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Tapsilog without egg ain't tapsilog! It literally means "tapa (jerky), sinangag (fried rice), itlog (egg)". Scramble that stuff though; I've never had good sunny-side-up eggs in this country.
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Nov 10, 2013 16:51
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Sheep-Goats posted:My grandparents live in a German farmer area in the Midwest and we had all sorts of blastin rear end sausages growing up and Thai Northern Sausage is very good. I also really like a sai krok Issan but have to be in the mood for it. The rest of the sausages out there are kinda lame, never tried the Filipino ones but I do put store bought Longansia in my chili when I make it here in the states.
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Nov 10, 2013 17:14
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If only we'd had one good Czech or German colony here  On a related note, one of the funnier trends on poo poo local forums like ThaiVisa is that when a newcomer to Pattaya or Phuket or something arrives and asks what kind of business to start, everyone responds, "Make proper sausages mate, can't lose. Ain't enough of 'em."
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Nov 10, 2013 17:16
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I watched a video of Gordon Ramsay eat a loving sausage roll (British corn dog) like it was the world's tastiest cock.
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Nov 10, 2013 17:24
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More and more I'm convinced that every longer-term tourist here should just buy a mountain bike and sell it back at the end. You can stow them free on (TG) planes and buses and load them on trains for 90 Baht and they grant you so much freedom when you arrive somewhere. There's a fantastic riverside weekend market - totally authentic - next to the in-laws' house in Saraburi with organic roasted chicken and nam prik setups and a ton of food and trinkets to shop from that's a 20 minute ride from the train station. I've done so many of these weekend day trips that I could write a drat book of, "Get on the train/bus and then..." I don't think with a motorbike you can be as portable, as a plane and a bus won't take one, and you can't rent motorbikes or bikes in about 99% of Thailand - only the main tourist cities/areas.
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Nov 10, 2013 17:31
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In Laos, reasonably fit people should just travel by bicycle (I would say motorcycle, but with motorcycles I think there's a red-tape-laden process of 'importing' one into the country and the market in Laos seems to be terrible for buying any kind of vehicle). I was bicycling as many kilometers in a day as my travel buddies were doing by bus at only about twice the time but with the freedom to come and go as I pleased rather than squeeze everything in on the bus schedules, and once I got somewhere it was rad to just be able to wander around. Plus I got so many more "SABAIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"s from little children than they did. 
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Nov 10, 2013 19:06
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This is a wonderful thread with lots of wonderful information, but a lot to take in. Considering going to the region for 2-3 weeks (Mid Dec to early Jan) and am trying to get a handle on what would be a reasonable amount to do/plan. Just Thailand? Thailand + an out-of-country sight or two like Angkor Wat? 10 days in two different countries? What kind of itineraries have people found to be the most satisfying? I know lots of people are warning not to over-plan, but I assume some accommodations will need to be figured out in advance.
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Nov 10, 2013 21:43
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In my experience, the only accommodation you need to book before arriving in the country is your first one after arriving so you have a bed to crash in after your flight. But that's high season so hm. If you're not going to someplace like Koh Tao you should be okay with booking places as you go while there if you're not overly fussy about what kind of place you want to stay at. I tend to book a day or two before I get there.
