Southeast Asia (8 Viewers)

OP
Dragon

Dragon

Senior Member
Apr 24, 2003
27,407
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #63
    ++ [ originally posted by Shadowfax ] ++
    Kuching, Kuala Lumpur, langkawi, Ko Samui, tokyo, okinawa, Kowloon, Shanghai, Xian are all great places you have to visit

    Im going to: Beijing, Hong kong, Shanghai (maybe), Xian, Tokyo, Seoul, Ho Chi Mihn, Bangkok, Phuket, Cambodia and maybe Indonesia or Malaysia

    What useful tips can you tell me from those places? Something that the tourist books wont tell me
     

    arc

    Senior Member
    Mar 11, 2004
    4,078
    #65
    ++ [ originally posted by fabiana ] ++



    Im going to: Beijing, Hong kong, Shanghai (maybe), Xian, Tokyo, Seoul, Ho Chi Mihn, Bangkok, Phuket, Cambodia and maybe Indonesia or Malaysia

    What useful tips can you tell me from those places? Something that the tourist books wont tell me
    handover party @ edge on 30.6 :D
     
    Aug 1, 2003
    17,696
    #68
    Fabi, no jokes aside, you'll never regret coming to Malaysia. Paul mentioned KL and Langkawi, two of the most popular destinations. I'd recommend Redang island - be sure to stay at Berjaya Beach Resort. HEAVEN. and if you have the money, stay at Four Seasons in Langkawi :D Sadly, Elijah Wood and Jimmy Choo are no longer staying there I assume.

    Sabah & Sarawak are also interesting places to see. And man, talk about shopping. Kuala Lumpur man. Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has everything, is politically, economically and socially stable. Everyone loves it here.

    :heart:
     
    OP
    Dragon

    Dragon

    Senior Member
    Apr 24, 2003
    27,407
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread Starter #69
    ++ [ originally posted by sallyinzaghi ] ++
    Fabi, no jokes aside, you'll never regret coming to Malaysia. Paul mentioned KL and Langkawi, two of the most popular destinations. I'd recommend Redang island - be sure to stay at Berjaya Beach Resort. HEAVEN. and if you have the money, stay at Four Seasons in Langkawi :D Sadly, Elijah Wood and Jimmy Choo are no longer staying there I assume.

    Sabah & Sarawak are also interesting places to see. And man, talk about shopping. Kuala Lumpur man. Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has everything, is politically, economically and socially stable. Everyone loves it here.

    :heart:
    Yeah I might be going to Malaysia we still have to decide that and see if we can get the visas on time

    Thanks a lot for your tips theyre very much appreciated!
     
    Aug 1, 2003
    17,696
    #70
    Okay. Im not really good with holiday tips in Malaysia but if you ever need help shopping in KL, I'll gladly give you my number :D

    Im so excited Im gonna buy my Coach wristlet tomorrow
     

    Meow

    Senior Member
    Jun 8, 2003
    2,377
    #71
    ++ [ originally posted by fabiana ] ++
    Is there a Juve Store in Tokyo? If so, whats the address?
    yes there is....and I had the address a couple of years ago but now Ican't find it...:wallbang:


    Sorry ...


    BTW, I'm gonna spend a weekend in Singapore in mid August...my third visit there...

    Love the food.....:D
     

    swag

    L'autista
    Administrator
    Sep 23, 2003
    84,776
    #73
    My quick takes as an outsider (and I hope the locals will pardon my limited experience as a foreigner):

    Taiwan:
    I would say it seems to be a better place to live than it is necessarily to visit. Very Western in some parts. Some amazing parks along the east coast. In the cities, like Taipei, you can get food every 10 feet... and a cheap cab every 5 seconds. I could definitely pass on places like the Snake Market (aka Snake Alley), but the night markets are also where all the local kids come together and socialize... like the piazzas in Italy. The National Palace Museum is cool for all the stuff that used to be in Beijing's Forbidden City. And if you can get out to Tainan, I recommend it.

    Hong Kong:
    Everyone lives at least 14 stories up. Beautiful place if you can actually see through the sky over the harbor. Yet while the typical SE Asian major city is always hot, unbearably humid, and choked with air pollution, I'd say Hong Kong is one of the better ones (versus, say, a Manila or a Bangkok). Still, window air conditioners will drip all over you from several stories up in many parts of the city. Amazing food. I would have loved to have taken a day trip over to nearby Macau and probably will if/when I go back.

    Singapore:
    Oh, do these guys love their food. Lots of good Indian food too. The place has a completely exaggerated reputation for its Draconian laws -- the gum chewing, the caning, etc. Again, hot and humid as hell (which is one of the reasons I don't like SE Asia much and live in a place like SF). But most people escape from the heat because the place is like one gigantic shopping mall. And whatever you do, avoid lame places like Setanta Island. I found Singapore is better as an indoor, rather than outdoor, experience. I'm not sure I'd go back.

    Beijing:
    Wide swaths of construction. Brand new, cheap-looking high rises are cropping up everywhere like Magic Rocks, but there are a few parts where the architecture is a little less slapdash, as you might say in the UK. I found that many of the locals, like much of China, seems to have a major chip on its shoulder about an exaggerated inferiority complex, thinking everyone else is the world is out to put them down. So with preparations for things like the 2008 Olympics, they're going way over the top in trying to impress the world with their status and newfound riches.

