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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2013 16:51:23 GMT
I hope to make a quick visit, but probably not before next year since I am still supposed to go to Brazil before then. It made me ache a bit when my flight arrived yesterday simultaneously with the A380 from Singapore -- so much better than getting off a flight from Newark!
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 18, 2013 13:11:54 GMT
Flying from Newark is such a chore.
So this will be your first visit to South America, correct?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 16:38:49 GMT
Yes -- south of the United States, I have only been to Cuba, Mexico, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands...
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 21, 2013 16:19:28 GMT
This is probably too naive and general a question, but it would be interesting to hear the responses of those of you who've visited many parts of Asia.
Recommendations for a first visit to Asia (a huge area!) by someone with a normal (not backpacker, not luxury) budget and a time frame of 10 days to 2 weeks?
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 26, 2013 20:22:16 GMT
For those of you who were following on this thread fgrsk8trs account of her trip to China, she's created a new thread with those posts. It's called China: Shanghai & Beijing trip 2011. You'll find it here: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=asia&thread=6528&page=1#163393Lugg was kind enough to answer my question in #63 above, but that got moved with the other posts. Here it is: Bixa - that is quite a difficult question you pose but my suggestion would be Thailand , easy place for someone new to Asia and a country with something for everyone and every budget. Thanks so much, Lugg. I knew when I asked it that it wasn't the easiest question, but you certainly rose to the challenge. That had sort of been my perception from reading accounts by travelers, but that can be deceptive.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2013 20:45:45 GMT
Going along with the "hooked on Asia" theme, I would also recommend Thailand, but of course the very easiest place to visit is Singapore. It is unfortunately so easy that many people do not feel that they are in Asia at all (even though it is a great place).
It was totally by accident that the first place I visited was Singapore. In fact, I was not going to "Asia" at all but to New Caledonia. But as an airline employee, I was "offloaded" (as they say) in Singapore due to the plane being full. This happened close to midnight, which made the situation even more distressing. However, everything turned out fine and I absolutely loved Singapore after the first night. In fact, I have been back there at least 15 times (often as a stopover before continuing to another destination -- but a stopover that I decided to do because I wanted to stop there). So for anybody with any worries, Singapore is the place to start.
Nevertheless, the Thais are so pleasant and so accommodating that anybody arriving in Bangkok, even with no experience, will be soothed and delighted immediately.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 27, 2013 0:07:33 GMT
Oh -- that is helpful & interesting, Kerouac. I never even considered Singapore as a destination because I thought it was so unrelievedly modern that it wouldn't be that interesting.
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Post by nycgirl on May 1, 2013 3:27:42 GMT
I also second Singapore. Some people do consider it to be "Asia-lite," but it's a lot of fun, and a great choice for nervous first-timers. Everyone speaks English, it's very clean and pretty, and the food is terrific everywhere you go, even in the malls and airport. And if you like festive drinks, the Singapore Sling goes down easy. Like K, I chose Singapore as a stopover. From there, I flew to Thailand which is so, so beautiful. One of my favorite trips ever. Of course, I've only been to Asia once, so I'm no expert.
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Post by lugg on May 3, 2013 18:36:02 GMT
I have never visited Singapore but have some friends who have been and rave about it. In fact one couple who have just retired have booked an apartment for 3 months , for them the easy connections to other places in Asia are part of itsappeal but that is not their main reason, they also love the island itself.
Out of my own travels in Asia another suggestion would be Sri Lanka, a very easy country to visit, again lots to see and do that suits a varied budget and interest.
Where would I like to visit ? Two countries are on my bucket list ; Myanmar and Laos. My daughter went to Laos a couple of years ago and her photos and her stories just call out to me.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 19:14:23 GMT
You have seen my reports about Laos, I hope.
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Post by lugg on May 3, 2013 19:57:48 GMT
No !!! I am now going to search them out
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Post by bixaorellana on May 4, 2013 4:14:31 GMT
NYCGirl & Lugg, thank you both for the great input. Love the varied options and your reasons for liking them. The combination of the pleasantness of Singapore that you all cite and its convenience as a jumping off spot are awfully compelling.
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Post by questa on Aug 17, 2013 13:44:16 GMT
I can't see anyone talking about the western part of China...Xinjiang Province. I flew from Istanbul to Almaty in Khazakstan then by bus through the Yining river valley and south to the Silk Road. The people are Uighurs and a mix of other Turkic clans. Wonderful hospitality and the scenery varies from Snow topped monster mountains, wide green steppes and the Taklamakan desert of total emptiness and sand dunes. Joining the Silk Road near Hotan it is only a short run to my favourite place...Kashgar. The seat of all the espionage and high jinx of "the great game" of Kipling's era. I stayed in the Brits old consulate the first visit and the Russian one 2 years later. Then (1st time) through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan then flew from Tashkent back to Istanbul.
2nd time I came up the Karakorum Highway from India and Pakistan, then into China over the Khunjurab Pass...but that's another story...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 15:14:34 GMT
Sounds like a fantastic adventure!
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Post by bjd on Aug 17, 2013 15:21:36 GMT
It sounds great, questa.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 15:30:55 GMT
I'm sure that our member Askar has been on new adventures in places like that -- I hope he returns to tell us (and show us) some day.
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Post by questa on Aug 17, 2013 23:35:54 GMT
My 2nd trip was with a group of 5 other friends. We met in India and travelled the Grand Trunk Road through Pakistan to Peshawar. The security was high as bombs and assassinations were going on. We hired a small bus and, with army escort, travelled up the Karakorum Highway through the Swat valley.
Scenery amazing...12 of the world's tallest 20 mountains are in this area, glaciers and the place where the Himalaya, Hindu Kush and Pamir ranges meet on the Indus river.
A flash flood at 12,000ft blocked the road and our bus got stuck in the river. We had to carry our packs through hip deep water and up over a rocky crest to where another bus was stuck on the other shore. They agreed to turn north again and we arrived at the Chinese border to find it closed. Next day we got to Kashgar.
My friends went west but, having done that before, I flew to Urumqi and took 3 days in the train to Shanghai. Shared a sleeper with 3 retired Chinese academics and our sign language saw us through.
I must figure out how to post pics!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2013 5:38:44 GMT
I must figure out how to post pics! This thread should be of great assistance for that. Can't wait to see your pictures!
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