Advice for Traveling to Asia

[pr0ficient]

I'm graduating from school in May and am putting some serious thought into traveling to Asia for a month or two before I start my job.

I'd like to visit 3, or maybe 4 countries throughout my stay so that I won't be rushed and can have a decent amount of time to explorer each country.

I've heard great things about Thailand and Japan, so those are musts for me atm. I was also thinking about Hong Kong, maybe only for a few days though b/c I hear it is extremely expensive. I don't plan on applying for a visa so China (except HK) is pretty much out of the question.

Does anyone have suggestions for places to visit or sights to see? Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated...

[Haziel]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

just stick to Japan .. the best place to visit on planet earth very expensive though

[Huggie Smiles]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

VietNam is mindblowingly amazing - a must!

[djkix]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

How much time and money do you have?
Japan is MEGA expensive. It's like going to London.
However, you can find plenty of cheap eats... lunch and dinners can be had for $8-20 assuming you won't be eating at McDonalds everyday. Japan is an amazing place filled with a perfect blend of rich history, culture, customs, and at the same time super modern. Oh and amazing food.

HK = expensive!
Thailand = cheap!
Vietnam = cheap!
Cambodia = cheap!

One Asian country that's always overlooked (sadly) is Korea. It's relatively cheap, much cheaper than Japan... I was born in Japan but am of Korean decent so I always go to both countries if I go to Asia. If I stayed a week in each country, I'd probably spend 3x much money in Japan compared to Korea, yet in Korea I could eat/play like a king.

If you only have a few days in each country, just stick to one city. You'll need at least 4-5 days to see Tokyo (and that's Tokyo alone, not going outside), a week is better since you'll have time to take a side trip to one of the onsen (hot springs) resorts like Nikko or Hakone.... Popular Tokyo districts are Shibuya and Roppongi for partying, Shinjuku (my fav) for everything, Ueno for shopping, museums, and parks, Akihabara for the latest electronics, Asakusa for traditional, historical stuff like temples, Harajuku where you see teeny boppers and radically dressed ppl and there's also a nice temple called Meiji Jingu, Ginza for restaurants, dept stores, and shopping, and finally Odaiba, a man-made island w/ a mall... cool to take the Yuri Kamome monorail.

This is a must buy: Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide

http://www.amazon.com/Japan-Atlas-Bilingual-Kodansha-International/dp/4770030266/ref=pd_sim_b_5

This is a MUST buy... TRUST ME ON THIS. You'll probably pick up Lonely Planet or Fodors books but this atlas, you have to have it. It will absolutely save your butt. I've loaned it to 5 or 6 friends that went to Japan and every one of them found it to be invaluable.

The tough reality of clubbing in Japan is that b/c the trains/subways shuts down at around midnight, if you club, you have to stay out all night long and wait for 5am when the trains operate again b/c a cab ride back to your hotel can be prohibitively expensive (unless you're loaded). This is detrimental for tourists b/c it absolutely kills your next day and instead of sightseeing, you're sleeping. So be strategic where you get your hotel. Shibuya is a very popular, hip district for young ppl and there's the lengendary Womb club there so if you stay in Shibuya, you can just walk back. Club Yellow is bet Shibuya and Roppongi in Nishi-Azabu... and not too far from Shibuya... a short cab ride back.

If you do go to Korea, you can eat and party like a king in Seoul. Food is amazing too. It's totally diff style from Japanese food but really good. Korean BBQs are delicious. Popular district for partying is Kangnam (also spelled Gangnam) and Hongdae (Hongik University). Hongdae is my fav place and the last Friday of every month, they have this event called "Club Day" where for only about $12, you can enter like 10 diff clubs. If you do go there, check out M2 club or Museum (that's the name of the club)... Great clubs, great music. Cabs are cheap so you don't have to worry about staying out all night.

Won't go into to too much more detail about Seoul since I'm not sure you'll go but if you are, let us know. Also, as a general practice for travelling abroad, go to a book store and pick up guide books like Lonely Planet, Fromners, Foders, etc. They really do come in handy. And if you do, don't just buy them a few days before your departure. But them way in advance and actually read through them and plan ahead what you'll do.

Have fun!

[pr0ficient]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

Thanks a ton for the advice djkix! I've also heard great things about Seoul, one of my friends is teaching English there right now and absolutely loves it. So that would definitely be a possibility, especially since it's so close to Japan. I'm really intrigued by Thailand though, I've heard its beaches are surreal and I've been wanting to go there for years.

I'd really like to spend a decent amount of time in Japan though, get a good taste of both Tokyo and maybe a more rural area or two (maybe Mt. Fuji area or Nikko). I'd imagine that it'd be at least somewhat cheaper outside of the big cities...?

Great advice about clubbing and the trains shutting down at midnight! What about hostels? Are there a lot of them in Tokyo, and/or across Asia in general? Or would you recommend hotels instead? When traveling overseas (Europe) in the past I always preferred hostels cuz I don't really care where I sleep as long as I have a bed in a safe and centrally located place.

Good book advice as well, Lonely Planet was already on my list but I will for sure buy the 'Tokyo Atlas' if I end up going.

Again, I appreciate the advice and will probably ask for more of it if my plans solidify.

[AntonyM]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

Korea would be very good, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are great, but May-Sept tends to be Monsoon Season so it can get rainy, still would be very cheap to travel those above places during the summer, but flooding is very common. Japan is pricey and HK, China is not that bad, but so large. If you had to pick one place I would go with S Korea, having a month or two you could really see get around at leisure, if you are interested in SEA Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, PM me will send you link to photos from my trip there this past Dec/Jan. Have fun.

[mnbvcxz]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

VietNam is mindblowingly amazing - a must!

It's another planet isn't it? Blew me away. I enjoyed Nha Trang the most... went absolutely mental there. So many crazy fuckin' stories.

I have been to Thailand too, but Vietnam is much more raw.

[AntonyM]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

True, true, Hanoi is still one of my favorite cities

[Dhar_2]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

defo on Thailand and Japan.

Malaysias not bad. unfortunately i didnt get to see the best bit above Borneo. I recommend that!!!!

Friend of mines been to vietnam, laos and cambodia, she didnt think much of them.

[Shpira]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

^^ I heard the opposite...
I guess it depends what you are into...I want to go to Cambodia and smoke some opium and fire a rocket launcher
If your into normal touristy things and more civilized shit go to Japan, Thailand etc...personally when I travel I don't want to see a mc donalds or drink coke ...
I went to Thailand twice its good but its become too touristy for me...

[AndyH]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

Cambodia

[Kamal]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

depending the time of year, Goa

[Shpira]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

Yeah Goa is def the shit! But if you can't digest psy-trance you will really miss out.

[Dhar_2]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

I went to Thailand twice its good but its become too touristy for me...

thats why i wont go!

[Mariner1]

Re: Advice for Traveling to Asia

be careful with the hookers. you might be getting more than you bargained for if you're not careful. Might just be your thing though, so don't knock it till you try it.