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Travel Philippines guide – getaway to relax on Cebu Island
February 1, 2012 by bob
Filed under News, Philippines
We decided to go on another trip so we did a little research on http://www.skyscanner.com and the result was a round trip to Cebu in the Philippines from Singapore on Tiger Airways for $ 150. So yeah we were going!
Travel philippines guide Cebu island
Cebu is the big island of the Visayas region in the center of Philippines http://www.getlostinasia.com/en/category/country/philippines-country/. It is the largest and oldest city in Southern Philippines, often called the Queen City of the South.
Cebu en.wikipedia.org / wiki / Cebu is a slower version of the chaotic Manila’s. It’s a bustling city full of cultures. With its large port, a small international airport, its “shopping malls”, its industrial park and universities, Cebu has got some poverty but also lots of prosperity too. The exchange is similar to Thai Baht http://www.getlostinasia.com/category/country/thailande/ with 43 Philippine Pesos to one U.S. dollar.
There are not many tourists.Travellers are composed of groups of Koreans with cameras, a few adventurous backpackers, many Filipinos working abroad coming home to visit their families and unfortunately a lot of lost Caucasians attracted by something other than culture . The white foreigners here are mostly grey haired, half bald, retired U.S. Army, divorced or eternal bachelor with a young Filipino girl in his arms.
Mactan Island is a major tourist point that’s where the high-end hotels and luxury places are located. At the south you can find the most charming hotels in fisher village that offer budget facility. This is also where we ended up on the Olango Island; a small isolated island with small quiet resorts close to the village.
The people are poor but very friendly. People here live day to day, it reminds me vaguely of Laos where the tempo of life is slow, where everyone is smiley and unpretentious. The water is clear and green emerald.
Brief Philippines travel guide of our visit to Cebu:
- Customs formalities at the airport are fast, no need for visa
- Taxi from the airport to the pier to take our ferry (20 minutes by taxi) was 347 pesos (8 USD)
- Walk a little further and take a taxi from there and ask for the meter to be turned on, that will save you a bit of money
– The taxi took us to the wrong pier where all the locals take the ferry to the island of Olango. There was no terminal building and everyone was watching us. There were no tourists coming there. The price of the ferry is 25 cents. The boat is filled to its capacity. The notion of time by international standards are suspended. The boat comes and goes when it wants and no one complains or blows up a fuse.
On the boat there we made a local friend who lives on the island. He gave us a “lift” to our hotel. 3 on a motorcycle is just the average, it’s common to see a complete family with building materials and half a dozen chickens. We were lucky that we embarked with him, because this narrow road in the middle of nowhere made me doubt that a hotel is hidden among a dozens of small shops selling almost anything, soap, cigarettes , coke ….
We stopped at a gas station with an old lady in her hammock smoking a cigarette. We buy a bottle of rum filled with gas, a well spent 35 pesos to thank our host.
We finally reached a bamboo fence with a sign announcing the Talima Beach resort (http://www.talimabeach.com). We thanked our new friend for his kindness as we went into our hotel.
It’s small and intimate land of a few hundred meters surrounded by a fence, it’s not super luxurious, but clean and quiet, too quiet I would say, but perfect for relaxing from the city. There is a nice little pool to relax in. The room is small, but OK, because of the limited availability of electricity on the island we are asked to avoid the air conditioning between 5 and 9 pm, the hottest parts of the day.
It has a beautiful view on the Lapu Lapu city . We can snorkel in front of the hotel if we have the courage, because at low tide you have to walk more than 100 meters and the bottom of the sea is not very pleasant. The hotel has a small diving equipment rental service. (http://polaris-dive.com/), People usually arrive by sea as it gives a more spectacular entrance, but was able to share the daily life of inhabitants of the island.
We tried the local food provided by the hotel which was good but not excellent, and each main course cost more than $ 10. One thing that was annoying was that they asked us to order in advance and indicate the time at which we want to eat. But at the end, we were still waiting for our food. It’s funny especially when we ask for toast and coffee, something which we need to prepare ourselves. We reserved a boat for the next morning to visit the small islands surrounding (island hop). 4600 pesos (100 USD) for 6 people it’s cheap for a day of exploration on this turquoise sea
Island hop
A classic boat like a catamaran with canvas roof and a diesel engine perfect for the shallow waters surrounding the islands of Cebu. We can see brightly colored starfish and fish through the clear waters. There are islands everywhere. It is difficult to figure out where we were on the map.
After an hour of navigation in the ocean breeze that made us feel good, our first stop on a small island Padanon http://www.cebucruising.com/cebu-pandanon-island-mactan.html with a picnic area with small huts. The island is beautiful, but not extraordinary. The water in the Philippines is extremely clear we see several meters through to water with our naked eye. There is not much to do on this island. It is part of a conservation program and we must pay $ 5 per person to enter.
The place is lost somewhere in a remote paradise. But there is a lack of activity. There is not much to be discovered and you have to walk in the rocks for several feet before swimming. This is not the best island I have visited. In fact, it’s more a place where big Filipino families and friends come to have a seafood barbecue and drinking ale and practicing beach activities. After an hour on the island everyone is ready to sail to another island.
Half an hour of navigation and we arrived on the island of Nalusan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nalusuan_Island. A large wooden bridge leading to a resort and restaurant, and nothing more. Filipino families and as usual Korean tourist groups enjoyed a meal accompanied by a small orchestra singing in English. It’s expensive on the island and all we can do is nothing but eat and pay the entry fee. A rather unimpressive meal with a coke and a beer for around $ 40.
We got out quickly from this tourist trap like most people who come here. There is a hotel here for people who would like to stay on this island. We dropped anchor in front of the island where there is a protected marine sanctuary to do some snorkeling. I could see the beautiful silvery blue fish and a stingray camouflaged among the rocks. It was already time to go back to the hotel. A beautiful day, unpretentious, relaxed, and the water was really one of the clearest I have ever seen.
We went across to the other side on a private boat with 4 other guests for 500 pesos (12 USD) to get to Lapu Lapu city. A small ordinary town with few hotels and homes and shops made of wood and metal sheet .The sun was blistering. Our first mission was to find sunscreen and a hat that was not too ugly and not too expensive.
Visite de Lapu Lapu et Mactan Philippines en bref
- The streets are narrow and traffic is acceptable.
- The sun is too hot so we engaged the services of a motorcycle taxi to take us to the market or the nearest tourist spot.
- One of the only tourist attractions around is the monument of Lapu Lapu with small artisan market filled with local tourist bus and Koreans. They seem to have invaded the city, there are Korean markets, restaurants, Korean karaoke …
- The guitars sold here are quite original made with coconut-shaped turtles
- Goats on the edge of the street and quietly graze, local guys proudly walk on the street with their rooster in their hands, cock fighting is very popular in the Philippines
- The Jeepney or public bus honk to pick up local people.
- We walked passed a necklace micro-factory in a house on the side of the road
- We tried a seafood restaurant, a garlic crab with and fresh jumbo shrimp sold by weight, excellent, fresh, tasty and not too expensive.
- Some people on the road ask what you’re looking for? For example a taxi. It helps you because they have a small commission
In short, it was a relaxing country full of surprises and people, despite the poverty surrounding them, are still smiling. Look at where your hotel is located, the islands are pretty, but you must take a ferry every time you want to visit some tourist attractions. In the Philippines you can never predict, we take what the country and its people give us without asking anything in return. The best plan guide for travel philippines is to not have one. The best is to have a lot of time and an open mind.