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Nov 10, 2013 22:09
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From what you wrote, I am assuming you are a semi-budget traveler from a cold-ish western country, probably the U.S. I also assume it's your first time away from your home continent, or at least away from a first world country. I also assume you are not super picky but you don't want to stay in places with shared bathrooms and no hot water. If you want to have an itinerary, a reasonable 3 week itinerary might look like this, depending on your tastes: Day 1: Bangkok Day 2-5: Ayuthaya, Sukhothai, and/or Lopburi (Ayuthaya and Sukhothai have fairly impressive ruins and temples, but they'll look very boring if you go after Siem Reap. I throw in Lopburi there because I loved it, but there's actually not a whole lot there except it's awesome to walk around a city infested with monkeys) Day 6-9: Siem Reap for the Angkor ruins. Don't skimp out on this stuff! Day 10-18: Koh Tao or Koh Phangan (island, beach, sun, diving/snorkeling, etc) Day 19-21: Bangkok If you don't mind a little adventure, then try this itinerary: Day 1: Get off the flight, get on a taxi and ask for "KHAO SAN ROAD! USE METER KHAP!" Wander into the first acceptable looking accommodation you find and then find friends while drinking the first night and find out where to go from there. Also, your last assumption is wrong. Literally NO accommodation needs to be planned in advance. EDIT: Oh I didn't consider it's super high season. Most of the places I listed still shouldn't need advance booking, except Koh Tao or Koh Phangan - those definitely will need to be booked in advance. eviljelly fucked around with this message at 22:41 on Nov 10, 2013 |
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Nov 10, 2013 22:17
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Caveat on the accommodation for December. That's the apex of high season, so if you want a specific place in super-touristy December cities like Samui (Scandinavia empties out for Christmas, apparently) or whatever then you should book it at least a few weeks in advance. This will also be true for tiny markets that could be oversaturated. Flights and trains as well. Again, for accommodations, that's only if you want a specific place (i.e. Lotus Village in Sukhothai or FCC in Siem Reap or whatever). Flights, trains and so on you should try to get as early as is reasonable during that specific period because you can get hosed. For accommodations, if you just don't care where you're staying and are backpacking there will always be capacity. I mention this because I got cocked out of a train trip to Samui last New Year because I waited until the last minute to book and NO HAB. The officer actually laughed at me. "You think you can show up two days before NYE and buy a ticket to Surat Thani for an hour or two from then? We're sold out for 3 days coming and going you stupid white person!" Then I rode to the bus station and the entire lawn was full of people literally camping there waiting to go home for the holiday. They, also, laughed at me. EDIT: Also, I agree with eviljelly's itinerary generally speaking. Good mix. Adding that Air Asia now flies to REP from DMK. I just flew it a couple of weeks ago with Dad. It's still an expensive route, but they're usually cheaper than Bangkok Airways if you book in advance. Also, re-recommending the new Velkommen in Siem Reap, though it's about halfway to the temples, so it's 2-3m from Pub Street in a tuk tuk and about 10m from Angkor Wat. If you want to be right downtown it's not the place for you, but if you want a quieter place where you can bike or ride to the temples a bit more quickly then it's not bad. Edvin, the owner, is quite helpful and the staff's good too. If you're a runner, ask him about running the temple wall trail (he'll probably take you on a morning run with him if you want to go), he's a font of knowledge and I always enjoy having a few beers with him and listening to the wisdom. ReindeerF fucked around with this message at 23:17 on Nov 10, 2013 |
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Nov 10, 2013 22:37
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I still don't understand the don't book accommodation thing? Just to give you more freedom or is it just  ? I'm a huge fan of booking accommodation by phone, i like to have a nicer place (while paying the same as just a random place) while traveling and i don't want to waste even an hour looking for one while there. If you're just sitting in your office out of country planning your vacation then why not send the email or call?
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Nov 11, 2013 02:00
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Sheep-Goats posted:(British corn dog)
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Nov 11, 2013 02:58
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Yeah I'm with DontAskKant about booking here. I always just found a place on Tripadvisor/asked other travelers about my next destination a couple days before arrival. There's only so many times you want to walk around a tourist ghetto after getting off a bus asking about vacancies. And drat, the Lopburi monkey festival is soon. Wish I could make it. Really want to go to Lopburi for some dumb reason.
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Nov 11, 2013 03:27
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I think it's a good idea to check TripAdvisor, but there's no substitute for being on the ground either. It's like picking restaurants using TripAdvisor. Somehow the one with the most signs that say WE HELP TRAIN AND GIVE BACK TO LOCAL PEOPLE is always #1. 
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Nov 11, 2013 04:54
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A lot of times trip advisor bookings/ online bookings don't deliver what's promised  Being a temporary bum aka world wide traveler has its uses: You can always decide to just leave the city/place the next day and go some where else.The "Just book your first night and bring your ATM card" mentality is more of a 1 month+ vacation thing/depends on your personality. Even a 3 week schedule for me wants to go to different cities and see different things and meet different goons. What really matters most is  It's a Venn diagram of convenience/price. Some people like to bum around to look for some savings. Sometimes you strike lucky and get save 20 USD for 5 minutes other times not so much.
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Nov 11, 2013 05:33
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Why do people talk poo poo on saigon so much? It's been an awesome 5 days, and everything is stupid cheap
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Nov 11, 2013 05:34
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Anyone been to Tam Cốc-Bích Động yet? 
