What's r Fav SEA Country After Thailand?

[Susana]

I didn't vote because Thailand is the only SE Asian country I have visited. Up 'til now, that is.

At the time I lived in Thailand, Burma was off limits. Foreigners generally visited Laos & Cambodia only to renew visas.

I would not turn down the opportunity to visit anywhere, but I would really like to visit Cambodia & Vietnam, in that order. Now also Laos since so many others think highly of it. Ok, Burma also!

Why? Ankor Wat is one reason to visit Cambodia. Also, I feel such empathy for the struggles of the people starting over after the years of war and violence. My own young (very private person) K has recently returned from Cambodia & Vietnam, and of course Thailand as home base. She really liked Cambodia best and spent some time volunteer teaching there. I feel inspired to do the same if I ever have the opportunity. Naturally since I want to go there so badly I am surprised that no one has as yet voted for Cambodia.

She enjoyed Vietnam also. She had to visit a doctor while there (actually he came to her hotel room). She spoke of how courteous he was.

While in school years ago I had some friends from Vietnam. I have thought of them over the years and although I have no idea of ever seeing them again, I would like to see their home country. I would especially like to visit the seaside town of Hoi An.

And of course I wouldn't mind visiting Thailand again while I had the opportunity.

[yy]

I didn't vote because Thailand is the only SE Asian country I have visited. Up 'til now, that is.

At the time I lived in Thailand, Burma was off limits. Foreigners generally visited Laos & Cambodia only to renew visas.

I would not turn down the opportunity to visit anywhere, but I would really like to visit Cambodia & Vietnam, in that order. Now also Laos since so many others think highly of it. Ok, Burma also!

Why? Ankor Wat is one reason to visit Cambodia. Also, I feel such empathy for the struggles of the people starting over after the years of war and violence. My own young (very private person) K has recently returned from Cambodia & Vietnam, and of course Thailand as home base. She really liked Cambodia best and spent some time volunteer teaching there. I feel inspired to do the same if I ever have the opportunity. Naturally since I want to go there so badly I am surprised that no one has as yet voted for Cambodia.

She enjoyed Vietnam also. She had to visit a doctor while there (actually he came to her hotel room). She spoke of how courteous he was.

While in school years ago I had some friends from Vietnam. I have thought of them over the years and although I have no idea of ever seeing them again, I would like to see their home country. I would especially like to visit the seaside town of Hoi An.

And of course I wouldn't mind visiting Thailand again while I had the opportunity.

Susana, you recounted everything ever so beautifully, like you always do.

I hope you get to revisit Thailand, and also to go to the other SEA countries you have wanted so much to, in the near future. And hopefully (who knows what fate will deal us at times), maybe you will cross the path of your old friends again...

[David_Loves_Ubonwan]

Maybe we should vote for places in south east Asia we would least like to go.

Singapore.

David

[Betti]

least? from what I have heard so far, Vietnam.

[billyboy]

Ouch! Billy, your preference is Malaysia, yet you post sooooo many on Burma but just this one photo on Malaysia. Poor Malaysia... UnfairX3!

Maybe a thread next on your that Malaysia trip?

Ohhh, yy,

I misread at the start of this post, i thought it was SEA as in water not SEA...South East Asia!!

Silly me, i would certainly have to put Burma as my choice then.

But for the beaches, Malaysia.

Billy.

[billyboy]

Billy, care for a cooperative "photos from Malaysia" thread? I never did one on my Malaysian trips. only been to Kuala Lumpur, Cameron highlands, and a tiny little bit of Borneo (around Kuching) but I could chip in.
anyone else interested?

Good idea Betti,

You got me thinking where my pictures are from that trip! I will root some out and start posting them.

Billy.

[Susana]

RE: #55

Billy, that is sooo like something I would do!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YY: About 25 or more years ago I did hear from an old friend who had contacted his former sponsor. He was asking for money to help his family in Vietnam. It was so sad to hear considering he had been sent here by his government to study civil engineering and had in fact gotten his master's degree. I only hope he and his family are experiencing better times.

[Tim]

Okay, I'll come clean as one who voted for Laos. I haven't actually been to Laos (officially, anyway ), but I've spent a bit of time in Thailand right along the Lao border in several places. I have learned some Lao language (not much really) and I can even type it on the computer a little. My favorite places in Thailand are close to Laos, so it's the country I seem to be gravitating toward, other than Thailand.

I've gone to Thailand several times, but only visited other South East Asian countries three times just for hours each time. I crossed the borders into Cambodia (Poi Pet) and Burma (Mae Sai/Tachilek) for passport stamps, and I also had the amazing opportunity to visit Prasat Khao Phra Viharn (Preah Vihear), technically Cambodia, which has unfortunately become a geographic pawn for political, nationalistic, and military stupidity of the worst kind.

Heh, since someone is bound to ask about what I meant by inferring that I've been to Laos unofficially, here goes. By treaty, as I understand it, all uninhabited islands in the Mekhong River where the two countries border technically belong to Laos. I was on a boat which stopped on an island for swimming, close to Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani. It was fantastic, and since the time worked out, I called a couple friends in the USA from there to say "guess where I am?". A second time, I rode a motorbike to a small border crossing in Loei province, just to watch the scene. The border there is the small Heung River, which runs fast there. The Thai border guard told me I could walk across the bridge, so I left the bike and did so. I stopped a couple dozen meters from the Lao entry guards, and just then got a call on my cell so I sat on the guard rail for a while. The Lao patrols finally came over and asked me what I was doing. I told them I hoped to visit their country, but not just then. They told me I'd better cross back to the Thai side . That was on my birthday.

[yy]

Tim, I can imagine it must be quite an adventure to be doing that with the guards on your birthday!

[yy]

Yes, Susana, hopefully all's well with him. Sounds sad that he has to resort to going around asking to borrow money :(