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**Orion76** · 01-28-2006, 09:04 AM

What kind of traveler are you? Backpacker? High end 5 star tourist?

What is your main priority? Nightlife, clubbing and partying or relaxing in tranquility and getting away from it all?

To tell you the truth, neither Bali or Singapore would be my first choices for Asian holiday destinations.

**Ruth** · 01-28-2006, 09:44 AM

Thanks - as I said I want to take a PADI course. Other than that sight seeing - culture - and relaxing on the beach oh and of course shopping. Not into the 5 star treatment but don't want to sleep in the jungle in a tent either so somewhere in between. Really want someplace with a nice beach where I can do some snorkelling. Make me a suggestion as I haven't booked anything yet and plan to go the first 2 weeks in March. I don't speak any other language than English so would have to go somewhere that I have a good chance of communicating without too much trouble.

**Orion76** · 01-28-2006, 11:41 AM

I think one of the small southern Thailand islands like Koh Phi Phi or Koh Tao would be more interesting, these are very laid back tropical islands and great for learning scuba diving and right off the beach snorkeling. Some beaches you might not be able to get into the water during low tide because there are too many staghorns blocking your way

IMO Bali is a good destination if you like nightlife and clubbing or if you are looking to spend $2000 a night for a private resort, but the beaches are lame, it has horrible traffic and it's just too crowded and "touristinized". It's almost become an Australian province for Oz teens looking to holiday outside the country for the first time

I'd recommend Hong Kong over Singapore as it has a lot more character but if you go to southern Thailand then you have to pass through Bangkok anyway which is very interesting with great shopping too and certainly a lot more adventurous and cheaper than Singapore.

**Aged Salt** · 01-28-2006, 12:58 PM

Ruth, Timon's job in a previous life was that of tour-guide :druggie: :icon_bigg Actually,Timon that makes alot of sense

Bob

**Miguelito** · 01-28-2006, 01:14 PM

I agree with Orion, I've done Bali with a backpack, and the 5-star way. If you're SUPER adventurous there is some really good culture up away from the beach, but nothing that you can't get elsewhere. Don't get hung up on Bali because of the name, and the movies - or you will be disappointed. Its loud, polluted, small, somewhat hedonistic, and the beaches are nothing compared to other areas from Southern Thailand to Malaysia to the other 17,000 Indonesian islands.

There is SO MUCH to offer, its hard to say without knowing how adventurous you want to get. And you WILL be tired for a couple days unless you fly first class.

Don't be too afraid of travelling alone, as long as you're prudent and cautious AND PREPARE. One of the best things you could do right now is to clear a few weekends, get a big comfy chair at Barnes & Noble, grab a Venti coffee and a dozen Lonely Planet, Moon and Rough publications - go through them and see what floats your boat. They're not great about pix, so you can also get the Frommers and the picture books and cross reference them with the LP/Moon/Rough. Those 3 are great for single travellers, my favorite is LP. Just stay away from Lets Go. ;-)

If you want to be a traveller and not a tourist through SE Asia, you HAVE to prepare, prepare, prepare. Research, research, research. AND if there is any way possible, try to do 3 weeks.

**Ruth** · 01-28-2006, 10:02 PM

Ha Ha Barnes and Noble and a Venti coffee - do you know where I live? In my job I do travel to a lot of remote northern locations to First Nation communities where communication can be a challenge as they still speak their native language and a lot of the elders do not understand English. I am somewhat adventerous but not into a lot of backpacking or camping out. I really want to relax on the beach with a good book and do some sightseeing, see some culture and learn to dive. I was looking at Thailand as well and it is definately an option for me. I had also thought about Hong Kong as well as it is someplace I have always dreamed of going. Three weeks is not possible I had to really talk my way into 2 weeks as winter up here is really our busy time for oil and gas exploration. Thank you so much for your very good advise and comments. Timon wanna be a tour guide again?

**nbd13** · 01-28-2006, 10:16 PM

Ruth-

I went to Tahiti oh i would say 4ish years ago w/ my family. If you take 2 weeks you can go to 2-3 islands in the chain.

It would be a great place for you to lay back, relax, and read a book on the beach. They have some excellent diving and the best thing you can go snorkleing right off the beack depending on where you say.

If you really want to try something fun, go on the shark/sting ray dive... it will put you in the water with a bunch of black tip reef sharks and then you will go to a different location and get in the water with stingrays.....

They dont have the 'best' diving in the world, but i would give it an 8/10 maybe....