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Nov 11, 2013 05:44
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xcdude24 posted:Why do people talk poo poo on saigon so much? It's been an awesome 5 days, and everything is stupid cheap
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Nov 11, 2013 06:31
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SurreptitiousMuffin posted:They do? This thread makes it sound amazing. It's a very love-hate place. I don't know anyone who has a neutral opinion on it.
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Nov 11, 2013 08:02
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From what I gather from friends who have lived there, I think I'd like it fine other than the lack of public transport. As a first-time tourist there, a very obnoxious city/people to deal with. That's be my fairest take.
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Nov 11, 2013 08:26
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ReindeerF posted:From what I gather from friends who have lived there, I think I'd like it fine other than the lack of public transport. As a first-time tourist there, a very obnoxious city/people to deal with. That's be my fairest take. I walked or used public transit in Hanoi and Saigon and found it about the same if not more pleasant than Korean city buses. Screw touts and taxis. Though my policy is usually if someone talks to me in English i ignore them, especially if they are selling something and are talking AT me.
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Nov 11, 2013 09:45
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Two functional boat lines, a skytrain, a subway, an airport link, a BRT and the best expressway network of the Southeast Asian metropolises have me a bit spoiled on this count. Still, you know, I'm not saying it'd make it unlivable, but it's a serious consideration for living in a huge city. The guys I talk to who live there complain a lot about traffic and the government's half-assed, poorly planned solutions. Can't be anywhere near as bad as Manila, though, and I don't even want to contemplate Jakarta. The MRT/LRT in Manila helps a bit, but they lack the extensive and effective expressway infrastructure. My personal worst was something like 4-5 hours from the airport to Ortigas in rush hour traffic. That's loving staggering and exactly what the old time Bangkok expats say it was like here before the expressway system came in. EDIT: In case anyone misreads, obviously Singapore has the best public transit around here without question, but it's an island of developed world in a sea of developing world. ReindeerF fucked around with this message at 10:14 on Nov 11, 2013 |
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Nov 11, 2013 10:00
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Guess i got to check out Bangkok at some point. I haven't been yet and I'm kind if feeling stubborn about it, kind of like how i haven't seen Terminator 2 yet. I don't have a good reason except i haven't done it in so long that it's kind of embarrassing now.
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Nov 11, 2013 10:51
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I keep hearing rumours that they want to start up the bus service in Phnom Penh again. The main flaw in that plan is that nobody here can be bothered to walk to the bus stop.
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Nov 11, 2013 11:05
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Yeah, out of everywhere I've visited in SE Asia, Bangkok seems to be the most liveable. To me at least, it has a great mix of Thai food/street life, modern amenities, and public trans (I drive like a grandma back home; you couldn't pay me to drive a scooter around any SE Asian city). Plus the locals in Bangkok have to be the friendliest out of any major city I've been to worldwide. At first glance, you see this huge messy city. After being around the locals a bit, they kind of give off something akin to a small town vibe: always chatting poo poo with one another, cracking jokes, etc. I found Thais (outside the ones dealing with farang 24/7) to be a bit shy at first, but super nice.
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Nov 11, 2013 11:07
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Tytan posted:I keep hearing rumours that they want to start up the bus service in Phnom Penh again. The main flaw in that plan is that nobody here can be bothered to walk to the bus stop. Easy, they can do it Philippine-style: the entire road is a bus terminal as far as they're concerned.
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Nov 11, 2013 11:11
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I won't consider a Cambodian bus system a success until the bus aisles are packed with locals sitting on little plastic chairs.
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Nov 11, 2013 11:37
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Having lived in both Saigon and Bangkok, I'd say traffic is MUCH worse in Bangkok despite the mass transit options. Saigon feels a lot smaller, and everyone is on scooters. Except for during peak rush hour, it takes about 20 minutes to get just about anywhere you'd want to go as an expat. The biggest problem with living in Saigon is theft. Everything you own will get stolen eventually. Your laptop, your iPhone, your motorcycle, your shoes, even your underwear (yes, I speak from experience).
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Nov 11, 2013 12:30
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I think you may be doing something wrong there, Smeef. Heh.
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Nov 11, 2013 12:59
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Tytan posted:I won't consider a Cambodian bus system a success until the bus aisles are packed with locals sitting on little plastic chairs.
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Nov 11, 2013 13:47
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Congrats to Cambodia for winning Preah Vihear! http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/un-rule-thai-cambodian-border-row-201311116485209849.html Me and ReindeerF are dancing and celebrating in our special t-shirts. 
