Grand tour of South East Asia 2018

[sydneyjohn57]

As a recent retiree I am looking to fill in a couple of months by traveling solo through SE Asia for a couple of months and possible meet up with some board members and local LBs on the way.

The plan so far is to leave Sydney late April flying to Bali then Singapore by road to Kuala Lumpur, fly to Phuket then Bangkok/Pattaya, road or fly to Chang Mai road to Laos border then possibly boat to Luang Prabang then bus to Vientiane (possibly breaking journey at Vang Vien). From Vientiane I will likely fly to Phnom Penh as I understand a visa may not always be available at the land border crossing if I want to travel by bus over a couple of days . From reading the forum I will probably go to Sihanoukville for a few days then on to Vietnam via PP again. Vietnam at this stage will start at Ho Chi Minh city then work my way overland to Hanoi and surrounding area before heading off to Hong Kong by plane then on to Philippines.

Alternate plan is to fly direct to Phuket then follow the above plan and go from Philippines to KL then Singapore, Bali and home.

I am looking at a time frame of 2 months so should have plenty of time to spend a few days at each place to take in the local sights etc.

Previously I have only been to Thailand (Phuket & Bangkok many times and Pattaya once), Singapore and Phils and have not encountered any problems so hopefully the other countries are safe enough to travel solo as I keep myself low key with wits about me etc

I understand I can get visas on arrival at all places I am going except for Vietnam which I can obtain either before I go or use the E-Visa service that is now in place.

If anyone can see any holes in this plan or have any tips etc it would be greatly appreciated

[Pdoggg]

Sounds like quite an adventure SJ!     

Do you plan to purchase airline tickets in advance or will you be making decisions based on how much you are enjoying being somewhere?

Weather might play into your plans as your trip will be during the rainy season for many of the countries you will be visiting.

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, I'd fly.  Airfare is cheap on that route..   Or is your plan to stop off overnight somewhere on the way there?

[sydneyjohn57]

@Pdoggg The plan is to stay as long as I like in any particular place so all tickets will be purchased when I am ready to move on and the weather will play some part in where I go or how I get there.

I'll probably fly from Bangkok, however, plans could change when I get there.

This trip will be a general look around SE Asia prior to deciding where I may base myself in retirement and I can always return to a place for a longer visit at a later date.

[donnnnnny]

sounds exciting, i hope you have a cracking trip mate

[TEXASMAC]

Look at Hua Hin. It is amazing.

[sydneyjohn57]

1 hour ago, TEXASMAC said:

Look at Hua Hin. It is amazing.

Thanks TM, I have read on the forum that it is a nice relaxing place to visit and am sure I will fit it in the itinerary somehow. Maybe catch the ferry over for a few days stay.

[JustSumGai]

as it's a bit out of your way you might give Snooky a PASS because it's undergoing HUGE change, much of the old classic places by the beach are gone. Chinese are buying up the place. Might like PP tho, then east into VN.

[bumblebee]

All the best for your trip John,  it certainly sounds like an exciting one with plenty of fun filled incidents ahead no doubt.

[sydneyjohn57]

16 hours ago, JustSumGai said:

as it's a bit out of your way you might give Snooky a PASS because it's undergoing HUGE change, much of the old classic places by the beach are gone. Chinese are buying up the place. Might like PP tho, then east into VN.

Thanks JustSumGai for the pictures & info.... looks as though I can cross that off the list of places to visit.

 

8 hours ago, bumblebee said:

All the best for your trip John,  it certainly sounds like an exciting one with plenty of fun filled incidents ahead no doubt

Thanks for the good wishes, BB

[JustSumGai]

the empty space to the right of the sidewalk in the second pic USED to be bars and such, shacks I suppose but busy places until the Chinese investers (including middle class couples posing as tourists) started flowing in and buying everything in sight to up up "casinos" (mostly for online gambling for Chinese) and hotels. Right now it's chaos as the city becomes transformed into who knows what almost overnight.  There are reportedly still some decent beaches but the flux would make it difficult to navigate. Lots of guesthouses are gone too or going. You'd spend most of  your time running around on a high priced tuk tuk looking for somewhere to alight. Sad to see this as I've avoided going for years while I hit other places, never figuring it would be OVER and totally changed in a heartbeat. I understand it had some "charm" as a place to hang out and drink a few beers and chase a few girls, tho never big on the ladyboy front. Probably PP is your best bet there, tho SR might have some not too hard to find, but no big choice of talents. It IS a bit of a pain to get to tho I hear plans are afoot to make that easier, for the next wave of tourists, not ours. I think even Victory Hill is taking a hit. Probably better to save the time and put it to use on your other destinations as 2 months will go by FAST if my trips are any indication.