Maybe Timon can give you a more details about it as i havent been there in a couple years....

HTH

Nick

**Miguelito** · 01-28-2006, 10:38 PM

You don't have B&N in Canada? The horror!!!! ;-)

Well I do love Thailand, there is lots to do. Some nice beaches & stuff, but its not like a Tahiti or Bora Bora other high end islands. Then again, its not nearly as $$$. There is a lot more culture. I really enjoy Malaysia as well because of the Asian diversity. Indonesia is hard to get around on a shorter trip unless you really know what you're doing or plan well. Sulawesi is my favorite island anywhere.

Being half Thai, being born there, opening a couple Thai restaurants makes me a little biased. ;-)

www.lonelyplanet.com is a good resource, but not like the books.

**Ruth** · 01-28-2006, 10:52 PM

Thanks Miguelito - I am pretty sure there are B&N in Canada but I live in NE British Columbia in a small town (pop. approx. 20,000). Vancouver is probably the largest urban centre that is even close and it is a 16 hour drive! Right now it is -20 degrees celcius (or -4 for those farenheit people) and I am so looking forward to some sand and sun (we get lots of sun but only for about 6 hours a day and it's cold). I really don't want to do the $$$ high end islands although I did look at the Cook Islands as an option. Still considering Bali but now starting to lean more towards Thailand. Thank you all for all the good tips and please keep them coming.

**Orion76** · 01-29-2006, 01:17 AM

-20c [SHUDDER]

Me a tourist guide? Haha not quite, more of a seasoned traveler

There are so many beautiful places to visit it's hard to recommend any one place as the best destination. If someone asks me where to go to learn scuba diving I always recommend Koh Tao or Koh Phi Phi just for the sheer convenience of your bungalow being right on the beach, the dive shop being right next to your bungalow and the beaches being inside lagoons with very calm water so you can learn in the ocean rather than in a swimming pool.

In a place like Bali they'd probably make you practice in a swimming pool and you'd probably be stuck in a traffic jam for 30 minutes every morning to get to the dive shop etc. The nightlife might be better and there may be more other things to do and see but quite frankly scuba diving is exhausting and getting certified takes 4 to 5 full days after which you'll want to do some additional diving for a few days and you'll really not be up to doing much sightseeing or clubbing after a day of diving.

I could go on for hours but I have to run, doing some scuba diving myself tomorrow morning and have to get going

**Ger** · 01-30-2006, 08:04 PM

Ruth, there are so many great places in SE Asia, I don't even know where to start. How about a combination trip? E.g., fly to Thailand for a few days, then to KL (Kuala Lumpur). From there you could go to Borneo (East Malaysia) and climb Mount Kotakinabalu. From there you could take a short hop to Mataking or Mabul for some of the worlds best diving. That way you get sightseeing, shopping, hiking, beach and diving/snorkeling all in one trip.

I could go on for hours but I have to run, doing some scuba diving myself tomorrow morning and have to get going

Sure, Timon, go ahead and rub it in....

**Ruth** · 01-30-2006, 08:16 PM

Holy Cow I am exhasted already. I have my travel agent trying to book me 2 weeks (approx.) in Koh Tao with a couple of days in either Bangkok or Hong Kong. I want a few days on the beach

to just zone out and read a book or just sleep. This will be my first really big trip - I have been to Mexico a couple of times - and I am going by myself so don't want to get too carried away until I get a feel for what it is like to get around. Thank you guys so much for your input and advise - I can't wait!!!!!!

**Orion76** · 01-31-2006, 12:40 AM

Ruth, word of advice, if you are booking through a travel agent and have to buy prepaid hotel vouchers then I would only book a couple of days in Koh Tao and leave the rest open. That way if you realize there are better locations on the island, the pics in the brochure are ingenious trick photography or you get bored and would like to move on to another island sooner than expected you are not stuck in your resort, and you can always keep staying in the resort and pay them directly if you like it there. Or just book directly over the Internet, a reservation on your credit card is much easier to get out of than a prepaid hotel voucher.

**Orion76** · 01-31-2006, 12:44 AM

Originally posted by Ger

That way you get sightseeing, shopping, hiking, beach and diving/snorkeling all in one trip.

You forgot helicopter snowboarding in Nepal!! It's a mandatory relaxation exercise

Originally posted by Ger

Sure, Timon, go ahead and rub it in....

Don't be too jelous, a diadema got me good :cursin: but the closeup interaction with a giant turtle who seemingly had never seen a diver before and came within 3 ft of me for a better look made it worth it

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