Pour la iéme fois des touristes ont été attaqués et dévalisés à Phuket...depuis un certain temps déja entre kamala et Patong ainsi que Raway et kata....
Je mets ce post car je trouve que c'est de plus en plus souvent et prévenir de faire attention en motorbike et aux sac à main en bandouliére...
Le mode opératoire est tjrs le méme, a savoir vous roulez seul ou avec un passager et dans un endroit sombre de la route la moto qui vous suit vous rattrape et un des mec vous jette par terre et vous menace d'un revolver et ou d'un couteau...
Il n'y a pas longtemps un resident Norvégien est mort de plusieurs coups de couteau !
Friday, October 12, 2007
Another attack in Rawai, Aussie and Brit mugged
RAWAI: An Australian woman was pulled off her motorcycle and robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning in the same area where Norwegian tourist Simen Knudsen was killed two weeks earlier.
The victim, 27-year-old Australian Sooz Lomas, arrived in Phuket about two weeks ago to study Thai boxing at the Rawai Muay Thai camp.
About 2:30 am on Sunday, Ms Lomas left the nearby Icon Bar with an English friend named Paul, also 27. As Paul drove the motorbike and Ms Lomas rode pillion, the pair were approached from behind by two men on another motorbike.
Ms Lomas said the attack happened off the main road from Rawai to Kata.
“I don’t know the roads very well and neither did the guy who was driving. I think we may have taken a wrong turn, because we ended up somewhere that was very dark. I think we were followed from the bar, ” she said.
“It was very soon after we left, and there were a bunch of people standing outside as we were leaving. We were going slowly, about 30kmh. Then two guys came up from behind, on the right. One of them reached out and grabbed my bag, pulling me off the motorbike.
“I came off and hit the ground face first, while the driver skidded along for a bit. I hit my head, so I was still a bit confused about exactly what had happened. One of the attackers went up to Paul, pointed a gun at him and asked for money. So he emptied his pockets.
“They both had guns. I was lying face down on the ground. I didn’t really know what was going on, but one of the guys came up to me saying, ‘Money! Money! Money!’ I wasn’t really sure what was happening, but I didn’t want to give up my bag straight away. Then I felt my bag being grabbed and they cut the strap and pulled it off me, ” Ms Lomas said
Once they had taken all her possessions, the gunmen left quickly, getting away with about 1, 500 baht in cash, credit cards, a mobile phone and camera – in addition to the money stolen from Paul.
RAWAI: An Australian woman was pulled off her motorcycle and robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning in the same area where Norwegian tourist Simen Knudsen was killed two weeks earlier.
The victim, 27-year-old Australian Sooz Lomas, arrived in Phuket about two weeks ago to study Thai boxing at the Rawai Muay Thai camp.
About 2:30 am on Sunday, Ms Lomas left the nearby Icon Bar with an English friend named Paul, also 27. As Paul drove the motorbike and Ms Lomas rode pillion, the pair were approached from behind by two men on another motorbike.
Ms Lomas said the attack happened off the main road from Rawai to Kata.
“I don’t know the roads very well and neither did the guy who was driving. I think we may have taken a wrong turn, because we ended up somewhere that was very dark. I think we were followed from the bar, ” she said.
“It was very soon after we left, and there were a bunch of people standing outside as we were leaving. We were going slowly, about 30kmh. Then two guys came up from behind, on the right. One of them reached out and grabbed my bag, pulling me off the motorbike.
“I came off and hit the ground face first, while the driver skidded along for a bit. I hit my head, so I was still a bit confused about exactly what had happened. One of the attackers went up to Paul, pointed a gun at him and asked for money. So he emptied his pockets.
“They both had guns. I was lying face down on the ground. I didn’t really know what was going on, but one of the guys came up to me saying, ‘Money! Money! Money!’ I wasn’t really sure what was happening, but I didn’t want to give up my bag straight away. Then I felt my bag being grabbed and they cut the strap and pulled it off me, ” Ms Lomas said
Once they had taken all her possessions, the gunmen left quickly, getting away with about 1, 500 baht in cash, credit cards, a mobile phone and camera – in addition to the money stolen from Paul.