[sydneyjohn57]

The grand tour started on Friday flying Sydney to Singapore with Scoot at cost of A$289 including 20kg luggage and a meal. Only problem was I picked up a stomach bug a day before leaving and by time I got to hotel it became full blown diarrhea... great start to trip... so I stayed in on night one.

I stayed at five/6 Hotel Splendour in Geylang. Hotel modern, clean and well priced for Singapore although does not have a restaurant or a bar. Excellent wifi. I will add some pictures at a later date. I had read online that Geylang Rd area was the red light area of Singapore and I was expecting something like Walking Street or Bangla Rd, but it is all run down, dirty -- rubbish bins overflowing, litter and full of Indians. Footpaths like obstacle paths weaving between tables and chairs of the many indian and chinese cafes. The only saving grace was food is incredibly cheap with most meals around S$5 and one chinese cafe could have a 610ml bottle of Carlsberg for S$6.50. One breakfast I had of omelete and hot tea was S$3.20

Due to my indisposition I didn't stay out late for any of the 3 nights and did not see any freelancers at all before 10pm.

On Sunday had lunch at Clarke Quay to have some western food to placate the stomach where they wanted to charge S$15 for BLAT wrap and S$18 for a pint of tiger plus of course tax and service charge. Spoke with a NZer who said he found the beer price cheaper than the night club he was at night before!!!!!

Monday (yesterday) caught bus to KL for S$20, took 7 hours incl 2 border breaks and 2 toilet breaks. Fairly comfortable with excellent roads. Traffic was good until hitting KL. I was lucky that I was able to hold out on needing to use the toilet at the breaks as they were squat toilets and in my condition I didn't want to have it all blowing everywhere : 

Staying at the Ramada in Bukit Bintang in a studio room, very large within 2 minute walk of Changkat Bukit Bintang which is full of restaurants and bars with meals and drinks at reasonable prices. Had grilled fish, salad and 2 pints of tiger for RM87 in one of the better restaurants as stomach is almost back to normal. Had another early night and the freelancers were only just starting to come out around 10pm and saw only one LB on Jalan Bukit Bintang. Stomach feels almost normal so will see what happens tonight.

 

Admins I have started this report here as it is to be more of a general overview and as I am travelling through various countries some bits will fit into different categories... please feel free to move if need be

 

[Pdoggg]

The grand tour begins!  

So the bus from Singapore to KL was about the same price as a pint of Tiger!

Surprises me also that trash bins were overflowing. Had the impression it was cleaner than Switzerland!

Love the detail SJ, very useful!

[BigTel]

10 hours ago, sydneyjohn57 said:

The grand tour started on Friday flying Sydney to Singapore

I am settling in and enjoying the prologue to your grand tour SJ   

[ArchieBunker]

Thanks for the start of the grand tour SJ.  Food is also quite cheap in Thailand as well.  The $ prices I assume are in Ozzie $.  Not certain what the rate is compared to the US Dollar but I know the US is worth a bit more.  Having said that, you can get many cheap meals in Thailand.  I enjoy delicious, filling lunches in Bangkok for less than $5 US.  All the malls have large food courts with tasty food with a myriad of choices!!!

Did you enjoy some bedroom gymnastics in Geylang??

[sydneyjohn57]

Quote

10 minutes ago, ArchieBunker said:

The $ prices I assume are in Ozzie $.  

Did you enjoy some bedroom gymnastics in Geylang??

Prices in Singapore  were quoted Singapore dollars(S$) which almost equate to Aussie dollar anyhow.

No gymnastics as yet, I will post anything along those lines elsewhere in the forum.

 

 

[sydneyjohn57]

Tuesday was spent looking around KL doing a few of the touristy things and followed with dinner at the Green Man Pub in Changkat Bukit Bintang having the ribs and vegies which was very nice. I was going to do a bit of a bar crawl however, they started a Pub Quiz and although I didn't officially play I stayed around until it finished by which time I had the wobbly boot on so headed back to hotel the long way around about 11pm and did not see any freelancers anywhere.

Wednesday being Anzac Day I was back at the Green Man around 1pm and watched the Rugby League and the Aussie Rules matches that were on live. 6pm was nap time but as soon as I had dozed off drilling started a floor or 2 above me so that put paid to that.

