[BK83]

Bali/Thailand. Simple as that.

[nombei]

LA is one of those places where having some local knowledge really helps as things are quite spread out. i've never really been a fan of LA myself, but there is loads to see and do there. i want to sort out a gallery trip there one of these days and maybe the Micallef show will inspire me to finally do it.

SF is much easier to tackle on your own due to it's relatively small size. you can walk through Upper Haight to check out the area where the hippies of the 60's did their thing. though be aware that it's somewhat like going to Kings Road to see where the punks hung out; you'll see a lot more shoe stores than hippies. and if you are into music then you have to hit up Amoeba records while in the Upper Haight.

you can then wander down Haight Street towards Lower Haight. here you'll find the Upper Playground store and the FIFTY24SF gallery. the Toronado (my favorite beer spot in SF). and if you're there on a Tuesday night and like drum'n'bass and/or dubstep you can catch a set by Juju at Underground SF. one thing to note about the Lower Haight is that the housing project at the east end of Haight St means that the neighborhood does see it's share of gunplay and gang nonsense, so be aware.

from the Lower Haight it's a short walk to Hayes Valley which has recently transformed itself into a trendy/hip neighborhood. lots of stores to check out including Huf SF if you want to get your sneaker freak on. my favorite store there though is True Sake - a store devoted to imported sake from Japan! love that place!!

and of course there are other neighborhoods to check out (Mission, Chinatown, Japantown, North Beach, ...) and all of the touristy stuff.

[a4mnt]

Kho Pha Ngan - Thailand : if you want partying, go to the east of the island, Hat Rin (where the full moon parties are) or much better is Thong Noi Pan - but the road to it is a nightmare and it used to be idyllic but has grown a lot and now there is the thump of bass til 4am most nights.

If you want a bit more quiet at night, the best place I think is Had Yao on the middle of the western coast. Perfect road to it, sunsets every night, lovely long crescent shaped beach - try staying in Sandy Bay or Ibiza cottages. One problem with that place though is the tide sometimes goes a long way out, if it isn't, you have perfect crystal blue waters, diving, lovely food...aaaahhh, bliss. I've spent a lot of time there!!

No trip to Thailand is complete without going to Kho Pha Ngan. The night train/ferry back to Bangkok is great fun as well....beer chang all the way!!!

3 Months though? For all those places....you really need to squeeze a few more months into that!

[notitle]

hey everyone, thanks for all the information!

i think you've made the decision even more difficult for us both though! personally at first i was edging towards bali, but now i really can't decide. i think the fact that neither of us are massive beach people means we might do CA (as we've got plenty of lazy days in thailand and fiji).

a4mnt, you're right, i think we need to look at doing more than 3 months! we'll just have to wait and see what we can afford.

i haven't read all the replies yet, so i'm just digesting all the info still. thanks again, we'll definately be posting up some more questions before we book/leave.

L

[johnerotten]

If you like Banksy come check out LA. He has some pieces on Melrose.

If you want to be around the super rich and super gay, stay in west Hollywood. If you want to be around mellower hipper people, check out the East side of hollywood...Los Feliz, Silver Lake Echo Park. If you want the beach, stay in Santa Monica.

PM me for more fun things to do.

[a4mnt]

Notitle - Bali isn't really much of a beach ONLY place, not in the same way that Kho Pha Ngan and Fiji are.

There's lots to do in Bali. I was there 10 - 14 days and barely spent any time on the beach (was with an ex so got dragged there once so she could top up the tan blah blah), but otherwise, there are temples jutting out into the sea, monkey forests, dawn dolphin watching trips, indo cooking lesson days, huts to rent in the middle of lush paddy fields, trekking through local villages, wrecks to dive, hand line fishing in tiny local boats, water temples, an arty town in the centre of the island with sprawling markets (forget the name now) and lots of shopping for local crafts all stipudly cheap prices...and thats all away from Kuta which is where the most backpackers end up in the mazes of bars.

There really is a lot to do in little island that will keep you amused.

Are you staying on the main island in Fiji? How long are you there for? If you are on a budget, its a little pricey to get off the main island and onto the much more desirable smaller archipelagos. if you are backpacking, this place is great www.fijibeachouse.com/
admittedly I went there several years before they used it for Celeb love island! so no idea how much it has changed, but it was a good hangout to meet other poeple, not pay too much for rooms/dorms and have a pretty decent beach, plus they had free stuff like Fiji cava ceremony and coconut leaf weaving (lot more interesting than it sounds!).

Go for as long as you can everywhere! NZ north and south needs at least a month to just skim through it..........

You're gonna love all those places. I'm jealous ;D

[thwaites]

a4mnt- thanks for that info, that fiji backpacking place looks lovely and very cheap! think we will definately consider staying there. i think we are planning to stay in fiji for around 2 weeks or so.

i was leaning towards LA but what you said about bali has changed my mind again.. doh! i think we might have to spend a few more pennies and go to both.. and three months is seeming like less and less by the minute. we really need to save our pennies. really dont want to sell any prints but might have to if i cant raise the funds. but that will be really last resort.

thanks again everyone for your advice, its great to hear other peoples experiences and to get some good tips.

love to all

[a4mnt]

i guess you are backpacking as a couple? if its any help, these figures shouldn't be far off for standard backpacking travel, double rooms, local transport, eating normal meals and drinking, (though not getting absolutely slaughtered every night), days out etc :

Fiji mainland - easily live on £15 a day each
Thailand / Bali £10 a day each

NZ - £20 a day though there are so many cool things to do there the money could soon disappear. If you like camping, its easy to hire a car and buy a tent in 'Warehouse' (buy everything there its so cheap) for $30NZ or so. Then get some info on Department of Conservation campsites. They work on an honesty basis, so you camp and then drop a small fee into the honesty box..... ......errrr, when you remember. I camped for a month on both islands in November and it was great, if a tad cold. But like i said theres a lot of things to do there......lots of $$$


Paddy fields of Bali :




Can anyone get me a job working for the balinese tourist board? ;D