Australian tourist Sooz Lomas, 27, is still recovering from her injuries after being pulled off her motorbike by gun-toting and knife-wielding thugs in the same area of Rawai where Simen Knudsen was killed two weeks earlier.
Paix à son ame... Norwegian sea captain Simen Sparre Knudsen (pictured above) had been coming to Thailand for 30 years before he was stabbed to death on September 23. The case, headline news in Norway, again puts the spotlight on tourist safety in Phuket.
Ps. photo du Norvégien tué qui laisse femme et enfants derriére lui...
C'est vrai que c'est pas la première fois que ça arrive, surtout le soir à la sortie de Kamala vers Patong . Si un jour vous voyez une motobyke à terre avec un thai couché et un autre faisant des signes surtout ne pas s'arrêter et continuer son chemin .
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
juste.
J'ai vu dans les phukets news qu'ils avaient arrêtés des jeunes, ils avaient bien volés des motos et des affaires de touristes, mais pas tué le norvégien.
La police de Chalong dit avoir des pistes.
Quand l'eau baisse les fourmis mangent les poissons; quand l'eau monte les poissons mangent les fourmis.
Il n'y a que le changement qui ne change pas.
J'ai lu dans le Phuket Gazette qu'il y a un endroit en particulier, moins eclairer que les autre...(Vers le Meridien)
Dernierement des jeunes thais s'en sont pris en un touriste suisse, l'on cogner, lui on voler la moto....
Probleme, cette derniere apprtenait à un policier qui "arrondissait" ses fins de mois avec une petite agence de location😎, tout les agents surveillant la circulation ont été prevenus, et les voleurs se sont vite fait serrait... The first of the two brothers arrested for the September 23 murder of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen was identified by police only as "Pong", aged 16. Before the killing, he spent a year at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center on theft convictions. A third suspect, aged 18, is still at-large.
CHALONG: Two teenagers arrested by police have reportedly confessed to the stabbing murder of 53-year-old Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen on September 23, along with several other armed robberies of foreign tourists driving motorbikes alone late at night.
A source from Chalong Police, who requested that his name not be printed, identified the two suspects as 18-year-old Narongsak “Sak” Tongviset and his half-brother Pong, 16, whose full name cannot be printed because he is a minor.
Both youths are registered as residents of Surat Thani’s Phunphin District, but live in Kathu, where their common father is a taxi driver.
A third suspect, 18-year-old Theerapat Saivaree, remains at large. Police said he is originally from Satun Province, but has lived in Phuket for many years. Police believe he is hiding somewhere on the island.
After their arrests, the brothers admitted to using the same approach in this robbery that they had in previous attacks: arriving on two motorbikes, parking on a dark section of road late at night, and yelling abuse at their target - always a foreign tourist alone on a motorbike.
If the tourist slowed down or stopped, they would force him or her from the motorcycle, then beat the victim into submission using Thai boxing skills that all three had acquired from a local Muay Thai camp. They would then rob the tourist of all valuables, steal the motorbike and ride off on it, they said.
The main break in the case followed from sharp police work, coupled with some luck and stupidity on the part of the suspects.
At about 11:30 pm on September 27, just days after the murder of Knudsen, the three youths held up a Swiss tourist riding a rented red-and-black Honda Click motorbike on the dark stretch of road from Patong to Karon, near the entrance to Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.
The stretch of road has been the site of numerous robbery reports over the years, in part because it is dark and hilly and must be passed by tourists returning to Karon after a night of reveling in Patong.
The section also lies just before the border with Kathu District and thus falls under the jurisdiction not of the nearby Kathu Police Station but of the Chalong Police, whose headquarters are some 15 kilometers away.
The motorcycle stolen from the Swiss man was rented to him by a policeman, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Boonler Samngamya, who heads a Chalong Traffic Police unit and operates a small motorcycle rental agency in Karon.
