South East Asia
Dec 5th, 2013, 03:54 AM
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South East Asia
Hey guys 
So a friend and myself will arrive into Cambodia start of Feb. We are a New Zealander and an Australian. We will get visa's on arrival into country's that we visit (Cambodia, Vietnam, Loas and Thailand) Although I think for Vietnam you have to get it before?
Also we would love to volunteer somewhere that's not exploiting children to gain money. I have seen there is a lot of fake places out there, also I don't want to pay some company $$$ for there pocket. We would love to pay our own keep and just help out where we can. Even if its helping families or something in the smaller villages. If anyone has had experience's negative or positive all feedback is welcome and wanted!
Also, any advice what is a must see and must not? Roughly 2 weeks in each country (very short) but possibility for more it depends how and where we find ourselves! The trip is not going to be planned out, but we are looking for things that are worthwhile seeing while not sticking completely to the main tourist routes.
Also after my friend leaves, I am thinking of maybe visiting Nepal and India alone. I am a female (25) and was wondering if anyone had tips or advice? Or anyone want to meet in Thailand around April and travel with?
Cheers!
So a friend and myself will arrive into Cambodia start of Feb. We are a New Zealander and an Australian. We will get visa's on arrival into country's that we visit (Cambodia, Vietnam, Loas and Thailand) Although I think for Vietnam you have to get it before?Also we would love to volunteer somewhere that's not exploiting children to gain money. I have seen there is a lot of fake places out there, also I don't want to pay some company $$$ for there pocket. We would love to pay our own keep and just help out where we can. Even if its helping families or something in the smaller villages. If anyone has had experience's negative or positive all feedback is welcome and wanted!
Also, any advice what is a must see and must not? Roughly 2 weeks in each country (very short) but possibility for more it depends how and where we find ourselves! The trip is not going to be planned out, but we are looking for things that are worthwhile seeing while not sticking completely to the main tourist routes.
Also after my friend leaves, I am thinking of maybe visiting Nepal and India alone. I am a female (25) and was wondering if anyone had tips or advice? Or anyone want to meet in Thailand around April and travel with?
Cheers!
Dec 5th, 2013, 05:32 AM
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I can only speak for Vietnam visas. The "arrival" scheme is restricted to the international airports; land crossings are different. Wherever you plan to arrive first, you will have to have some arrangements for a visa or the airline will not let you fly.
You also are contradicting yourself: You are thinking about two weeks per country, which will be less when travel is included. Yet you think you will have time to volunteer and help out. Casually dropping in for a few days can't be of serious assistance; working with a program connected to your home country could be more like real charity.
You also are contradicting yourself: You are thinking about two weeks per country, which will be less when travel is included. Yet you think you will have time to volunteer and help out. Casually dropping in for a few days can't be of serious assistance; working with a program connected to your home country could be more like real charity.
Dec 5th, 2013, 08:31 AM
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India and Nepal are ideas of what I can do solo after. I should have explained properly. I will be spending longer in Thailand after my friend leaves, and if I find volunteer work there I will stay as long as possible. As I said, no time restrictions so it all depends on what happens. The problem is I do not live in my home country, I haven't stepped foot there for 3 years, so how can I help with my own two hands? Trust me I don't want to teach English for 1 week and say I am a good person, I know that does more harm for the kids than good. Which is why I am wondering about advice helping people that are not in some kind of organisation? I'm just wondering if it's possible or not that's all.
As for the needing the visa before boarding, they do visa's on arrival in Cambodia, so how can you prearange that?
I have never been to this part of the world apart from stop overs so any advice is appreciated.
As for the needing the visa before boarding, they do visa's on arrival in Cambodia, so how can you prearange that?
I have never been to this part of the world apart from stop overs so any advice is appreciated.
Dec 5th, 2013, 08:49 AM
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I think you will have to let go of the idea of volunteering. To work for an organization, you normally need a different kind of visa that must be arranged in advance. There are some small non-profits (like www.theplf.org) that can set up an opportunity to work with kids for a day or two, but most places require a longer commitment. And you are wise to be wary of organizations that want you to pay them to volunteer.
You have a lot of research to do - even just about visas and such. We can't help much without knowing what passport you travel on. In general, you must have a visa in advance or a pre-arranged visa for VN (no pre-arranged visas accepted at land borders). You can get a visa on arrival for Laos and Cambodia and most nationalities can get visa-free entry to Thailand upon arrival for a month.
You are arriving in Thailand at the absolutely hottest time of the year.
You have a lot of research to do - even just about visas and such. We can't help much without knowing what passport you travel on. In general, you must have a visa in advance or a pre-arranged visa for VN (no pre-arranged visas accepted at land borders). You can get a visa on arrival for Laos and Cambodia and most nationalities can get visa-free entry to Thailand upon arrival for a month.
You are arriving in Thailand at the absolutely hottest time of the year.