Went out agin at 9pm with dinner again in the bar/restaurant strip with a grilleld chicken dish at Loco's and 2 pints costing around RM85 (about A$28). Followed by a long walk aroung Jalan Bukit Bintang where finally I was approached by 3 different LBs none of which interested me, so declined the offers of being blown. 

On bothhh Tues & Wed nights I had both locals and Indian touts offering me girls for sex etc but did not see any GGs who appeared to be working so I think that lining up on Thai Friendly or similar may be the way to go in future.

Currently sitting at KL airport awaiting flight to Phuket where I have booked in 4 nights at C&N. Airport in KL is about 65klm out of town and I took a Grab wich cost RM65 (approx A$21 which is same as bus fare from Sing to KL!!)

[sydneyjohn57]

five/6 Hotel Splendour Singapore

 

Lobby

Room

[sydneyjohn57]

Ramada Suites Kuala Lumpur City Centre

Room

Pool area

 

[sydneyjohn57]

Continued

 

Guest laundromat 

Gym

 

Edited April 27, 2018 by sydneyjohn57
Added missing pic

[Pdoggg]

I reckon not much point overpaying in KL when Phuket is the next port of call.

[TEXASMAC]

Must mean it smells good. 

[sydneyjohn57]

Rainy Sunday in Phuket with temperature around 32C.

Arrived Thursday evening after plane delayed in KL by an hour. Was on way to metered taxi rank when 2 South African backpackers asked if I wanted to share their taxi from another taxi booth so agreed and cost me THB330 to Patong which I found quite reasonable. Driver was an interesting chap to say the least very talkative at first .. a Muslim from James Bond Island where he commutes each day who hates Chinese tourists, also thought he was a race car driver weaving in an out of traffic and I couple of times I thought I was gone as I was in front passenger death seat..... glad to finally arrive!!!

C&N Hotel is an older hotel and only 2 minutes from Bangla Rd. Internet connection not too bad with a couple of slowish times. Water pressure is great but hot water can be warm on full (around 11am) or too hot when mix is 50/50 (around 8pm).

Bangla Rd and surrounds has changed a lot in the 5 years since I was last here. Lots of bars gone or empty at midnight, touts everywhere trying to get you into a ping pong show or Russian girl show, lots of BB gun shooting booths and even an amusement machine parlour.

I wandered around the bars on Thurs, Fri and last night. There are a few LBs working in some of the beer bars and some FLs on the streeet. Some of the massage parlours aound the area also have LBs working. I was sitting at the Moon Bar on Bangla which is one of the small bars open day and night and I chatted with a nice LB Kelly but as I had a bit to drink by then declined the invite for sex that night. She texted me a couple of times on Sat so I met up around lunch at the sister bar Moonshine and she was not quite as glamorous in the day as when I had beer goggles on the night before 

[sydneyjohn57]

Arrived in Bangkok on Monday evening staying at Citrus Sukhumvit Soi 13. Very nice clean hotel, excellent wifi with the room having its own router, good water pressure and hot water very hot. Supplies soap as well as shower gel.

From bedroom you can see through shower cubicle into bathroom or slide a floor to ceiling mirror across if the showeree is shy.

 

Has roof top pool which goes all the way around the roof and a self serve coffee, water & juice

 

[sydneyjohn57]

On the Monday night I was on my way walking to Why Not bar when the heavens opened up an rain set in for a few hours so I found a place to have a feed and a few beers closer to the hotel. There are plenty of LBs freelancing on Sukhumvit as well as at least one LB massage parlour between Soi 13 and Nana.

Tuesday day had breakfast at Margarita Storm (cnr Soi 13 & Sukhumvit) then did some sightseeing before heading to Nana to check it out as hadn't been to Bangkok for almost 10 years. I wandered around but did not find the place appealing at all as I am not an agogo person and prefer open bars etc so ended up in the Stumble Inn with a seat overlooking the Soi and listening to the band who were'nt too bad playing 70's & 80's stuff.

Wednesday morning I got a message here from @Pdoggg who said he was in town and checking out that day so we met up for a beer at noon where we realised that we both were at Nana the night before!!! Was great to meet up with such an esteemed BM. That night I was on way to Why Not when bumped into a nice LB who accepted the 700thb offer so spent evening with her.

Following morning on Pdoggg's advice I went by Bell bus to Pattaya where I am now staying at the Adelphi which is in same Soi as Sensations and will report on that shortly.

[bumblebee]

Looking forward to reading about the Pattaya leg of your adventure SJ, it should bring back some happy memories.  Good reporting.