Although he was unaware that the bike he had rented to the Swiss tourist a few days earlier had been stolen, with the sharp eye of a traffic cop he recognized a passing Honda Click as his own as he stood on the side of Wichit Songkraam Rd in Kathu at about 7 pm on September 29.
Curious, he decided to trail the driver, Pong, and his companion Sak, riding pillion. He followed the pair as they turned south onto Chao Fa West Rd near Central Festival and continued to tail them all the way to the entrance of Soi Nai Trog in Chalong Village 5.
It was there that the out-of-uniform officer pulled alongside the pair and ordered them to stop. When they sped up Sgt Boonler gave chase, eventually pulling alongside them and kicking the bike to the ground.
He arrested Pong, who was found in possession of a replica pistol, but Sak managed to escape into a nearby rubber plantation and evade the five-hour police manhunt that followed.
Using a police sketch based on a description given by his half brother, Phuket City Police arrested Sak riding another motorbike around Borrae Village, Ao Makham, on September 30. He was found in possession of an unregistered pistol and a knife, which he later allegedly confessed to having used to stab Mr Knudsen.
A subsequent search of their home at 115/163 Village1 in Tambon Kathu ended in the seizure of several other motorcycles that had been stolen in similar fashion, the source said.
The two brothers and their accomplice had all previously served time in the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center. Pong had been released just a few months ago after a one-year theft conviction.
The source said that once in custody, the two brothers said that to rob Mr Knudsen they had to punch him repeatedly in the face, kick him hard in the groin and stab him twice. They said they left him in the middle of the road from the Kata Viewpoint to Rawai about 1 am on September 23. He was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he later died.
The killing of Mr Knudsen, a resident of Phuket for over 30 years, has been headline news in the Norwegian press.
Although the murder has been overlooked or ignored by the Bangkok-based English language media, safety issues regarding foreign tourists who visit Phuket and expats who have chosen to reside here have again been raised.
Mr Knudsen’s widow Sommaai Knudsen, 39, went to Chalong Police Station with her 13-year-old son Chanon Knudsen to personally congratulate the officers responsible for their excellent work in arresting two of the three boys responsible.
Voyager, c'est naître et mourir à chaque instant...
Victor Hugo
Il serait intéressant de savoir qui sont les auteurs présumés de ces agressions et peut-être, si le phénomène devenait récurrent, d'en chercher les motifs.
Nous avons pour habitude de dire aux femmes "t'inquiète, la Thailande, c'est très sûr, tu peux y aller sans problème, etc..." et voilà que ce genre d'agression semble se multiplier...
Salut,
Tu sais, je crois qu'il n'y a pas que les femmes qui devrait s'inquiéter, vu le gabarit de madame Wallabies, qui doit faire au moins 30 kilos de plus que moi😕🤪🏴☠️...
Aykel
Voyager, c'est naître et mourir à chaque instant...
Victor Hugo
D'une maniere generale je trouve que c'est en train de se guater sur Phuket.
Outre les agressions de + en + nombreuses, et le mepris franchement affiché envers le Farang,
Il n'est plus rare d'entendre quelques coups de feu à la sortie, voir même à l'interieur des discotheques.
Exemple: pendant le nouvel an 2006, une femme a perdu son mari qui a reçu
une balle perdue à l'interieur du Safari.
Il faut donc etre prudent, c vraiment pas le pays des bisounours.
De toute façon et même en étant aussi barraquer que Rambo ou Bruce Lee, devant un flingue tu la ferme et tu te fais tout petit...! en tout cas elle a bien ramassé et en plus elle est en camp de Muay Thaï...
Le Norvégien tué à coups de couteau a du leur resister...et c'était vraiment l'énorme béte capitaine de bateau...!
Il faut pas rêver, Phuket comme Pattaya qui est puissance10 n'est plus le coin dxe rêve d'il y a 20 ans, c'est devenu mal fréquenter et l'ambiance vraiment sait tropez est assez désagréable (et si l'ile dispose de toujours autant de charme je suis bien d'accord avec Barbot, le fait que la fréquentation soit aussi "moche" m'incite de moins en moins à aller y faire un tour ..c'est quand même chiant que tout se fasse bouffer par ce tourisme de masse !
