Singapore/SE Area recommendations

fufu_banterwaite

bylromarha wrote: »

Can't stand Bangkok - absolutely hated it when we were there last.

How long did you spend there though? I remember feeling a bit like that when I arrived in Bangkok. Then I went through the rest of South-East Asia ending up back in Bangkok. When we got back to Bangkok, suddenly in comparison to places like Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh I found it fairly sedate and clean!

Doshwaster

fufu_banterwaite wrote: »

How long did you spend there though? I remember feeling a bit like that when I arrived in Bangkok. Then I went through the rest of South-East Asia ending up back in Bangkok. When we got back to Bangkok, suddenly in comparison to places like Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh I found it fairly sedate and clean!

I love Bangkok. It is one of my favourite big cities in the world but I will accept that is it not for everyone and it can be overwhelming for a first time visitor, especially if they have never been to Asia before.

The first time I arrived I got to my hotel at about 10pm. I thought I'd go for a walk to stretch my legs but only got 100m before the heat, humidity and noise got to me so I went straight back to the hotel bar for beer.

bylromarha

My 1st time in Bangkok was my 3rd time in Asia. The most time I spent in Asia prior to my Bangkok visit was spent in Phnom Penh. Didn't find Bangkok overwhelming, just dull and too full of tourists trying to find the Real Bangkok. Didn't float my boat in the same way Cambodia does.

I'm interested in how different PP will be on my 3rd visit there. I first went in 2007 and by our return in 2012, so much had changed. 2007 - a track from airport to city. 2012 - a tarred road with buildings both sides. 2014 - I know there's a Starbucks there now, KFC and Costa. Will be so much more westernised after 2 years. Hoping Beautiful Shoes is still there as I'd like some more bespoke leather boots made.

Am likely to spend our day in Bangkok waiting for hubby to arrive in a hotel swimming pool - no desire to venture out again as nothing to pull me.

PompeyPete

bylromarha wrote: »

My 1st time in Bangkok was my 3rd time in Asia. The most time I spent in Asia prior to my Bangkok visit was spent in Phnom Penh. Didn't find Bangkok overwhelming, just dull and too full of tourists trying to find the Real Bangkok. Didn't float my boat in the same way Cambodia does.

The real Bangkok isn't going to come looking for you. There's plenty out there if you're prepared to do your homework and go and find it. Where are you staying? Have you tried to venture out of Bangkok, and find a bit of the real Thailand - it's on the door-step?

bylromarha wrote: »

I'm interested in how different PP will be on my 3rd visit there. I first went in 2007 and by our return in 2012, so much had changed. 2007 - a track from airport to city. 2012 - a tarred road with buildings both sides. 2014 - I know there's a Starbucks there now, KFC and Costa. Will be so much more westernised after 2 years. Hoping Beautiful Shoes is still there as I'd like some more bespoke leather boots made.

More motor bikes now = more traffic = more congestion = more pollution = several good reasons not to stay in PP more than a couple of nights.
Where else are you going in Cambodia, there's plenty more to see?

Doshwaster

bylromarha wrote: »

My 1st time in Bangkok was my 3rd time in Asia. The most time I spent in Asia prior to my Bangkok visit was spent in Phnom Penh. Didn't find Bangkok overwhelming, just dull and too full of tourists trying to find the Real Bangkok. Didn't float my boat in the same way Cambodia does.

Tourists always say that they want to discover the "real" life of where they are visiting when actually all they want is the real tourist experience. Brits in New York hang around Times Square rather than Brooklyn and The Bronx, Americans is London tour Buck House rather than a a housing estate in Hackney and most people in Bangkok go there for the "real" experience of the Khao San Road and Soi Cowboy and not some real Bangkok suburb.

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

... and not some real Bangkok suburb.

Catch a train from Bangkok's main train station (Hualamphong). The first 25 minutes or so as the train slowly makes it's way through the Bangkok sprawl, gives you a glimpse of some neighbourhoods which most tourists never see in Bangkok.

And catching a busy 3rd Class train allows you to mix with some of the poorer people of the country you've paid hundred of £££ to visit. Very interesting, rewarding, and something that remains in you memory for a long time.

bylromarha

PompeyPete wrote: »

More motor bikes now = more traffic = more congestion = more pollution = several good reasons not to stay in PP more than a couple of nights.
Where else are you going in Cambodia, there's plenty more to see?

Really no desire to go exploring the wider Bangkok area. Didn't like what I've already seen there so would rather spend more time in PP - love PP far far more. We're there for about a week visiting our friends.

Isn't it great how we're all different? Nothing you can say will convince me PP is "better" than Bangkok and nothing I say will convince you the other way! You could never experience PP in 2 nights - you wouldn't scratch the surface.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Catch a train from Bangkok's main train station (Hualamphong). The first 25 minutes or so as the train slowly makes it's way through the Bangkok sprawl, gives you a glimpse of some neighbourhoods which most tourists never see in Bangkok.

Indeed. Last time in Bangkok I spent a couple of days exploring some of the outer suburbs. I hardly saw another Western face and it's was chance to practice my extremely poor Thai. The food markets are fantastic. Often I didn't know what I was buying but just pointed, smiled and hoped for the best. If I didn't like something I didn't mind as I'd only spent a few pence and just tried something else.

PompeyPete

bylromarha wrote: »

Isn't it great how we're all different? Nothing you can say will convince me PP is "better" than Bangkok and nothing I say will convince you the other way! You could never experience PP in 2 nights - you wouldn't scratch the surface.

I don't think I've tried to compare one against the other, as they're completely different types of destination. But if your friends lived in Bangkok and not PP then you'd probably have a completely different opinion to the one you currently have.

When I'm in Thailand I'll only spend 2 or 3 nights in Bangkok, and when I'm in Cambodia I'll only spend 2 or 3 nights in Phnom Penh. There's far more to see in Thailand and Cambodia.

PompeyPete

bylromarha wrote: »

I'm interested in how different PP will be on my 3rd visit there. I first went in 2007 and by our return in 2012, so much had changed. 2007 - a track from airport to city. 2012 - a tarred road with buildings both sides. 2014 - I know there's a Starbucks there now, KFC and Costa. Will be so much more westernised after 2 years. Hoping Beautiful Shoes is still there as I'd like some more bespoke leather boots made.

Can't the friends you'll be staying with enlighten you?;)