|
If you go to SEA and die in a motorcycle accident you deserve it
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 07:45
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 1, 2024 16:35 |
|
|
Ally McBeal Wiki posted:Oh and yeah traffic is insane and in taxis or busses prepare to sit a little while in the cities. I want to stress that it's normal to still just wait it out in a taxi in the major cities in SEA. The motorcycle is usually for when you're in a little town or on an island. Someone with zero experience could probably do fine if they stuck to this plan, but if someone with zero experience tried to ride around KL or Bangkok they're running a really high risk.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 08:20
|
|
|
if you do ride please don't ride after drinking like 12 beers like some people i know
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 08:31
|
|
|
https://www.farang-deaths.com appreciates your dedication.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 09:10
|
|
|
Pirate Radar posted:You don't need a motorcycle to get anywhere, people just like the adventure of riding around fairly rugged, beautiful places on bikes. And you can rent one for peanuts without any more of an interrogation than "Do you know how?" I also want to add that the vast majority of "motorbikes" people ride over there are small 125-150cc bikes, for example a Honda XRM. Very few people ride the big, powerful 500-1000cc bikes we do in the West. Those are expensive, big, heavy, likely to get stolen, and you can't utilize their power anyway, particularly in some countries that don't have a single mile of motorway.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 10:31
|
|
|
caberham posted:If you go to SEA and die in a motorcycle accident you deserve it A little extreme? Ally McBeal Wiki posted:Yep. This. There are busses, taxis, random dudes on motorcycles or other transports that will take you almost anywhere. Prepare to haggle a bit though. Why don't park alone? Because your bike will get stolen?
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 13:56
|
|
|
I thought Chiang Mai was cheap but Hoi An is teaching me a new level of tight-fisted pleasure. Hail SEAtan. Bring an umbrella tho.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 14:30
|
|
|
I'm extremmmmmeeeee
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 15:05
|
|
|
simplefish posted:A little extreme? Yup. In Vietnam at least. I meant to park it with other bikes, or in a motorbike park.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 16:40
|
|
|
Sheep-Goats posted:I want to stress that it's normal to still just wait it out in a taxi in the major cities in SEA. The motorcycle is usually for when you're in a little town or on an island. Someone with zero experience could probably do fine if they stuck to this plan, but if someone with zero experience tried to ride around KL or Bangkok they're running a really high risk.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 18:43
|
|
|
Yeah when I stayed in Hoi An all the hostels had free bicycle rentals.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 18:47
|
|
|
Ramrod Hotshot posted:For little towns and islands, how about bikes (as in bicycles)? Is it common to see these for rent? I've literally never touched the handlebars of a motorcycle or moped in my life, but 20+ mile bike rides are nbd. It's a trillion degrees outside riding a bike sucks dick The "motorcycles" in SEA are mostly twist and go affairs. There's no clutch to work, nothing. It's the same as a bicycle but you can go 60mph by twisting your wrist instead of straining your legs in a superhuman fashion. People usually get in trouble because they're either drunk or not used to taking corners at 25mph on their bicycle on a sandy road.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 19:06
|
|
|
Ramrod Hotshot posted:For little towns and islands, how about bikes (as in bicycles)? Is it common to see these for rent? I've literally never touched the handlebars of a motorcycle or moped in my life, but 20+ mile bike rides are nbd. Yeah, that's what I went with most of the time and they have those too. Works as long as you're not in a mixed group obviously, I can't keep up with people on scooters but it's a lot safer. Chiang Mai was lovely to bike around. Keep your head on a swivel, obviously. Yeah, it's hot, but if I let that stop me I wouldn't have done anything in Thailand. Drink lots of water.
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 19:23
|
|
|
Pirate Radar posted:Yeah, that's what I went with most of the time and they have those too. Works as long as you're not in a mixed group obviously, I can't keep up with people on scooters but it's a lot safer. Chiang Mai was lovely to bike around. Keep your head on a swivel, obviously. Bicycles are loving awesome for travel out and around small islands. I did it in Chiang Mai too, and it wasn't awful. Just pay attention and drink tons of water. Bike out to Baan Kang Wat, the little artist village out there. Nice little ride. Just don't end up drunk biking home at 5 AM on the SUPERHIGHWAY. But if you do, send a picture so I can vicariously re-live my own idiocy. A++++++++ would bike again khap
|
|
#
?
Dec 2, 2016 19:59
|
|
|
Cool. I've lived mostly in Florida and Texas, so cycling in boiling heat on little to no bike infrastructure while surrounded by clueless drivers is pretty much my MO. I'll be right at home. That said, Sheep-goats, if driving a mo-ped is that easy maybe I can learn while I'm there.
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 00:46
|
|
|
I made some posts in here about it before but for the most part you just sit on the thing, turn the key, and operate the throttle. They have real motorbikes in Thailand too and a few of the scooters have a manual shift system that is clutchless (you just operate a pedal with your foot to move through the gears in increments) but most are fully automatic, especially those rented to foreigners.
