Thailand.
countries can be entered by arranging entry documents
online. Fees are reasonable. I often tell my friends just
get to a major hub like Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and the
rest is easy. Discount airlines abound which makes for very
competitive pricing and the advantageous flexibility of last
minute bookings.
With operators offering more, it is getting easier to work golf
into family or couples vacations where not everybody is a
golfer.
The options are plenty and of bucket list significance.
With thirty seven World Heritage sites in SE Asia, any multicountry trip is bound to come within day trip distance of
several. Imagine a mist shrouded morning at Angkor Wat
in Siem Reap, a sunrise Balloon ride over the Temples of
Bagan, or a kayak tour amongst the limestone pillars, caves
and secluded beaches forming the sea scape of Ha long Bay.
How about a bit of excitement on a wild multiple zipline
exploit for hours through the jungle, a hands on eco-elephant
sanctuary experience or a water sports package with all the
latest aqua related thrill activities set against some of the
world’s most beautiful seaside landscapes.
You can do a version of what Koreans and Japanese golfers
have been doing for quite some time. Korean golfers, for
instance, with a bit of planning, can actually fly to SE Asia,
stay at a great resort for a long weekend, play every day, and
fly home for what a few rounds might cost at one of the
upscale clubs near Seoul. While golf is very affordable in
Europe now, the experience/value quotient in SE Asia is off
the charts.
SE Asia is not for everybody. To uninitiated travelers the
cultural experience can sometimes approach overwhelming.
Life in third world countries, should you choose to get out
amongst the locals, is in your face around the clock. There
isn’t much zoning so the trappings of the very rich are right
up against the squalor of the very poor. While there is
little a tourist can do to relieve inequities they see, they can
take some comfort in that many of the people who are now
working as tour guides, hotel workers, drivers etc. have been
given a chance to improve their lot as a direct result of your
tourism spending.
Whether it is a trip of a lifetime, a rollicking budget jaunt, or
an escape to some peace and quiet, you can find it all in the
rapidly evolving SE Asian region.
Volume 3 • Issue 36
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