Faut éviter d'aller à Phuket durant la haute saison de début décembre à mi-mars . Mais il y a quand même largement beaucoup moins d'agressions qu'à Pattaya .
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
Le tourisme de masse pourrit tout...même les bons sentiments !
Quand tu vois que cela coute moins cher d'aller 15 jrs à Phuket vol + hotel compris que de prendre 1 vol sec...!
les masses moyennes et autre, se ruent sur la Thailande comme des mouches sur du miel...
et rien à voir avec l'Amour de la Thailande ou de l'Asie...
It 's life 🤪 a hard life !
comme je suis d'accord avec toi, trop d'accord même
😉"mei pen ray", il reste le nord et Koh L.... et plein d'autres
fucking life MDR
A+
PS : d'accord aussi avec vous quand meme
Un voyage de mille lis a commencé par un pas. (Lao-Tseu ; 1 lis=ancienne mesure chinoise équivalente a 576m définie des la dynastie Qin, mais qui variait selon la région et l'époque, valeur actuelle 500m, le li est une mesure coréenne d'environ 3920m)
pour les pti curieux!!! le chien subliminaleeu
nous sommes bien d'accord (pour le moment), mais tu auras remarqué le "puissance 10" !!🙂
De toute façon il ne faut pas généraliser, ou qu'on aille Iles Canaries ou Puerto Vallarta et j'en passe ; partout ou il y a du tourisme de masse des agressions il y en aura toujours .
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
C'est pas sympa ...si ça se trouve le soir pour sortir c'est une vrai bombe !
De toute façon ils n'ont peur de rien...je pense qu'ils ont la tronche déja flambé au mékong ou à l'amphé !
C'est pas sympa ...si ça se trouve le soir pour sortir c'est une vrai bombe !
De toute façon ils n'ont peur de rien...je pense qu'ils ont la tronche déja flambé au mékong ou à l'amphé !
oui...
ca se trouve apres 10 bieres n'importe qui la trouvait canon
et puis de toute facon, la nuit tous les chats sont gris
Salut!
ça m'est arrivé l'année dernière, sortie de Patong direction Kamala, 2-3 heures du mat, 2 crevettes thaies torses nus tout tatoués, je roulais tranquille, j'avais repéré le phare qui s'approchait dans mon rétro, arrivés juste derrière moi ils m'ont hurlé dessus, heureusement je connais bien la route, j'étais pas trop cuit de la soirée à Patong, j'étais seul et avec une bécane plus puissante que la leur, j'ai tout envoyé et ai réussi à m'arracher, mais j'ai coupé tous les virages, un touk-touk ou un Fortuner sans phare (ce qui arrive souvent) et c'était le retour en Europe dans une boite... ça calme! Je me rappellerai de la leçon, faut jamais rouler seul la nuit.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. ~Seneca
Pour ce qui est du motif, c'est pas compliqué... MONEY
Il serait intéressant de savoir qui sont les auteurs présumés de ces agressions et peut-être, si le phénomène devenait récurrent, d'en chercher les motifs.
Nous avons pour habitude de dire aux femmes "t'inquiète, la Thailande, c'est très sûr, tu peux y aller sans problème, etc..." et voilà que ce genre d'agression semble se multiplier...
Quid ?
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. ~Seneca
CA SEMBLE CONFIRMER CE QUE J AI LU SUR LE SITE DU MINISTERE A SAVOIR QUE LES AGRESSIONS SONT A LA HAUSSE EN THAILANDE ET AUSSI....AU LAOS . IL SEMBLERAIT QUE LA MALAISiE ET LE VIETNAM ECHAPPE ENCORE A CETTE HAUSSE DE LA CRIMINALITE VIOLENTE D APRES LES SITES QUE J AI CONSULTES). FACE AU FRIC C EST COMME SI LA VIE HUMAINE N AVAIT PLUS D IMPORTANCE....
