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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2003 8:06 am Post subject: Thailand? |
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Just got back from 10 days of R&R on Koh Samui and Bangkok.
How many of you go to Thailand for your vacations?
Also, how would you rate the islands?
I've been to Thailand about 8 or 9 times now in the last 3 years and am not so impressed with the beaches and the islands.
I much prefer the Philippines (El Nido, Boracay).
However, Thai food has got to be some of the best food in the world!
The high light of my trip. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:24 am Post subject: |
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Koh samui is on the South China Sea side, right? Go check out the Andaman Sea side next time. |
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posco's trumpet
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by posco's trumpet on Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:25 am Post subject: |
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Yeah.
El Nido, I thought, was an amazing, natural paradise. My girlfriend and I had an incredible time snorkelling and exlporing all of the little beaches and islands in the area.
Boracay was beautiful and kicks on Chaweng or any of the beaches in Phuket. However, I wouldn't want to be in Boracay during high season.
All in all, I really enjoy the Philippines and will definitely get back to those places again for a little R&R.
Unfortunately, I don't like the local food in P.I. and much, much prefer Thia food.
Speaking of Thailand:
Quote: |
The Australian reported yesterday that Jemaah Islamiah (JI) chief Hambali confirmed that fresh attacks in Bangkok are being planned, with American-owned hotels, airlines and popular night clubs as possible targets.
Based on information from government sources in the region, the Australian reported that the attacks may be timed to coincide with the Apec meetings in mid-October.
Security has already been stepped up sharply at several key venues in Bangkok, it added. |
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posco's trumpet
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:37 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by posco's trumpet on Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:53 am Post subject: |
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I'm soon going to buy a ticket leaving Oct 15. Figured I'd go back to Long Beach bungalows at Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. There are some rocks off the beach where the boats don't go, or set anchor and so damage the coral. So it's fine there, and for 25 bucks you can go with a boat for the day to the park island visible across the sea. No-one lives there and it's protected, so the marine life is impressive. So I'm looking for surf and beach, primarily. A poster has mentioned the Phillipines are better than Thailand for that. Does anyone have an exact destination where a beach hut can be rented and snorkling is a walk away, and good? I'll be back after two weeks to get another job in Korea, hopefully Pusan. And if getting a visa with a release letter is impossible, will likely go to China. Need to relax by the sea and snorkle through the wondrous undersea world to take a load off. How does Thailand compare with the Phillipines, in cost, for beach hut living? |
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posco's trumpet
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by posco's trumpet on Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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camel96 Guest
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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captain kirk wrote: |
I'm soon going to buy a ticket leaving Oct 15. Figured I'd go back to Long Beach bungalows at Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. There are some rocks off the beach where the boats don't go, or set anchor and so damage the coral. So it's fine there, and for 25 bucks you can go with a boat for the day to the park island visible across the sea. No-one lives there and it's protected, so the marine life is impressive. So I'm looking for surf and beach, primarily. A poster has mentioned the Phillipines are better than Thailand for that. Does anyone have an exact destination where a beach hut can be rented and snorkling is a walk away, and good? I'll be back after two weeks to get another job in Korea, hopefully Pusan. And if getting a visa with a release letter is impossible, will likely go to China. Need to relax by the sea and snorkle through the wondrous undersea world to take a load off. How does Thailand compare with the Phillipines, in cost, for beach hut living? |
Hey Captain Kirk,
Check the Perhentian Islands in North Eastern Malaysia. Seriously. There are two islands. The small island (kecil) attracts the seedy backpackers staying in the flea pits. And the big island (besar) attracts a better class of people i.e Overweight, sunburnt Europeans in fairly decent bungalows. But both have great snorkelling. Sharks (friendly ones of course), turtles etc. It's a good time to go there as well. Euro summer is over so the crowds are down, and the rainy season won't start for at least another 6 weeks so the weather is still good.
Really. Check it out. And no this ain't the other place I was talking about. But it's great anyhow. I'm happy to give you some more info if you want. |
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jinga
Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Somewhere in Asia...
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:00 pm Post subject: Thailand |
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I LOVE Thailand! Ko Samui is Too built up now I think.
Check out Ton Sai Beach (In/near Krabi)
... or some of the smaller islands around Ko Chang.
If your short on time Ko Samet is doable (but quite built up as well) it has the most amazing, squeaky white sand on the planet.
I've heard that very far down south (I'm forgetting the name exactly ... Ko Tarturo... something like that - close to Malay. border on the west side) is untouched and fabulous.
- I've not been to the phillipines but dream of it. Indonesian has got some AMAZING islands! |
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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2003 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, the beer is cheap in Philippines.
You're looking at about B500 - B900 for a nice, clean bungalow near Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui.
I payed about P350 to stay a nice, clean bungalow style in El Nido, Palawan.
I highly recommend El Nido but feel a bit guilty for doing so because it's so clean and beautiful that I don't want to see it get spoiled.
Anyways, the marine life, small numbers of tourists and cleanliness of the beaches make El Nido a nice place for some quiet R&R.
The only bitch I have is that you have to fly out of Manila in one of those small propellor planes which I really, really dislike doing.
Also, there is that nice marine park, Turtle Island, off of Ko Phi Phi in Thialand that is really nice. I'd recommend it. YOu can rent a tent and stay over night fairly cheap. I visited the island on a day long snorkelling trip which was really nice.
You just can't beat Thai food, though. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2003 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, everyone. I figure I'll fly to Bankok and go to Kao San road. Take the bus south, but half an hour before the bus goes offer half price (which they usually take). Find this island called Ko Tarturo which is 'very far south close to the Malay border on the west side' and is 'untouched and fabulous'. It might be close to the Perhentian Islands in N/E Malaysia camel mentioned. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:22 am Post subject: |
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I looked up 'gyms' in Thailand and found a horde at Pattaya, but also one called 'Jungle Gym' on the island of Koh Phangan. It has machines and dumbells up to 30 kg and universal bars. Beach bungalows for about 250 baht. World class snorkling and diving. Eleven hours south of Bankok by bus (450baht) and a three hour ferry from the mainland city of Surithani. Bus leaves Bankok 7pm and the ferry docks at Koh Phangan at 7am. The exchange rate results in this; two million won = 70,000 baht. I'm 'already there', with three more weeks of work, hardly seeming like work anymore with Koh Phangan in the offing. |
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camel96 Guest
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:27 am Post subject: |
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Some of the areas in Koh Pha Ngan are downright nasty.
Where's this gym and place you'll be hanging at...?
If I'm correct also 3 weeks from now is about Full Moon time which will mean practically the entire backpacker population in Thailand will partying out on the beaches, messing stuff up and making general pigs of themselves. |
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waterbaby
Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:37 am Post subject: |
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camel96 wrote: |
Some of the areas in Koh Pha Ngan are downright nasty. |
Agree. I got Tphyus Fever there... ruined the rest of my Thailand trip... not to mention the two months following that. |
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camel96 Guest
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:40 am Post subject: |
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waterbaby wrote: |
camel96 wrote: |
Some of the areas in Koh Pha Ngan are downright nasty. |
Agree. I got Tphyus Fever there... ruined the rest of my Thailand trip... not to mention the two months following that. |
Typhus...?
From ticks...?
Or Typhoid...?
Just curious 'cause I've never met anyone who's had typhus before.
Actually I've never met you either so it's probably irrelevant hey...? |
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