Korean Job Discussion Forums

mcviking · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Location: 'Fantastic' America

I want to go somewhere safe, with a good night life and cheap to stay. Emphasis on night life, I'm sick of Korea and I need to take a breather before my next job. I was thinking Vietnam or the Philippines. Not sure which to go to. I will be by myself so I don't want to go somewhere that
might be too dangerous. If you could maybe share some of you experiences in South East Asia and which one would be the most fun I would greatly appreciate it.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

Have you been to Thailand? There's lots of fun to be had for single travelers...

I'll be in the same boat as you in a few months when my contract's up and I've been looking at Goa, in India a lot recently. Having never been, I can't recommend it, but I've heard good things.

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

2nd Thailand South islands in the gulf as well as national parks for nature lovers such as Khao Sok North of Phuket. Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many other points half way around the globe. Go ahead, it's not just for rich folks renting $100 to $10,000 a night rooms, you can get $4 to $20 a night rooms in many parts of South Asia. Guesthouses, food, the experience are all affordable on this side. And quite interesting to say the least. Korea pales in comparison to what you'll see and experience in other parts of Asia not to knock it, so get out there and see for yourself. Korea is great for sitting on the PC with a huge monitor and little more than that. Get out to see the world after reading about it on your PC. Just remember, no where else is as safe as Korea when it comes to thief pick pockets and such, but I find 99% more good than the 1% bad. Hopefully it stays that way.

Epicurus · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

Go, Go and don't stop before you go.

I make it a point to get away each and every time I can. It enables me to escape insanity while being in Korea and fascinatingly enough if I really party it up abroad, I'm kind of glad to return to Korea to a more stable everyday lifestyle Shocked

in a pub school gig, that's max of 4x a year (summer, winter, spring and Chuseok)

re nightlife - very good in Bangkok, quite good in Manila and very good in Jakarta. (they all smoke Korea by a mile in terms of nightlife) and it won't be expensive.

I'll tell you about Vietnam when I go there this winter.

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

When exactly are you going? I would say September/October would be the ideal time to go to Southeast Asia since it's not quite high season yet but the rainy season is over.

Boracay had awesome nightlife with some really cool bars on the beach. You can take 500 pesos ($10) and have a great night in Boracay. Hotels aren't that expensive and if you shop around a little and bargain you'll be able to find a place for probably less than 1,000 pesos per night.

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

If you're mainly interested in nightlife I'd agree with the other posters that Thailand is probably number 1 in Asia, but Manila and Cebu/Boracay in the Philippines are also very good. In Indonesia Jakarta has a lot of all night clubs and of course Bali is always happening, but the rest of the country tends to be very conservative. You can find some good places in HCMC, but in general the nightlife in Vietnam isn't quite what it is in other places. Laos and Cambodia are amazing to travel in - my two favorite countries in Asia - but they both lack in quality nightlife (unless you count going to hostess bars filled with fat middle aged men in Phnom Penh a great time). Coming from Korea really any of these choices will be a great change and you'll probably have a good time no matter what you choose. As for safety I've never found SE Asia to be particularly dangerous - especially compared to US cities - but if you are by yourself and drinking a lot you make yourself vulnerable to crime no matter where you are, so use common sense when going out.

Epicurus · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

fitta · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Location: ROK

Thailand, hands down. Just watch out for swine flu!

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

Bali is phenomenal. Go!

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:29 pm Post subject:

I've just planned my winter vacation in Jan. for Bali. This'll be my third time to Bali (and I'm going over to Java to see Boroudur etc. around Yogyakarta).

I've been to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, & China... but keep going back to Bali - it's as much fun, less sleezy & less expensive than Phuket!

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

Bohol in Philippines is very good. Filipino people were great. Reasonably priced too. Cebu Pacific has very reasonable prices for flights these days.