Police arrest punks in Indonesia
Punk not Dead in Indonesia
Source: The Guardian Uk Newspaper news
Punk not dead in Indonesia and the authorithy visibly don’t like it. Is a chance than my Friend Van de Kamp who give some concert in this area don’t have the same treatment.
“After being arrested at a punk rock concert in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, fans were forced to have their hair cut, bathe in a lake, change clothes and pray”
Here the Free Haircut session
Visit guardian.co.uk to read all the story
Rent in singapore, find appartment, condo or room
Singapore is a good place to start learning Asia. It’s clean, it’s safe, it’s warm, but there’s air conditioning everywhere in the hundreds of shopping malls and in public transport. The apartments come with all the modern facilities that can easily save you the pleasures of Turkish toilets.
Singapore has one of the most beautiful cultural diversities across Asia. An amalgam of Indian, Malaysians, Filipinos, Europeans, Americans, Australians and Singaporeans of all backgrounds in a culture broth and consumption. Here, unlike many places in Asia no one stops to stare at the colour of your skin or your physical appearance. There are so many people of all colours from pure white to black coal and even so, it’s difficult to stand out. The only people who will stare at you are the other whites wondering what you are doing here.
If you are looking for a job, see our article on job search in Singapore. When you are thinking to come live in Singapore, the cost of living is comparable to the Western world in regards to food and transportation. Much of your budget will be consumed by the cost of housing, cost of renting or buying a vehicle if you want to drive and education if you have children.
For my part I first lived with my girlfriend’s uncle. We paid a small sum of $ 500 Singapore Dollars a month for a room and were there for almost a year. Until then everything was fine. My budget allowed me a life without worry and even save quite a sum of money in bank without budgeting myself tight. But over time, it was essential to have our own private home after getting married especially if you are of a Westerner origin. My first idea was to buy an apartment. Investing for the future instead of paying rental of more than $ 2,000 for a basic apartment.
We made an attempt to buy an apartment, but the never ending housing inflating bubble put a hold on our project. Let me explain; the three-bedroom apartments cost more than $ 300 000 Singapore dollars. Singaporean couples have access to some government property subvention. The problem is that while my wife is a Singaporean, I’m not. So we can only buy resale public flats and private condominiums which are more expensive. When the two buyers are Singaporeans, they get a grant and they can use a part of their CPF or retire pension to finance a part. We sought with the local real estate agencies, but the demand is so high that all the apartments for sale add an overstatement Assessment “(COV) which often exceed $ 25 000. With the “Cash Over Valuation,” the 10 % cash deposit and the purchase tax (Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 3 % for the residents and 10% for foreigners, we need about $ 80 000 Singapore Dollars or 50 000 USD. Unfortunately, a bit too much for us and even if we try to buy a smaller and less expensive apartment, the surcharge assessment does not reduce by a lot and the cash needed is still above the threshold of $ 50 000.
For more information on the purchase of public house or HDB visit these two Address:
http://www.hdb.gov.sg – Buy Resale COV
http://www.hdb.gov.sg – Buy Resale Flat Overview
We changed our plans and we decided to rent while waiting to save more money and hoping that the housing bubble bursts.
Another sad fact, the price of rent is high too. You will not find anything under $ 2000 per month unfurnished. Forget the cottage with a nice garden. 85% of Singaporeans live in apartments built by the government HDB (Housing Development Board). They are nice clean buildings that come in several sizes and configurations. They often have a car park, a small park, playground for children and some basic services located in the centre or around a square group of buildings.
It’s hard to understand the apartment’s rental system and even renting a room is complicated in Singapore. When you are abroad, you must look seriously and intensely to find a nice gem. The rental market explodes and moves at breakneck speed.
You will need to decide on a location, the best place will vary depending on your needs and your budget. It’s well to clarify your requirements before beginning research. Do you have any children? You will need a school, where is your place of work, what is the budget you have, what is the maximum you can pay. Then you can concentrate your efforts on the best location and type of apartment that suits you best. If you are the lucky one who holds a position that provides a budget of over $ 5000 for your home expense you will have no problem finding something suitable. With $5000 a month you can have a flat from 1300 to 1500 square feet or less with a pool and tennis courts almost everywhere in the country. For the other mortals who are looking for something cheaper, you can find something acceptable between $1800 – $3000 depending on which corner of the city. Many expats decide to share the costs of renting an apartment and pay a more reasonable price- something around 1000 a month.
Rent is usually paid one month in advance with a security deposit of 2-3 months. You will have guessed that it’s a nice amount of money for someone who just arrived in a new country. Most of the flats (apartments) are equipped with air conditioning, stove, refrigerator, washing machine, a bed and curtains.
Here, forget the ads in newspapers and on community bulletin boards. Everyone uses the real estate agents and their agency, it’s almost impossible to rent anything even a room without signing a legal contract with multiple pages. Everyone prefers to secure his rear.
I will provide you links to sites that can help you in your research at the end of my article, there are plenty of rooms between $600 and $1400, some standard rooms in a public HDB to the large bedroom in a condominium with access to tennis courts and swimming pools.
Neighbourhoods greatly influence the price of housing. The neighbourhoods near downtown, parks or the beach are quickly up the bill. Do not worry too much with the location, the country is an island of 647.8 km² so there are not many places where public transportation does not serve well. Stay away from the central if you want to save.
Orchard Road, the most expensive of all, near the centre of the major axes, “shopping malls” and major attractions, a busy place and a bit noisy.$ 5000 to $9000
Bukit Timah & River Valley, the part of Singapore greener traditional homes with nice parks and the Botanical Garden. Many foreigners like to go jogging or walk their dogs in this fantastic garden. $3500 and more.
West Coast and East Coast are huge beach parks artificially create with fine sand with a good sea breeze a lot of activities for the whole family: swimming, cycling track, have a picnic with BBQ pits, location camping and even swimming. $1800 and more
Holland Village is a popular area for young Singaporeans and expatriates who enjoy its trendy restaurants, taverns surrounding its ancient trees. $3500 and more.
Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun, Choa Chu Kang are places suitable for nice family living with plenty of amenities. Good places to live among the locals and adapt more easily to the culture in the city lion. $1800 – $3200
The types of housing that can be found in Singapore.
1. HDB
The apartments are located in residential areas well organized with schools, supermarkets, clinics, restaurants, sports and leisure facilities.
Here in Singapore, public housing does not mean poverty or life of hunger subsidized by the state like many countries. They are generally cheaper than in the private sector. It is the vast majority of homes in the population. Few people have a few million to buy a simple bungalow that we can have for fraction of the price in America. These public housings are not ghettos. The environment is very clean. There are no security guards, but since most crimes are severely punished here and the crime rate is not something to worry about. You can rent a unit for between $ 1500 and $3000 SGD per month.
2. Condos
These are apartments with several amenities including a gym, swimming pool, tennis courts and community spaces. I am lucky to have a condo in Dairy Farm estates one of the few parts of Singapore where you can have a green landscape with huge trees. Now the new condos are more in concrete with a rooftop pool and couple of trees and flower in the front of the building.
3.Sharing
This is an option for many people. Many foreigners choose this arrangement because of the soaring rents and prefer to avoid this harsh reality by sharing the costs. This is the only option I advise to single individuals who settle in Singapore. Here are the websites to find a room or an apartment:
http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/
http://www.singaporepropertyexchange.com/
http://rentals.classifieds1000.com/Singapore
http://singapore.locanto.sg/flatshares-rooms-for-rent/302/
http://www.viviun.com/Rentals/Singapore/
http://www.sporeproperties.com/
http://www.propertyzone.sg/classified/
http://classifieds.singaporeexpats.com/showcat.php/cat/122
http://www.easyroommate.com.sg/Room-Rental-Expats/singapore/room-rental-singapore-city
http://www.adpost.com/sg/hdbflatsforsaleforrent/
I hope this has been helpful. Good luck with your search.