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 01:08
|
|
|
Bikes are useful outside of those limited situations: I met a french canadian who had bicycled across Laos and Thailand, nbd, just sleep in hammocks you find at the side of the road. He had decided to send it home and walk from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. I was impressed, yet completely unenvious.
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 01:56
|
|
|
At Bagan in Myanmar we hired electric bikes which were just electric Vespas, basically. They were awesome and a great way to get around! Helps that there's gently caress all traffic in Myanmar though
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 13:03
|
|
|
I don't think a bicycle is much safer than a motorbike, assuming you don't drive recklessly fast on the latter. Whether you're on a bicycle or a motorbike, the injury from another vehicle hitting you is about the same. Drive slowly and act like you're home (or in a country with good motoring etiquette...) with regards to giving way and looking before you turn, change lanes, all that.
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 18:45
|
|
|
One thing to bear in mind is that use of a bicycle is probably covered by your travel insurance, where as if you don't have a licence to drive a moped at home, then your insurance probably doesn't cover you for any injuries you cause to other people, or yourself. I have ridden around on bicycles in Thai heat with no problems before. Pro-tip - always remember whether you're on a moped or a bike to check how functional the brakes are before you need to use them!
|
|
#
?
Dec 3, 2016 20:10
|
|
|
Ramrod Hotshot posted:Cool. I've lived mostly in Florida and Texas, so cycling in boiling heat on little to no bike infrastructure while surrounded by clueless drivers is pretty much my MO. I'll be right at home. Actually, I plan to grab a new bike this month and get started again. I usually use Saengthong up in Nonthaburi, but I may check options since cycling has exploded in the last couple of years and Saengthong is very busy and not as attentive as before - though, note that roadies are the preferred Thai bike and therefore international grade mountain bikes are, while not hard to find in Bangkok, much less popular - especially if you ride a 21"+ frame like I do (and make sure to grab at least one extra wheel and a couple of extra tubes and keep them, because finding int'l size wheels and tubes for mountain bikes is actually tough, and often impossible outside major cities). ReindeerF fucked around with this message at 02:04 on Dec 4, 2016 |
|
#
?
Dec 4, 2016 02:02
|
|
|
Two weeks until my third trip to Thailand  Whole family's coming to, super-pumped for them since none of them have been there.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2016 18:06
|
|
|
Heading to Vietnam in two weeks. Saigon --> Hoi An -->Hanoi over 2ish weeks. Anything I should know before I go? I know Thailand fairly well so feel free to use that as a comparison.
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 05:37
|
|
|
Great photojournalism work from the Times in Duterte's extrajudicial killings: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/07/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-drugs-killings.html Pretty slick interface on the site too
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 07:42
|
|
|
Pug Smugly posted:Heading to Vietnam in two weeks. Saigon --> Hoi An -->Hanoi over 2ish weeks. I did exactly that a couple weeks ago after a month volunteering in Saigon. - If you can find some time, spend a day at one of the Buddhist orphanages in Saigon. They're pretty easy to find and need all the help they can get. No paperwork required and it's nice to help out. - Definitely visit Da Lat and do the Secret Tour. I lost the business card but you can book it through Tay Backpackers Hostel. I mention this because there's a lovely copycat tour. It's meant to be "secret" because the guy who operates it is the only person authorised to take tourists through the highland villages, or so he says anyway. It was a great look at some historic/village industry and we spent a couple hours talking to highland villagers. Canyoning booked through Tay Backpackers was excellent too, and only $33USD for the day. Artists Alley is the best food place in the south end of Vietnam. - I missed out on Sapa but everyone I met loved it. - If you're into partying the original Castaways out of Hanoi is the best Ha Long Bay party cruise. Expect to be drunk three days straight. I don't drink but went because it was the only tour that offered anything approaching adrenaline sports (tube, rock climbing, wakeboarding) and had a pretty good time despite. The rooms on the island are pretty bad, but you're only meant to sleep in them. PM me if you want more, I stopped at the usual places along the way and the trip is still pretty fresh in my mind (10 days in Beijing didn't fully counteract how great Vietnam was. It tried.)
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 08:47
|
|
|
jizzy sillage posted:I did exactly that a couple weeks ago after a month volunteering in Saigon. Dear future me, Vietnam travel advice in this post. Have fun! -present me(you?)
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 09:37
|
|
|
Sheep-Goats posted:Great photojournalism work from the Times in Duterte's extrajudicial killings: It helps to have punitive defamation and libel/slander laws along with a self-censored "press" in a place with little broad Western influence in things like journalism in a language no one else reads, writes or speaks, heh.
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 11:21
|
|
|
ReindeerF posted:A friend pointed it out when I sent this to him yesterday - "Same Thaksin." Then I was like, "Oh poo poo, right." Yeah man. Glad I wasn't born poor in SEA...
