Looking for some Travel Tips (Asean Area)

shaunskankdog

Hi guys, again, more people that make me jealous lol. I just came back from 3.5 months in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali, did the same last year but included Vietnam and Cambodia.
Thailand, well the Land of Smiles. You will be going in peak season so expect lots of people and still scorching. Bangkok is amazing, and even the taxi and tuk tuk were fab...just quote half their price and even learn basic numbers in Thai. It is noisy 24hrs. Use skytrain and metro and boat for quick transport...very cheap. So many temples and sights, very easy to walk. I always go to Kanchanaburi to see the River Kwai and the two war cemetries. £2 (3hrs) on train from other side of river. The islands all over Thailand are stunning, Phuket is gorgeous but the taxis are a rip off...£6 min for smallest journey, but there are songthaew type buses cheap covering most of the tourist areas. Bangla Rd in Patong is the party capital of SE Asia really, eating can be cheap or as expensive as you wish..I managed £2 a day. Koh Samui is stunning but was flooded this year. Koh Samet near Pattaya is gorgeous but dirty and there are National Park fees for foreigners. Same with Koh Chang but much nicer, however a very long journey from Bangkok.Koh Phi Phi of The Beach film is amazing but twice as expensive as anywhere and becoming overrun and dirty...full of snorkelling shops and not much else to be honest. Most beautiful eye popping scenery is Ao Nang and the local area but very quiet at night.....I tended to use Air Asia and local transport....most of my flights cost less than £10 with advance bookings...buses are a few pounds for several hours journey in 1st class buses.
Malaysia is stunning but restricted alcohol wise and very expensive. Not a place where you can walk with no shirt. Kuala is nothing much but the Petronas towers are wow. Very cheap food, but not many sights...about 3 days max...bus or train to airport for £5 max. Penang gorgeous but waste of space beaches...Langkawi is the place for chill and stunning beaches and duty free...can of San Mig was 20p...mmmm...beaches are amazing really are. Malaysia is a huge place but well reached with Air Asia and buses.
Singapore was fantastic and the hotels are really expensive, however eating in Chinatown and Lil India was cheap at £3ish, shoppers paradise and cheap or expensive as you wish. From airport to centre about an hour on train for £2 lol. It is the "fine" country.
Bali was, well.... ok. Kuta, Legian and Sanur are an eyesore and the traffic cos of construction is horrendous, as well are the touts, and all the shops are the same. Beaches are average. Beer about a pound a bottle and eating dirt cheap. I would stay there about 4 nts for the nightclubs, and then head to the North and see real Bali. Definitely pop over to the Gill islands and Lombok. Indonesia is a huge place to see and the people lovely.
Vietnam...only did HCMC which I didnt really like although saw all the sights. Motorbike crazy...youtube it lol.
Cambodia is fantastic in a way. Phnom Penh is an eyesore but cheap. Nothing to do really apart from bars near the river and the the death camp. Pop onto Stung Meanchey to see how families live on one of the worlds largest refill sights....heart wrenching. Dodgy at night but eyeopening. Dirt cheap though and good clothing bargains using dollars or Riel. Siem Reap well...fantastic in every way..the town is small but very chic and Angkor Wat...need 3 days to see all...$20 each day for ticket and best by bicycle or tuk tuk.
Tips...Bali dry season is Jun for a few months, whereas in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia it starts to get very wet.
Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam need visas valid one month about $30 each and also departure fees...
I know how to eat cheap, but drink a lot...I reckoned on about £15 a day after hotels paid, but still spent 2000 in 3 months.
Tune Hotel I got for a pound a night in Bali and Malaysia.....can haggle with most hotels for good deals...take several pre paid cards and other UK bank cards in case you lose like I did. use local Sim cards not uk, so just buy a few cheap mobiles like I did as I lost many through alcohol, same with cameras. When it rains it does, my camera and mobile again stopped due to rainwater when carrying in my bag, so make sure you have good protection for them.
Loads more info from guys who have been there. I go for 3 months every UK Winter, and have a blast, but many more people have more detailed info.
Enjoy the beaches of the world.