J'entends parler de plus en plus de Thais qui se font des arnaques entre eux. Une copine de 20 ans qu'on invite au resto et qui vient avec 3-4 personnes et laisse la note. Une qui couche pour lui piquer son portable et ses bijoux. Des gens pauvres qui se volent entre eux. Les gens ne peuvent plus rembourser leurs dettes aupres des motobikes... et d'autres.
Ce sont des petites arnaques, mais ca reflete l'esprit actuel de certains Thais. 🙁🙁🙁.En survie je crois...🙁🙁🙁
En plus il pleut encore a cette epoque a BKK...
Avec les Farangs l'interet et les moyens sont multiplies par 10 helas... je crois...
Je m'inquiete pour les Thais...🙁🙁🙁
mai pen rai krap
j'ecrit sur clavier américain désolé pour les accents...
CA SEMBLE CONFIRMER CE QUE J AI LU SUR LE SITE DU MINISTERE A SAVOIR QUE LES AGRESSIONS SONT A LA HAUSSE EN THAILANDE ET AUSSI....AU LAOS . IL SEMBLERAIT QUE LA MALAISiE ET LE VIETNAM ECHAPPE ENCORE A CETTE HAUSSE DE LA CRIMINALITE VIOLENTE D APRES LES SITES QUE J AI CONSULTES). FACE AU FRIC C EST COMME SI LA VIE HUMAINE N AVAIT PLUS D IMPORTANCE....
je crois que c'est un peu vite dit, le vietnam est pas mal réputé aussi du coté des arnaques quant à la malaisie, je pense qu'ils ont tellement peur de la punition que çà calme 😎
je respecte l’environnement, j’honore les gens que je rencontre et j’exprime ma gratitude envers la vie et tous les êtres vivants... parceque je sais que cahcun d'entre nous est important et que rien n'y personne ne doit être mis de côté !
qui parle d arnaque?????? il y a une difference entre se faire arnaquer un euro et se faire defoncer la tronche OU BRAQUER AVEC UN FLINGUE AVEC TOUS LES RISQUES POUR LA VIE HUMAINE FAUT PAS TOUT MELANGER LE SUJET ETAIT LA : apparemment hausse des agressions en thailande
LES ARNAQUES C EST UN AUTRE SUJET ET IL Y EN A PARTOUT...
Pendant trop longtemps sur ce forum, je persiste à dire que la plupart des intervenants ont présenté le pays comme celui des Bisounours où tout le monde est beau, tout le monde il est gentil. la société thaïe, au moins autant que les sociétés occidentales accorde dorénavant une importance capitale à la richesse matérielle. les mêmes causes produisant les mêmes effets, ceux qui n'ont pas d'argent vont chercher à s'en procurer par le plus court chemin possible. a Phuket, Bangkok, en Issan ou ailleurs. Et comme les thaïs peuvent être extrêmement violents, contrairement aux sornettes que l'on peut lire ici...
"Le touriste apparait comme le principal agent de diffusion du mépris anti touristique. Plus le touriste se voit en miroir de l'autre, plus il le déteste".
que d'agréssivité ! tu sais, j'adore le viet-nam que j'ai parcouru 3 fois avec ma femme et 1 fois seul il y a bien longtemps, et si je t'ai répondu arnaque c'est pour ne pas trop choquer mais dans ce mot représente aussi les agréssions (elle aussi c'est partout dans le monde, vient à marseiile tu verras🙂), je continue de dire que Phuket n'est pas la seule à pouvoir se venter de ce triste record et je parle pas de Phnom Phen alors !
allez bonne nuit
je respecte l’environnement, j’honore les gens que je rencontre et j’exprime ma gratitude envers la vie et tous les êtres vivants... parceque je sais que cahcun d'entre nous est important et que rien n'y personne ne doit être mis de côté !
Beaucoup vivent dans le déni de la réalité...alors en vacances ils se lachent d'autant plus !
Surtout quand on est jeune et veut croire qu'il existe quand même un endroit ou tout se passe bien ou les gens sont super "sympas"...
Il est certain que sur une ile comme Phuket ou les Thaïs cotoient des "touristes" super friqués qui claquent en 1 heure ce que gagne un ouvrier en 1 mois ...y a de quoi avoir les boules !
