tampa has a wat that does a decent lunch on Sundays, but that's about it. So, how'd the Thais react to a white American speaking Thai to them in America?
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Jun 22, 2011 01:10
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They giggle and clap their hands in my experience.
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Jun 22, 2011 01:46
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Pompous Rhombus posted:and a Thai language book about "farang society", which I'm hoping is going to be as entertaining as I think it will be. Sheep-Goats posted:They giggle and clap their hands in my experience.
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Jun 22, 2011 07:47
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caberham posted:Nothing wrong with bootleg as long as the product is genuine and the price is cheap. Does the same apply for clothes?
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Jun 22, 2011 11:38
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Man, next time I hit up SE Asia, I'm definitely going to be spending way more time in Malaysia and non-Java Indonesia. Malaysia boiled down to me spending a pitiful amount of time in KL, and while I saw a lot in Indonesia, it was all well on the beaten track (which kept things pretty unremarkable). This thread is dangerous. I'm going to start a "Places to go" list. I would say thanks, but this is really the last thing I need at the moment! 
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Jun 22, 2011 16:14
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mintskoal posted:Dudes, this thread is awesome however I cannot digest all of it at once so I ask for help. Immediately fly from Bangkok to Krabi and get a boat to Railay - it's absolutely stunning. Sit on the beach, drink and do a load of climbing there for a few days, then boat to Ko Phi Phi for diving, Maya Bay, cliff jumping, beers / buckets... Then boat to Phuket and flight back to Bangkok and home. Railay:  
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Jun 22, 2011 17:19
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ReindeerF posted:Please post excerpts when you find some nuggets! I'm talking pretty much like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33iJpxf-eDE ====== In other posts-stolen-from-video-aggreagator-sites news, don't feed hot dogs to moray eels or else you end up with a toethumb. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHNpYxCSnUM raton fucked around with this message at 18:54 on Jun 22, 2011 |
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Jun 22, 2011 18:17
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5 days in Ho Chi Minh City and my son is already going native. A lady gave the hat to him, we didn't even have to buy it like common tourists.  
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Jun 22, 2011 18:57
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Is that a blonde haired blue eyed baby boy? SE Asian multipass IMO.
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Jun 22, 2011 19:00
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knox_harrington posted:Immediately fly from Bangkok to Krabi and get a boat to Railay - it's absolutely stunning. Sit on the beach, drink and do a load of climbing there for a few days, then boat to Ko Phi Phi for diving, Maya Bay, cliff jumping, beers / buckets... Then boat to Phuket and flight back to Bangkok and home. Ton Sai is even more secluded than Railay. You can walk there under the cliff at low tide.
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Jun 22, 2011 19:31
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Macunaima posted:Ton Sai is even more secluded than Railay. You can walk there under the cliff at low tide. Yeah and you can watch the guys climbing at night from Freedom bar. Very cool (it's the left beach in the second photo)
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Jun 22, 2011 20:20
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knox_harrington posted:Yeah and you can watch the guys climbing at night from Freedom bar. Very cool (it's the left beach in the second photo) I spent almost two weeks there in 2003. There was an alcoholic monkey that lived on the cliff. It would crawl through the roof of the bar and steal bottles, attacking anyone who challenged him. Evil bastard. The Krabi area is my favorite in Thailand.
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Jun 22, 2011 20:40
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Krabi is a great place... but rock climbers are weird people. I can't stand them longer than a few days 
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Jun 23, 2011 00:50
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Sheep-Goats posted:Is that a blonde haired blue eyed baby boy? SE Asian multipass IMO. Yeah I know, everywhere we go he draws stares, people pinch his cheeks or whistle at him like he's a cat. People on the other side of the streets sometimes shout at us. We went to the Saigon Zoo yesterday and people were more interested at looking at our son than tigers or elephants.