Doshwaster

shaunskankdog wrote: »

Hi guys, again, more people that make me jealous lol. I just came back from 3.5 months in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali, did the same last year but included Vietnam and Cambodia.

Some excellent information there. I agree with almost every word of it - especially the extortionate taxi fares in Phuket.

Mr_Wang

Doshwaster wrote: »

jamsandwiches wrote: »

As they say, if you can remember Cambodia, you weren't really there.

And I say if you feel that way about Cambodia you was never there.

Bangkok is an amazing city and is so diverse it depends where you stay - Personally I prefer Sukhumvit.

Taxi fairs are extortionate on every Thai Island, that's why people get the bus. You can pretty much name your prices on those things, generally account about 20THB per trip. Far easier to just hire a moped. My favourite Thai isle is Koh Samet. You don;t have to pay an entry fee. Simply walk straight in. Or, loiter in the 7/11 until the coast is clear.

Bali is ridiculous if you stay in Kuta or the South, places such as Besakih are not worth the hassle. Skip Bali and go to Java, that really is an amazing country with an excellent rail network. Jakarta too is fantastic.
You were pretty much right about Langkawi, but remember for the Western Isles monsoons hits hard in the summer months. Penang is better of the two with more culture and some of the best food you will find on the planet - Not just Asia. That said it's easy to bail to Thailand via a boat if it gets a bit wet.

Vietnam is slow, hire a moped and do the top gear thing but make sure you stop off at one of my favourite places on earth - Hoi An. Cambodia is breathtaking and offers probably the best UNESCO site in the whole of Asia (well, its sort of on par with Bagan in Burma) and that is Angkor.

Laos is slooooooooow and really there is little to do other than that cave which I can't remember the name of and to see those stoned Tigers that are also in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai and Rai are best avoided too in the summer months.

Singapore is awesome and actually, it probably won't be much longer until I move there.The hotels are expensive, but stay in Johor Bahru in Malaysia and cross daily.

Disagree that KL is 'nothing much' it is an amazing city and if you head up to Sunway Lagoon you will see you can go around with no shirt on. Actually in Malaysia I have done just that, no shirt, flip flops and shorts - In Borneo too.

soil_2

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Taxi fairs are extortionate on every Thai Island, that's why people get the bus. You can pretty much name your prices on those things, generally account about 20THB per trip. Far easier to just hire a moped.

Mopeds are dangerous. Better hire a car.

Bali is ridiculous if you stay in Kuta or the South, places such as Besakih are not worth the hassle. Skip Bali and go to Java, that really is an amazing country with an excellent rail network. Jakarta too is fantastic.

Java is not a country. The trains are ok, but rather than spend 8 hours on a train for say Bandung-Yogya, a 45 minute flight costing barely more than the executif train fare makes sense.

There are no world class attractions in Bali in the way of Borobodur or Mount Bromo, and the beaches are substandard for the region, but there's plenty of accommodation and it's easy to get round and outside of the Kuta region it's perfectly civilised. Jakarta is not really a world class city, the traffic and sprawl is the main problem, Yogyakarta is a much better way to experience urban Indonesian life.

You were pretty much right about Langkawi, but remember for the Western Isles monsoons hits hard in the summer months. Penang is better of the two with more culture and some of the best food you will find on the planet - Not just Asia. That said it's easy to bail to Thailand via a boat if it gets a bit wet.

Langkawi is a bit pointless IMO, you can find better cleaner beaches elsewhere. Penang makes a change as a tropical island where the beaches are NOT the reason to go.

Cambodia is breathtaking and offers probably the best UNESCO site in the whole of Asia (well, its sort of on par with Bagan in Burma) and that is Angkor.

