My first post as a fodorite. I've read many and found them very useful but now it's time to dip my toe in the water with a question or two. Hopefully I'll also be able to contribute with some answers in due course!

My wife and I are leaving the UK on 26 September 2004 and spending 3 months travelling in SEA prior to starting a new life in Grand Cayman, in early January.

We're spending the first 30 days in Indonesia, flying into Bali on 27 September and probably staying at the Griya Santrian in Sanur for a week or so in order to chill out before doing anything particularly adventurous.

We fancy a boat trip to Komodo and back and also spending time in Java - Yogya, Borobudor, Kraton, Bandung (gardens) and then leave via Jakarta on 26 October flying to Singapore. I'm then very tempted to fly to Manado for a week of diving (we did this a couple of years ago) but my wife thought the hotel food was so dreadful that she is resisting this great idea.

Anyway, I've just realised that Ramadan neatly coincides with our trip. This is probably not a good thing - apart from when we're in Bali.

Any thoughts on what/where to avoid? Should we just restrict ourselves to Bali (Hindu) or North Sulawesi (Christian)? We've been to Bali a couple of time before and whilst it's very nice, we really wanted to check out Java as well.

For those who may be interested, our rough plans then have us going to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand (BKK for Christmas) and ending up in Hong Kong for New Year. May have a few questions on these, in due course.

All very exciting but we're rapidly running out of planning time!

Hi there. Travelling during Ramadhan can be quite an interesting experience actually. Things pretty much as usual during Ramadhan in South East Asia. And Muslims fasting don't expect tourists to treat them any differently. Only polite thing to do is not offer them food and drink if they are fasting. They would probably politely decline and explain that they are fasting but you can prevent this by asking them first if they are fasting. Otherwise, no worries, no need to avoid those places you mentioned just cuz of Ramadhan. Might even get a feel of how they celebrate and join in the festivities if you happen to be there at the end of Ramadhan. Happy travelling!

We were in KL during Hari Raya last year (that's the holiday that follows Ramadan) and found that many things were closed. It was also hard to get flights within Indonesia or within Malaysia, as it is traditional to return to one's family village for that celebration.

Am I correct that Ramadan in Malaysia this year begins on Oct 5? We'll be in Penang on that day so I don't see a problem since it's mainly Chinese, but we will be back in KL Oct 6. What can we expect regarding restaurants, stores, etc?

Malaysia is usually business as usual during Ramadan, especially KL, since there are so many Chinese and Indians who don't observe the fasting.

In Indonesia, most restaurants will be open normal hours, but those with glass windows out front may have them papered over.