Executive summary article By Matthew Coe
Thailand
Thailand is usually the best place to start
for the first time independent traveler. Bangkok is a buzzing city crisscrossed
with canals & rivers. The sky line is one of high rises, shopping malls
& international hotel chains but at the canal banks and side streets of the
city the traditional side of Thai life is clearly visible. The business hub of
the city is easily navigated using the skyrail & underground but the more
touristy areas around the Koh San road are less well supplied & Tuk Tuks
are the main mode of transport. Negotiate hard with your tuk tuk driver - a
taxi will always be cheaper & has the advantage of air conditioning however
be sure to agree that you're charged according to the metre as opposed to
agreeing a fixed price. For the best food though go to the street hawkers. South
Islands
Most people come to Thailand for the beaches
and Diving. The main Islands in the south are:
Koh Tao
A backpacker Island where everyone comes to
dive and mainly to learn how to dive. There are some great beaches here and
also a good nightlife.
Koh Pan gan
This is the party island of Thailand and where
the famous Full Moon party is held each month. This if you have not heard is
one big crazy party on a beach which attracts at least 10,000 people each month
to get as fucked up as possible. Koh Samui & Phuket
I
would strongly suggest avoiding these two islands.
Koh Phi Phi
The Beach is like a postcard or you can get a
boat to the lagoon where the Leo Dicapro film 'The Beach' was filmed and chill
there for the day.
Vietnam
Vietnam was ravaged by war but is now a great
place to visit. Hanoi
Hanoi is the capitol of Vietnam and is a great
introduction into the Vietnamese way of life. The city is always bustling and
careful when crossing those roads as those motorbikes don't stop.
The city center is located around Hoan Kiem
lake, just of the lake is the old quarter which is the main area for budget
hostels and guesthouses. Hanoi is a great place to just go out and wander. Each
street has its own trade and each shop will only sell products to do with that
trade so you end up having streets only selling shoes or kitchenware. If you
get tired and hot whilst walking around you can always stop off for some Bia
Hoi. Ha Long bay
This is north of Hanoi and is available from
all travel agencies in the city as either overnight trip. Hoi An
Hoi An is located on the coast and actually
has a pretty decent beach. Nha Trang
Is a beach resort just over halfway down the
country. This city is very developed with a good long beach stretching the entire
length of it. Ho Chi Min City (Saigon)
This is the Vietnam you see in the films. From
here you do a day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels where the North had a series of
small tunnels which they used to fight the south. Cambodia
Cambodia is surrounded by Vietnam, Thailand
and Laos and has the Mekong go through the country into Laos.
Phnom Penh
Is a typical Asian Capitol city, will not
loads to do but getting there is a great experience if you come from Vietnam. The
two main places to see in and around Phnom Penh are the Killing Fields where
around 200,000 people were executed during 1975-1979 when the Khmer Rouge
reigned. Sihanoukville
Is a beach resort about 3 to 4 hours bus ride
away from Phnom Penh and has a decent enough beach which all long has
hostels/guesthouses, restaurants and bars where you can chat with new found
friends and enjoy a nice cold beer. Siem Reap/Angkor Wat
Siem Reap is the city closest to the temples
of Angkor Wat. Every night most people head down to the aptly named Bar Street
to meet and hang out with friends.
The temples of Angkor are quite spectacular
and are very worth the visit. Laos
Laos is landlocked and borders Burma, China,
Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam. Vang Vieng
The town where you leave remembering nothing. This
place is just one big drunken haze. You get a tractor inner tube and float down
a river and stop off at bars on route and get free shots of lao lao whiskey and
then drink buckets of more lao lao whiskey and coke until 6pm then when you
think you have enough you go over to an island which is just bars (smile is the
best) until middnight when the curfew kicks in. Love this place :D
The first bar has the biggest whatever other
bars may claim.
Luang Prabang
Very beautiful town and is very quiet compared
with Vang Vieng. The night market seems to run on forever with lots of goodies.
4 Types of Singapore Accommodation to Fit in With Your
Budget
Executive summary article By Patricia A. Jones
Depending on your budget and traveling style,
you can choose just about any type of accommodation that suits your needs. From
hostels, budget lodgings to boutique and five-star hotels, you will be spoiled
for choice when selecting accommodation in Singapore.
Backpacker
Check out the centrally located, no-frills
City Backpackers Hostel that is close to the city, easily accessible and have
important facilities like Internet access, hot showers and toiletries. You can
even choose between shared dormitories and private rooms.
On a tight budget
Budget hotels are available in abundance in Singapore.
Two popular lines of budget hotels in Singapore are Hotel 81 and Fragrance
Hotel, both have outlets spread out in town and suburban areas of Singapore. Give
your trip a touch of style and sophistication by checking into one of the many
boutique hotels in Singapore, such as The Scarlet, Berjaya Hotel Singapore,
Perak hotel, Getaway Hotel Singapore, Naumi Hotel, Hotel Re! The Scarlet, for
example, Singapore's first boutique hotel, located in Chinatown utilized the
structure of its 1924 building to lend a touch of heritage and elegance. Luxury
trip
If money is not an issue, why not splurge on
accommodation in Singapore for an unforgettable stay at the top notch five star
hotels? If you like heritage architectural, then check out the 6-star Fullerton
Hotel located on the banks of the Singapore River?
