Information ASIA JULY'96-FEB'97

[JAPAN] Land: 377,801k㎡ Population: 125,200,000 GNP/p: U$ 39,640-

** I have travelled Asia with my boyfriend. So the expenses is the half of what we spent. **

Thailand

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 140％・ POPULATION 47％・ ＧＮＰ 7％

It is a sort of "OVER" situation. Too many tourist spoiled its people…well, since I am one of them, I feel kind of guilty about it. It is sad, but more tourists come, people are eager to get more money. I found a lot in Thailand.

You can stay at "GUEST HOUSE" very reasonably. But if you eat at there, it would cost much more. Travelling is easy and lots of options to choose from.

SURPRISE! ： Most of Bangkok people know nothing about "KHAO-SAN ROAD"…BACKPACKERS' PARADISE ROAD.

TROUBLE ： FOOD POISONING

FAVORITE SPOT ： SANGKLABURI ・ PATTALUNG

TIPS ： Go to the place where the Guide book doesn't say anything, then you will see the Good part of Thai people. # "PATTHAI" fried noodle is tasty. Go to "PAN PACIFIC HOTEL-BANGKOK" For BUFFET DINNER. Good view & Good food! (U$20)

EXPENSES ： \52,000 / U$420 [37days] ＊ Bed Cost \240 / U$2 /Ｂ54

Malaysia

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 87％・ POPULATION 16％・ ＧＮＰ 10％

The mixture of three #PURE MALAY(MUSLIM), #CHINESE MALAY(BUDDHIST), and # INDIAN MALAY(HIUDU) make own character at each town. It is very interesting and people are friendly. They all speak English very well, so it is easy to get around. There are lots of Chinese Hotels to stay, too. If you would like to travel Asia but a little scared to, It is good place to start from.

SURPRISE! ： The young couple were riding the motor bike together. The girl was wearing jeans and shirts with helmet…Under the helmet, there was head scarf.

TROUBLE ： the holiday in Kota Bharu is Friday.

FAVORITE SPOT： KOTA BHARU ・ CHERATTING ・ IPOH ・ CAMEROOM HIGHLAND ・ PENANG

TIPS： Do your own "BATIK" it is good fun! Make your original one.

EXPENSES： \76,000 / U$ 610 [53days] ＊ Bed Cost・\400 / U$3.5 /ＲＭ8.7　

Singapore

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 0.2％・ POPULATION 2％・ ＧＮＰ 67％

BIG CITY!!

SURPRISE： The person who sleeps on the couch in front of the house.

TROUBLE： Not much I can think of but HOT!

FAVORITE SPOT： Indian town

TIPS：Good for shopping tour for a couple of days from Japan…?

EXPENSES： \6,500 / U$52 （2nights） ＊ Bed cost \1,000 / U$8 / S$12.5

Indonesia

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 504％・ POPULATION 155％ ・ＧＮＰ 2.5％

I only travelled "SUMATRA" island. People are very friendly, sometimes TOO friendly. It still have got lots of nature. I think the development level is pretty similar to India. Light out happens a lot, too. The transportation on the island is "BUS" which have got very bad reputation! I think it is better to move little by little instead of sitting on the Sick Bus all day long…

SURPRISE： Sick back bomb! (People throw away USED sick back from the bus window…)

TROUBLE： BED BUGS!!!!!!! It isn't unusual to get some bite in Asia, but not that much!

FAVORITE SPOT： Kercik Tur ( Mt. Kerinch) ・ Pagan Island （Near Bungus bay） ・ Lake Meninjau ・ Bonjor

TIPS: Climb Mt. Kerinch ・ Cycle around Meninjau ・ Enjoy the super natural hot spring in Bonjor

EXPENSES： \45,000 / U$360 （41Days） ＊ Bed cost・ \300 / U$2.5 /ＲＰ 5,870

Bangladesh

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND38％・ POPULATION 96％・ＧＮＰ 0.6％

The place I want to visit again.

"Nothing" is there! That is why, WE MEET the PEOPLE. SMILING Shower!! Or…the amazed (confused look)! Everyday, we get some excitement! Happening! Happening! Good happening! What you see in Dhaka is Rickshaw!!!!!!!!!!! Just everywhere!!! You might not be able to walk when it is rush hour…. Not because of pocket picker, the rickshaws will hit you!

Only 3 other backpackers we saw in 40days… One of them is Japanese guy who had got injured by riot!!

People are innocent and pure. Usually, no need to doubt them. Yes, it is one of the poorest country in the world. If you step in, you will know what it means… Light out everyday, at least 1 hour a day. (Basically, lack of electricity however only 14% of population have got life with electricity….)

There are a lot of cockroach… not very good curry compare to India… bus always break down… BUT I LOVE this country and its people!

SURPRISE： A LOT! Riot: Protest against "falling down- share market". - people just simply believe that buying share means that getting money instead of lose… After some hours, We saw the track with gage? Filled with those people….

"It is the time for Japan to knock down ( revenge of Hiroshima) the States" he said and cried when I told him that we Japanese don't hate America. Or even we are influenced a lot by its culture..

TROUBLE： When my contact lens fell off in the bus. I tried to explain that it is "small glass for the eye", but people looked confused and no idea what it would be like… I said "Please don't walk" as they might step on…but off course they didn't understand what I mean. You know, they wanted to help me and try to find it …

FAVORITE SPOT： St. Martin's Island ・ Old Dhaka ・ Teknaf ・ Jaintapur ・ Shilhet

TIPS： Smile to Smile!! Watch the turtle mother lying the egg.

EXPENSES: \40,000 / U$320 (40days) Bed cost \170 / U$1.5 / TK60

India

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 870％・ POPULATION 747％・ ＧＮＰ 0.9％

Huge! Many culture! GOOD FOOD!! So, it is one of my favorite country, too. Although so many tourists are hanging around. In Bangla, 40 days was ENOUGH, but in India, 40 days was NOTHING! It is better to take some more time…

SURPRISE： After Bangla, it seemed "MODREN" and "DEVELOPPED" country. It was amazing… The planetarium in Calcutta was LIVE show. The announce lady got mad during the show since the kids started to crap their hands and enjoy the echo… Great fun!

TROUBLE： I have got slip disc…

FAVORITE SPOT： Yumthan (north Sikkim)・ Calcutta ・Varanasi ・ Khuri * "Rassi"in Jaipur " toast & milk in Calcutta. "hot milk"in Delhi "Sweet chapatti"

EXPENSES： 45,000円 / U$360 / （45days） ＊ Bed cost \240 / U$2 / ＲＰ68

Turkey

（COMPARE TO JAPAN） LAND 205％・ POPULATION 49％・ ＧＮＰ 7％

Basically good atmosphere, people are friendly… But so many Turkish guys are sort of GIRL HUNTING in Istanbul they are good at language as they speak so many! Not only Japanese, most of European Language, too. Therefore? many girls are going out with them for some time and spend lots of money for them…

SURPRISE： The smelly soup… sheep's intestines including inside of it….

TROUBLE： "Excuse me, you dropped…" IN JAPANESE…. If you mother tongue is not English and hear that, you automatically look back..

FAVORITE SPOT： Amasura ・ Istanbul ＊ Kebab sand with whole chili

EXPENSES： \20,000 / U$ 160 （12days） ＊ Bed cost \600 / U$5 / Ｌ 1,800,000

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