Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

Well since I am living in Asia and a high percentage of ESL teachers live there, what do you think is the best travel destination in Asia?

So far I have been to Shanghai, Taiwan, and I will travel to Thailand in February. I will give you my opinion when I return. I would like to visit Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos in the future.

[dulouz]

I'm fond of Laos so I recommend Laos

[Njord]

Well, we have one vote for Laos! Could you please give some reasons why? I'm also interested in the question, and just knowing that you are fond of the place doesn't quite sell it for me.

[dulouz]

Laos - good quality - dirt cheap. $3 a night for very good guest houses, great big dinners for $2. you know those shops in Amsterdam, those coffee shops? Its like that in Laos. Many parts of Laos are disturbingly beautiful, beautiful enough to put you in a trance. Great visitors, you'll meet people from all over. The Laotians are not money hungry, they won't annoy you with all of the grabbing and hawking and scams. Laos has excellent recreation. Excellent hiking and kayaking. If you like culture, they have Wat after Wat after Wat.

Laos = serious chill

[JZer]

dulouz,

sounds interesting. I might head there this summer. I am thinking of hitting Cambodia and Laos.

What is a good budget for Laos? Will $15 a day get you a decent hotel, beer, and plenty to eat?

[dulouz]

Sure, $15 a day will do you well out in the country. The very nice guest houses in Vietienne will cost $15 a night but these places are shiney spanking new and come with a serious cable package. I stay at a hotel called the Vasayana and the suites go for $10 but they are musty and I have low standards so I'm fine there. The TV is bad. Out in the country you can find very good guesthouse for $3 - 5 a night. $15 is about right but you will likely want to go on tours and kayak rides so that will put you over $15. I think you know how that works. A paid tour means one night in a flop house to compensate. Money is hard to get there, there are a few ATMS but mostly not, you need cash to travel without freaking out about getting some. Visas are $2 a day.

Laos is cheap, I spent the month of December there and I came back with plenty of money even after I paid my rent here in Seoul. I was really surprised. My rental motorbike got a flat in Vietinne so I went to a repair shop to get it fixed. The young man there fixed the flat and then meekly asked for $.05. I either wanted to cry or slap him. I gave him a dollar.

Laos is special because even tho the people are dirt poor, they have a dignity about them where they don't show the pain and desperation. I can handle dignified poor people but the miserable poor decrease the quality of my experience.

Cambodia is worth a visit but they have a sordid past and present. The peace of mind you'll find in Laos won't be there.

There is a good train trip from here to Laos though China and you can stop at Xian which I think used to be the capital of China a long time ago so there is some good archeology there.

Laos is a communist country. They proudly display the cycle and hammer
flag and I think they are the nicest communists in history. You have to look hard to find evidence they are commies, theres no indoctrination camps, no thought crime police, no gulags, no multicultural sensitivities.

The most obvious way you know you are in a dictatorship is by the beer. There is one only one kind of beer in Laos, its called "Beer Lao". Its commie beer. Other than that, the politburo seems to have its hands in anything with a big price tag ie real estate, banking, SUV dealerships with the point being to skim off some cash without making too many waves.

I haven't been all through Asia and I want to go to Borneo yet so my opinion comes with that warning.

Have a good time!

[rapier]

They're all different and it depends on what you're looking for.

I'm in Thailand now..like it for the friendly people, the variety of landscapes and things to do (mountains, rainforests, beaches etc) and its accessibility to foreigners. Also great atmosphere.

Laos is the cheapest and the friendliest. Largely undeveloped, be prepared for hair raisng bus rides on terrible roads. However is very peaceful with some nice scenery too.

Vietnam to me is the most picturesque in places. Also the best looking women. Howver you get more hassle there than anywhere else I find.

Cambodia- Angkpor wat is awesome..a must see. Also Tonle sap is a favorite and sihanoukville. The people have unique look and character. Great. The history and present is quite shocking though. War/poverty. But aaltogether you could say its my favorite as its the most interesting.

Malaysia..was only there briefly..don't think it has the same touristy appeal as the others though. It has some great nat. parks though, I'd like to visit Teman negara sometime.

Singapore: charming city and shopping but very expensive..

Phillipines..considering a short trip there now..Hmmm..mixed reports on that one..