How to find a job in asia – avoid the crisis come work in Singapore
With the economy in crisis in America and Europe, many people are considering to move to where the economy is still healthy. Of course Asia with its huge population and an ever-expanding economy attracts many Westerners to come to try their luck in the orient.
But where to go? Several interesting countries are available to you such as Thaïland, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other non-traditional as Phnom Penh in Cambodia. There are several things to consider before choosing the perfect place: language, economy, security, our interests, jobs offer and visas and immigration.
One of the best options is without a doubt, Singapore, for several reasons. No natural disaster threatening, a stable government recognized as the least corrupt in the world, a strong economy with one of the strongest currencies in Asia, countries which despite its small size keeps a lot of public green space, a low crime rate, good cheap public transport facilities including a highly effective train system, world-class attractions like The Night Safari , The Universal Studio, budget carriers that can take you to Phuket beach in Thailand in 3 hours for 150USD round trip and excellent food from all corners of Asia at good prices .
There are also some cons: housing and real estate is one of the most expensive in the world, owning a car is exorbitant as it costs over 30,000 SingaporeDollars just to have a license plate. Singapore has a good night life but be prepared to pay the high price, the laws are numerous and severe, and for example the sale of chewing gum is banned, drug trafficking leads to death penalties, nevertheless the police are very discrete, the countryside does not exist and work and money must be one of your top primary motivations.
Other reasons that attract foreigners to work in Singapore are the flexible recruitment policies, the low personal tax rates, the high standard of living and the only real English working environment of all Asia.
There are nearly a million foreigners working in Singapore. By cons, as elsewhere employment opportunities are greatly increase for those who have extensive experience and solid recognized training as the competition is great with the many interested candidates and local degree holders.
The largest employers of foreign talent are finance and banking, export and transport of goods (the port of Singapore is the second busiest in the world after Shanghai), the IT and communication technology specialties where government investing heavily to become the hub of telecommunications in Asia. Business and government are always looking for qualified workers in manufacturing, construction engineering, haute cuisine, education, biotechnology, various technical jobs in the electronics and tourism.
As a foreigner to get a job in Singapore you will need a lot of effort and be well prepared. If you are looking at on-line job sites, you will notice that the positions offered are mostly to Singaporeans and permanent residents. There are few jobs open to foreigners on these sites. The reason is simply because the process is faster and less expensive for companies to hire people who are already in Singapore and having the right to work.
If you come here in search of work, you are not allowed to work with a tourist visa, read the stamp on your passport (holder not permitted to work or engages in business profession or occupation without valid work pass Issued Under Employment of Foreign Manpower Act). In fact, you must have a work permit to work, but to be successful you must have a job and an employer who wants to sponsor you before obtaining the necessary papers.
Once you have found an organization that wants to hire you, they will make you sign a letter of approval. They will take your travel documents and passport copies of your diplomas, certificates and resume to the Ministry of Manpower or MOM to apply for your work permit (S-pass/employment pass). From there, the only thing that remains is to wait for the outcome, let the human resources of the company take care of the rest of the process. There are several types of work pass, but the difference is limited mainly by the right to sponsor family members for extended stay visas. Refer to the MOM website for terms and conditions.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/working-in-singapore
There are several ways to seek employment in Singapore. Internet recruitment agency, classifieds, chamber of commerce, embassy, job site, send CV direct … there are several possibilities.
In Singapore all major linguistic communities are represented by their own paper so there are newspapers in Malay, Tamil and Chinese. For jobs in English, read the Straits Time in print or its online edition to find a listing of available jobs by type and industry. The Saturday edition usually has a full section devoting to career and jobs.
In Singapore, the headhunters have an important role in helping local companies to fill positions requiring specific labour and skills. Large international recruitment companies like Kelly are all based in Singapore. Contact them and submit your resume for employment if you are looking for a senior or highly specialized position.
Internet is the main source for finding a job Singapore. The Net is full of specialized sites where you can create your job profile and submit your resume. Take time to consult their guides to get some hints and tricks on Singaporean job markets.
Singapore Jobs Online – http://www.singaporejobsonline
Job Street - http://www.jobstreet.com.sgd
JobsDB.com – http://www.jobsdb.com
Monster Jobs Singapore – http://www.monster.com
?Jobs Cyclone – http://www.jobcyclone.com/
Singapore IT Jobs – http://www.singaporeitjobs.com/
Here are a few quick suggestions, while looking for jobs in Singapore
1) Get ready in advance about your upcoming job search in Singapore. Make a comprehensive search on the internet, prepare your papers, diploma and resume according to the demands of work you wish to apply for. It’s essential that you get some good contacts and interviews before coming to Singapore. You will need a month or two before getting good results according to what you have to offer.
2) Arriving in Singapore by air, you will receive a social visit pass valid for one month. Some managed to extend their visa at the immigration office (ICA) or online https://www.psi.gov.sg/NASApp/tmf/TMFServlet?app=STSVP-PUBLIC&isNew=true&Reload=true you will need a sponsor who is a local Singaporean or Permanent Resident to support your application. Remember to take steps before the end of your visa or you may have problems. Sometimes the Customs may ask to see your return ticket before entering the country so make sure you have proof. A reservation can maybe help you sometimes .
For many people like me, the solution was to leave the country a few days (at least 2 full days) to receive a new visa. If you enter by land at the Causeway Checkpoint in Malaysia you will get only 2 weeks but if you come by Changi Airport you will be given a full month. I suggest you visit Bangkok, Phuket or Kuala Lumpur on the wings of Tiger Airways for less than $ 150 round trip (once again plan a return ticket just in case)
Warning: exceed the limits of your visit visa is severely punished by the law of Singapore. Some foreign workers who exceeded the limits of their visas find themselves imprisoned for six months after being arrested and stood trial at high speed. As in anywhere else in the world, don’t play games with immigration as you will lose every time.
3) Think about finding a place to sleep and be reached easily. Singapore hotels are quite expensive. There are several Guesthouses which offer rooms and dormitories for 10 to $ 30 USD and they will be happy to assist you in your job search. You will have an internet connection and telephone and to make you reachable on this great island. Do not forget to buy a disposable phone or a local “sim” card as you will need a local number to fill up your application forms. Join forums and social network where you can find good tips, help and place to stay. http://www.couchsurfing.org/, Hostelworld, http://www.hostels.com/singapore, forum.singaporeexpats.com, www.singaporeexpats.com, http://www.sgexpatforum.com/
4) On the job search sites, be patient and keep trying to find jobs open to foreigners. You must be patient. You can use meta search sites including several job sites instead of seeking one place at a time. Using the search options for jobs that are open to all or to foreigners excluding the words Singaporean and permanent resident for example.
http://www.careerjet.sg – http://www.careerjet.sg
5) Apply to lots of jobs you are interested in even if they are targeted only at Singaporean and Permanent Resident. There are good chances that they want to meet you anyway. It’s your duty to sell yourself when someone is open to you. Everything is possible. Chances are that they might open the position to foreigners if they are not able to fill the position with locals.
6) Be clear with your skills and knowledge. Put the emphasis of your research on the jobs that you are a good candidate for the job applied for. Be wide in your research, but do not apply to all the jobs available or you will waste your time and you will waste the other party’s time as well.
