A funny thing just happened. Earlier today I took a motorcycle taxi on my way to BCS mall here in Batam . I soon noticed everyone was staring at me and smiling, pretty much the whole day. Being a ‘westerner’ in SE Asia one gets used to the occasional glance letting you know that you are a bit of an oddity. But when everyone is staring, throughout the day you start checking your zipper. After getting back to my hotel I took a look in the elevator mirror and noticed that my forehead was an iridescent green glittery landscape amplified by the sweat on my brow. Apparently whoever used the motorcycle taxi before me was really loaded up with glitter makeup. Sharing the same helmet was enough to make me dayglo :)

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My sister and Tom just went back after a 2 week visit. We miss you guys! I had a great time in Cambodia. Angkor Wat puts you into a state of Wow. Siem Reap provided much fun trying to find the coolest bar and happiest pizza.

Funky Monkey Bar

FCC Angkor, best free WiFi in Siem Reap – Also try Blue Pumpkin for decent connectivity.

Nachos on Pub Street

Siem Reap Hostel was not bad, but not great. Our room smelled like shit until Tom figured out it was the seal at the base of the toilet and fixed it with wet toilet paper and toothpaste. Go Tom. It made sense for 3 people, but I’d look for a different place next time. You need to walk about 5 minutes to get to “Pub Street” and although the walk is not bad it is really, really dusty. Bring a mask or a handkerchief for the dust.

Siem Reap Hostel

You’ve got to be in decent shape to really see the temples. It’s serious exercise. Wear good shoes, bring sunscreen and lots of water. The Khmer people are some of the nicest I’ve met. They genuinely appreciate you visiting their country and sharing their culture with you.

You’ll encounter many kids asking you to buy this or that as you enter temples but it’s not a desperate pitch. They understand it is a numbers game and won’t bother you that much before they move on to the next person. Some of the kids are really cute and you’ll be tempted to purchase something for, “One dollar sir, one dollar” but remember that these kids should be in school, not out selling trinkets to tourists.

Cambodians have embraced the English language and the dollar in a big way. I have a feeling their future is going to be bright. Go to Cambodia. Great experiences, adventures, friends and tastes await you.

Security at Ankgor Wat Temple. He knew what the logo meant and wants to buy a Mac one day.

Visit Angkor Wat before it becomes a Disneyland monorail ride. When you are climbing through, up and over temples you get the feeling that surely one day they will limit access to the temples for safety and preservation reasons. Siem Reap also will eventually become expensive and over run with big hotels. I’m glad I went and look forward to going again.

• Siem Reap is a really cool spot
• Langkawi, nice for a few days

We suggest ecstatic pizza and massages after a day of hiking Angkor.

photo by llamasonic

• Angkor Wat, Holiday in Cambodia
• Langkawi, nice for a few days

We just got back from Langkawi, Malaysia. I’ve been to Langkawi a few times before and after 3 days there you’ve pretty much seen the place. My second trip there was a family trip with lots of beer drinking, duty free there and beer is cheaper than water – really. My sister and brother in law are visiting and we wanted to head out to an island for a few days before we take off for Angkor Wat, Cambodia tomorrow. We’ve got my daughter with us and Langkawi is very kid friendly, tons for them to do and comfortable to move around.

My friend over at tourism Malaysia suggested we stay at Sunset beach resort in Pantai Cenang. Sunset was full so they suggested Kedawang Inn next door. With not much time to look elsewhere we decided to try it out.

Upon arriving via AirAsia we took a taxi 15 minutes to Pantai Cenang beach and easily found Kedawang Inn. The place was recently taken over by a retired Kiwi guy and has a typical beach hotel / guesthouse feel. Not bad. I’d stay there again. 110 RM per night. No frills but quite clean and they have a fridge in the room. The beach is about 200 meters away. Just walk through the Oasis bar and you’re at the beach.

Our rental car that had been arranged from Kedawan was taking forever to show up so we went back to the airport and very quickly got Myvii for 80 RM per day. Better to get your rental car from the airport, noted.

We had a good time checking out the wildlife park, great for kids. The beach on Pantai Cenang was clean as so was the water. The 7 wells waterfall was great to soak in. My calves are feeling the burn today after walking up and down with my daughter on my shoulders. I highly suggest heading over to the cable car ride just down the road from the 7 waterfalls park. It sounds like it would be lame but the view is awesome on the way up and from the top – Wow..

We’re off to Cambodia in the morning and should have better net access there than in Langkawi.

• 15 cent trains and $1 meals, Bangkok is awesome
• Penang trip last weekend

The Associated Press has just posted an article on how to do Bangkok on the cheap. They even mention my favorite spot to stay on Sukhumvit Road, Suk11.

From 15-cent train rides to excellent, one-dollar meals, Thailand’s tropical capital is teeming with budget options for the penny-pinching traveler. Where else in the world can you get a free vasectomy? It’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars a day in Bangkok, home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. But following some guidelines, you can enjoy the city at a fraction of the price.

In Bangkok’s prime residential area of Sukhumvit Road, one budget option is Suk 11, a quirky guesthouse legendary among backpackers, where the halls have been remade with creaking wooden planks and hanging lanterns to look like old Bangkok alleyways. A bed in a clean, air-conditioned dorm room starts at $7.50.

Another great place to stay that I recommend highly is Shanti’s Lodge next to Thevet market. Key advantage, it’s right by a water taxi stop. Stay away from taxis an tuk tuks if you can. The Skytrain and water taxis will take you just about any place you want to go without you getting scammed while choking on exhaust fumes.

I prefer places like this over hotels for so many reasons. The main attraction for me is the cool people you meet at a hostel. That just doesn’t happen in the same way at hotels. You also always feel like a mark when you are exiting a hotel in most of Southeast Asia.

Being at a hostel gives you the sense of being part of the neighborhood. Shanti’s Lodge is totally like that. You can watch Thai people come and go to work and back from school. The place is really calming with it’s own mellow beat of action. You’ve also got fish tanks in some of the rooms. BTW, Shanti’s has a great restaurant. Order some Tom Yum and my favorite, Som Tam,

If you like chillies just say ‘pet pet’ after everything you order.

• Angkor Wat, Holiday in Cambodia
• Langkawi, nice for a few days

This is quite the good idea. Advertising on boarding passes and printed e-ticket vouchers.

Advertising will soon appear on airline boarding passes that passengers who have booked online print out at home. They will fill the white spaces often left on these documents which, after all, are at hand for much of the journey.

Ads will be targeted to the destination of the traveler along with “other characteristics”. By that I assume those who have ordered vegetarian meals could get vouchers for relevant restaurants and products and those in first class probably won’t get a Burger King coupon.

via BizReport

Here’s an idea. Targeted contextual overlays on the inflight movies.

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• The Dean blimp, from the source

more photos here

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• Angkor Wat, Holiday in Cambodia