[Tiger Beer]

i think it depends a lot on what a person wants to do.

but for the price and having the most options of all things combined - probably thailand would lead the list by far. its also the most international by far. a little bit of absolutely everything for everyone.

that being said.. way too many tourists absolutely everywhere for my tastes.. and philippines with english, cheap, and being able to do a lot of really different things - watching cheap movies, beautiful beaches, major cities, reading huge newspapers, visiting large bookstores, not so many tourists and no language barrier does it for me.

however, thailand could be said to be about the same and more 'exotic' things where the philippines just feels more normal with its catholicism and english everywhere.

[rapier]

Have you done any visits to the volcanoes there Tiger beer?

[Tiger Beer]

[JZer]

dulouz, how can I fly to Laos. It does not appear that Air Korea flys to Laos!! How much is a ticket to Laos?

[dulouz]

A flight to Laos is a flight to BKK and then an over night bus or train ride to to Laos. Both options are cheap.

The cheap flights to BKK leave you at BKK airport at 2 AM. You have to stay there until the A2 shuttle bus starts to operate and that happens at 5:30 AM. go to KSR -Khao San Road. Once there, hang at a 24 hour guest house cafe until the tour operators open at 9AM. The train tickets sell out but the bus tickets are availabe all day so If you want the train go early.

The visa will be $30 for 15 days and the visas are extendible indefinately but you can only do this in Vietienne. You will need passport type fotos. I take care of this by printing a whole page of passport fotos on a PC printer and then I stuff the page in my passport and take one picture out when I need to. The strategy works well.


Vietienne has the best large size shoe store in Asia. I'm not kidding. If the size isn't US 10 or above, they won't have it.

Oh yea, you get to hang with French people there. They aren't all bad, esp on holiday.

[JZer]

dulouz,

thanks for the info. I am going to Thailand in two weeks so I might try to pick up some literature on getting to Laos when I am there.

The visa you are talking about is one that you can get when entering the country. Is this correct?

What are the best towns other than Vietienne to visit? What do you recommend?

[ajgeddes]

I think that there are two types of trips people go on. One is the 'adventure' trip and the other is the 'vacation' trip. When you are going on adventure trips, you like to do lots of different stuff, do cultural things and kind of stay in cheaper places because they are usually longer trips.

I think the best places for these trips are in fact, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

When you are going for a vacation, usually it is a shorter time period, you are looking for to kick back and relax, and stuff like that. Sort of an easier trip.

I think the best place for this is Malaysia. Although, there is tonnes of adventure if you are looking for it, it can be a very relaxing place. Beautiful beaches, nice resorts, scuba/snorkelling, very modern compared to other countries in the region, and Kuala Lumpur is a great city with a great nightlife. Also, if you are into shopping, welcome to heaven. If you are willing to spend some money, I think this may be the best vacationing spot, not to mention that almost EVERYBODY speaks English, so it is so easy to do things. Also, the people are really, really kind and friendly and don't try to rip you off.

I will give you an example. I was walking down the street at night with my GF and the cabbie says, "Hey, you want a taxi?" Now, this was my first night there, and after being to Vietnam on my last trip, I thought 'Oh great, here comes a hassle.' So, I said, "no thanks we are just walking to the Petronas towers." He responds with, "ah.. yeah, just down the street there and go left." I say, "thank you." He says, "Have a good one."(I was surprised by the 'have a good one.') I think this is one thing the seperates Malaysia from other countries in SEA. They are honest, kind, and they don't try to rip you off.

Anyways, besides Malaysia, I think other countries that are also high in this type of trip are Thailand and the Philippines.

Yes, I know there is a whole world out there to travel to, but I honestly believe SEA is a travelling paradise with so many options, so that's why all my top countries are in this region. Also, all these countries are safe and you don't have to worry about stuff like that as much as you do everywhere else.

my two cents

[dulouz]

Yes, visa on arrival, the bus tour company does all of that. You will visit Vietienne - one day/night is good and the next day leave early from Talat Sau. Its the market (very good market with low prices, same stuff in BKK but cheaper). Go to Vang Vieng, I rarely got past that place. You will go during the dry season and to be honest, the jungle is much prettier during the wet season, its much much prettier. The beach is best during the dry season
since the sea turns to mud because of the river run off. The sea looks like diet coke then but the jungle is very nice and vice versa. Lunang Probang is good but its not nature, you go for the Wats. Plain of Jars is worth a short trip but you have to pay for the tour, you can't do it on your own and its cheap. The south is really nice but I haven't got there yet. Its very cold in the mountains so if you go past Vang Vieng, bring winter clothes.