    Except in China, everything is always just a little bit off and incongruous with expectations from people in the rest of the world. The best way I can describe it is that it's like ordering a hamburger and 95% of it is exactly what you'd expect - meat, bun, condiments. And then there's that 5% - like a chicken foot thrown on top - where the locals don't see the oddity in things that others in the world might see. Whatever it is, it's always interesting because of those differences.

    And the city "blocks" are massive. In the center, intersections can be 1-2km apart with traffic jams at every one and 80km/hr straightaways inbetween. And fake brand name merchandise everywhere. And people hawking DVDs for < $1. And be careful for Mongolian desert winds that cover the city with grit. And be wary of buying bottled water on the streets, as there's a lot of people refilling plastic bottles from questionable sources.

    I highly recommend Tiantan and even the Summer Palace.
     

    ZhiXin

    Senior Member
    Oct 1, 2004
    10,321
    #75
    ++ [ originally posted by swag ] ++
    My quick takes as an outsider (and I hope the locals will pardon my limited experience as a foreigner):

    Taiwan:
    I would say it seems to be a better place to live than it is necessarily to visit. Very Western in some parts. Some amazing parks along the east coast. In the cities, like Taipei, you can get food every 10 feet... and a cheap cab every 5 seconds. I could definitely pass on places like the Snake Market (aka Snake Alley), but the night markets are also where all the local kids come together and socialize... like the piazzas in Italy. The National Palace Museum is cool for all the stuff that used to be in Beijing's Forbidden City. And if you can get out to Tainan, I recommend it.

    Hong Kong:
    Everyone lives at least 14 stories up. Beautiful place if you can actually see through the sky over the harbor. Yet while the typical SE Asian major city is always hot, unbearably humid, and choked with air pollution, I'd say Hong Kong is one of the better ones (versus, say, a Manila or a Bangkok). Still, window air conditioners will drip all over you from several stories up in many parts of the city. Amazing food. I would have loved to have taken a day trip over to nearby Macau and probably will if/when I go back.

    Singapore:
    Oh, do these guys love their food. Lots of good Indian food too. The place has a completely exaggerated reputation for its Draconian laws -- the gum chewing, the caning, etc. Again, hot and humid as hell (which is one of the reasons I don't like SE Asia much and live in a place like SF). But most people escape from the heat because the place is like one gigantic shopping mall. And whatever you do, avoid lame places like Setanta Island. I found Singapore is better as an indoor, rather than outdoor, experience. I'm not sure I'd go back.

    Beijing:
    Wide swaths of construction. Brand new, cheap-looking high rises are cropping up everywhere like Magic Rocks, but there are a few parts where the architecture is a little less slapdash, as you might say in the UK. I found that many of the locals, like much of China, seems to have a major chip on its shoulder about an exaggerated inferiority complex, thinking everyone else is the world is out to put them down. So with preparations for things like the 2008 Olympics, they're going way over the top in trying to impress the world with their status and newfound riches.

    Except in China, everything is always just a little bit off and incongruous with expectations from people in the rest of the world. The best way I can describe it is that it's like ordering a hamburger and 95% of it is exactly what you'd expect - meat, bun, condiments. And then there's that 5% - like a chicken foot thrown on top - where the locals don't see the oddity in things that others in the world might see. Whatever it is, it's always interesting because of those differences.

    And the city "blocks" are massive. In the center, intersections can be 1-2km apart with traffic jams at every one and 80km/hr straightaways inbetween. And fake brand name merchandise everywhere. And people hawking DVDs for < $1. And be careful for Mongolian desert winds that cover the city with grit. And be wary of buying bottled water on the streets, as there's a lot of people refilling plastic bottles from questionable sources.

    I highly recommend Tiantan and even the Summer Palace.
    U did a very good profile of the cities though, I would add some points for u for HK + Singapore

    Most of the facts that u provided abt HK r correct, however HK is a cworded place, especially in the shopping areas. In fact u could barely walk in Causeway Bay at times. The transport efficiency at HK is 1 of the best in Asia. The service sector is improving a lot in HK. Sometimes I prefer the service in HK than SG. I prefer HK to Taiwan.

    About SG, there r a variety of food to buy. There r food centres and food courts where u could get a food at affordable prices. Very delicous if u call it. However I'm growing sick of this place due to inconsiderate ppl. The hot weather will turn u down. Same goes for the wet weather. U can see ppl playing basketball/soccer everywhere. However Singapore is a place of heaven for sports. May consider to return to HK these days.
     

    ZhiXin

    Senior Member
    Oct 1, 2004
    10,321
    #78
    No1 will ever underestimate Malaysia. KL + Johor r great shopping paradises. There r also great beach resorts ard and Genting Highlands is another place for relaxation and gambling :D
     

    Meow

    Senior Member
    Jun 8, 2003
    2,377
    #79
    I've never been to Malaysian and I wish one day I can pay you guys a visit....

    Then we can really start comparing the cities...
     

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