Bagan is too hot. Angkor is better, plus Cambodia is far more civilised than Burma.

Singapore is awesome and actually, it probably won't be much longer until I move there.The hotels are expensive, but stay in Johor Bahru in Malaysia and cross daily.

Not worth the effort. Singapore is a first world city, and you have to pay the going rate if you want to enjoy it (which is still 40% cheaper than London). Expensive is relative anyway. If you can't afford Singapore, stay out.

Disagree that KL is 'nothing much' it is an amazing city and if you head up to Sunway Lagoon you will see you can go around with no shirt on. Actually in Malaysia I have done just that, no shirt, flip flops and shorts - In Borneo too.

KL is ok, but it's too sterile. Singapore does KL so much better.

Mr_Wang

Mopeds are dangerous. Better hire a car.

Have you been to SE Asia? Really? Hire a car?:cool:


Java is not a country. The trains are ok, but rather than spend 8 hours on a train for say Bandung-Yogya, a 45 minute flight costing barely more than the executif train fare makes sense.

In the same way Scotland is not a country. Travelling by rail is much much cheaper and means you get to actually interact with the locals - Which of course is why most people travel? Also it's probably worth noting that most Indonesian Airlines are on the EU no fly list.

There are no world class attractions in Bali in the way of Borobodur or Mount Bromo, and the beaches are substandard for the region, but there's plenty of accommodation and it's easy to get round and outside of the Kuta region it's perfectly civilised. Jakarta is not really a world class city, the traffic and sprawl is the main problem, Yogyakarta is a much better way to experience urban Indonesian life.

Jakarta is a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis full of shopping malls and some fantastic religious architecture. It is a perfect blend of old meets new and is a world class city. Have you even been? Really? Borobodhur can hardly be called world class either - I found it boring tbh. Bromo on the other hand was breathtaking.
If you think Bali is civilised then again I ask - Have you been? Did you go to Besakih?


Langkawi is a bit pointless IMO, you can find better cleaner beaches elsewhere. Penang makes a change as a tropical island where the beaches are NOT the reason to go.

Langkawi and Penang are chalk and cheese. One has stunning waterfalls and is surrounded by deserted islands and white sandy beaches - The other is a blend of cultures and heritage - Again I ask - Have you been?



Bagan is too hot. Angkor is better, plus Cambodia is far more civilised than Burma.

Seriously? :cool:


Not worth the effort. Singapore is a first world city, and you have to pay the going rate if you want to enjoy it (which is still 40% cheaper than London). Expensive is relative anyway. If you can't afford Singapore, stay out.

A hotel in JB costs maybe £8gbp per night, the travel to Singapore takes about 40 minutes. If you are saying that if someone cannot afford Singapore they should stay out then you are one extremely insular and arrogant individual. fwiw basic hotels in Singapore cost about £50sgd (£25)

KL is ok, but it's too sterile. Singapore does KL so much better.

KL is sterile? You have not been, fact. Sterile is a word commonly used to describe Singapore, yet here you use it to describe KL. No - I'm sorry. I don't for one minute believe you have been to SE Asia or spent any more than a fleeting visit. You simply cannot have. Or you are one of those travellers that stays in resorts or 5 star hotels and as such never really get to feel the country/city you are in. In fact, as you laze by the pool you could be anywhere in the world and with the arrogant and dismissive attitude that you have you probably couldn't even care if you tried.

I suggest you start again - Get to know the people, the culture, the lifestyle and the food. Then, and only then will your comments carry any weight or credibility whatsoever.

Doshwaster

soil wrote: »

Mopeds are dangerous. Better hire a car.

Yes, the famous "Koh Samui sunburn". Idiots who rent a moped, ride around in shorts and T-shirts and come home covered in scars.

Langkawi is a bit pointless IMO, you can find better cleaner beaches elsewhere. Penang makes a change as a tropical island where the beaches are NOT the reason to go.