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 11:38
|
|
|
So I think I have come down to to choices for the last three days of my trip later this month: Singapore: Day 1: Fly BKK to SIN, DEP 9:45AM, ARR 1:15PM. Spend day hanging around Singapore. Day 2: full day doing poo poo (eating) in Singapore, night at the Marina Bay Sands. Day 3: Fly SIN to BKK, DEP 4PM, ARR 5:30PM. Phuket: Day 1: Fly to Phuket in the morning, go to some luxury resort. Day 2: Hang out at beach resort, maybe go to town. Day 3: Fly back to BKK mid-afternoon. I haven't been to Phuket before, though we are going to be in Rai Leh for four days earlier in the trip. I have been to Singapore three times before, but always enjoy myself there (it is one of my favorite cities). My girlfriend hasn't been to either. Thoughts? I am leaning towards Singapore, but we are here in season to go to Phuket. I know you guys like to bash Phuket, but I don't know if that is due to "i'm a traveler, not a tourist" tendency. I kind of want to just relax and enjoy myself in a comfortable setting.
|
|
#
?
Dec 8, 2016 17:59
|
|
|
Cheesemaster200 posted:(it is one of my favorite cities) Is Hong Kong not an option for some reason? Heh. It's the real Hong Kong, not the EPCOT version. Between those two it's tough, but coming out of Thailand I'd probably choose Singapore just for the mundanity and first-worldishness, which is a nice break from the chaos here in Bangkok. On a random weekend I might choose Phuket, but I always prefer Phuket Town and rarely even see the ocean except flying in and out. Phuket Town is the only thing worth a poo poo on the entire island and the food is fantastic and very different from up here. Still, probably more of the time I'd say Singapore.
|
|
#
?
Dec 9, 2016 04:36
|
|
|
man luang prabang is such a nice place
|
|
#
?
Dec 9, 2016 15:14
|
|
|
Sheng-ji Yang posted:man luang prabang is such a nice place As an after nice things activity: Go grab a cocktail with Lisa at Icon Klub.
|
|
#
?
Dec 9, 2016 18:57
|
|
|
Sheng-ji Yang posted:man luang prabang is such a nice place If you don't mind spending a western amount on dinner, we had a fantastic meal at Tangor on the Main Street just near where the markets begin. Also recommend Joma Bakery Cafe on the other side opposite the river. Such a chill little town though, enjoy!
|
|
#
?
Dec 10, 2016 02:14
|
|
|
I used to love getting the Thai version of these things when I was upcountry in Thailand, usually for sale at little roadside stalls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuxlo9xkS5Y
|
|
#
?
Dec 10, 2016 04:25
|
|
|
ReindeerF posted:what We just spent 3-4 days in Hong Kong in the beginning of August at the end of our circuit through mainland China. I love Hong Kong too, but I want to keep it in SE Asia.
|
|
#
?
Dec 10, 2016 20:54
|
|
|
Sheep-Goats posted:Great photojournalism work from the Times in Duterte's extrajudicial killings:  You'd think the USA drug penalty scheme, aka. putting people to jail for 20 years for a bag of loving crack, was the peak of insanity, but no.
|
|
#
?
Dec 11, 2016 00:42
|
|
|
Seasons Greetings from cebu_loverboy! https://youtu.be/lQAQRClaSNA (Terrible Christmas medley)
|
|
#
?
Dec 11, 2016 09:02
|
|
|
I'm planning on being in Thailand during Song Kran. Is it going to be lame this year because of the king dying? I thought that because it will have been so long that people will be ready to let loose but since the "mourning" is supposed to go on for a year, then perhaps not. Will they even let it happen? Seems like Bangkok must kinda suck right now.
|
|
#
?
Dec 12, 2016 08:48
|
|
|
If you're not Thai then things are 100% normal except that you really need to wear "polite colors" - black, white, grey, dark blue, etc. By April I think the initial 3 month super-mourning period will have lapsed and Songkran, just my guess, will be normal. It's not possible to say 100%, because there's a bit of a weird sociological thing attached to this where no one wants to be the first to be seen not obeying the mourning norms, and when someone does they occasionally get stuck in a Thai language social media witch hunt, which means that society is self-regulating and not always following some exact rule. Makes things a bit unpredictable. Still, I think by Songkran things will be relatively normal and, like I say, other than the clothing it's all totally normal now. Tourists don't even pay attention to that, especially backpackers, and Thai people don't really care. It's best not to stick out, but we're not considered to have skin in this game, so when we don't follow the norms, as long as you're not rubbing anyone's nose in anything, we're ignored.
|
|
#
?
Dec 12, 2016 10:38
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 1, 2024 16:35 |
|
|
I was under the impression that there would be no official Songkran events this year. I imagine if you are down by KhaoSahn Road that it will still be a backpacker battle royale, but I suspect that they won't be shutting down Silom this year like they have in the past. I could be totally wrong though.
|
|
#
?
Dec 12, 2016 11:51
|
|