Suggested South East Asian Destinations

South East Asia

Burma--As the 2nd most authoritarian regime in the world, the Burmese military junta has created a paradox: a visit to Burma is both delightful and frightening. The culture and food are inspired by its cross-roads location: its an eclectic mix of Thai, Indian, and Chinese.

(1) Rangoon. Relatively untouched by tourism and development, Rangoon offers amazing cultural and gastronomical delights. The street stalls of Rangoon offers some of the cheapest and tastiest foods in the world! I spent my first day here walking and eating samosas, lemon grass noodles, fresh fruits, curry, and other spicy dishes. Evident everywhere are sights of old British rule, from buildings to an old man I talked with who spoke perfect British English and who longed for those British days. Check out the Golden Pagoda, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Recommended stay: 2-3 full days. Get there: cheap and safe flight on Bangkok Airways from BKK.

(2) Bagan is the land of 3000 pagodas and a World Heritage site. Rent a bike and bike around. Take a tour of a lacquer ware factory (Burma is famous for lacquer ware). Head into town for a dinner puppet show. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there on a 15 hr bus ride from Rangoon.

(3) Inle Lake is appropriately dubbed "Venice" of S.E. Asia. Stay at one of the bungalow hotels, but make sure you don't stay at a government owned enterprise! I paid $35 for an amazing floating suite. You'll need a boat taxi to get around so I suggest renting one all day ($20). Take a tour to the floating markets and temples, and visit a silk spinner. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there: on a seven hour bus ride from Bagan to Inle Lake.

Cambodia--my favorite S.E. Asian country because of its people and their culture. Relatively unknown to Americans, Pol Pot (aka Saloth Sar) and his Khmer Rouge destroyed this once great nation.

(1) Siam Reap (Angkor Wat) offers delightful moss covered temples. Rent a bike and bike around the ruins--watch for landmines! You can also hire a tour guide and car for about $50/day (probably more now). Our private guide took us to the Citadel temple and secret waterfalls. Skip the floating village, it's a tourist trap. Recommended: stay for 2 full days. Get there: by plane or cross the border by land straight from Bangkok.

(2) Phnom Penh (capital) still retains its uniquely French-Khmer charms in its architecture and life style. Enjoy iced teas and people watching along the waterfront. 1 hr, $3 massage at "Seeing Hands," a non-profit empowering the blind through free skills & language training. Checkout the Royal Palace, art museum, Killing Fields, S-21 interrogation center, Documentation Center of Cambodia, and the Central Market (an converted from an elegant train station; Cambodia had the most efficient and extensive railroad system in S.E. Asia before the Khmer Rouge). Recommended stay: 2-3 full days. Get there: fly from BKK or take speed boat from Siam Reap.

(3) Getting around: take motorcycles. Waive your hand and a mob of drivers will pull over. Agree on a price before you board; a one-way ride should cost 2000-2500 Riels ($1 US = 4000 Riels). More or less for longer destinations and for rising fuel costs.

Kuala Lumpur
(1) KL is is to Malaysia, as BKK is to Thailand. Arrive early to check out the Petronas Towers. Take the sky metro for a cheap way to tour the city! Recommended stay: 2 days. Get there: by bus from Singapore or by plane. The KL Int'l Airport is a destination on its own!

Singapore
(1) Singapore has its charms. Another good place to base yourself, though more expensive than BKK. Check out the Orchid Gardens, Chinatown, India Town, museums, Raffles Hotel (get the original Singapore Sling here), malls, and the financial district. I enjoyed staying in boutique hotels such as the Peacock Inn and the Hotel 1979 in Chinatown (converted from brothels). Recommended stay: 2-3 days.

Thailand
(1) Bangkok is worth a visit and a smart destination to base your S.E. Asian travels. As a major hub for air travel, you'll find cheaper air deals into BKK and cheap, quality hotels. Checkout the temples, Royal Palace, Kaosan Road (touristy area . . . but you can check into a $3 hotel room for the first few nights & book all your local and int'l travels), Potpong night markets. Get a spa massage for $3-4, take a boat ride on the river, visit little India and Chinatown. Eat at Cabbages & Condoms, a non-profit restaurant where proceeds help fun sex education: http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/. On the same street down from the Cabbage Condom is a cheap and wonderful spa! Take the SKYtrain (metro) all around BKK to acclimate and for cheap sightseeing. Recommended stay: 2-3 full days.

(2) Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island down south hit hard by the tsunami, but remains Thailand's national treasure. The surrounding water is awful, but hire a wooden fishing boat to island hop all day for clearer and more beautiful waters. Go rock climbing. You can easily get a hotel once you're on the island. Recommended stay: 2-3 days. Get there: on an 18 hr bus/boat ride from BKK.

Vietnam
(1) Saigon is hustling and bustling, so stay out if you're weary of sights of a big city. Check out the American War Museum, the waterfront, City Hall, and the old Saigon Capital. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there: cross by land from Phnom Penh, or fly from BKK.