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Kota Kinbalu, Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta

 
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hapigokelli



Joined: 04 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:03 pm    Post subject: Kota Kinbalu, Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta Reply with quote

Currently trying to decide between these three jumping off points for a 2 week vacation in August with the boyfriend.

We like scuba, beaches, eco-tourism, adventure stuff like ziplines and rafting, exotic food, and temples/palaces, etc.

Anybody been to any of these areas?
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stansfu



Joined: 23 Jun 2010

PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:13 pm    Post subject: Kota Kinabalu Reply with quote

KK good for scuba dive..and infact, there are alot of islands nearby with clean water and very little tourists and nice beaches... Exotic food would be in Jakarta.. Lot's of cheap seafood especially prawns and crabs...but again you can do all.... since Airasia.com have very cheap tickets if you book in advance .. usually well within $20usd per plane ticket if you book 2-3mths in advance.
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hapigokelli



Joined: 04 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you think that there is time in a 2 week vacation to do all 3?
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DrugstoreCowgirl



Joined: 08 May 2009
Location: Daegu-where the streets have no name

PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't been to any of these places (yet) but I'll be in KK and KL in a little over a month. I'd definitely say Kota Kinabalu. There is so much to do in and around that area. One of the best dive sites in the world is nearby, lots of islands, rainforest, hiking, wildlife etc. You can go rafting in Brunei which is just a coupe hours away on bus.

I looked into Jakarta and it sounds pretty dirty and nasty.
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DeMayonnaise



Joined: 02 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DrugstoreCowgirl wrote:
I looked into Jakarta and it sounds pretty dirty and nasty.


A friend of mine did a 6 month exchange in Jakarta and said it was a terrible city with absolutely no reason to visit it. I maintain that big cities in SE Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh) are to only be used as transit points from one point to another.

I keep hearing more and more great things about Kota Kinabalu and Malaysian Borneo in general. I'd go there.
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alwaysbeclosing100



Joined: 07 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:36 am    Post subject: re Reply with quote

KK sounds like your place but KL also has lots of cheap flights to a large number of surrounding countries
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oskinny1



Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!

PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did KK last year. Good place for food, Mt. K, and rafting. Skip Brunei, it is a waste of time. Try not to stay in KK too much though, keep it as a jumping off point.
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bucheon bum



Joined: 16 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DeMayonnaise wrote:
I maintain that big cities in SE Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh) are to only be used as transit points from one point to another.


Why? Bangkok is a great city. It has got a bit of everything (temples, museums, food, entertainment). HCMC is a pretty chaotic, interesting place too.

KL isn't bad, but it isn't too exciting. A day or two is perfectly sufficient to see anything of interest there. As others have noted, it is good for getting an Air Asia flight to somewhere else. Malaysia in general has a lot of what you're looking for, so KL might be a good jumping off point for you.
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DeMayonnaise



Joined: 02 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bucheon bum wrote:
DeMayonnaise wrote:
I maintain that big cities in SE Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh) are to only be used as transit points from one point to another.


Why? Bangkok is a great city. It has got a bit of everything (temples, museums, food, entertainment). HCMC is a pretty chaotic, interesting place too.

KL isn't bad, but it isn't too exciting. A day or two is perfectly sufficient to see anything of interest there. As others have noted, it is good for getting an Air Asia flight to somewhere else. Malaysia in general has a lot of what you're looking for, so KL might be a good jumping off point for you.


I've been to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur, and I don't really see a reason to be there more than a day or two to go to much better places in the region. Bangkok was alright, but I'd much rather spend my time, especially if I was on a short vacation, on the beach or at Chang Mai.
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alwaysbeclosing100



Joined: 07 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:58 am    Post subject: bump Reply with quote

chiang mai is a wonderful city with friendly people and great things to see.....and also cheap
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Yaya



Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I say a big thumbs down to Kota Kinabalu. I was there in 2008 and won't go again. The people weren't friendly, the beaches sucked, prices were high for Southeast Asia, and I didn't get the positive vibe I usually get when in Southeast Asia. Not a whole lot to do in Kota Kinabalu, and people I asked who know Malaysia said Penang is a lot better.

I've never been to Jakarta so I cannot comment on that city.
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alwaysbeclosing100



Joined: 07 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 2:30 am    Post subject: re Reply with quote

if jakarta is an option bali is a cheap flight from there which is probably your best of all the options.............if you are an outdoor person I have seen some nice pics from people on the big mountain near KK........
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