Korean Job Discussion Forums

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

For those who have vacations during the summer, where do you usually head. Thailand, Cambodia, the Phillipines, and Vietnam are great in the winter but are quit hot in the summer. So where does one go in the summer?

peppermint · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:54 am Post subject:

Various parts of China are quite nice

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Went to Vietnam last July for 3 weeks, and YES it definitely is HOT!! However, it was nice and you just keep on drinking cheap beer and it makes it all better, haha.

I think China or Japan would be nice places to travel to in the summer. Depending on where you go, there is similar weather to what there is here in Korea, so you don't want to go during the winter, unless you want to do specific winter activities.

Save SEA for breaks from the cold.

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

Well, I have a long time to think about it but I am thinking Japan or the Czech Republic. I would like to see some cities outside of Prague.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I went to Prague in 2004 and some of the surrounding cities. They say that February is the month with the least amount of tourists, and it was still just packed full of tourists. Apparently in the summer time it is just pathetic because there are soooo many tourists there. Surrounding cities are great, and there shouldn't be a problem, but I don't think being in Prague will be as enjoyable because of the sheer amounts of tourists.

At the same time, that city will be amazing no matter when you go and you WILL have a great time.

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

Well I have been to Prague twice. I really want to see some other towns. I will land in Prague if I go but will only spend a few days there. I would like to see Cesky Krumlov and Plzen. What towns do you recommend?

lawyertood · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:

I don't think the drawback to Southeast Asia is the heat in the summer as much as it is the rainy season. Thailand seems to be much hotter in April and May from my experience.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Well, when I went there, I went to Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora and Terezin.

Karlovy Vary is a GREAT city! It is an old spa town and very picturesque and beautiful. The downtown is mostly just walking and not for driving and it just follows the river. There are a LOT of Russians there. You can go around drinking all the different mineral waters, and even get a good massage for a good price. Don't miss this place.

Kutna Hora has the bone church is still quite medieval. It is just a small town but interesting nonetheless. There is also a really big cathedral that has largly been untouched. Interesting place that you shouldn't miss.

Terezin is where an old Nazi concentration camp is. However, it is actually an old fort built in the 19th century. Quite humbling to see, and leaves you with that feeling in your stomach because you can still see the bullet holes from where they had the firing range where they did you know what. It wasn't actually a death camp, but more of a transit ghetto. The town itself is sleepy with just a little museum and not much else, but it is also good.

You mentioned Plzen, but it really is just an industrial town with nothing much to do, they just happen to also make the beer. We were planning on going there, but everytime we mentioned going there, people just looked at us with a "why would you want to go there??" look on their faces. Just buy the beer somewhere else.

Cesky Krumlov was highly recommended, but we had time constraints and couldn't make it. It was either there or Karlovy Vary, but the Czech people we knew said to go to Karlovy Vary. However, close to Cesky Krumlov is Cesky Budejovice, where is where Budweiser comes from. There you can get the beer and a good experience, because it is a nicer town. So, skip Plzen and go there as it really a short drive from Cesky Krumlov. I believe you can actually boat down the river from one to the other by kayak or canoe or something.

Anything else you want to know, ask away.

Actually, one day we went go-carting just outside of Prague, and it was one of the most fun things I did. The carts were FAST! and they time you and keep your records on paper to give out after. And... they let you bump the other carts as you like. This isn't like the crap you are going to do in North America.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

That much? I think it's grown since I was there last (a few months after they kicked out the Communists)... it certainly didn't feel like 50,000...
But nevertheless, I'd still say 50, 000 is a town.
Geez, now that you mention it, I don't even recall seeing a modern part of the 'city' Shocked

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Yeah, it's up above 50,000 now. When you first enter the city, there is a newer part to the city. I come from a town of 10,000 people, so to me 50,000 is definitely a city Wink

. Was the big mineral water pool open when you were there? It is a big 25m pool with lanes and it is naturally heated. I went swimming there (outside) in the middle of February.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

no. The main spa bathworks whatever was under renovation/restoration when I was there.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Japan, Mongolia, and Russia come to mind for me.. all nearby.. and none of which I have any desire to visit in the Winter.

Another real interesting one would be Alaska.. however not so sure what airfares to Anchorage might run..