Bangkok & Bali
11 July 2000, 05:10 PM
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Have any of you travelled to the above places? Am going in October/November and thought I would get advice on what's good & what's not.
So then, any recommendations on what to see and what not to see?
Thanks - Fee
So then, any recommendations on what to see and what not to see?
Thanks - Fee
11 July 2000, 09:52 PM
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Fee,
Went to Hong Kong and Bali in 98 and have also been to other parts of Thailand, have not been to Bangkok.
From what we can remember of Bali:
Royal Temple was quite good, try to resist seeing to many of these they are all very similar.
Don't bother going to Denpasar it's very dirty and noisy there is nothing much worth seeing.
Best way of seeing the island is to hire a Taxi with driver for the day, tell him what you wan't to see.
We stayed in Sanur, the beach was not that good and quite bad for hawkers selling very dodgy quality gear. The rule hear is don't make eye contact and they won't bother you. In general we found the beaches in Bali a bit of a let down.
Leave some space in your suitcases as you will find some of the bargains hard to resist in Bangkok, best items in this part of the world are leather goods, watches and made to measure clothes. Be careful as the quality of these items varies considerably, however be selective and bargain hard, there are plenty of places to go.
Hope this is of some help.
Allan
Went to Hong Kong and Bali in 98 and have also been to other parts of Thailand, have not been to Bangkok.
From what we can remember of Bali:
Royal Temple was quite good, try to resist seeing to many of these they are all very similar.
Don't bother going to Denpasar it's very dirty and noisy there is nothing much worth seeing.
Best way of seeing the island is to hire a Taxi with driver for the day, tell him what you wan't to see.
We stayed in Sanur, the beach was not that good and quite bad for hawkers selling very dodgy quality gear. The rule hear is don't make eye contact and they won't bother you. In general we found the beaches in Bali a bit of a let down.
Leave some space in your suitcases as you will find some of the bargains hard to resist in Bangkok, best items in this part of the world are leather goods, watches and made to measure clothes. Be careful as the quality of these items varies considerably, however be selective and bargain hard, there are plenty of places to go.
Hope this is of some help.
Allan
12 July 2000, 08:23 AM
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You lucky, lucky.....!
You'll have a great time - a real travellers paradise.
Kuta/Legian (Bali) is full of Aussies and pub-crawls - all good fun if you're into that sort of thing.
No really good beaches though - except in Sanur (all the big hotels/watersports are here)!
Hawkers are everywhere in the above places - bargain hard for everything....and just shrug your shoulders and walk out of the shop when the owner acts like you just slapped his/her mother after your offer....he'll follow you and continue negotiations in the street!
The rest of the island is great - very cultural. If you're into seeing a ghost town, check out CandiDasa - 10 years ago it was a paradise; nice sand and a coral reef. Local idiots used the coral to build new hotels......no reef, no beach, no tourists!
Lots of cheap/basic places to stay - which is IMHO the best way to see the island. Rent a Suzuki Jeep....but watch the other road-users.....you will NEVER complain about UK idiots again....the Balinese (well, most) believe in life after death....no fear of death!
Volcano in middle of island also interesting...and a hot spring at the bottom.
Bangkok also very interesting - lots of markets selling rip-off clothing...but the quality is crap. Also very dirty - and watch for pickpockets!
If you're only on a stop-over, try and get to one of the big markets or go for a boat trip along the river.
Best bet - buy a SE Asia lonely planet travel guide. Unbiased information with a travellers slant.
Regards
Richard
You'll have a great time - a real travellers paradise.
Kuta/Legian (Bali) is full of Aussies and pub-crawls - all good fun if you're into that sort of thing.
No really good beaches though - except in Sanur (all the big hotels/watersports are here)!
Hawkers are everywhere in the above places - bargain hard for everything....and just shrug your shoulders and walk out of the shop when the owner acts like you just slapped his/her mother after your offer....he'll follow you and continue negotiations in the street!
The rest of the island is great - very cultural. If you're into seeing a ghost town, check out CandiDasa - 10 years ago it was a paradise; nice sand and a coral reef. Local idiots used the coral to build new hotels......no reef, no beach, no tourists!
Lots of cheap/basic places to stay - which is IMHO the best way to see the island. Rent a Suzuki Jeep....but watch the other road-users.....you will NEVER complain about UK idiots again....the Balinese (well, most) believe in life after death....no fear of death!
Volcano in middle of island also interesting...and a hot spring at the bottom.
Bangkok also very interesting - lots of markets selling rip-off clothing...but the quality is crap. Also very dirty - and watch for pickpockets!
If you're only on a stop-over, try and get to one of the big markets or go for a boat trip along the river.
Best bet - buy a SE Asia lonely planet travel guide. Unbiased information with a travellers slant.
Regards
Richard
12 July 2000, 01:00 PM
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Allan P & Dowser,
We are going to Sanur in Bali - hopefully they might have cleaned up the beaches since '98. We are only there for 5 nights so we might be able to pick up some bargains in that time - at least the drinking & watersports will be good.
As far as Bangkok goes looks like we might try the boat trip and keep away from the now pointed out dirty areas.
Cheers for the advice - Fee
We are going to Sanur in Bali - hopefully they might have cleaned up the beaches since '98. We are only there for 5 nights so we might be able to pick up some bargains in that time - at least the drinking & watersports will be good.
As far as Bangkok goes looks like we might try the boat trip and keep away from the now pointed out dirty areas.
Cheers for the advice - Fee
12 July 2000, 07:03 PM
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I've got a mate who been out there for 7 months coming back to the Uk tomorrow for a couple of weeks and then he's going back with a mate for another few month or longer even.
I'll have a chat with him and see what he thinks
AllanB
I'll have a chat with him and see what he thinks
AllanB
12 July 2000, 10:25 PM
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Fee,
We're travelling to Hong Kong then to Northern Thailand via Bangkok, leaving on Friday morning. We decided to give Bangkok a miss after reading all the guides on the area - they were all rather negative, touristy, busy, congested, etc. but it depends what you're after. We're heading for Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai instead. If I pick up any tips in Bangkok I'll pass them on wnen I return in early August.
We're travelling to Hong Kong then to Northern Thailand via Bangkok, leaving on Friday morning. We decided to give Bangkok a miss after reading all the guides on the area - they were all rather negative, touristy, busy, congested, etc. but it depends what you're after. We're heading for Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai instead. If I pick up any tips in Bangkok I'll pass them on wnen I return in early August.
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