Where to Stop in Asia??

kevthecelt

Hi guys, im going to new zealand in feb for 4 weeks and im going to be stopping in asia for a few nights on the way there, the trouble is im not sure where to go? Tokyo? Osaka? Cambodia? Vietnam? Could anybody recommend a place to stop over? Ive been to hong kong before so dont really want to see it again, any advice would be greatly appreciated

PunyHuman

I spent a week in Singapore last spring and really liked it. If you only have a few days I don't think it wouldn't be worthwhile to go to Vietnam or Cambodia.

I haven't been to Japan, but it seems a bit out of the way for a stopover en route to NZ. And don't even think about Bangkok ( unless you want what it's offering ).

Have fun!

Darren

PunyHuman wrote:

I spent a week in Singapore last spring and really liked it. If you only have a few days I don't think it wouldn't be worthwhile to go to Vietnam or Cambodia.

I haven't been to Japan, but it seems a bit out of the way for a stopover en route to NZ. And don't even think about Bangkok ( unless you want what it's offering ).

Have fun!

Hong Kong is a great stop off for a few days.

PunyHuman

kevthecelt wrote:

Ive been to hong kong before so dont really want to see it again

It is a great place though. Singapore is same same but different.

empirix

Gonna strongly disagree with Puny human about Bangkok - may i ask have you ever been there and if so for how long? Its not all about the sex industry there, surre there are places to go for it if you want it, obviously more widespread than European countries and first world countries etc, but believe it or not not everybody goes there for that - shock horror! There are some amazing things to see around Bangkok - the Grand Palace being an obvious choice, there is always something to do here and it is a fascinating place - all be it the pollution can be annoying at times in the city(exhaust fumes). Its much better than Singapore although Hong Kong is spectacular but about 20 times more expensive. Hit Bangkok dude, it ain't all about the Kok there, excuse the pun:D

PunyHuman

OK, so I was only there for a week, but it wasn't the sleaze that was the problem, it was the fierce heat and humidity and, as you say, the pollution and traffic. But I've been to other cities with these problems and found them to be great places. So I don't know, Bangkok just didn't seem like an easy city to be in, and it didn't appeal to me.

_blank_

I was in Bangkok recently aswell, for three days, and wouldn't recommend it for any longer than that. It is very, very humid and hot, and the pollution is suffocating in the conditions, but the city has it's charms. Namely the Khao San Road where you can get cheap everything. I enjoyed the trip around the Buddhist Temples too.

I have some mates stopping over in HK on the way here, I don't know what made them choose it though, probably because I had been to Bangkok.

Do you have to stop in a city? Could you, say, fly to Bangkok and get another flight to one of the Islands? I went to Koh Samui, and it was fabulous. You could probably get a return flight from Bk to KS for about EUR120 or less.

empirix

Yeah i agree the humidity can be a bit of a killer alright - but the problem with you guys and so many others is, you just didn't know where to go, i still don't know the names of most streets etc, i just know how to get where i want to go, was never good with languages etc, i prefer to raise the index finger and point:)

You think Bangkok is polluted(exhaust fumes), don't go to Malaysia!

_blank_

Do you live in Bangkok?

PunyHuman

empirix wrote:

the problem with you guys and so many others is, you just didn't know where to go

I wouldn't generalise. There is no problem with me. I just didn't like the city, that's all.

sportswear

you are from a western country.

singapore and hong kong are basically western cities. rich, first world, and due to their recent history quite european.


go to bangkok. it amazing. just make sure you know where to go when you get there.

AND TELL THE TAXI MAN AT THE AIRPORT TO PUT THE METER ON!!!!!

_blank_

sportswear wrote:

AND TELL THE TAXI MAN AT THE AIRPORT TO PUT THE METER ON!!!!!

That is quite important actually.

Darren

sportswear wrote:

you are from a western country.

singapore and hong kong are basically western cities. rich, first world, and due to their recent history quite european.


go to bangkok. it amazing. just make sure you know where to go when you get there.

AND TELL THE TAXI MAN AT THE AIRPORT TO PUT THE METER ON!!!!!

I guess it depends on what you want. I've been to poor developing countries and incredibly wealthy countries. The whole "travelling" thing just does not appeal to me any more. Give me a comfortable hotel in Hong Kong, Dubai or Sydney over a hostel in Bangkok any day. Maybe I am just getting old.

PunyHuman

sportswear wrote:

you are from a western country.

singapore and hong kong are basically western cities. rich, first world, and due to their recent history quite european.

If you're implying that this is why Western tourists (including myself) prefer SG and HK, you're wrong. I've been to Delhi, and Mumbai, and Phnom Penh, and Vientiane, and Saigon and Hanoi - none of which are rich western first-world european-style cities - and I liked them all. I didn't like Bangkok.

People are allowed not to like places, you know.

eamy

Maybe you should just go somewhere completely different like Shanghai or Tokyo and have a new experience. Shanghai would have a mix of old and new side by side, while Tokyo is just in a world of its own.

maccarthy

empirix wrote:

you just didn't know where to go, i still don't know the names of most streets etc, i just know how to get where i want to go

Where would you recommend me to see in BKK next time??

empirix

Depends what your into - Check out www.bangkokrecorder.com for the music/clubs/bar scenes etc, other than that, my persoinal favourite, just hop on any bus you see and travel around until you see something interesting, i do this a lot and am always finding new places - take the hotel/guesthouse card your staying with you(make sure address is in Thai) just in case you get totally lost(won't happen!) or just say Sukhumvit or Khoa San rd to a tuk tuk or taxi driver. Happy travels!:)