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02/12/2008 14:44:23
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Stig
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Right, my vacation is coming up and I need some ideas. I've got a most of January off (i work in the education sector) and I'll probably be flying into Bangkok (or Siem Reap if needs be). Any suggestions on places in SE Asia that I might enjoy? I've sepnt time in Cambodia and Myanmar, but have never been around Malaysia, Laos or Vietnam. I kinda like the big cities and enjoy small sleepy towns (Moulmein and Kampot spring to mind), and I do have a craving for rotting colonial architecture!
While I do enjoy clean air, I'm not particuarly fond of hiking or trips out into the countryside. Also, although I've been to Bangkok countless times, I've never really explored the rest of the country, but I don't really want to laze around on the beach.
Tips please of places to visit, especially small sleepy towns.
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02/12/2008 19:11:39
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flydragon
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If you have to fly to BKK, maybe would be interesting BKK ---> Chiang Mai -- cross to Lao from there you can enjoye the mountain in north.
Luang Prabang --- vientiane and back to BKK if you have to fly back from there. Lao is cool and the food also 
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02/12/2008 22:57:20
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Luko
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Stig wrote:
but have never been around Malaysia, Laos or Vietnam. I kinda like the big cities and enjoy small sleepy towns (Moulmein and Kampot spring to mind), and I do have a craving for rotting colonial architecture!
Tips please of places to visit, especially small sleepy towns.
Luang Prabang springs first to mind. Francis loves Vientiane also, but I don't find it half the charm of LP.
Unfortunately I can't find any colonial charms to thailand cities, although I love the countryside, vibrant BKK and elegant Chiang Mai.
Vietnam can be full of surprises too when you think colonial, except for Yangon, nothing beats Hanoi old quarters, if you want sleepier, Haiphong might be a good bet. Looooooooove Hoi An but that was years ago, turns out to be Disneyland now if I believe Francis reports. Dunno in the Mekong area, interesting towns but not that colonial (how about Sa Dec or Chau Doc? Francis?)
Malaysia... hmmh.. no that's not what you want : Kuching/Borneo might be the one that probably matches most..very pleasant but not your cup of tea I believe. Penang is on continental M'sia, very chinese town, small bustling provincial capital, I would there again just for the food, Melaka could be a second bet but I fear it's more like a museum town nowadays.
Indonesia, I would really like to go to Banjarmasin/Borneo which is supposed to be really lovely, a stilt town, with bustling markets selling on canals. Some indonesian towns boasts lovely photo places like famous sunda kelapa in super ugly Jakarta but mostly it's decayed modern no-architecture towns (Thailand style).
Philippines : no way! Not the best place for towns and photos except underwater.
I'm afraid that except for Laos and Vietnam you already hit the best colonial sleepy towns in SEA with Burma and Cambodia.
You want the name of the best colonial sleepy town in the WHOLE world? I give you the name, Ilha de Moçambique, East Africa. 
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03/12/2008 00:14:56
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stevev1
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Laos is indeed very nice and laid back with plenty of old french architecture around. It has changed though...a lot!
When I first went there in '99 it still was relatively unspoiled and both Vientiane and Luang Prabang where charming towns. Heck even Vang Vieng was a sleepy village. Went back in 2001 and thing were changing quickly but it was still very, very OK. 3th trip in 2003 was not a good idea, I hardly recognised the place, it's no Thailand yet but it's very close. Far to many guesthouses and bars and all that backpacker crap. Travel on the Mehkong will never be the same again... The far South was still very laid back then, I can only hope it still is. the 4000 islands region and towns like Savannaketh and Pakxe can be reached from Vientiane but also via the Isaan provence in Thailand (great place btw with even better food!)
As for Vietnam: I've only been there 1 time....I do find Hanoi one of the "must go destinations"in Asia. It really is one fantastic town with loads of history and admosphere.
Malaysia: so so for charming towns....Penang is very nice though. High tech mega city wise KL is great for a day or 2. Air Asia has many flights to and from KL....if you want something away from the main tourist paths I can warmly recommend Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo). It's a short and cheap flight to Kuching (my favorite seriously laid back town in Asia). The capital of Sarawak is a joke...it's a small town by a fast flowing mud river. But believe it or not a Hilton hotel has spoiled the skyline 
If you want to experience proper jungle, headhunters and all...hop on a river ferry for a few days and visit the tribes!
Cambodia and Birma...well you know how nice it s
Indonesia is great as well but you'll need a lot of time and let's just say the Dutch didn't leave much interesting heritage....
Funny Luko mentioned sunda kelapa in Jakarta as I've just prepared a project on this port that I will upload shortly
But Will it's very simple if you want an overdose on crumbing colonial buildings there's only one place to go....Kolkata
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03/12/2008 12:17:23
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Luko
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stevev1 wrote:
But Will it's very simple if you want an overdose on crumbing colonial buildings there's only one place to go....Kolkata
Not really sleepy though... 
Good to know for Kolkata, I haven't been there and was wondering whether it was worth staying some time. Looks like. (How about nearby Dhaka as a colonial town?)
Laos : been there in 2004, even with the backpacker crowd, I think it was really worth in monsoon low season (nothing like the Siem Reap crowds for instance). I still think LP is unique and hard to beat, I cannot think of any thai city that would look the similar.
Kuching : I love charming Kuching too as a stopover back from the Ibans or from diving upper north in Sabah. Still slapping my head against the wall from that rare and genuine Orang Ulu shield I didn't buy, because my wife told we already had too many in our flat. Also used to stay at the Hilton too... ... But really I still wonder : would Kuching be nice for more than a couple of days, especially if you're in mainly for photo ops...
I could also do a list of the most unattractive places and towns Asia : Cebu City, Langkawi, Chennai, Colombo (probably on the top of my list), Denpasar, Mataram, Rantepao, Chiang Rai, Sihanoukville, etc.
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03/12/2008 16:14:18
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steph
Posts 331
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I hope for you that Thailand will be accessible by plane on january...
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03/12/2008 16:30:57
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flydragon
Posts 285
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Seems that Tomorrow the 2 airport will open
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03/12/2008 16:54:51
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Stig
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Thanks for the suggestions. I might go to BKK, take a flight to Hanoi and cut through Laos back to Bangkok.
I don't just want colonial stuff. I like the smaller towns, and then hiring a scooter and taking my time exploring the place.
Siem Reap was great in 2002, just before the package tourists came to town, one decent bar in the town and no decent roads to speak of!
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03/12/2008 16:57:51
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stevev1
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That bar in Siem Reap wouldn't be the Red Piano right....? I know the owner, A Belgian guy from Antwerp Great food and Belgian beers..felt right at home.
If your doing that tour, you'll pass Ninh Binh (very nice) and Also Vihn (ugly and undustrial, but could be good for photos)
edited by stevev1 on 03/12/2008
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