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Jun 23, 2011 01:03
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Great thread everyone, really. Starting August 1st (LOL hot), I'll be spending 3-4 weeks in Vietnam. I plan on flying into Hanoi and I will stay there until I get bored. After that, I'll work my way south, eventually finishing my trip in HCMC. My budget is $125-150 a day. I was wondering if someone could suggest a good area to stay in Hanoi. I'm really into old hotels so I would like to stay in a more historic hotel/area with a good atmostphere. I just visited Japan and the hospital-like hotels got annoying. From reading the Hanoi wikitravel, I think the Old Quarter is the place for me. Is this correct? I'm looking for a mid-range place to crash and my budget is $35-$75 a night. A/C isn't necessary (I just use a fan during Korean summers), but I guess with that amount of money it will be pretty standard. I will spend more if the place is really kickin'. Also, I'd like to spend 5-7 days relaxing by a nice beach. I grew up in Florida so I am kind of beach spoiled and the beaches in Korea really get me down. I mostly want to relax, drink some beer during the day, and read a book. I'm not into surfing or SCUBA diving, but I would like to spend a day on a snorkeling trip. I am interested in staying in a bungalow. Thanks in advance. Andro fucked around with this message at 01:36 on Jun 23, 2011 |
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Jun 23, 2011 01:34
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Andro posted:Great thread everyone, really. What time are you getting in from your flight to Noi Bai? I stayed in some $10/night place my first night there right off the plane (Prince II guesthouse I think) and then we walked around the old quarter and found a really nice place called the Golden Lotus Hotel. It was expensive for Vietnam ($60 for a double), but well worth it to relax while you get adjusted to the jet lag, heat and humidity. All of this was in the old quarter of Hanoi. Make sure you hit up Ha Long Bay if you are up by Hanoi. I went to a place call Cat Ba island where there wasn't a (western) tourist in sight. Did some swimming, motorbiking around the island, and boating around. It was a really nice little corner of Vietnam. I'll be in SE Asia... somewhere the at same time you are there. I am planning to mostly be in Laos/Myanmar, but let me know if you get tired of Pho and old women trying to sell you pineapples.
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Jun 23, 2011 16:02
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Cheesemaster200 posted:What time are you getting in from your flight to Noi Bai? I stayed in some $10/night place my first night there right off the plane (Prince II guesthouse I think) and then we walked around the old quarter and found a really nice place called the Golden Lotus Hotel. It was expensive for Vietnam ($60 for a double), but well worth it to relax while you get adjusted to the jet lag, heat and humidity. Pho never gets old 
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Jun 23, 2011 19:21
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Senso posted:5 days in Ho Chi Minh City and my son is already going native. A lady gave the hat to him, we didn't even have to buy it like common tourists. Love the yak yak yak t shirt.
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Jun 23, 2011 19:38
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Anyone know where to find camera equipment in Bangkok? I'm looking for a new (possibly wrist-) strap and a bag for my dSLR. Edit: Preferably a camera bag that doesn't "look" too much like a camera bag. Fiskenbob fucked around with this message at 23:52 on Jun 23, 2011 |
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Jun 23, 2011 23:20
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Cheesemaster200 posted:What time are you getting in from your flight to Noi Bai? I stayed in some $10/night place my first night there right off the plane (Prince II guesthouse I think) and then we walked around the old quarter and found a really nice place called the Golden Lotus Hotel. It was expensive for Vietnam ($60 for a double), but well worth it to relax while you get adjusted to the jet lag, heat and humidity. Thanks for the info, Old Quarter and Ha Long Bay it is. Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure if I'll get tired of Vietnamese food. It is one of the main reasons I am visiting the country. I love the stuff. I haven't considered visiting Laos and I'm sure I don't want to visit Myanmar at this time. I'm still considering if I want to leave Vietnam at all. If I did, I guess I would visit Ankor Wat for a couple days. I'm curious about Laos, but I don't know much about it. I'll read up right now, but I'm interested in your personal itinerary. What are you doing there? What's the draw?
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Jun 24, 2011 00:58
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brendanwor posted:So, how'd the Thais react to a white American speaking Thai to them in America? Pretty much the usual spread: one who didn't make any comment and just spoke Thai back to me, the majority who asked how long I lived in Thailand and couldnt believe one year (so I have to explain I was studying Thai full-time), and one or two who thought I was half Thai. That last one never stops making me feel all  Fiskenbob posted:Anyone know where to find camera equipment in Bangkok? I'm looking for a new (possibly wrist-) strap and a bag for my dSLR. Foto File in MBK, prices aren't great compared to USA though.
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Jun 24, 2011 01:01
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Andro posted:
It's the best country in the world. Go to Laos.
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Jun 24, 2011 01:37
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Foto File in MBK, prices aren't great compared to USA though. Eurogoon here! Horrible prices, so it might just be the same as at home. Will check it out though. Thanks.