Dec 5th, 2013, 09:16 AM
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Ok, it's not an absolute must (the volunteering) so I will look more and see what's what. I am on a New Zealand passport. I am now paranoid that I wont be able to board without a visa.
Also does anyone know much about china eastern airways? Are they as arogent and dificult as everyone says ?
Also does anyone know much about china eastern airways? Are they as arogent and dificult as everyone says ?
Dec 5th, 2013, 10:58 PM
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Hi Kelly,
Don't be paranoid about arriving in Cambodia without getting a visa first. I have done this many times. You pay for a visa on arrival at the airport or land crossing. Make sure you have plenty of passport photos to help with getting visas at border crossings.
As mentioned earlier get your vietnam visa before you arrive from their consulate in the country you are in now. When in Cambodia you can get a travel agent there to organise your Vietnam visa for you if you want.
Check this website out for volunteering around Siem Reap www.concertcambodia.org
Don't know about China Eastern Airways. Sometimes people from different countries can appear arrogant or rude but they don't mean to be.
Travel in Asia can be difficult but how you react to these difficulties is one way travel can change you for the better.
China Airways might have the cheapest airfares so maybe that is a good reason to fly with them.
Good luck!
Don't be paranoid about arriving in Cambodia without getting a visa first. I have done this many times. You pay for a visa on arrival at the airport or land crossing. Make sure you have plenty of passport photos to help with getting visas at border crossings.
As mentioned earlier get your vietnam visa before you arrive from their consulate in the country you are in now. When in Cambodia you can get a travel agent there to organise your Vietnam visa for you if you want.
Check this website out for volunteering around Siem Reap www.concertcambodia.org
Don't know about China Eastern Airways. Sometimes people from different countries can appear arrogant or rude but they don't mean to be.
Travel in Asia can be difficult but how you react to these difficulties is one way travel can change you for the better.
China Airways might have the cheapest airfares so maybe that is a good reason to fly with them.
Good luck!
Dec 6th, 2013, 03:35 AM
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You might first of all want to get a book to read along the way. Why not the one by Mark Lindsay called Sugar Baby, it is based in the Philippines but mentions many adventures in Thailand and will help explain alot of what you might come across.
Firstly I would suggest you start off in Thailand as an easy entry into the region. Travel in pairs is a must and also to dress modestly, if you are a woman, do not go out late at night and never, never, go with a befriended local, friendly or not. Remember women do not have the same sexual freedom in SE Asia and independent scantily dressed women are giving a signal to locals that you may not intend to impart. You will be expected to take precautions, such as not going to the wrong places or going out unaccompanied, as other women in the area will take as a matter of course. Do not expect society to protect you as they do in the Western World. Men's attraction to women is given more pride of place in SE Asia.
The real problems for you may start in Cambodia. This is a hassling place and very poor, the step down from Thailand is immense. If you take a land crossing visas are not an issue. Travel takes a long, long time and so allow twice as much time for anything as you would in Thailand. For get about volunteering for short periods of time. If you get stuck anywhere always ask for the headman of the village and try and get him to place you with a local family (make sure there are females in the house-although a headman will almost always take care of you). Remember hotels outside of the main cities are almost always brothels, especially if Chinese, so local arrangements with a family may be safer for you.
Vietnam is a lot safer than Cambodia, although buy all accounts a lot more expensive and full of hassles. I think as young women you will have an easier time than young men here. Any association of Western men with Asian's is greatly frowned upon outside of the cities and meets with hostility. I am sure the local men will be surprised by you being a lone, and the local women will want to be your friends.
I'm not sure how the village set up is with this country. I get the impression communism has kind of destroyed it and so you will be forced to stay at established hotels or guesthouses.
As for Loas. Well that is the poorest place there is. Be prepared to get the trotts very quickly. Learn the local words for 'no MSG' and do not expect to travel except at a snails pace. Definitely, do not go out a lone and especially do not drink.
My bets advice would be to befriend women on the internet that live in these locations and get their help and hospitality to see the real country. Two weeks per country will give you nothing but a touristy window, however much you feel you have experienced the real culture. To get a real picture takes years and needs you to be fully conversant in a common language.
Remember, never get drunk, dress modestly, never go where you are at risk.
Firstly I would suggest you start off in Thailand as an easy entry into the region. Travel in pairs is a must and also to dress modestly, if you are a woman, do not go out late at night and never, never, go with a befriended local, friendly or not. Remember women do not have the same sexual freedom in SE Asia and independent scantily dressed women are giving a signal to locals that you may not intend to impart. You will be expected to take precautions, such as not going to the wrong places or going out unaccompanied, as other women in the area will take as a matter of course. Do not expect society to protect you as they do in the Western World. Men's attraction to women is given more pride of place in SE Asia.
