Everyone, settle down and try to have a little bit of fun!

We try to play nice here in the Asia forum. :D

crusinred-- had not heard of that resort in burma. Looks gorgeous.

Check this out... http://www.pngtours.com/lodge4.html

or...
http://www.assambengalnavigation.com/

Both are really out of the way getaways....and exotic in the raw sense.

Kathie,
Do you have a report for PNG? I looked under your name but didn't see one. I would like to include PNG in a trip I'm planning for February.
Thanks, Jane

What a great question! My husband and I were saying about 10 days ago that we would like to go somewhere in the world where there are no malls....or McDonald's....just a hammock for two and some palm trees. I will check out the websites that some of you have provided. Thanks & Cheers! Alie http://hobosinlovemedia.com

But, I doubt Burma is a choice destination for the next 5+ months unfortunately.It is a shame the locals really need the money but I personally doo not want to get caught up in what is going on or even see what is going on.

Jane, I haven't been to PNG, I've just read many accounts of trips to PNG which made me think it is one of the less visited and more culturally intact places in Asia.

Stan, you're overreacting-and besides-the rank and file Burmese are not interested in insurrection-so it can't be that bad-if the people start revolting (and I'm not talking about a few monks, either) they know it will result in civil war amongst the MANY factions that make up the artificially created borders of Myanmar. And so far, there is NO movement along that direction. I predict we will see no more brutal crackdowns-the military junta do not want to give the world the opportunity to meddle in their affairs-on the other hand, if some group is starting up an insurgency against the junta, using arms, you can't expect the military not to react.

"a few monks" you can't be serious?

Yes, dead serious. Like I say continuously THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM. Regime change is not always the best solution-and you shouldn't always believe what you see on tv, because the reality is almost always quite different. Economic sanctions only increase poverty and repression and will not work on an already isolated government. Myanmar is rich in natural resources and not nearly as dependent on foreign economic pressures as some other nations.

And then you have the problem with ASSK, and her party the NLD (who remember, was elected almost 20 years ago-the situation ain't quite the same these days!) and her party's abject refusal through the years to compromise AT ALL with the military junta-they actually tried to come up with a compromise, and she and her NLD party refused (it's no wonder that the diplomats in the region do not think much of her-sitting in her self-imposed house arrest on a lake in Burma, leaving her husband to die alone of prostate cancer back in England because she decided she couldn't leave-knowing she wouldn't be allowed back in (yeah, if what she's got is a "prison" I think a lot of people would be loving that!) living off her book royalties as if she were a Burmese queen-WAY above her "subjects"-but ASSK and the NLD refused, so it's not all the junta's fault. And as far as the monks go, if they are attempting to start an insurgency using arms, you expect the military not to react and do anything? You think any country would be any different in that regard? Think about protests and riots you've seen anywhere around the world, and particularly when a coup has occurrred(including, and most especially Thailand-the coup of 1991 resulted in a MASSACRE OF HUNDREDS-maybe thousands-by the paramilitary in Bangkok-hundreds of university students in Bangkok lost their lives).

Myself, I don't think we're going to see any more brutal crackdowns in Myanmar-the world is watching, and they don't want any further meddling in their affairs. And the fact of the matter is, the military, the goverment workers, the rank and file Burmese, are not joining in the protests-so the country should be left to deal with its own internal problems-the world, particularly the US, simply cannot meddle in everyone's affairs, and they are in no position to tell China one damn thing-and China WILL NOT be pressured to do so simply because certain jump-on-the-Free-Burma-bandwagon types in the US and maybe the UN think it ought to.

Jeezzze.. I was having such a great time reading this, and looking at that fab new resort in Burma and then ... TRAINWRECK as usual. Every thread does not have to turn into a bandstand you know!

Spygirl,

Carefully read what everyone else writes, then turn it around to the total opposite and sit back and watch all the fools fall into your web again girlspytravel, hahaha

We are all aware of your games. Give it and all of us a break please. Everyone knows you are a troll. Sad but true! What else do you do for entertainment? In this I am truly interested in a strange sort of way, lol

You are so right, HT. This last post is so distorted, it can only be a play for attention.

I really do think you'll feel better if you get back on your medication.

Geez, after reading her post, you would almost think the junta are the good guys, throwing flowers at the people instead of bullets, and ASSK was the thug!

Back to distant's query:

Indonesia has endless unbeaten tracks and $5000 will go faaaaar. I'd look at Central Sulawesi (Tanah Toraja) and West Papua (the western half of Papua New Guinea, formerly called Irian Jaya).

This is a good tour group that specializes in knocking the socks off foreigners who want to experience the weird and wonderful but still get well taken care of.

http://www.expat.or.id/sponsors/remotedestinations.html

Or you can do it on your own without too much trouble. I've never been to Papua, but several people I know have done Leks' trip more than once.

I've traveled in Central and Northern Sulawesi several times. Tanah Toraja is one of the most fascinating cultures on the planet and the scenery is profoundly beautiful. There are also various live-a-boards that travel inter-island. The Moluccas (Spice Islands) around Ambon are especially beautiful. Then there are the arts and crafts of Sumba and Sumbawa...

17,000 islands and lots of WOW.

I did not mean to strt a major debate. All I was saying 10 posts ago was I would wait 6-12 months before I went but I would begin to plan a trip after the first of the year for April-June '08.

Jane, I've been to PNG four times. Without doubt THE most extraordinary place I've ever encountered. Just GO.

Beware tho' - when searching for tours and companies all you'll come up with is pngtours - or transniugini tours - same company. There are other, better and way less expensive ways to get around.

Any cruises you can do around the islands - particularly Trobriands - grab them.

The middle bits of PNG - the Highlands can get a little bit scary. Dogster was attacked there by many men with machetes and painted faces. [to be accurate - they were trying to kill the CAR dogster was in - not the dogster] But don't let that put you off.

Keep searching. use the word 'Niugini' in your search. Try and find some other companies - it's not easy. Get back to me in here when you get serious. I'll try and point you.

Thanks, Dogster! I think I will avoid the Highlands, however. :)

<i>...the Highlands can get a little bit scary. Dogster was attacked there by many men with machetes and painted faces. <b>[to be accurate - they were trying to kill the CAR dogster was in - not the dogster]</b> But don't let that put you off. </i>

That is just simply awesome - sign me up!

burma is still my favorite and i just returned from bhutan, nepal and india this year (which was also great). loved cambodia but i think its probably too touristy now.