7) Prepare your presentation materials carefully, your resume, cover letter, qualifications and portfolio. Look at the skills required in the field that you searching for and edit your profile accordingly.
Be ready for the interview. Revise the standard interview questions and be prepared to tell the history of your past experience and journey with conviction. Visit this site to help prepare your interview http://www.jobcyclone.com/articles/interview/interviewcenter.html
9) Be prepared to compromise and take the job even if it was not your first choice. It’s important to get one foot in the door and have your work permit
9) Good luck!
The next article, we will talk about your next concern; finding a place to stay according to your budget in Singapore
Rock tour in asia, Van De Kamp visit Bali, Hong Kong and Macau
Before falling in love with South East Asia, I was a big fan of underground independent music. Seeing my friend Simon Gaudry with his project Planetrox and his group Van De Kamp’s make a second visit to Asia, I thought it would be a golden opportunity to talk about the rock culture in Asia and their journey to the land of the rising sun.
People in general are open-minded and with the internet these days, visitors can discover the experiences of Westerners who live in Asia. As for music, I think it is a good tool to help discover the culture of Quebec, particularly with groups who sing in French. People have really enjoyed discovering a new sound at our shows and they were surprised and excited to know that we sing in French, unlike most Canadian groups. I think this article about the tour of a Quebec group in Asia will interest your readers as it is a rare experience for Quebekers groups to go and play in Asia, except for Simple Plan and Celine Dion.
We held three concerts in Bali last November. We played at hard rock cafe in Kuta, at the Twice Bar and Brewers. They were three memorable concerts. The welcome was warm and the audience enjoyed themselves. We played three nights with the band Disconnected, an alternative rock band from Indonesia. Then we played in Hong Kong with a Japanese group, Electric Eel Shock and also the Sleeves of Hong Kong. The day before, we were invited for an interview at the currently number one radio station in Hong Kong: RTHK. We were very lucky because the interview took place over the lunch hour, a great timeslot with many listeners. The evening of our first concert in China was held at Blossom internship in the area of busy Tsim Sha Tsui. Again, the public response has been amazing … we sold all the CDs we had in our possession … really great! The next day we had a concert in Macau on live music association stage. Again, we sold all the CDs we had brought with us. Before the concert, we were received in a typical Chinese restaurant for a meal fit for Asian emperors with lots of seafood dishes
At that time in Quebec City in 1996, there were no events broadcasting alternative music. Three others and I have decided to found an organization whose mission would be to present outdoor concerts with music punk, indie, hard-core and metal.
Yes it was a very nice discovery. I encourage Internet users who visit your site to log onto www.planetrox.ca. They will discover an initiative that allows emerging groups from 15 countries to hold their concerts in Quebec City during the Festival and Envol et Macadam. I like to provide opportunities for young groups. It’s exciting to see young musicians who are happy to live such an experience. In fact, Planetrox auditions are available for groups of these countries in order to participate in our event in September. Quebec City is our main partner in this project; however, we thank greatly the responsible offices of these major events as without them, the project would never have happened.
I knew a promoter from London in 2006: Takeshi Ohyashiki. We discussed the scene of our two respective countries and we decided to set up a project: japanrocks.net. This was to set up a project group exchange between Quebec City and Japan. Van de Kamp went on to do some concerts in Tokyo and the Quebec group Molly’s Decline. In addition, groups Moja and Pinky Piglets were able to come to the festival concerts in Quebec. The exotic side of the country attracted me a lot.
We were not allowed to play on the street at that time, but the girl band Pinky Piglets performer insisted to promote their band and they invited us. Of course we did not hesitate for even two seconds to join them. Especially since we needed to make original videos to win the Clictonband contest of Choifm radio station in Quebec City; which we won. This award has enabled us later to record our first album.
It is universal and language is secondary? I think so; the language is secondary and less important than the music and energy that emerges on stage. The French language got this advantage of providing something exotic and rare. Asians love the exotic and unusual stuff …
Every day we discover great stuff – whether it’s food or the very friendly people. Even the monkeys in Bali are quite friendly, even when we should not tease them too much because they have a short fuse!
Of course we have the time to make friends; we have plenty of friends now! People come to us to talk to us and we enjoyed it a lot. This is a very sociable side of Asians. Unfortunately we have not really had time to learn how to speak in their language; we can only say thank you and hello in their language.
Yes of course, Thaïlande, Morocco and France are among our choices. But we would like to continue what we started to return to Hong Kong where the reaction was great.
Yes, indeed the food is very spicy in Bali and we ate lots of seafood and food typical to this part of the country. I tried surfing for the first time in my life and monkeys have stolen our travel kits! We also filmed sequences that we would use for our first music video.
Yes … every moment of this trip is very well versed in our memories! We became addicted to Asia really quickly! I also love the sea, the temples of Bali and the jungles.
The worst food is at McDonald’s and the best was probably the restaurant Menega Cafea in Denpasar where we had our dinner on the beach during a sunset
We visited the Caribbean, Mexico, Cuba, etc.. for my part I travel a lot in Europe and in July I made a trip to Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur for Planetrox.
In fact I got all my contacts from people I have met during my 20 years of experience as a show promoter. Over time, you end up knowing the good people. Also, with internet these days it’s easier to match with other promoter. I recommend Heaven records in Indonesia, Globalchillin in Tokyo and theundergroundhk in Hong Kong.
Boring and I just think of going back to Asia!
The most bizarre thing of our trip was the fact that people who are caught with drugs in Indonesia are facing the death penalty … however the magic mushrooms are legal and are in sale anywhere in Bali. It goes without saying that we have found it very funny as a paradox!
Go ahead and do express your uniqueness and always be respectful of the differences in cultures and religion.
We were kind of wise boys throughout the tour. To find our stories in detail, the next time you need to come with us
Yes, other countries in Southeast Asia.
To release our first video and tour again as soon as possible!
Thanks for your interest!
Getaway from Singapore to Bintan Island Indonesia
A getaway from the city is required and our choice stops on Bintan Island, Indonesia. Another paradise that may be reached within 45 minutes from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal near the Singapore Changi Airport.
It was decided late in the evening that we will go for a weekend at the beach away from the concrete. Our research on the internet promised us a comfortable bungalow on the edge of the sea with semi-private beach at Mayang Sari Beach Resort which is part of a huge resort called Nirwana Gardens. The price initially seemed honest, but once taxes and fees were added, the final invoice was almost 200 USD per night. I hoped it would be memorable.
I will enlighten you further on alternatives for budget adventure. We almost forgot that we must book ferry tickets to get us to the island first. Ferry tickets are almost sold out for the weekend. We must come back to Singapore by travelling on first class if we want to arrive in Singapore on Sunday evening 21:00. The bill went up to about 120 USD for 2 round – trips. Not so bad, it’s only 45 minutes to get to Bintan on a ferry.
Bintan Resort Ferries Pte Ltd (Singapore) Tel: (65) 6542 4369 – http://www.brf.com.sg
Penguin Ferry Services (+65 65427105) – http://intra.penguin.com.sg/pages.php?url=ferry_schedule
Batam Fast – http://www.batamfast.com/
-Don ‘t forget to get your fill of beer and drinks at ferry terminal’s duty free, because the resorts charge exorbitant prices for alcohol
- Bintan Resort offers a special one-week visa for 10 USD; other customs posts require you to take a much more expensive one-month visa.
- The modern terminal welcome us with the big letters ‘ Bintan Resort’.