The whole point of Langkawi is that there is not much to do apart from hanging out at beach bars drinking cheap beer. It's not somewhere to go for partying, culture or adventure.

Penang is just a fantastic cultural and culinary melting pot. Stop in Georgetown rather than the overdeveloped beach resort of Batu Ferringhi. As you said, the beach is not the reason to go to Penang. It's to eat.

It's worth doing Langkawi and Penang on the same trip as they are so close together and yet so totally different.

soil_2

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Mopeds are dangerous. Better hire a car.

Have you been to SE Asia? Really? Hire a car?:cool:

I've lived there, hired a car there, no problems. Yes the driving's crazy all over (but the craziness level varies from place to place), but I'd rather have airbags and a crumple zone thank you very much than a 50CC moped.

Java is not a country. The trains are ok, but rather than spend 8 hours on a train for say Bandung-Yogya, a 45 minute flight costing barely more than the executif train fare makes sense.

In the same way Scotland is not a country.

No not in the same way at all. Scotland is a country and has a clear identity and a long history as an independent nation, Java is an island with multiple ethnicities and a history substantially as multiple independent kingdoms.

Travelling by rail is much much cheaper and means you get to actually interact with the locals - Which of course is why most people travel? Also it's probably worth noting that most Indonesian Airlines are on the EU no fly list.

And the trains are better how? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11458085 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/indonesian-train-crash-and-ferry-fire-kills-16-2197796.html

People have many different reasons for travelling, meeting locals is not I think the principal one. People do not go to Benidorm to converse with the natives, most people travel in order to see specific tourist attractions, or in the case of Benidorm just to get some sunshine and r+r.

The fare Bandung-Yogya is 400,000 rp - £29, saves you 6 hours, the train fare in executive is 230,000rp is £17. You pay your money and you take your choice, you have plenty of chances to meet the natives on the buses in the restaurants, etc., even on the plane, personally I pay the extra £15 and get there sooner. YMMV.

There are no world class attractions in Bali in the way of Borobodur or Mount Bromo, and the beaches are substandard for the region, but there's plenty of accommodation and it's easy to get round and outside of the Kuta region it's perfectly civilised. Jakarta is not really a world class city, the traffic and sprawl is the main problem, Yogyakarta is a much better way to experience urban Indonesian life.

Jakarta is a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis full of shopping malls and some fantastic religious architecture. It is a perfect blend of old meets new and is a world class city. Have you even been? Really?

Yes on several occasions. Indonesian shopping malls while usually enjoying a nice food court, air con and an amusing selection of villagefolk who apparently have never been on an escalator before, are no reason to travel half way across the world. The designer goods are much more expensive than the UK, and non-designer goods are typically of poorer quality than somewhere like Primark and more expensive too.

Jakarta is too big and too choked with traffic and with no unmissable attractions. There are plenty of nice mosques in SE Asia, you don't need to suffer the traffic of Jakarta to see them (it's not like Jakarta has a pleasant MRT system as an alternative)

Borobodhur can hardly be called world class either - I found it boring tbh. Bromo on the other hand was breathtaking.

You are entitled to your opinion, Borobodur is however a world heritage site and Indonesia's most-visited attraction.

If you think Bali is civilised then again I ask - Have you been? Did you go to Besakih?

It's civilised in that there is adequate infrastructure to meet the desires of all visitors. This is not true of most of Indonesia, where for most Westerners the privations would inhibit travel. I am not sure what your point is about Besakih, there are other many other tourist attractions in Bali, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, the Monkey Forest at Ubud, Ulun Danu temple, and many more. All as I said within easy reach of a visitor staying at any plausible point on the island, which makes it a very 'easy', 'civilised' place to visit.

Langkawi is a bit pointless IMO, you can find better cleaner beaches elsewhere. Penang makes a change as a tropical island where the beaches are NOT the reason to go.