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Nov 11, 2013 15:46
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DontAskKant posted:I still don't understand the don't book accommodation thing? Just to give you more freedom or is it just Also bear in mind that you could find the nicest place in town online but once you arrive at the bus/rail station or airport you're kind of screwed if absolutely nobody knows where it is. Since the only requirement to be a taxi driver in SE Asia is the ability to own or acquire a car (having a sense of direction is optional, as is the ability to actually drive) this happens surprisingly often. Me and my friend rocked up in Ban Chang to go paragliding today. We got off the bus at 7pm, crossed the road to the first hotel we saw and got a room for 270 baht. Our budget was 300 and we haggled down from 500. Go us! 270 baht is US$9 and it's perfectly clean, has a TV, en-suite, fridge etc. Bit noisy but nine dollars for crying out loud.
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Nov 11, 2013 16:24
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duckmaster posted:this happens surprisingly often. No matter what you say in Cambodia, the answer is, "Yeah, yeah, yeah I know I know."
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Nov 11, 2013 16:27
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"Sussaday. You know electric company, road 6?" "Yes yes, lets go" *ten minutes later* "This is the post office." "Oh, where you want to go?" "The electric company." "I don't know where that is. Ask in post office." Can't fault the logic at least.
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Nov 11, 2013 16:36
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Yeah, I have to say, as long as you keep your composure and play along you'll always get there - eventually. Heh.
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Nov 11, 2013 16:38
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I never travel without maps and data access for that reason. Call up the hostel and have them give directions. Or just tell them where to go. Sometimes i have to be more forceful like in Vietnam. Directions for the museum, go straight/south down this long rear end road, i don't pay attention and realize we are going west on some small crowded market street. WTH!
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Nov 11, 2013 17:16
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Can Koreans use maps? Bangkokians in particular often have a weird inability to use or comprehend maps, generally speaking. Cardinal directions are also pretty useless here. Everything is just landmarks for the most part. Outside of Bangkok, as in rural America, direction sense is often quite a bit better.
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Nov 11, 2013 17:23
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Most Koreans in Seoul (that I've met) don't know much outside of their immediate home area. Apparently i know more about Seoul than my friends who've lived here for 30 years. I'm starting to get the idea that knowing cardinal directions is as common as beekeeping. I get poo poo from expats here all the time for using cardinal directions. I think map use is a similarly archaic skill. Haven't been back state side in a long time so maybe my "oh god Asia" problems are just 21st century problems now. I had a long exchange in Vietnam that went a little like this. I was calling someone about meeting at the west gate of one of the famous markets. Okay meet me here (send a whatsapp google map pin) -just tell me where you are Okay, I'm at the west gate of... market. -where is that? North of the main pink cathedral with the roundabout. -just tell me where you are. Okay, I'm at the corner of X and Y. -i don't know where those are Look at this map, I've pinned it and they're major streets. -what's nearby? (i name 6 things that seemed famous or identifiable and give an address for one if the buildings.) -huh Okay, where are you? I'll come there and get you. -nah, just tell me where you are. I'm near a market. Which one, I'll go there. Send me a map, or market name, or intersection. -don't worry about it, where are you... This goes on for far too long. I just assumed there was some weird way Vietnamese give directions that doesn't include my normal repertoire.
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Nov 11, 2013 17:59
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Ringo R posted:Anyone been to Tam Cốc-Bích Động yet? I did a day trip to Tam Coc, it was great. Your picture really captures the landscape. But the best part was our boat "captain." He said his name was "Number One." He was hilarious the whole time, and then we got him drunk on the way back. A better boat party than Ha Long bay.
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Nov 11, 2013 18:02
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DontAskKant posted:Most Koreans in Seoul (that I've met) don't know much outside of their immediate home area. Apparently i know more about Seoul than my friends who've lived here for 30 years. I think it's also an Old World/New World thing. Us New Worlders are used to cities being built in grids, more or less, which makes cardinal directions pretty useful. If your cities are full of windy streets that veer all over the place, it helps a lot less. Source: living in Germany. The Germans hardly ever use cardinal directions to orient themselves and MY GERMAN GIRLFRIEND told me about how none of her college friends seemed to understand even the simplest cardinal directions.
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Nov 11, 2013 18:09
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