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Jun 24, 2011 02:33
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Andro posted:Thanks for the info, Old Quarter and Ha Long Bay it is. Thanks for the tips. That's essentially what I did. I flew into Hanoi, did Ha Long, flew down to Hue, motorbiked across the Hai Van Pass, did Hoi an, flew out of Da Nang to Saigon, then flew out of Saigon to Siem Reap, then did overland to Bangkok from there. Spent about 16 days in Vietnam, 2 days in Cambodia, and two days in Thailand. Only really went to Bangkok to fly out of it. I kind of wish I stayed in Vietnam the entire time, it was awesome there.  My itinerary in Laos is still very much up in the air. I only have 3-1/2 weeks, but as I read more about the country I am slowly cannibalizing beach time for jungle time. One itinerary I am looking at is overland/slow boat route from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, then go to Vientiane, then flight to Pakse for some motorbiking, champasak, etc. Or I might do that the other way around, not quite sure. Still up in the air about Vang Vieng....
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Jun 24, 2011 15:58
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Cheesemaster200 posted:That's essentially what I did. I flew into Hanoi, did Ha Long, flew down to Hue, motorbiked across the Hai Van Pass, did Hoi an, flew out of Da Nang to Saigon, then flew out of Saigon to Siem Reap, then did overland to Bangkok from there. Spent about 16 days in Vietnam, 2 days in Cambodia, and two days in Thailand. Only really went to Bangkok to fly out of it. I kind of wish I stayed in Vietnam the entire time, it was awesome there. IIRC you've got a real person job (so an internal flight isn't an unreasonable expense, especially given time), but you can do an overnight VIP bus from Vientiane to Pakse no problem. I took the local bus last time because you can't throw a Minsk on top of an aircon bus :p Vang Vieng really depends on your mood, the first time I was there I hated it, but I had a great time the second time I was there and hung out with some awesome local people. Either way, I wholeheartedly recommend spending as much time in Laos as you can, it's probably my favorite country (although I think Vietnam is pretty great too, just didn't have a ton of time to explore it).
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Jun 24, 2011 16:36
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Pompous Rhombus posted:IIRC you've got a real person job (so an internal flight isn't an unreasonable expense, especially given time), but you can do an overnight VIP bus from Vientiane to Pakse no problem. I took the local bus last time because you can't throw a Minsk on top of an aircon bus :p Vang Vieng really depends on your mood, the first time I was there I hated it, but I had a great time the second time I was there and hung out with some awesome local people. Either way, I wholeheartedly recommend spending as much time in Laos as you can, it's probably my favorite country (although I think Vietnam is pretty great too, just didn't have a ton of time to explore it). Do you know if the slow boat down river from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is worth it, or will I hate my life for two days straight?
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Jun 24, 2011 18:22
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Cheesemaster200 posted:Do you know if the slow boat down river from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is worth it, or will I hate my life for two days straight? Unsurprisingly, it depends entirely on who you share the boat with. (To a lesser extent what the weather is like). If you have the two days to spare I say go for it - the worst that can happen is that you have to spend a little longer with your book than planned. There's always beer lao on the boat. I miss beer lao.
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Jun 24, 2011 18:49
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Cheesemaster200 posted:Do you know if the slow boat down river from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is worth it, or will I hate my life for two days straight?
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Jun 24, 2011 19:20
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http://www.laoembassy.com/ This poo poo still cracks me up every time I go to that site...
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Jun 24, 2011 19:58
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Cheesemaster200 posted:http://www.laoembassy.com/ God, I know. My Lao Canadian friend put it thusly: "Lao people are ghetto, yo". Crivens posted:I miss beer lao. I bought 2 six packs of it in Thai town to give to my sister and her fiancé when I got to Albuquerque. They did t have the dark though, which was my favorite.
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Jun 24, 2011 20:24
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Crivens posted:Unsurprisingly, it depends entirely on who you share the boat with. (To a lesser extent what the weather is like). If you have the two days to spare I say go for it - the worst that can happen is that you have to spend a little longer with your book than planned. There's always beer lao on the boat. Agreed; I loved it. It was beautiful, a nice breeze and I was with a good group. You can watch the lives of people along the river as you go. Crivens posted:I miss beer lao. If you live in the DC area, I can tell you where to get it (and amazing Lao food)
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