- No local visitor just foreign tourists mostly Singaporeans, expatriates and their families.
- Even the famous Club Med is there to give you two days all included for more than $ 800 per person with an exotic juice with small flower as a bonus.
Bintan is the largest island in 3200 Riau islands of the archipelago is located 10 kilometres east of the Batam island. Singapore is the closest major city to the other side of the South China Sea. Its coastline stretches on 105 km. The history of Bintan is shared by the control of several settlers, including English, Chinese and Dutch who came to take control of the exchange road between China and India. The Strait of Malacca in the 12th century was known to be full of pirate. Malaysian pirates stealing cargo in the surrounding waterways.
We arrived at the tip of the island, Bintan Resorts (Lagoi), a section of the island full of “resorts” with manicure lawns. This part of the island has nothing in common with the rest of the island and is separated by checkpoints with armed guards. The rest of the island on the east coast, is a real typical Indonesian island with electronics factories, fishing villages and local resort areas where there are people chilling on the beach and doing a wide variety of sporting activity. It was used for a long time as a destination for prostitution and gambling, as the nearby Batam Island, however Bintan is now clean since the authorities put an end to this industry. The island returned to its reputation as one of the most historic cities in Indonesia with its old markets bordering seas.
The majority of luxury hotels and visitor focused on the tip of the island (Bintan Resorts). You can find cheaper hotels on Hostel World and Hostel Booker for 8 to 50 USD for the great 4 stars.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Bintanresort.jpg/800px-Bintanresort.jpg
There is no public transport to reach there. You can hire a motorcycle taxi called “ojek” or a cab from the Tanjungpinang city (Bintan Resorts). The coastline of Trikora Beach is decorated over its entire length of Palm trees.
The Shady Shack is a good option if you want to encourage a local family in their business, Indonesian home cooking and bamboo bungalow in prime http://www.lobo.kinemotion.de
The cost of living in Indonesia is much cheaper than Singapore, which is already more affordable than Australia. It’s surprising that most tourists do not visit this place given the price and its proximity to Singapore. It’s a place that should be a successful destination for budgets travellers and backpackers. A beer is about 1.80 USD at the bar, so imagine the price at a local store. You can find small bungalows for $ 13 USD per night. It would not be surprising that Bintan will one day became a popular destination.
Back to our luxury getaway, we embarked upon free shuttle buses linking the terminal Naval of Bintan Resort to the different hotels in this tourist area. Thirty minutes to reach the first Nirwana Gardens complex. The first complex offers families small bungalows at reasonable price further from the sea. The Nirwana Resort ,a super luxury hotel with pool and hundreds of rooms, greets visitors who just alighted from the shuttle bus with a well-orchestrated traditional dance.
We checked into our bungalow at Mayang Sari Beach Resort, they offered us a small tropical fruit juice to refresh us. There were no more garden view rooms so they “upgraded” us for free to a sea view bungalow. We were given a voucher for bowling and tickets for complimentary breakfast.
The bungalow was well-mainted. We have a small fridge for my beer, a big soft bed, a patio with a great view of the semi-private beach with a beautiful view of the emerald blue water and palm trees. This is a great place to get away from the city in a family or couple for a day or two to enjoy the beaches, water sports and massages. The target customers are mainly from Singapore and all prices are displayed in Singapore dollars. To save money, visit in the mid-week as several hotels offer special prices.
sports: jet ski, banana boat, kite surfing adventure: elephant ride, horse riding, paintball, mini-zoo,
well being: Japanese spa, massage games: bowling, billiards , badminton, basketball
Bintan is relatively quieter and larger than Singapore. There are many deserted beaches for those who take the time and make an effort to discover. The sea surrounding the northern coast of the island is beautiful. The beaches are covered with fine sand, but beware as there are small unpleasant residual tar patches.
The part that I dislike about the place is that we were enclosed in an area where everything is expensive and in Singapore dollars. The resort offers a choice of several restaurants such as seafood restaurant that we visited, but is more expensive than what we find in Singapore. This is actually an extension of beach paradise near Singapore. I recommend this place for a short stay when you have money and no time. If you come, you just need to bring your drink, sunscreen and anything you need because you will have no option but to buy a beer at 15 Singapore dollars or $ 40 for sunscreen there. It is so cheap in general in Indonesia so there should be no excuse to charge us exorbitant prices.
Everything is designed to make tourists pay top dollars around the resort. While it is a ferry ride to get there, but there are many discount flights to places outside Singapore where local identity is still present and prices are reasonable. Desaru in Malaysia is a good example, we went there by car and it’s cheaper and retains more local charm. If you have more time to leave the east coast of the island of Bintan with a taxi, the adventure awaits you if not just enjoy the sun and do not look at your wallet.
Destination Siem Reap Cambodia, Angkor Temple ,floating village
Cambodia is an extraordinary country, where any budget, low, big or small can grant you to a fantastic journey. It is up to you to choose the type of comfort you want to have.
You can easily survive on less than $ 10 per day by being thrifty and adventurous. A traveller who prefers comfort and enjoys a little more refined pleasure can find a high quality accommodation for less than $ 50 per day. Just like everywhere else you can play the role of a millionaire and stay in a royal palace for more than $ 200 a night. Hostels start as low as $ 2. By adding a few dollars you add extra comfort such as air conditioning, cable TV, fridge and hot water for example. Feel free to negotiate for a discount especially if you visit Cambodia in the low season.
Cambodian cuisine is not as well-known as that of its neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, but it can easily compete with the best foods of Asia. The street food begins at 25 cents or a real buffet for only a few dollars. There are several world-class restaurants in Siem Reap; a meal with wine is around 20 USD. The food is good and prices are cheap. Many tourists come here to relish the luxury life at a discount. We got out from our guesthouse imposed on us the day before, nothing to say, good or bad, for this hotel. We walk a little on the streets to discover the city. It is a beautiful and welcoming small green town.
There are beautiful bridges and parks all along the Siem Reap River that runs through all its length. Its architecture is a nice blend of his Khmer past, Chinese architecture and the French colonialism. Compact, you can easily discover its six major areas where the services and tourist attractions are concentrated. The Old Market area, the Wat Bo, the old French Quarter, the village Taphul, the road to Angkor and the road from the airport are easily accessible on foot or by tuk tuk. Several unnamed alleys hide some treasures of shops, restaurants and monuments. Visit leisurely without planning and you will have nice surprises.
We took a tuk tuk and went to the European guesthouse (www.european-guesthouse.com). The small and friendly hotel run by my friend Siri Aasheim ,a Norwegian, who was the subject of a previous article on this site. It was $ 2 for the ride. In fact everything is “one dollar” or “two dollars”, you will see soon enough. A coke is a dollar, a dollar for a taxi, an ice cream for $ 1. Siem Reap is a gigantic $ 1 store.
Unfortunately my friend Siri went to Norway during the off season. Regardless, they offered us a room at a discount because the staffs were informed of our arrival. We were welcomed by a nice clean room furnished with air conditioned and TV for about $ 15 a night. I had a surprise while opening the balcony door. Our neighbours have a crocodile farm with hundreds of carnivores. It was not a good time to fall down when drunk. Cambodians like crocodile meat and make a variety of goods with their skin.
In the garden of the guesthouse, there is a small bar with comfortable couches where you can enrich yourself with the literature on tourism in Cambodia and the rest of Asia while sipping a cocktail or a beer. The staffs are available to help you choose from the dozens of activities posted on the walls. We reserved a driver to visit the Angkor temples the next morning for $ 15, there are several other possible activities, the floating village, visit an orphanage, waterfall, temple, farm silk and plenty more. Inquire at the counter of the hotel and they will take care of everything for an affordable price.
