For a change Singapore is really amazing. For your budget it isn't. All the standards here are Western, most of them exceed them in fact. It's cleaner, safer, newer!
Compared to the rest of Asia (or at least what I've seen so far) it's really stunning! It is almost as expensive as Europe's big cities but it's worth it!
Anyway here are some pictures (with my EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8):
Shopping in Little India
S'pore's Merlion with skyline
Chinatown shopping
basement market at 'Chinatown Complex'
Harbour Front at night
Christmas shopping at Vivo City Mall
Dining at Vivo City Mall
Orchard Rd.
Christmas at Takashimaya Shopping Mall
Orchard Rd. at night
This city is an interesting mixture of Western economics, Chinese business and influences,Indian immigrants, Muslim and Hindu religion and tradition and finally the Malay natives who try to fit in somewhere. So this would normally result in overwhelming mayhem and chaos, but in Singapore it does not. It is probably the easiest way to see a lot of different kinds Asian lifestyle, even though it may not be as authentic and rough as the real deal it is very interesting and fascinating.
People here are rich. The normal youth in the MRT (perfect, clean, fast, new subway) is listening to his I-pod while playing on his PSP and talking on his I-phone. They are all into shopping, cinemas, electronics, expensive cars, etc. The streets are full of Western cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lamborghini, etc.) and many NFSU-styled cars race through the highway-like streets at night.
Nice to hang around it you're tired of Asia's poor and annoying places even though a beer at a restaurant for 8S$ and a pack of cigarettes for 12S$ is quite expensive.
Have a nice time, see you in Vietnam for new year!
Been all around Thailand and can't wait to leave tomorrow. But let's start slowly. After witnessing the strange but aboslutely stunning sight of the glowing sea at night in Sihanoukville which really looked crazy when swimming we just relaxed with good seafood and got some scooters.
Phnom Penh market
Sihanoukville Sunset
Sihanoukville Sunset
The world famous Boom Boom Orang-Utan Association (from left to right: Franz Xaver Salzeder aka Kamerad Kaiser, Bernadett 'du bist aber nicht immer so gruen im Gesicht, oder?', myself, Tina the Mercyless, Achim aka Mr. Halllloescheee Poppoescheee and Liam 'Does someone want a beer?')
After the 'Boom Boom Orang-Utan Association' broke up Franz, Achim and myself took a bus to Koh Chang (or at least to the nearest port) back in Thailand we then took a 2hr ferry over the the island of Koh Chang. There we enjoyed beach life and a lot of beer (Archa, the cheapest one, with 19 Baht was our favorite). One day again we got some scooters and went swimming in a waterfall and drove to a big resort in the southern part of the island. We spent some time in the Sabay, the only real club around, and one of the shittiest I've ever seen as well, and relaxed. After a couple of days there the guys wanted to do some diving and so we took a minibus to Bangkok airport and flew down to Phuket, the closest airport to Khao Lak. In the plane those damn soccer lunatics read about a match of the 'Whatever Suzuki 2008 Cup' - Thailand against Laos which was held that evening in Phuket. So we had to spend one night there and they went to see the match. Next morning we were off in the local bus to Khao Lak. There we checked out the prices for diving on the Similand Islands which are said to be one of the world's best scuba and snorkeling sites. I decided to do a open water diving license and it was really worth it - so man fish, turtles and even a manta ray and sharks have been spotted together with all sorts of snakes, octopus, clams and whatever you can imagine. The water was clearer than anything I've ever seen (30m view!) and living on the boat was amazing. Still it's not cheap and so Achim and Franz spent 3 days/2 nights there and I joined the one day later (since you have to go to the pool first) and stayed 2 days/1 night.
One of the 9 islands (80-200mm tele lens is NOT the right tool!)
Diving boat similiar to our own
Similan Islands
After diving we took a taxi (!wtf!) to Krabi where we did a one day boat tour to the amazing rock and island formations surrounded by jade green water and white beaches.
Our Captain Future with his boat somewhere near Chicken Island
KrabiKrabiKrabiikairbaksikasbi
Achim then took the plane from Krabi to Bangkok and Franz went to Kolanta to do some more diving. I took the bus to BKK one day later.