Langkawi and Penang are chalk and cheese. One has stunning waterfalls and is surrounded by deserted islands and white sandy beaches - The other is a blend of cultures and heritage - Again I ask - Have you been?

I said that they are chalk and cheese, I am not sure what your point is, there are many beautiful tropical islands in SE Asia but there is only one Penang.

Bagan is too hot. Angkor is better, plus Cambodia is far more civilised than Burma.

Seriously? :cool:

Yes, Burma is ruled by a repressive region on a par with North Korea, whereas Cambodia is recovering after the Khmer Rouge

Not worth the effort. Singapore is a first world city, and you have to pay the going rate if you want to enjoy it (which is still 40% cheaper than London). Expensive is relative anyway. If you can't afford Singapore, stay out.

A hotel in JB costs maybe £8gbp per night, the travel to Singapore takes about 40 minutes. If you are saying that if someone cannot afford Singapore they should stay out then you are one extremely insular and arrogant individual. fwiw basic hotels in Singapore cost about £50sgd (£25)

Quite possibly. But you're still going to find that food, entry fees, taxis, etc. mount-up compared to elsewhere. Accommodation is hardly the sole expense. Again, if you can't afford it, there are other places to stay, for the vast majority of British visitors, it is more sensible to just stay in Singapore rather than bussing across the border every day like an impoverished guest worker (and which is going to take rather more than 40 minutes each way if you are going by public transport as I take it) to save £10/night on a room.

KL is ok, but it's too sterile. Singapore does KL so much better.

KL is sterile? You have not been, fact. Sterile is a word commonly used to describe Singapore, yet here you use it to describe KL. No - I'm sorry.

I have been to KL at least half-a-dozen times. Singapore is indeed sterile, but as I said it executes sterile perfectly, down to the urine detectors in the lifts. There is nothing wrong with KL, I would happily spend a few nights/weeks/months there, the only problem being that it is 6,500 miles away, and if I'm going that far there are places more exciting that could fill any amount of time that I am going to have available.

I don't for one minute believe you have been to SE Asia or spent any more than a fleeting visit. You simply cannot have. Or you are one of those travellers that stays in resorts or 5 star hotels and as such never really get to feel the country/city you are in. In fact, as you laze by the pool you could be anywhere in the world and with the arrogant and dismissive attitude that you have you probably couldn't even care if you tried.

As you wish.

I suggest you start again - Get to know the people, the culture, the lifestyle and the food. Then, and only then will your comments carry any weight or credibility whatsoever.

Lol :rotfl: I know the people more intimately than you can imagine. As for the food, every time I return from the region I carry back leaves and spices you've never even heard of, in order that I can reproduce the food at home (one problem: English chicken is mutant and tasteless with oversized breasts, guinea fowl is a good substitute).

PompeyPete

soil wrote: »

... plus Cambodia is far more civilised than Burma.

Rubbish.
They are completely different countries.
Burma is a beautiful country with wonderful people.
I like what I saw of Cambodia too, but the thousands of poor wretches with one or more limbs missing, who have to crawl around and beg for an existence is hardly what you can call civilised.

PompeyPete

soil wrote: »

Yes, Burma is ruled by a repressive region on a par with North Korea, whereas Cambodia is recovering after the Khmer Rouge

Can you get a tourist visa for North Korea? No.
Can you get a tourist visa for Burma? Yes.
So that's a massive difference!
Should tourists visit Burma? Of course they should. The people haven't done anything wrong have they? It's a great place, and easy to navigate. There are places that are out of bounds to tourists, but there's more than plenty to keep you fully occupied for several weeks.
With a bit of planning it's also easy to make sure that the bulk of your money goes to the people and not to the government.

Mr_Wang

soil wrote: »

I've lived there, hired a car there, no problems. Yes the driving's crazy all over (but the craziness level varies from place to place), but I'd rather have airbags and a crumple zone thank you very much than a 50CC moped.



