Kuala Lumpur is my favourite city in Southeast Asia so far. I love that there are so many trees around, and I really enjoyed the freedom of the subway and buses. It beats haggling with taxis and tuk tuks any day!
I love Goa. It is so beautiful and relaxing being there. Do carry a swimsuit -- it's impossible to get a decent one in Indian stores.
Shillong is just like a heaven. This is the place where you can have lots of fun -- Shillong peak, Wards lake, Elephant falls, Mausmai cave are some of the places where you can explore. You can hire a taxi and can visit this place in a day. I can say that whoever already visited Shillong will never get bored if they visit many times. Please do visit and don't miss out from seeing this beautiful place!
We were in Kanchanaburi in May of '08. We had a wonderful time with the wonderful people. Have fun! We did.
Manila gets a bum rap from a lot of travelers but I have found it to be a great place. Music bars and cafes are open 'till morning in the Malate/Ermita area.
I went to school in Mussoorie when I was in grade school, it's a great place to be at and the wheather is awesome, people are nice and friendly. Everyone speaks English so as long as you can speak English you'll have a great time. It's a place for people who want to go visit hill stations and be able to see the himalayas. It's great, words can explain.
I had the best time of my life in Chiang Khong! Don't miss it! Go to the Bamboo Riverside Guesthouse for AMAZING quesaldillas and then on to the Tee Pee Bar ("like a rat hole - you can't miss it.") For music and entertainment all night on guitar. Sing along and bring a guitar if you have one! Just watch out for the dogs on your way back to your hostel!
It took us nineteen hours from Bangkok to get to Siem Reap because the so-called roads became rivers! We were taken in a minibus luckily (some group's minibus had broken down, so they had to go in the back of a pick-up truck). The next morning we decided to visit Angkor wat and the minibus driver and his friends took us on mopeds, he said it would be $20 to get in and $5 each for them. We had a great day but when we came to pay it turned out to be $25 for them each! Our friends that were staying at the hostel wanted to do the tour the next day but got taken round to completely the wrong place for $8 and when they wanted to get a tut tut to the temples, all of the guys who worked there and slept on the lobby floor started ripping into them and said they could cause a lot of trouble for them and scared the tut tut driver away. We left catching a bus to Phnom Pehn and paid $8 instead of $4! Basically be careful how much you get charged. A government official gets paid $20 a month and we…
Palawan is one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines. I've been to LOTS, and this is the one! There are so many different places to see on this island it's maddening. The Philippines is the NGO capital of the world, just to further build up Palawan's reputation, these NGOs do a good job on trying to keep nature intact, and help the locals with tourism. There are sooooo many cheap places to stay, as low as 200 pesos (4 US dollars) a night. For restaurants, eat at Ka'luis because they have the food, price, and ambiance down to a 't'. Then there's the Vietnamese vegetarian place (holy cheap & good), various chicken barbeque spots and of course, the restaurants that cater to foreigners. Come visit the Philippines, especially Palawan. You will not regret it!
For getting around air-con taxis are a far better option than the (initially fun) tuk tuks. Metered taxis deliver a much cheaper fare (tuk tuks will extract as much money as they think youre good for), and you avoid the thick exhaust fumes. However by night a tuk tuk will take you around Bangkok for an hour sightseeing and it's great (less traffic and smog by night). Pay no more than 150 baht (despite the fact they may ask for 500!).
Staying for a night in Kota Kinabalu made me feel like I'm in a place surrounded by odd people. They seem friendly at first, but after a while they become scary -- the way they stare, the way they move. It's like they want you drawn into their world and then cast spells on you that would make you stay there for the entirety of your life.
Huế … A word of warning: if you have to do a boat trip from Hue (we heard the motorbike tour is better) then make sure you pay no more than 20,000 VND RETURN for a motorbike taxi. We were told by the girl on the boat that this is the price each way, but this turned out to be false. Also, don't pay the motorbike taxi driver; you pay the cashier at the end of the journey.
Boracay Island … I have been in several beaches around the world. For me, Boracay is the best island paradise -- you will always want to come back, and indeed I always see to it that I come here once a year. Boracay doesn't only have the finest sand, but it also has lively bars at night. You can also have a cheap, one-hour, full-body massage anytime from 8 a.m. to midnight. Island hopping, snorkeling, and diving are a must when you visit Boracay and truly you will be a amazed of its underwater beauty splendor! Enjoy feeding different colors of fishes! If you love water sports, Boracay is the place!
George Town … Just go there and find Jim's Place. This friendly guy helps whenever and however he can. An angel in Georgetown -- also with excellent food, internet, and cheap accommodation.
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