Asian Escapes
11/29/2006 11:45:18 AM by Clint Brownfield
This winter, put a little spice in your life — Southeast Asian spice, to be exact — with Wave’s picks for the top destinations in the region. We promise you’ll want to go back even after the snow has cleared.
Borneo, Malaysia
Travel trends abound and recently you may have been hearing people say, “I’d really like to go to Borneo.” Or, as the really well-traveled scamps say, “I’d really like to go to Borneo, again.” During a quick check with the good people at Malaysian Tourism in New York City, it was revealed that the welcome mat is out for your sojourn to this paradise in the South China Sea, specifically the states of Sarawak and Sabah.
Sabah has the South China Sea on the west and the Sulu and Celebes Seas on the east with a total coastline of nearly 1,000 miles. Sawawak, Malaysia’s largest state, is located just to the south and boasts several hundred miles of coastline on the South China Sea. The thriving but small Sultanate of Brunei is nestled between these two Malaysian states.
Diving, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, caving and just plane lolling around in the sun are popular pastimes for visitors to this area in Eastern Malaysia. Borneo is an island and these two states share it with the Indonesian state of Kalmantan located to the south and east.
Malaysia is famous for being virtually hassle-free and is a world model for cultural and religious diversity. Everyone seems to get along with each other in this economically successful society.
The best place to begin planning your Borneo adventure is to log on to tourismmalaysia.gov.my.
Vietnam
Many of us babyboomers might have avoided much direct contact with Vietnam in the ‘60s and early ‘70s. I, for example, spent six years defending the country in the Missouri and New York National Guard in such danger zones as Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, and New York’s 1,000 Islands region.
But, again, it’s becoming more and more difficult to hold up one’s end of a dinner conversation without being able to say, “When we were recently in Vietnam…”
Water enthusiasts especially will have plenty to enjoy here. Vietnam has nearly 2,200 miles of coastline and snorkeling and diving gear can be rented at most of the beach resorts. The most popular beaches include Vung Tau, just north of the Mekong Delta; Nha Trang, near Dalat; and the 18-mile long strip of beaches called China Beach, near Danang.
Some of these names, and others, might remind you of the TV news reports we sat through while having dinner with our families during the war. Vietnam remains a communist country but the capital, Hanoi, seems to be shaking off its unwelcoming image and is now offering world-class hotels, good food and beautiful lakes and parks that dot the city, while out in the countryside, women in conical hats may still be seen tending the rice fields. In fact, tourism seems to be sweeping the country these days. Visas for Vietnam are usually obtained in Thailand, since most visitors to Vietnam arrive via Bangkok. For more information, go to vietnamtourism.com.
Cambodia
Again, in the ‘60’s and early ‘70s, Cambodia was much in the news as a war-torn area. But today, its ancient temples, empty beaches, mighty rivers, remote forests and Angkor Wat are enticing all kinds of visitors. The word is out: Cambodia has joined its neighbor, Vietnam, as a growing tourist destination. Go now before the crowds take over.
While tourism in Cambodia is still growing, activities are pretty much limited to sightseeing. But there are activities such as go-carting, jet-skiing, mini golf and tenpin bowling. A network of national parks is slowly being established nationwide, complete with visitor facilities. Ream and Bokor national parks on the south coast are the most accessible and interesting. There’s limited trekking and elephant rides in the Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, but you need a guide. Snorkellers will enjoy Sihanoukville, home to Cambodia’s finest beaches.
In Cambodia, one-month visas are available at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. For more information, go to tourismcambodia.com.
Bali, Indonesia
My pal, Bob Jamieson, a correspondent for ABC News, recently returned from a Bali vacation and told me he was surprised that the U.S. State Department’s travel warning about the island was so severe. “It was a worry-free visit,” he told me. “There seemed to be absolutely no reason to worry about unrest. The only real worry was finding the motivation to leave.”
I was so happy to receive Bob’s recent report on Bali. It’s a particular favorite of mine and I can’t wait to go back. I celebrated a birthday there a few years ago and I’m now completely spoiled. Virtually nothing can compare to the lodging possibilities in Bali. And they’re surprisingly affordable.
My celebration was carried out during a seven-day blast at Amandari, Amankila and Amanusa, all part of the Aman group of resorts that elegantly dot the globe. I can’t say enough good things about these spectacular places. Amankila and Amanusa are both on the water while Amandari is perched up in the hills above the gorges near Ubud, the main arts and crafts center for this Hindu paradise.
My pal Bob has equally good things to say about his recent stays in the two Four Seasons Resorts on Bali, one at Sayan and the other at Jimbaran Bay.
In addition to spectacular sightseeing in this Hindu-influenced paradise, visitors can enjoy some of the best beaches on the planet in addition to swimming, surfing, snorkeling, fishing and diving.
For information on travel and accomodations, go to indonesiatourism.com, amanresorts.com and fourseasons.com.
Phuket, Thailand
Our hearts all went out to this island off the shores of Thailand after the tragic tsunamis ravaged much of this gorgeous place.
Again, I turned to my friends at Thailand Tourism and gained the following information: “The Phuket area is basically back to normal and visitors are being welcomed perhaps even more than they were before the events of December 2004.”
By February 2005, most undamaged resorts were back in business, and throughout 2005, life slowly returned to normal for the people of Phuket. As of November 2005, following massive recovery programs, there is little obvious tsunami damage remaining other than at the more remote beaches. The tourist industry that drives the Phuket economy appears to have almost fully recovered.
Located about 500 miles south of Bangkok, Phuket is blessed with white sand beaches on the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean and covers an area of about 300 square miles. And naturally, this setting provides water-worshipers with myriad possibilities of liquid fun. But visitors are not encouraged to visit the area during the months of September and October, which is the rainy season.
Lodging possibilities range from world-class luxury resorts to tropical-style bungalows that line the beaches. Lobster lovers go into orbit over the area’s plentiful supply of this popular shellfish. For more information, go to thailandtourism.com.