No not in the same way at all. Scotland is a country and has a clear identity and a long history as an independent nation, Java is an island with multiple ethnicities and a history substantially as multiple independent kingdoms.



And the trains are better how? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11458085 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/indonesian-train-crash-and-ferry-fire-kills-16-2197796.html

People have many different reasons for travelling, meeting locals is not I think the principal one. People do not go to Benidorm to converse with the natives, most people travel in order to see specific tourist attractions, or in the case of Benidorm just to get some sunshine and r+r.

The fare Bandung-Yogya is 400,000 rp - £29, saves you 6 hours, the train fare in executive is 230,000rp is £17. You pay your money and you take your choice, you have plenty of chances to meet the natives on the buses in the restaurants, etc., even on the plane, personally I pay the extra £15 and get there sooner. YMMV.



Yes on several occasions. Indonesian shopping malls while usually enjoying a nice food court, air con and an amusing selection of villagefolk who apparently have never been on an escalator before, are no reason to travel half way across the world. The designer goods are much more expensive than the UK, and non-designer goods are typically of poorer quality than somewhere like Primark and more expensive too.

Jakarta is too big and too choked with traffic and with no unmissable attractions. There are plenty of nice mosques in SE Asia, you don't need to suffer the traffic of Jakarta to see them (it's not like Jakarta has a pleasant MRT system as an alternative)



You are entitled to your opinion, Borobodur is however a world heritage site and Indonesia's most-visited attraction.



It's civilised in that there is adequate infrastructure to meet the desires of all visitors. This is not true of most of Indonesia, where for most Westerners the privations would inhibit travel. I am not sure what your point is about Besakih, there are other many other tourist attractions in Bali, Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, the Monkey Forest at Ubud, Ulun Danu temple, and many more. All as I said within easy reach of a visitor staying at any plausible point on the island, which makes it a very 'easy', 'civilised' place to visit.



I said that they are chalk and cheese, I am not sure what your point is, there are many beautiful tropical islands in SE Asia but there is only one Penang.



Yes, Burma is ruled by a repressive region on a par with North Korea, whereas Cambodia is recovering after the Khmer Rouge



Quite possibly. But you're still going to find that food, entry fees, taxis, etc. mount-up compared to elsewhere. Accommodation is hardly the sole expense. Again, if you can't afford it, there are other places to stay, for the vast majority of British visitors, it is more sensible to just stay in Singapore rather than bussing across the border every day like an impoverished guest worker (and which is going to take rather more than 40 minutes each way if you are going by public transport as I take it) to save £10/night on a room.



I have been to KL at least half-a-dozen times. Singapore is indeed sterile, but as I said it executes sterile perfectly, down to the urine detectors in the lifts. There is nothing wrong with KL, I would happily spend a few nights/weeks/months there, the only problem being that it is 6,500 miles away, and if I'm going that far there are places more exciting that could fill any amount of time that I am going to have available.



As you wish.



Lol :rotfl: I know the people more intimately than you can imagine. As for the food, every time I return from the region I carry back leaves and spices you've never even heard of, in order that I can reproduce the food at home (one problem: English chicken is mutant and tasteless with oversized breasts, guinea fowl is a good substitute).

Look, and with the greatest of respect you write utter garbage. Your posts are hypocritical and much of it simply made up.
That said I will say this - Meeting the locals is one of the best things about travel to places like SE Asia, for you to suggest most people don't like to meet locals shows just how narrow minded and out of touch you are. Proven again by comparing SE Asia to Benidorm! Or North Korea to Burma!!!!! :cool:

I genuinely don't believe you have been further than reading a few pages of SE Asia on a shoestring, or perhaps the odd resort in Samui.

I strongly suggest anyone reading the advice of Soil does so with a huge pinch of salt. From someone (myself) who has travelled SE Asia extensively, his/her advice is nothing but dubious, contradicting tripe.