12:00 noon: we began on foot to explore the city. The city has markets with tons of interesting crafts, paintings, backpacks, vests, shoes and branded jeans. I am a big fan of shopping but I was tempted. However we took the time to bargain even though we knew that at the end we would still pay the ‘tourist price’, but still that’s “super savings”. We bought a “Northface vision 60” backpack that seems very fair for $ 12, three frames of a laminated picture of an elephant in front of the Angkor temple for 30 USD, branded cargo shorts for $ 15, etc. ..We came back with the backpack filled to its capacity of our purchases.
One thing that was a bit annoying, but endurable was the solicitation: the tuk tuk drivers emerged champions … every 2 minutes you will hear “tuk tuk sir, lady buy silk, Massage, one dollar.” We need to understand that this city is sustained by 80% of the tourism industry.
The Italian couple Simon and Frederica came to visit us to drink beer and chat. They finally spent the night at the same guesthouse as us and they subsequently went to the guesthouse where they already had reservations. They rented bikes and rode to the temple of Angkor. They forgot the sunscreen and they’re red like lobsters. From their comments I could tell it’s pretty strenuous to visit the temples this way.
9:30am: we were ready to board the carriage attached to Mr. Buntha’s motorbike. Mr. Buntha is a friendly driver-guide who decided to cancel his existing customers so that he could take us to the temple of Angkor. This really convenient ride consists of a little trailer hooked up to a motorcycle to provide a passenger cart. This allows the guide to serve both as a driver and guide while not worrying about transportation.
Visitors to the temple of Angkor, the vast majority of people who visit Cambodia, have to pay admission fees. The rates are at $ 20 for a one day admission, $ 40 for a 3 -day pass and $ 60 for a full week pass. Do not forget the cost of transportation to go near the ruins. There are many choices available: $ 2 to rent a bicycle, $6-$8 for a motorcycle with a driver, or as we did $ 10-15 $ for a trailer pulled by a motorcycle or a car for $ 25-30.
A 4 km ride from the city leads us to the great Angkor historical park. Along the way we saw: a children’s hospital financed by foreign organizations, some museums and several luxurious hotels. The government made efforts to revitalize and preserve the natural environment along the roads leading to its famous temple.
Mr. Buntan gave us a little “briefing” on the history of the temple and its great moments. We were sorry but our level of concentration under the sun was very limited. He had enriched us with minute details, many of which we would not have noticed.
Angkor Wat (Khmer) is a temple at Angkor in Cambodia, it was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to be the centre of the capital. It is the temple and the religious site best preserved of all and the largest religious building in the world. It was initially associated with the Hindu religion and his god Vishnu and then with Buddhism. This marvel of Khmer architecture has become a symbol of Cambodia, its main attraction that appears elsewhere even on its national flag. The site is administered by the private group Sokimex since 1990, which is leased by the Cambodian government. It’s a shame, because only 20% of revenue is redistributed to the association that takes care of the site (by UNESCO).
To learn more about the history and architecture of the Angkor Temple visit the official wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat
The visit of the site was breath-taking; thousands of carved stone murals tell the story of the Khmer civilization and represent battle scenes, and celebration party. Take your time, there is no need to rush through every single artefacts to enjoy this wonder of the world. Walking through the temples of Angkor is a sport. There were steep ascents with each step as high as 40 cm. You have to experience it because the pictures do not speak. But the courageous climbers have beautiful landscapes to photograph. There are many temples to visit so it is your choice to plan according to your taste for adventure and thirst for history. I do not like to overload my visits with group guides that take away the spontaneity and unpredictability.
Ta Prohm is my favourite! Invaded by the jungle, big trees did a lot of damage on the stone walls. Many of these walls have cranes surrounding them as they are being restored. Nonetheless it was a wonderful visit and everyone should see it once in his lifetime, but for me an intense day in the temples was enough. I have been in South East Asia long enough and have seen enough temples.
- Visit during off peak hours, between 10am – 2am, because most of the tour groups would have returned to Siem Reap for lunch after visiting the site since the 5:30 am sunrise.
- The street vendors before entering the sites are a little aggressive in their sales; simply go into the sites immediately to avoid them
- Moving away from the major trails, we can make some great discoveries while avoiding the crowds.
- Keep youself hydrated, get plenty of water and food
- Use sunscreen , cover your head and wear cheap sunglasses
- Keep your valuables safe and your eyes open.
- Take a map to help find your way.
- Beware of scammers. We encountered two men in the temple who placed incense sticks and candles near a statue. They told us to put $ 5 each under a piece of cloth and make a wish with a stick of incense stating that “the money is for monks of the temple”. Everything happened too quickly and we did not even realise that the money probably ended up in their pockets … Real tourists!
- Going by the lake in between visits of the temples, two kids approached us. They were friendly and asked us where we were from. “Aah Singapore! Come and see our store after you are done ok?” When we returned to our motorcycle taxi the kids started to run at us yelling, “You are lying you promised us to see our shop, all the tourists from Singapore are bad tourists”. Really insulting.
- Pay attention to the monkey, they seem harmless, but they attack, one came up to my wife and snatched a can of Pepsi from her hands.
This was the end of the afternoon and it was time to return to the guesthouse.
The tourism circus, the Japanese and the Koreans, their noisy guides, all its wonders and the Sun had exhausted us.
Contact Mr Buntha (855) 92 93 33 64 buntha331@hotmail.com: an effective guide with a smile always curved on his lips.
9:30 am : we sat in Mr. Buntha’s trailer carriage for 45 minutes of “road trip” and travelled 20 km to the floating village on Tonle Sap;tThe largest lake of all the South East Asia. On the road, we saw motorbikes carrying huge pigs and dusty roadside stores out of nowhere. You do not need to drive far from the town of Siem Reap to reach the country side.
When we arrived at the dock we paid for the admission ticket to enter the village at $ 20 each because we would have our private boat. Aboard the boat and it sails on long channel-like mistaking a street campaign. We meet dozens of other boats of villagers, fishermen and tourist boats travelling the same canal. At the floating village, the houses, temples, schools, restaurants and even government buildings are built on bamboo rafts. Over 3000 Khmer people are perched over 6 meters of height. Mostly residents living in the heart of this freshwater passage are farmers and fisherman. Children play in this giant pool during the rainy season. The dry season leaves the houses perched high and motorbikes replace boats. During this time many families build temporary shelters near the lake. All the inhabitants live off fishing and producing fish paste with a strong odour, fermented fish, dried fish, and other product derived from fish.
You can visit the village, meet the students of the English class and visit the temple with its wonderful colourful Buddhist painting. We felt a little bad for not buying pencils sold by a dubious girl, but it’s like this.
The highlight of the day was the boat ride with the locals through the floating forest. For a fee of $ 5, which is shared among the various villagers involve in the program, it was a real wonderful experience. It’s not every day you meet people who live mainly on water and its resources.
We did not visit the underground of Siem Reap but there are probably many interesting places, but we visited the night market, which is a maze of merchandise of all kinds and especially the Khmer crafts at affordable prices. There are two bars where you can cool off, you can easily afford a “full body” oil massage for $ 8, a “fish” spa for $ 4 with a free beer and have small fishes eating the dead skin off your feet. It’s hard to endure, but the experience was fun.
