Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TECO]

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.

[Bulsajo]

Koh samui is on the South China Sea side, right? Go check out the Andaman Sea side next time.

[posco's trumpet]

[TECO]

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:

[posco's trumpet]

[captain kirk]

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?

[posco's trumpet]

[camel96]

[jinga]

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!

[TECO]

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.

[captain kirk]

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.

[captain kirk]

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.

[camel96]

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.

[waterbaby]

[camel96]