I just traded (500Baht!!) the fake Vietnam lonely planet I found in the hostel in Phuket for an original Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei one.
I'm really sick of Thailand right now. Packed with sex tourists buying girlfriends for their holidays'n shit...
See you in Singapore!
(Gestern an der Bar nochn 65-jaehrigen Koelner Bauern getroffen, der Millionaer geworden is mit sein Land verkaufen - der war sowas von krass drauf! Zitat: "Masseusen sind die Besten, das kannst du mir glauben - ich komm schon 32 Jahre nach Thailand, ich hab so ziemlich alles gebummst was hier rumlaeuft." Danke fuer die Info... Ibo aus Rostock der schon ne Weile hier rumhaengt und schwarz als IT-Depp in Internetcafes arbeitet meint dazu: "Was der in den 6 Monaten die ich ihn kenn alles gevoegelt hat ist nicht normal, aber nur die Schoensten!" Is ja jedem sein eigenes Ding was er im Urlaub macht, aber wenn der ganze Tourismus hier halt darauf aufbaut verdirbts einem den Rest halt ein bisschen.)
Achim at a BKK street market we visited after seeing the pathological museum of some hospital
We (Achim and myself) decided to take the Bus to Siem Reap (Cambodia) and see Angkor Wat. We met Franz from Straubing on the Khao San Road and he decided to join us. The bus to the border should take about 6 hours, where we have to cross the border by feet and get another bus to Siem Reap on the other side. We had to get up at 6:30 in the morning. Ugh. At noon we arrived at the border. In the bus we met Tina and Bernadette (Cologne, Duesseldorf) even though the latter had been vomiting all day and was to weak to walk so we had to carry her and her backpack. We stopped several times for food and got ripped off for the visa (paid 15$ too much). After crossing the border we enter the shitty Cambodian bus and continue along rice fields and palm trees. In the evening we have a flat tire which is repaired on the spot for 10000Riel (~2,50$). We arrived at the hotel (of his uncle of course - "Clean and cheap for you, my friend!") at half past ten. Later we read in the guide book that they try to extend the journey on purpose so the tourists don't bother searching for another hotel because they're tired and it's late. Anyway we had to stay since some Danish dipshit (Taettowierter Taugenix) took Achim's backpack and went off and they helped us get it back. The hotel ('Winter Guesthouse' - none of them has ever seen snow) was good value anyway and the staff was friendly, even though my mobile disappeared on the last day... The next day we explored Siem Reap and it's diverse markets (the touristy and the local ones) and had some great food in the street.
Meat shop in the market
The day after we took a boat tour to a floating village consisting of swimming houses, schools, churches and whatever you need. Afterward we visited the civil war museum where we were taught about the history of Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge, Landmines, etc.
Floating village
Achim and local boy, floating village
Civil war museum
In Siem Reap you spend the evening in 'Pub Street' where all the tourists (and later at night dealers, hookers and loads of Tuk Tuk drivers) hang around. There are many bars and some really good restaurants. You get good Thai/oil/powder/foot/head massages for almost nothing. Finally on the third day we went to Angkor Wat, we decided to do the one day tour which was good. It's a lot of stones and trees and it is impressing but one day is enough. Fuckin' broke my lens while climbing down a temple! Damn!
Me and Tina, Angkor Wat
Franz and Achim sleeping after a long day of walking
Anyway there is a Canon shop in BKK. Until then I have to cope with the 70-200 tele lens... After a day in the temples we go to bed early after eating an amazing pizza/pasta in 'Pug Street' because our bus to Sihanoukville leaves at 7:00. After one day of driving (this time Franz was puking - well he had a lot of chili on his pizza) we arrived at the magnificent beaches of Cambodia. Clear water, amazing seafood, cheap beer and comfy bamboo huts do the trick. On the bus we picked up Liam from Brisbane/London, so now we're 6!
Beach Life, notice our hotel in the back, Liam had wet feet taking the pic by the way From left to right: Franz, Bernadette, Tina, Achim, myself Stay tuned for more pics as soon as a find an internet cafe with a better connection.
