Holiday thoughts......

That time of year, and I'm 50 next year so fancy a big un. Looking at Vietnam & maybe Laos(3wks) Cambodia(1wk) and Thailand(2wks) for 6 weeks. It'll be mid April to end May as thats when I can get the time off, I know it'll be hot! Only ever been to Penang, Malaysia in that kinda area but absolutely loved it. We want to do the usual tourist sights, temples etc, eating and drinking, not big on wild partying, more quiet culture and people watching, mixing with the locals and finding quiet perfect beaches and snorkelling. Once we get there prefer to travel by train/bus as I guess that'll be an experience and we'll see more.
So basically, what do u lot know? Advice, experiences, budget, routes, best place for all knowledge is here so thanks in advance............

 

Never mind about all that, go somewhere where it's well below freezing, lots of mountains with white stuff all over them, lots of heaving bars, cable cars, chairlifts, beer and so on. Don't go for more than a week though, anything above 10 days is usually terminal.

I love snow.

 

Sri Lanka is awesome . You like the same things/ atmosphere as hubby and myself.
We've been going for over 20 years.
Beautiful people
Fascinating culture
The best curries you'll ever have in your life.
Amazing food at giveaway prices.
Fish to die for.
Scenery to take your breath away.
Tea plantations and wow! The tea.
I could go on and on and on...

 

Is there any snow there?

 

Complete and utter waste of time going then........

 

I went to Indonesia in September and absolutely loved it. Its changing a little but outside of Bali, white people are a rarity and you constantly get asked for pictures with people and asked why you're there, lovely people.

If you're after temples, Indonesia is the place to go. Jogjakarta has a place called Prambanan, a really old Hindu series of temples (go a bit before sunset, only need a few hours) and Borobodur a 1000 year old Buddhist temple is worth getting up at 4.30am to sit on top of the temple and watch the sunrise with a few hundred other people. As you look out, you see huge volcanic mountains, jungle vegetation and not much else. check out what they look like and you'll most likely want to visit them.

Tourists pay well over the odds, so just have to get used to it, but its still pretty cheap, though we got loads of taxis and the hotels charge quite a bit and it seems a pretty closed loop a lot of the time.

Spend a little time in Ubud on Bali (Garuda fly everywhere, some little planes) and get a driver for the day (we got one and it was about £45), we saw lakes, temples, paddy fields, amazing waterfalls.... incredible place away from the heavy brash southern Australian filled tourist places. Lombok is lovely around senggiggi and looks west back to balo where you can see the huge mount agung (currently constant eruption warnings which started while we were there but seems to be quietening down again)

I'd recommend Vietnam too. Hoi An is a lovely place littered with silk lanterns on a river. Hanoi is a box of frogs but really enjoyable (recommend a food blogger tour where you'll be shown what to eat, lots of interesting things and places you might not go otherwise. Halong Bay is a wonderful place too for a day cruise on a junk, but beware, its getting very very busy ad sadly standards aren't great for keeping things clean in the water. Often the case with the poorer countries sadly. In Hanoi you can come across "fresh beer"... literally you find a bar, sit on a tint stool with traffic whizzing by you and these places open a keg of "beer" and it works out around 20p a glass.

Bangkok worth a go, the palaces and temples there are fantastic

I liked Langkawi, but Kuala Lumpur was just another big metropolis. a few places to wander but feels much more western... having said that Petronas Towers is pretty amazing. Can stay at the Traders hotel opposite, have cocktails in the bar high up and just watch it light up at night.

Not been to Laos or Cambodia yet so cat advise on that.

If you've any questions or want to suggest what other things you might like, just shout and happy to make suggestions.

 

Angkor Wat.

I won a holiday tour of Vietnam a few years ago. Unfortunately, the prize didn't include flights and I couldn't afford £2k+ at the drop of a hat I think one of the highlights was the tour of the tunnels, but not if you are claustrophobic.

 

A lot of wealthy people on this board to consider those kind of holiday. Mind you the average British household have three holidays a year according to some reports, so it is hardly surprising.

 

I’ve just sent you a message re Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need any info.

 

Spent about 8 months between Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam/Laos and Mynamar. Absolutely loved most of it. Wasn’t especially keen on Vietnam as the people were not particularly friendly though loved the beer hot and Chu Chu. Cambodia is brilliant possibly the best place I’ve ever visited. Fantastic people, Ankhor Wat (best place I’ve ever been) be careful of the ‘happy’ pizza. Laos not a great deal to do but fantastically laid back and relaxing and the beer Lao is top notch. Good to speak a bit of French. Thailand if beaches are your thing Ko Chang or Ko Lanta are great if not then trekking in Chang Rai with maybe an excursion over the border into Burma depends on safety concerns. If I were to go again I’d probably miss out Vietnam and spending longer in Burma which is endlessly fascinating

 

Why? What effect will brexit have on ski chalets?..... Alarmed

 

Snow !!!
I hate the foooking cold and it will not be long before it prevents me from going to football matches.
Love Christmas - but hate winter.

Next year depends on mi dad who is in a similar place to Patrick.
But this is the plan so far:

Lanzarote with missus for 10 days after Christmas to get some winter sun and start warming the limbs again.
Puri, Odisha, India for 3 weeks end of February early March with another guy from Barnsley - mapping bird areas in Odisha. Plus if suitable, look for a winter retreat destination in that area. Hoping to start living in India over winter in next year or so.
Med - for 2 weeks with missus, usually in September to do a bit of birding, swim in the sea and lay on a sun lounger.

 

Mexico in January, get back just in time for the Weds game.

 

Always fancied Vietnam, probably go there one day.

 

Plenty in Bulgaria !!!

 

Donald Trump didnt fancy it !