The real problems for you may start in Cambodia. This is a hassling place and very poor, the step down from Thailand is immense. If you take a land crossing visas are not an issue. Travel takes a long, long time and so allow twice as much time for anything as you would in Thailand. For get about volunteering for short periods of time. If you get stuck anywhere always ask for the headman of the village and try and get him to place you with a local family (make sure there are females in the house-although a headman will almost always take care of you). Remember hotels outside of the main cities are almost always brothels, especially if Chinese, so local arrangements with a family may be safer for you.
Vietnam is a lot safer than Cambodia, although buy all accounts a lot more expensive and full of hassles. I think as young women you will have an easier time than young men here. Any association of Western men with Asian's is greatly frowned upon outside of the cities and meets with hostility. I am sure the local men will be surprised by you being a lone, and the local women will want to be your friends.
I'm not sure how the village set up is with this country. I get the impression communism has kind of destroyed it and so you will be forced to stay at established hotels or guesthouses.
As for Loas. Well that is the poorest place there is. Be prepared to get the trotts very quickly. Learn the local words for 'no MSG' and do not expect to travel except at a snails pace. Definitely, do not go out a lone and especially do not drink.
My bets advice would be to befriend women on the internet that live in these locations and get their help and hospitality to see the real country. Two weeks per country will give you nothing but a touristy window, however much you feel you have experienced the real culture. To get a real picture takes years and needs you to be fully conversant in a common language.
Remember, never get drunk, dress modestly, never go where you are at risk.
Dec 6th, 2013, 07:01 AM
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Interesting... I can't remember the last time we had someone one here advertising their own book as necessary reading. If the quality of the info in Mark's book is similar to that in his post, I'd skip the book. He is just full of ... distorted information. The advice about never traveling alone, etc is credibly contradicted by the many, many women regulars on this forum who have traveled alone in this area of the world. His comments remind me to tell you that you are in the most danger from other male travelers rather than the locals.
He is right that Thailand has the best tourist infrastructure and would be the easiest place to start, but if you prefer to fly into Cambodia, go ahead. A visa on arrival is easily obtained. If you spend most of your time in Siem Reap, there are plenty of other travelers and logistics are easy. If you want to go overland to/from Cambodia, do read www.talesofasia.com to be aware of the scams that await the unwary. The one place you must have a visa in advance or pre-arranged is VN. Mark appears not to have been to VN, as his info about VN and the acceptance of travelers is simply his own fantasy. And his sense that Cambodia is so unsafe appears to be a reflection of his own fears rather than reality.
I could take his post apart sentence by sentence, but I don't want to give him the attention.
Get yourself some guidebooks for the area - Lonely Planet are good and you can download the books you want from their website.
He is right that Thailand has the best tourist infrastructure and would be the easiest place to start, but if you prefer to fly into Cambodia, go ahead. A visa on arrival is easily obtained. If you spend most of your time in Siem Reap, there are plenty of other travelers and logistics are easy. If you want to go overland to/from Cambodia, do read www.talesofasia.com to be aware of the scams that await the unwary. The one place you must have a visa in advance or pre-arranged is VN. Mark appears not to have been to VN, as his info about VN and the acceptance of travelers is simply his own fantasy. And his sense that Cambodia is so unsafe appears to be a reflection of his own fears rather than reality.
I could take his post apart sentence by sentence, but I don't want to give him the attention.
Get yourself some guidebooks for the area - Lonely Planet are good and you can download the books you want from their website.
Dec 9th, 2013, 02:24 AM
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Sorry Vientianeboy that I had a typo :/
Thanks for the help people !! Apart from Mark, I read his post and knew it was a bunch of crap anyway. Is he trying to scare people out of travelling? I'm not quite sure haha.
Pretty much I want to see it for myself, get a feel of the countries before making any long stay visas. Thailand will be an exception as I will extend to 3 months once there (even though this is still a short period). My uncle married a Thai so I will hope to be in contact with her family and stay with them in the village.
Thanks for the help people !! Apart from Mark, I read his post and knew it was a bunch of crap anyway. Is he trying to scare people out of travelling? I'm not quite sure haha.
Pretty much I want to see it for myself, get a feel of the countries before making any long stay visas. Thailand will be an exception as I will extend to 3 months once there (even though this is still a short period). My uncle married a Thai so I will hope to be in contact with her family and stay with them in the village.
Dec 9th, 2013, 09:11 AM
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Vietianeboy is correct, any guidebook is out of date as soon as it is published. I recommend the LP guides for the background info, history, cultural info. For info on where to stay and where to eat, you'll want online advice from other travelers. Do take a look at travelfish.org as they have lots of good info. I'm not familiar with their travel guides.
Kelly, note that if you get an extended Thai visa, it expires when you leave the country. Depending on what you decide to do, you may be ok just getting a new visa free entry each time you return to Thailand, as long as you stay in country no more than 28 days each time.
Kelly, note that if you get an extended Thai visa, it expires when you leave the country. Depending on what you decide to do, you may be ok just getting a new visa free entry each time you return to Thailand, as long as you stay in country no more than 28 days each time.
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