You can have a good meal in a French restaurant (excellent beef tartare) or a Cambodian hotpot for less than $ 20 with a glass of red wine. Siem Reap has given a warm welcome; with friendly people, magnificent temples and great shopping at the best prices. Siem Reap, Cambodia we will be back soon, I hope.
http://pgcambodia.com/ – nice little guide that contains all relevant information and things to see in Cambodia, you will find it everywhere in shops and hotels.
There was a little scared on our way back home. We booked a one-way flight to Singapore on Jet Star carrier for the sum of $ 100 USD. We took off from the small airport in Siem Reap at 4:45 p.m. An hour later, while our plane was near Phnom Phen, a strange burning smell filled the plane. The plane shook as though it was in a perpetual turbulence. People started screaming as if the plane was in trouble. The pilot announced that they were not ready to land and they would have to turn around to go back to Siem Reap airport. The captain made an announcement: “because of a bad storm over Phnom Penh we will return to Siem Reap and return when the storm has ended.” We ended up arriving safely in Singapore even though we were delayed for 3 hours. I am sure that there was something wrong with the plane. This is really the first time in my life that I am scared by a plane ride … Jet Star sometimes gives some surprises.
To Si Phan Don, 4000 islands in Laos by bus to the Cambodian border and Siem Reap.
Today we were leaving for Siem Reap in Cambodia from Si Phan Don or 4000 Islands in Southern Laos. I had bought bus tickets last afternoon at the reception desk for $ 35 USD. We got an ordinary breakfast at the hotel. The coffee was really disgusting, and this is annoying because the coffee produced in Laos from the Boloven plateau was supposed to be really excellent.
A mini-van fetched us from our hotel to catch the VIP bus (SPC Company) to cross the Cambodian border in Stung Treng We were waiting for the ferry boat which was an old platform that carries large trucks, buses and passengers. It did not look too reliable, but it worked, the rudder is tinkering with a steering wheel and a chain connected to the engine. Our new Italian friends Simon and Frederica struck a conversation with a monk.. He’s happy to practice English and he told them how he went to study in China for free at the monastery. Many bright young people benefited from their years of being Buddhist monks to travel and learn to speak English for free.
10:21am From the other side of the Mekong the mini-van driver attempts to locate the bus. We made a first stop on the side of the street. We landed on a road lost in the middle of nowhere. I saw a small store and went to buy something to drink. An old Lao man invited me to share his Beerlao. “No no, I have a stomach ache uncle!” The sun was hot and shade was rare. The bus finally arrived. As we boarded the bus, we noticed that the first floor was filled with vegetables and other agricultural products. We made a stop near Don Det to board other tourists and locals also going to Cambodia.
10:53am the Customs could not be more rustic; it looked like a disorganized logging camp. This border was opened recently and official buildings were still under construction. We saw a small quarantine post where a dozens of people were waiting to be admitted into the country. The custom officers distributed a yellow sheet to everyone. A health notice which states: “International passengers may be exposed to infectious agents ever encountered before. You may need medical assistance. If you feel unwell during your stay in Cambodia, fever, cough, diarrhoea or severe vomiting. Please seek medical assistance.” Thank you for the warm welcome, it’s reassuring.
I bought a beer at a street store right next to the customs; the good and cheap Angkor beer. We experienced the local currency for the first time, Riel. The exchange goes for 4000 riels to 1 USD. We gave our passport to the bus guide when he charged me 25 USD for a month visa and a $ 5 fee which cannot be accounted for. Passports were given back to their owners one at a time by calling out their names, it felt like being handed our life jackets at summer camp.
11:49am All passports were returned and we entered Cambodge. The deep rural landscape surrounded us all along the way. Southern Cambodia is still intact; it offered scenes of everyday life of its inhabitants frozen in time. It was a mixture of flooded rice paddies fields, bamboo house on stilts and Buddhist temples. In the southern province the people live mainly on fishing and agriculture. We made a stop at the first public market to drop off the vegetables from Laos. The market was in poor condition and the ground was covered by litter. The people of this community live in poverty but they continue smiling.
We made a stop to eat in a Cambodian “tuck-shop”. The food was good and very affordable, less than a dollar for a plate filled to the edge. Forget about the toilet; everyone was going across the street to relieve themselves. I heard people complaining and then we realised that problem. The bus would first reach Phnom Phen which is located 315 km beyond Siem Reap before returning to our destination. 630 km for nothing?! The bus company decided its route depending on the destination of the majority of people on board. So we must follow the rest of the group. Note to Self : Learn about the itinerary first and not the destination. You may save yourself from being in this kind of situation. Long live to the adventure!
15:30, we stopped at Kratie to pick up some passengers. I went to withdraw some money from the ATM and was amazed to receive U.S. dollars in Cambodia. The USD is the currency mostly used. People only use the local currency for small change.
16:27, we were still in the countryside, land is unfounded and people have to use boats for reach the main road. A succession of rice fields, fishing nets and piles of firewood can be seen from the only main road.
18:00, we were told that in one hour we would switch over to another bus to Siem Reap. Good news for us as that would save us at least 2 hours of road.
11:33 p.m. Arrived at Siem Reap after more than 14 hours since our departure, but we made it. It was all darkness in a muddy parking lot, far away from the mythical city that we dreamed about. We attempted to take a taxi parked along the roadside. The bus clerks forbade us to ride with the taxis there. He insisted that he had arranged for a complimentary taxi for us already. It seemed organized; he wanted to keep the passengers from the bus for himself. We got into a cab with the guide against our wills, but we really had no choice but to follow. It was so dark and you could get lost easily in this town with just a backpack. Our Italian friends were even more frantic than us, but ended up boarding the taxi as well. The roads were muddy and most of them were still under construction. I stood on guard in case anything happened.
We were taken to a guesthouse, Aroma Daily (http://www.aromadaily.com). We went to view the room which was not fancy, but it cost only $ 15 for the first night and $ 12 from the second night onwards. The tension remained strong as the Italian retaliated loud, he did not like to have been taken in hostage. Then he requested for our phone number to make sure that we would be fine later. There was no way to wander around alone in this city at night, in total darkness with our luggage on our backs. A couple of Angkor beers and a good night’s sleep would do us good. We would find ourselves someplace else early morning tomorrow.
Results of the flood situation in Thailand and South East Asia – Travel or not
The vast region of Southeast Asia suffered this year from the most devastating monsoon since 50 years. There are major floods in northern and central Thailand and a large part of Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines.
My friend Philippe Tetu recounted the situation in Bangkok. “Bangkok is on the verge of flooding but there is nothing done yet, the water level today and for the next 2 days (level of sea, river) is at the top so it’s not helping. The big problem is the water coming from other flooded cities and people must evacuate somewhere. For now everything is ok. I was going to do a bike ride to see the worst places to shoot some picture. In the worse scenario I have gotten water to the knee and it was on the edge of the river in the very low areas“.
We should not amplify the situation, but it denotes hundreds of death in Cambodia and northern Thailand. It’s a disaster, and the repercussions of this situation have not finished affecting the locals and the rest of the world.
There were a million of individuals affected and hundreds of thousands forced to move and the number continues to rise. 172 people died (most of them drowned). The majority of the population that is severely affected are poor farmers and their families.
Car and electronics factories around South East Asia and India are affected by the floods and are forced to close due to lack of crucial parts from their supplier located mainly in Thailand. Honda Motor Co and Canon have ceased their production operations in Thailand. Many other major manufacturers including Nikon, Toyota, Pioneer and Sony, to name a few, have reported a slowdown in production due of supply difficulties.
