May 7, 2006
Traveling to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is a popular destination that combines cultural indulgence, white sand beaches, historic ruins and exotic food and accommodation -- all at a fraction of the cost you'd normally spend in Europe or the Caribbean.
Composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia -- forming a regional alliance called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- Southeast Asia is a tropical region that enjoys warm weather all year round.
Cost
While it is more expensive to travel from America to Southeast Asia than to a common destination in Europe, say London or Barcelona, the tradeoff happens during the time airplane lands at your preferred destination: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Manila. The cost of food, accommodation, transportation and shopping extravaganza is hard to beat. Indeed, this is a region for the place to be for those who want to stretch the value of their dollars.
Food
If you are craving for exotic food, then this is the place for you. From Thailand's tom yum gung to Singapore's makan food to the Philippines' adobo or Indonesia's nasi goreng, the selection is virtually endless. Food is characterized with influences of Indian and Chinese expertise plus the ingenuity of the locals who manage to associate food with their cultural activities. Definitely, food's worth comparing to your neighborhood exotic restaurant to see the difference. Aside from the main dishes, Southeast Asia provides snacks, drinks with elaborate table preparations that sum up this culinary feast.
Attractions
As the region is often described as exotic, describing its attractions as exotic is an understatement. This is where the famed Bali, Phuket, Penang and Boracay beaches are located. Angkor Wat, Grand Palace and Borobodur Temple provide spiritual touch. Halong Bay in Vietnam and numerous white water adventures in Laos are meant for the more adventurous.
Travel
There are various ways to travel from one place to another: air, land, sea. To feel the Southeast Asian way of life is to try what the locals do. The same is true for traveling. Tourist companies often allocate special trips for foreign travelers which provide a more relaxing atmosphere but charged much more than the actual cost. You have the choice.
People
Southeast Asians are a blend of Malays, Chinese, South Asians and other minorities who coexist homogenously. With plenty of smiles to share, they are among the friendliest in the world. Tour guides, food hawkers in the street, cab drivers, they never fail to share their life stories and the enthusiasm in their faces while talking to tourists is very obvious. In fact, Southeast Asians are among the world's happiest people.
Shopping
Bangkok's night market overflows with cheap goods, from faux designer bags and sunglasses to delicious local snacks and native handicrafts. And while the price appears relatively affordable the usual trick is to bargain for a much lower price. Sellers are gamely open to haggling and once you try to do so, you'd be surprised how much more you could have paid if you never tried to bargain.
