Korean Job Discussion Forums

indytrucks · Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf

Laos, man, Laos!

Three weeks would allow you to do the north/south - south/north Laos run, and you'd be able to take in all the major sites and activities. You could start north and do the Vientiane - Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang circuit, getting as far north as Luang Nam Tha or Phonsavan if you wish, then head down via Savannaket to Pakse and Champasak. Conversely, you can do the trip in reverse order, heading east from Bangkok via Ubon Ratchatani and start south.

Laos is my pick of SE Asia. Nowhere near as crowded as Thailand (then again, where is?), not as many dodgy touts as Cambo and Vietnam and cheaper than any of those places. This is not to mention the most important thing about Laos ... the people. Lao people are the most laid back, welcoming, friendly bunch I've met in SE Asia. Admittedly, there aren't any beaches there, but the 4,000 islands south of Pakse are still a great place to chill. Plenty of opportunities for trekking, kayaking, sightseeing, ruins exploring etc.

For tour possibilities check out Wildside Ecotours. I've done a few treks with them and they are a first class outfit.

Get there before Lao turns into Thailand. What a shame that would be...

Hope this helps. Happy traveling.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I second what Ralph said about Singapore. It's underrated. Granted, it's not the place for a beach holiday and finding cheap accommodation is a chore but you can eat very well and get around cheaply. Great mix of cultures and some surprisingly traditional sights in the midst of ultra-modernity. A bonus for me, as a WWII buff, were museums relating to that. Like Ralph, I've also been to Hua Hin. Good, not great, beach. Excellent seafood! The luxurious Hotel Sofitel there was where part of the movie THE KILLING FIELDS was filmed. One downer about the place were the haughty West Europeans all around the place....

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

Between a position and a hakwon I spent 2 months in LOS (Land of Smiles). I stayed on Koh Samui and got my PADI Open Water certification. At that time the visibility was 30 meters.

I loved it in Samui. It is PARADISE! It is beautiful. The food is wonderful! The fruit is delicous. The weather was great. (July/August). The people became a memory that has been etched into my being!

I stayed in a place with a big fan and cable TV; 7.50 a night.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

This is an old thread.. my opinions of Singapore has changed (if I�d expressed them earlier on this thread). I know I did somewhere with Ralph in regards to Thailand vs. Singapore.

Very multicultural, very compressed and easy to get around, great selection of food, I really like the architecture as well. Singapore is pretty cool in itself.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I have to say this thread is doing at least 2 things to me. It's making me want to buy a ticket ASAP. But it's also been informative. I spent a few months in Thailand but have not visited other countries in the region. And I have an itch to see Vietnam. Just a week or so off in August, I can hit Hanoi or Saigon. Of course what I would like to do is get a few months and cruise into Laos, Cambodia and Burma too.

I haven't travelled much but I think S.E. Asia has a timeless, almost magical quality about it, unlike anything else I've experienced. Korea's all "pali pali" as we know and the people aren't so happy. The US and CanadA are arrogant advanced nations. But in S.E. Asia the people are poor and acceptant and often very nice. And why rush, some of them seem to say, let's enjoy ourselves?

That's a viewpoint I can appreciate.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Ah but Tiger aren't you enjoying Spain? Have you been there before? Can't you maybe visit Portugal or another cool place? Perhaps it's a money/time thing. Obviously it is for most of us. I presume you have very itchy feet Laughing

Dude, you have a travel diary almost anybody would envy Wink

Sounds like you could put together some writings?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

If I had both time and money and could wander around Spain.. it would be amazing..

As is.. no time and money and way off on the fringes of a town living on-campus.. which is okay.. but.. definetely a student existance in a very non-tourist town.

I�m enjoying my existance though.. but I am very restless.. and would love to be getting super-drunk in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam or even some other cool city in Spain right about now.

As is I�m sitting in my dormitory room thinking about what materials to read for class tomorrow..

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Ah well c'est la vie Tiger. Life isn't all sweet. But still sounds to me like maybe you've tasted a bit of sweetness?

I've tasted some sour. Just a few minutes ago I got an email from my younger brother including an old picture of my father who died in 1992.

It hit me hard. Holy crap. To see the man who hit my life so much and still sneaks his way into my spooky dreams!

Anyway that's personal. But no matter. I wish you well and hope we'll hit up for a beer someday.

Seoultrader · Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah

www.balibago.com

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Azure · Joined: 11 Aug 2004

Azure · Joined: 11 Aug 2004

Some more words. Chinese New Year will be the best time to see the special events in Hong Kong. The date for 2005: Feb. 9-11 (�� Ϸ�, �� Ʋ, �� ) (Lunar new year day 1, day 2, day 3). There are massive parade on the main streets in Kowloon downtown. Not to miss the glamourous fireworks on Victoria harbour. You can see how the country dump taxpayers' money of US$600000 to the sea for 20 minutes extravanganza. I'd never see a country doing this every year just for citizen and tourists' entertainment. WOrth to see it live.

Shops will close on day one, but resume business gradually from day 2-3. So, you're not going to miss the shopping part.