More seriously the United Nations is monitoring closely at the possibility of serious food shortages in many parts of Southeast Asia after the flood devastated rice paddies and other crops. Around 12.5% of rice farms in Thailand have been damaged as well as 12% of its counterparts in Cambodia, 7.5% in Laos and a little less than 1% in Vietnam since the beginning of heavy rainfall in the month of September. Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice. Thailand alone provides 31% of the 34.2 million tonnes metric of the world exchange every year on the market.
The price of food especially rice, which is the main meal in Asia may rise dramatically due to its low availability and its high demand. Already in February the price index of food of the United Nations has broken record for 55 aliments including cereals, meat and dairy products.
The tourist season in Thailand and South East Asia starts after the monsoon in December. But the daunting images of these floods that ravaged several provinces of the kingdom and her neighbours discouraged tourists.But the main attractions (with the exception of Ayutthaya) were not affected by the floods. The southern islands of Thailand such as Phuket, Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi stay dry.
There is also a deluge of rumour and misinformation spreading panic in the air. Bangkok under the threat of crocodiles and snakes. “Taking advantage of the floods, for weeks, ravaging Thailand, hound had escaped from a crocodile farm, located in Pattaya, a few hundred kilometres from Bangkok.” Forget the urban legend king kong never exist
Do not be fooled by the media, we are at the end of October; the rains have slowed down last week, it is sunny and hot during the day. No need to fear, people will need your visits to help their economies get back on track. In short, no reason to cancel your trip, go to the Land of Smiles smiling.
Vientiane to the 4000 Islands in the south of Laos, visit of Don Kong before Cambodia.
It was a pleasure to see, my brother, his family and my friends in Vientiane, but we have got to leave as our return flight from Siem Reap in Cambodia is in a little more than a week’s time. We have already given up visiting Vang Vieng due to the lack of time. We will not visit Cambodia for a single weekend.
We bought our bus tickets to travel the 685 km from Vientiane to Pakse near the Cambodian border and the 4000 Islands in southern Laos. A night sleeper bus for $ 340,000 kip; which is about 20 USD each.
The VIP bus is comfortable. The bed is small, but when you’re not too fat it’s fine. We take the 8:30 pm departure, they distributed a water bottle and a packet of fried rice which are included in the ticket. The trip goes well we ended up sleeping like babies. We made a ten minutes stop to Savanakhet at night to go to the bathroom and to buy something to eat before hitting the road one more time to Pakse.
We arrived at Pakse at around 7:30 am, the bus station decor was quite ordinary and did nothing to wake us up. We expected a minibus with a dozen tourists to visit Don Kong-the largest island on the Mekong in the region of the 4000 Islands.
There’s not much to do in Pakse as it is a stopping point to visit the Plateau Boloven or go to the 4000 islands like us. Near Pakse you can always go to the bridge over the Mekong River for a short cruise to Champassak; a quiet but beautiful spot in the area. The small island on the Mekong offers some resorts where you can spend the night. You can make a day trip to the ruins of Wat Phou- a Khmer temple. It’s amazing that the Khmer civilization had built a paved road of 100 km to get to this site. You can also rent a bike to ride to the waterfall near the Pak Song.
We got into a mini bus for 70,000 kips (8 USD) per person to get to Don Kong. The organization was chaotic as the driver stopped around the city to try to fill the vehicle. After more than 30 minutes of waiting and going around the town, we finally left for our intended destination.
The 4000 Islands or Si Phan Don is a small group of islands on the Mekong in southern Laos. This is a very quiet place where time stands still. This is not a place to party. We can have a kayak trip on the Mekong and even visit Cambodia illegally for a meal or refreshment. Near Don Det we can attend a special meeting with the river dolphins. A unique species threatened with extinction which has less than one hundred representatives of its kind. A trip to the big waterfall in Khong Phapheng can be arranged from Don Khong for about $ 10.
Many of the occupants in our bus alighted at Don Det which was a well-kept secret until now as it is close to the explosion of mass tourism. It was only 5 years ago when it was difficult to find a place to sleep. Even today you will not experience hundreds backpackers singing together and that’s good like that. Now ten Guesthouses have established. Electricity is now available 24 hours. People like to come and relax here before going to Laos or Cambodia as we were.
At 10:30am, we arrived at the ‘ferry terminal’. Wow, what an infrastructure, a traditional wooden boat was waiting for us to transport us across the river to Don Kong. My girlfriend, oops sorry, my wife needed to go to the bathroom when she asked for a toilet. A local invited her to use one at her home as there were no public toilets. As she joined us in the boat, the local came to bill us for the cost of using their toilet. A new micro-enterprise was born, long live to fair tourism.
The boatman requested 20 000 kips for a 15 minutes ride to cross the Mekong River to the island. The scenery was fantastic. When we got on shore,we went searching for a hotel. There are many cheap accommodations in the vicinity, $ 15 or less for a standard room with hot water, fan or air conditioning. This is our honeymoon, let’s spend. Finally we decided on the Pon Arena Hotel (http://ponarenahotel.com) – a modern, nice room with a balcony with view over the Mekong, air conditioning and cable TV for 50 USD.
I rented a motorbike for $ 6; the shopkeeper instructed us to fill up the gas before we proceed. The bike coughed, we do not even know if we have time to fill it with gas before the tank was completely empty. Prout Prout! Finally, we spotted a makeshift wooden hut with a barrel of oil and a hand pump. The Esso station of Don Kong. We spent a big 20,000 kips to gas it up and we were ready for the adventure. The island exudes beauty. The road is paved, but bumpy, the scenery is superb, rice, bamboo houses, water buffaloes, ducks and happy dogs along our way. I was really smart, visit the countryside on a motorcycle, take lazy pictures, that’s big life. Riding began to be difficult. “What’s going on? “We asked ourselves. Ha! Shit, a flat tire. Luckily in this kind of place there are shops offering shampoo, vegetables, gasoline and motorcycle repair service every 100 meters.
A Lao lady dressed in a traditional dress repaired our tire with a master hand. We do not see that often in our city. Children were playing with a monkey in house across the street; a grandmother led her cows on the side of the road to the pasture. Stress level = zero. 12,000 kips (1.5 USD) for the repair with a complimentary bottle of water as a bonus. Thank you Miss. We’re back on the countryside roads under a blazing sun admiring the greenery. “Chik chik chik,” No no it’s not true. Another flat tire! But this time we are caught in the middle of nowhere. No fields, no more houses in the neighbourhood. I pushed the bike so as to not aggravate the damage. After walking for 20 minutes , there was still no civilisation. fu## #$%^ We got back on the bike and hoped to find another garage. Each new horizon promised nothing but fields, we were lost for real now.
Miracle! We found a garage to repair our second flat tire. Our saviour charged us $ 3 USD for a beautiful new inner tube. The island is huge so we did not take any chances and rode straight. Still, we were not back at our hotel after more than one hour. “We cannot get lost darling,” I assured her. It’s an island we will certainly return to the starting point. Big mistake, we were lost, but happy lol. The rain forced us to stop and drink a Beerlao in a Bamboo pub where girls go to the bathroom in a little shack located 50 meters from the restaurant. We were hungry; it was raining and darkness was approaching. The tension built up and everyone we asked, told us to just keep riding straight ahead. It had been over an hour since we followed their directions.
Finally we got back to the hotel, we rested a little and had dinner on a floating restaurant in front of Mekong. After a hot shower, we got into bed to watch some TV. At 22:00 here, there are no more lights in the streets and all the island is about to fall asleep. A great Journey in Peaceful Laos is complete. Next destination: Cambodia tomorrow morning.
