Idle banter forum

Ko Pha Ngan for New Years would be an obvious candidate, but as per bruce -- four countries in 6 weeks -- you're going to be moving a lot! Check the suggested itineratries (centre column at top) for some suggestions.

"One of the things I love about SEA is the fact that it is still possible for Christmas to pass by totally unnoticed in some places. ;-)"

Not where I live. Except for the fact that it was freezing, we had Chritmas music playing in the supermarkets, the lighting in town looked just like Christmas lights, and it was even a bit nippy (but not snow). We had a Thai Santa at Lotus!!! In my wife's village, though, Christmas is just another day (unlike New Years - where everyone has an excuse to get drunk and women grope me).

"Are you complaining or bragging?"

Complaining. The women who grope me are never the ones I want to grope me.

Depends on what you are after.... if it is party party party I can't be of much help I am afraid.

What surprised me last year when I was there was how much the people of HCMC are in to Santa, not so much the "Christ" side of Christmas, but there were certainly smiling santas in all the stores, little kids dressed up in red and white etc etc. I wasn't there for Christmas day but in the lead up.

For Christmas we wanted to do something special. We are not particularly religious, but Christmas had always been big with my extended family, so I knew I was going to miss them.

What we ended up doing was volunteer teaching at a school just outside Battambang in Cambodia. It was really the experience of a lifetime. Only actually work a couple of hours a day. The kids were wonderful, and we stayed in the homestay organised by the bloke who started and runs the school.

We got to eat with his family for lunch and dinner, and in the mornings he took us to the market for breakfast. The chance to just hang with some locals while doing a bit of good work was my idea of a truly special Christmas.

If you are interested the school is at http://www.kngo-home.org/2.html. I highly recommend it.

I would definately stay in Thailand for new year. Probably go to Ko Phang yan if you really want to party or another island like Ko Phi Phi if you feel that Ko phang yan will be too much!

I spent my last Christmas in Tonsai, in Krabi, one stop over from Railay West. I had an AMAZING time there during Christmas and New Years. If you are looking for a calm, car-less, beach paradise, with really intense parties at night, then I would definitely recommend it. As a rock climber, my 3.5 months spent there spread out between September '09 and May '10 have been the best of my life, but even the non-climbers love it. It's the rock climbing center of SE Asia and there are great guides for beginners to get into it and climbing to the best views in Thailand, in my opinion. See everything from up to 120 meters higher up than everyone else. There's amazing snorkeling nearby and it's walking distance from 2 epic beaches, Railay West and the even more beautiful Phra Nang Beach.

So my recommendation is Tonsai Beach, for the paradise, the calm, the adrenaline rushes and the parties!

If you want to hear more, or see pictures, feel free to contact me, I kept a blog.

Rob Breger