Job Discussion Forums

[eclectic]

Been needing a beach vacation with my wife for atleast a year now. Will leave korea (read: the most internationally isolated country Ive ever been in, and been in 21 countries so far) September or sooner and b4 working/job searching NEED a real relaxing in-the-sun beach vacation for atleast a week or 9 days sunbathing, sipping drinks, eating fresh local food AWAY FROM A TOURIST TRAP AREA PLEASE.

Unfortunately Sept-Nov is heavy rain season in s.e. asia or atleasy Malaysia I hear. i.e. soggy cloudy beach.

Can anyone shoot me (no jokes pls) a quick Top 3 keep-it-simple beach list for Thailand/Malaysia area? Hell Id even go to INdonesia for a great affordable relaxing 10 day beach vacation in the sunshine or starlight. Any info of firsthand beach experience 4 all u beach bums out there bewtween your toilsome semesters is APPRECIATED IMMENSELY.

Cheers

[sojourner]

Hi, Again !

Remember me from the discussions on Singapore and Malaysia ?

Anyway, re a (non-touristy ) beach, try Songchkla (sp?) in southern Thailand. There is a reasonably pleasant, quiet, beach about 20 mins walk from the main town.

V.few Western tourists go there nowadays - probably all scared off by warnings ( from their Foreign Affairs Depts) re "Islamic terrorist activities" in the area.I have been going to the area (each February) for the past 3 or 4 years - have had no problems. If interested, I could give you the name of a reasonable budget (2-star) hotel.

Avoid touristy places such as Phuket and Pattya. You might like Hua Hin (3 hrs by bus from BKK - tourists do go there, but not so much the riff-raff/sex tourists, etc.

You might also want to investigate the east coast of the Malay peninsula - have never been to that part of Malaysia, but have been told that it's quite good.

Peter

[eclectic]

yes pls pm me with that!

[KayuJati]

eclectic-

I don't know where you got your info, but the monsoon season for Malaysia's east coast (Peninsula) is more like late November to February. If you go in August, September, or October it should be okay. I have lived in Kuantan for 10 years now so I think that I have a good handle on the weather on this coast.

Go to Cherating for that 10-day cheap vacation. If you need recommendations, you can either PM me or else do an internet search (better). We can also hook up for lunch or dinner some day if you want to swing through Kuantan (my wife can join if it is for dinner).

Just beware that Ramadan (fasting month) is 11 Aug to 9 September this year. That doesn't mean there is no food available, but it means that lunches will be limited to Indian and Chinese restaurants. Otherwise, Ramadan is the BEST time to sample the food of Malaysia. Most motels and restaurants offer great food choices for the evening 'buka puasa'.

[wailing_imam]

I found Cherating rather a disappointment myself - like a place in decline. Let's hope that more Malaysians and Singaporeans can get there and get the cheaper resorts rocking like the olden days.

However, east coast Malaysia has some gorgeous spots. There are a few nice places in between Kuala Terranganu and Kota Bharu - check out http://www.pinganchorage.com.my/ for more on that part of the world.

I also love Pulau Tioman - one of my fav island kickbacks in Asia.

Moving away from Malaya, Indonesia has some lovely spots - Pangandaran in Java, Gili Air off Lombok and as you head further east into Nusa Tenggara and Maluku you are talking serious prime beach terrority with no chance of seeing a white face.

Also, Negros in the Philippines has some beautiful beaches. In fact, for beach holidays, I don't think the Philippines can be beaten.

[eclectic]

what would I do without Kayu and Wailing? YOu guys are great. There's a real interesting vibe there going on, each time, and the whole thing gives such a point/counterpoint type of juxtapositioning. Love it.

Yes my wife and I would love to have dinner one day God willing with you and your wife. I will check Cherating out online as you said. Can't remember why I thought Sept-Nov was monsoon season there. Must've been another region with that interval and I mixed it. Anyway thats good news Kayu.

Wailing that is great Indonesia info. Wailing seems you have been everywhere, literally. Which country did you save so much dough in allowing you to globe trot like that? Im interested to do the same. Wish I had 100 thousand saved and we could just globe trot, all the spots you mentioned, Indonesia, Philipines.

[wailing_imam]

I have made a point of saving half to a third of my monthly salary in every teaching post I have had. Also, I make sre the teaching jobs pay fairly well before I accept them. In China there are plenty of mugs earning 6000RMB a month who could just as easily be earning 3 times that if they had spent a little time researching. My work researching guidebooks has given me 8 months paid travelling in the last 2 years as well.

[eclectic]

thats what I call kickin' butt. Im attempting the same here, I think Im sving about 49% of salary. In Korea thats decent savings. Trouble is, doing crowd-control/bouncing in the classroom isn't really worth it in the mid-run, forget about long-run. Will be a bit dejecting to go from saving about 1000 US/mo. to 200 US/mo. IF THAT, in Malaysia.

[zootalaws]

Have you thought about going a little further? Sri Lanka is awesome, friendly, safe and cheap!

[eclectic]

sri lanka? now theres a place hardly anyone talks about--could it be the lasting impression of the suppose;dy-defeated Tamil Tigers? I think operhaps........but I believe you its cheap and good. Give the name of a great beach there please? Have you been?

[zootalaws]

Not for some years - and beaches really aren't my thing except as a medium for getting from the land to the sea...

I recommended Sri Lanka to a friend who went about 3-4 months ago - he had a fantastic time, but like me, not one for laying on a beach.

At this time of year, you would want to visit the east coast, as it is the dry season there - have a look at http://www.boutiquesrilanka.com/regions_east_north_overview.php

You will find Sri Lanka's east coast undeveloped - not a lot of resorts - the corollary to that being that there aren't lots of crowds, prices are low and reasonably priced accomodation of a high quality.

The beaches are really beautiful - white coral sand, great for snorkling, surfing, wind-surfing etc. But if just lazing the day away os your bag, they are great for that as well - you can get complete pampered service if that's your thing.

As to the Tamil situation - apparently it just isn't apparent, unless you travel to the Jafna peninsula.

[Hod]

Eclectic, what about Goa or Bondi?

[eclectic]

zoot that saounds great . really great. Ill skip Jaffna .......
Hod Goa is cool but I thnk a bit trendy and perhaps expensive and quite a few crime stories coming out of there in past 2 years....... I know its beautiful from pics Ive seen.

[wailing_imam]

Sri lanka is tremendous. It has everything a traveller could want. Excellent suggestion. I have a weekend there in august and can't wait to get stuck into those fish curries.

[zootalaws]