Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nrvs]

I have 6 days off around xmas -- from the 23rd to the 28th. I'm trying to decide between Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, or Hong Kong.

I've already been to both Singapore and Bangkok. Singapore once, and Bangkok several times. I liked both a lot, but for different reasons. I've never been to Beijing or HK.

I'm tempted just to go back to Bangkok because I know it pretty well and there's still a bunch of stuff I haven't seen. I could maximize my holiday while spending a minimum of cash. It'll be warm and sunny. Good beer and Indian food are plentiful.

I'm thinking that Beijing is best left for a warmer time of year. If it's chilly in Seoul, it's going to be cold as hell in China. But if you can convince me otherwise I'd be happy to give it a try. Is there good beer to drink? I don't think there is Indian food. Still, I'd love to try out my college-course Chinese for the first time and see the touristy stuff.

Singapore is warm, has tons of Indian food, but beer is kind of expensive. I also think I'd be pretty bored after the third day. Maybe I'd take a side trip to up to Melaka in Malaysia to amuse myself further (and eat more Indian food).

As for Hong Kong: Will it be warm there? How about beer and Indian food? I've heard it's similar to Singapore in that I'll run out of stuff to do after a few days.

So, what do you think? I haven't bought a ticket yet but I need to do that this week. Let me know your opinion!!!

[trevorcollins]

Hong Kong.
Indian food seems to be a priority for you.
Ex Brit colony and all. They do a good job there.
The dive Indian restaurants in Chungking Mansions are great.
Prices for stuff are comparable with Singapore I guess.
Bangkok does have everything you could want in choosing a city for a holiday destination though.

[sadsac]

Go to Singapore and then drive to Malaysia. Spend a couple of days there and then fly back out of Singapore. It makes a nice change.

[bucheon bum]

Hong Kong is like Singapore but with a dramatic skyline. The harbor alone makes it worth visiting the city at least once in your life.

Beer is a bit pricey, very expensive at bars. It isn't too bad in stores and San Miguel is damn cheap. You can be like the local labor class: buy san miguel at a 7-11 or similar market and drink outside checking out people.

Can't tell you about the Indian food, never ate it in HKG. There is a wide variety of excellent food though, and the dim sum kicks ass.

Also, it is a shorter flight to HKG than to Bangkok (albeit not by THAT much).

don't go to singapore. You've already been there, don't know why you'd go back again for a short visit.

If you are on a small budget, go to Bangkok. If you can spend a fair amount, go to HKG.

Oh, and it is hardly ever cold in HKG from what I've read/heard, you'll be fine.

[just because]

I'm on Hong Kong as well.

[J.B. Clamence]

Hong Kong is worth seeing, but 6 days? Too long for Hong Kong IMO. You said that you'll be bored after a few days of Singapore. If that's true, then Hong Kong will not be any better. It's a cool city, but not that much for a visitor to see, unless you're perfectly content with a 6-day bender.

Another reason I say too long for Hong Kong is that there's nowhere to go from there excpet Macau, of which you will be thoroughly bored after a few minutes. You could go to the mainland, but that would require a visa.

My verdict: Save Beijing for the summer, and save Hong Kong for an extended stopover. If you're up for fun in the sun, go down to Bangkok, then hit the beaches near town, or better yet, fly down to the islands for a few days. Or, go to Singapore and catch a 6-hour bus ride to Kuala Lumpur for a couple days. With 6 days, you have options in those places. With 6 days in HK, your only option is to wander around aimlessly for a week looking at the same concrete buildings. It gets old fast.

Edit: I just remembered something -- Thai Airways flies daily flights that stop in HK and then go on to Bangkok. What you can do is arrange a round-trip to Bangkok with Thai Airways, and pay a few bucks extra to get a 1- or 2-day stopover in Hong Kong. You'll be able to check out HK, and hit Bangkok.

[Tiger Beer]

I chose Bangkok.

Beijing would be MUCH better in the Summer.. as everything you want to see is outside.

Hong Kong would be alright.. but Bangkok seems best.

[just because]

[nrvs]

Ha, I wasn't expecting this response! Thanks everyone.

So far Bangkok is winning with me, too. That Thai airways stopover in HK sounds fantastic, J.B. Tomorrow I'm going to the YMCA travel agencies to inquire about fares and I'll be sure to ask about that.

Ultimately the fare will decide the battle. On tourexpress.co.kr, I found tickets for W485000 to either Bangkok or Singapore. That doesn't seem bad at all, considering it's over xmas. About W430000 to Beijing. Unfortunately I have no idea how to actually purchase anything on tourexpress. Hopefully the real-life travel agencies will have similar prices.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[hogwonguy1979]

5-6 days either fly to BKK and then grab a flight to samui and get some beach time or do HK, plenty to do there and so what if you need a visa to get into china, those are easy to arrange.

BTW I found Macau to be quite interesting

[itaewonguy]

if weather is not a factor then go to beijing dude!
my friend spent 10 days there and said it was FULL ON!!
he even went to the shaolin temple and trained there for 2 days. they have a program for tourists said it was amazing. the great wall.. the forbidden city and so much to see and do dude! ITS CHINA!!
go there man!! you will never regret that!

[nrvs]

I visited three travel agencies in the YMCA building today. I've decided to go to Bangkok, with a two-day stopover in Hong Kong.

Top Travel had the best deal -- W540000 + W74900 tax on Thai. Not really a "deal" compared to non-holiday season fares, but whatever. This is my only real vacation until the summer (when I'll go to Beijing). Anyway, the STA lady told me they don't even deal with tickets to Asia anymore...just Europe, Australia/NZ, and North America. This one-room place called Green Travel quoted me something ridiculous like W680000.

Anyway, I'm going back tomorrow to buy a ticket (I hope they'll still have seats). Thanks again to everyone, and especially to J.B. for letting me know about the HK stopover thing.

[The Lemon]

[Lodix]

I spent 10 days in Beijing in March. It really got me excited to travel more through China. Bejing might not be the most exciting of the 4 options. Still I would recommend Beijing for the simple reason that it is changing so fast. I have friends of family in Beijing and they have been living in Beijing for 3 years. They claim that some of its initial charm is already gone. Big event like the Olympics can really change a city like that. Before you know it it will be like Seoul. What I loved about Beijing was that it is really China (not that I am an expert). Nobody speaks English. Hardly anything is in English. Anything that is written in English is unreadable because of the spelling and grammar errors. People there didn't get Americanized yet. Of course the market places are as crazy as I expect them to be in Bangkok (I'll check that out next week). I don't know how to describe it. It is the whole feeling of the city. I loved it. And I fear that will disappear soon. Does anyone understand what I am talking about?

Besides: the GREAT wall is about the most impressive structure I have ever seen in my life. I love my pictures!