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[Mills Chapman]

hh, I lived in Northern Thailand for 15 months and also went to Cambodia and Vietnam. My sister went to Laos so I know a bit on that too. Regarding malaria, just bring the pills that you are supposed to swallow if you start feeling woozy. Don't take the stuff that you have to take every day regardless of how you are feeling; that stuff has side effects. If you bring some mosquito repellent (preferably DEET) and the anti-malaria pills that you only take when feeling symptons, then you'll be fine.

Hope you make it to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The tourism crush is hitting it pretty hard. Beaches are better in Thailand than in Cam. You can fly straight into Siem Reap from Bangkok on Bangkok Airways, a very good airline. For where you are thinking about going, you may want to google "Bangkok Airways" and check out their airpass.

For Laos, you may want to take a boat down the Mekong from the Golden Triangle to Luang Prabang. My sister did that and liked it. LPrabang is great supposedly as is Vang Vieng. Vietniane is a bit dry.

In Vietnam, spend more time in Hanoi than in Saigon. It has more charm. See if you can make it to Sapa or Mai Chau. Rent a bike and go for a bike ride in Hanoi. Near Hue, check out the tunnels along the DMZ. Hoi An is a great place to buy clothing. My favorite beach in VN: Lang Co near Hue.

Enjoy Thailand. Check out Nan and Pai in the North. For Southern Thailand, see if you can make it to Koh Tarutao National Marine Park - most pristine beach in Thailand. Also, take an overnight train in Thailand; just be sure to buy your ticket from someone behind an official counter (and not in the lobby). The beds on the train are cheap and very comfortable. You will have to buy your ticket a day or two in advance.

Check out these Frommers links: they have all of their guidebook content online for free. I suggest the places that get more stars than dollar signs:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cambodia/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/si ... nddin.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/si ... ndacc.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/vietnam/ - pay close attention to the section that says "Best of Vietnam" (a lot of good tips here)

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/vi ... 20001.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/vi ... 20119.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/laos/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/vangvieng/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/luangprabang/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/thailand/ - see "The Best of Thailand" section
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/th ... 20855.html

[asterostar]

I have been to Thailand, Phuket and Koh Samui 3 times, haven't had any jabs and dont intend to. Just be careful about drinking water, dont eat cheap food off streets, or dirty looking restaurants. Beware of salads as it is washed in local water. Take a mossie machine, one you plug into electrical sockets and spay yourself with repellents every night. I was told by locals there that people can get sick if the venture into jungle type areas so stay in the tourist areas, oh and dont have sex with local Thia girls as Aids and other sexual transmitted diseases are very common. Have a great trip and try not to worry too much, you'll be fine. Oh and dont have ice in your drinks unless you are in a good hotel or restaurant.

[sal]

I dont eat cheap food off streets, or dirty looking restaurants.

I'd say the opposite - but for flavours sake rather than health! The best food I had was on the little street markets. The crap thing with Thailand is that most of the more upmarket establishments have watered down real thai food as a result of too many foreigners complaining about it being hot (my pet hate when countries change their cuisine to suit English people - I'm English I can say that - just ruins it for the people who want to experience the real deal) so what you get is bland coconut soup in most places. The little night food street markets in places such as Hat Yai are really amazing - real food, authentic, most of the time crawling with flies (which admittedly is off putting) and hot!

Sure it's a risk that you could get a dodgy stomach the next day but then what is life without a little excitment?

My most memorable meal was on a beach in Ko Pha Ngan where an old thai lady had a little cart that she wheeled along the beach. She made the meanest, hottest pork thai soupy thing with chillies, coriander, noodles, pork in this amazing sauce and she served it to you in a clear plastic carrier bag! A bag of soup! Was about £1 and was the best meal I had there!

So don't just head for the obvious places - you're missing out on half the experience. Live a little! Take calculated risks!

xx

[Mills Chapman]

...plug into electrical sockets and spay yourself...

I advise against plugging something into an electrical socket and spaying yourself. I hate to think that Asterostar is speaking from firsthand experience.

[asterostar]

Well Mills, I guess I asked for that one! lol :

[Mills Chapman]

Sorry, Asterostar, I couldn't resist. I'm sure you can scan through my messages and find an equally amusing mess-up.

[Hiyar herif]

hello everyone - thanks for the advice
been here for nearly 3 weeks now and so far so good.the same cant be said for my fiancee,she's been eaten alive - they love her plus her feet has swollen from a size 5 to an 8. I got bitten once down in Phucket,the little bugger bit me on the side of my face.

we've been on the road for 10.5 months now and this part of the world is deffinately an eye opener.we're off to the north in a few days and gradually we'll be making our way across to Laos and then to Vietnam.Cant wait.

Thanks for the e mail Mills - looking forward to trying out that dish you mentioned although i could kill for a few slices of halloumi.

take it easy