La jalousie se transformera en haine ect...
Pour avoir le luxe de rever il faut avoir les pieds bien sur terre 😉
C'est vrai, il ne faut pas confondre du sujets, les arnaques il y en a partout là où il y a des touristes....mais il y a arnaques et arnaques, j'aurai une analyse à livrer sur ce thème concernant le vietnam. Il faut quand même reconnaître que la police thaïe a été efficace pour retrouver les coupables en peu de temps.
Au Vietnam, les agressions pour dérober de l'argent existaient entre 1992 et 1998 contre les autotochtones et touristes confondus. Cette année, je suis retourné au Vietnam en juillet et j'en ai profité pour questionner tous les viets (je parle le viet) que je rencontre sur le problème de la sécurité, ils m'ont dit que ça a été complètement éradiqué pour 2 raisons :
1) les agressions n'existaient pas avant la promotion du tourisme au VN en 1992 et les citoyens en avaient assez - les médias ont fait largement écho et demandaient aux autorités d'agir pour que l'on puisse vivre tranquillement,
2) l'Etat vietnamien avait bien compris l'intérêt de la chose lorsqu'il a constaté la croissance fantastique des revenus touristiques, donc la sécurité des personnes et des biens étaient devenue prioritaire.
Un vieux chauffeur de "honda ôm" (moto taxi) qui m'a servi de guide pendant plusieurs dans Saigon m'a promené dans certaines banlieues où il me disait : "vous voyez ce quartier ? avant 1998 je n'osais pas m'y aventurer même en plein jour car je serais rentré chez moi dépouillé de mon argent et de ma moto, mais maintenant c'est complètement sécurisé !" Je lui ai demandé comment a procédé l'Etat vietnamien ? Il m'a répondu c'est très simple : la police a reçu l'ordre de descendre dans tous les bas quartiers de toutes les villes du pays et procéder à une rafle gigantesque de tous les délinquants connus des services de la police - ensuite les juges ont pour instruction de condamner à 7 ans de prison (incompressibles) pour tous ceux qui sont coupables d'un 1er délit - Pour les récidivistes : 15 ans de prison. Résultat : ça a calmé tout le monde !
Un jour je suis en balade à Nha Trang (station balnéaire) et j'avais besoin de changer mes euros en dong, pas de banques ni de bijouteries en vue dans la rue, je me suis harsardé à demander à une toute petite agence de voyages au coin de la rue, la jeune femme assise derrière son bureau métallique et qui donne carrément sur le trottoir me disait qu'elle pouvait me faire le change, après nous être mis d'accord sur le taux de change officiel, elle a ouvert le tiroir de son bureau et dedans il y avait des liasses d'euros, de dollars et des paquets de dongs, j'étais effaré : j'étais toujours debout sur le trottoir à quelques centimètres de son tiroir de bureau, je pouvais plonger la main et en quelques secondes me sauver en courant avec quelques liasses dans la poche !
C'est alors que je lui ai demandé :"vous n'avez pas peur de vous faire braquer ?"
Réponse : "Qui voulez-vous venir me braquer ? il n'y a pas d'armes dans ce pays, et puis les policiers en civil il y en a partout, il n'y a rien à craindre ici !
Voilà un petit vécu, je pense que dans nos pays libres si l'on applique le même régime des peines qu'au vietnam, le citoyen se sentirait également en sécurité. Mais faut pas trop rêver, au vietnam le régime politique est différent et l'autorité de l'Etat est respectée.
la vie est trop courte pour ne pas s'intéresser aux autres
Entièrement d'accord . le déni de la réalité est d'autant plus fort que les touristes refusent de se poser la question essentielle et capitale pour eux : pourquoi est ce si peu cher dans le pays qu'ils visitent ? Tout simplement parce que le travail n'est pas payé. Et quand les gens travaillent pour quatre euros par jour, et qu'ils peuvent prendre le risque de voler un sac a main qui contient peut être un mois de salaire, pour se payer la drogue légale ou non qui leur permettra d'oublier leur condition, on va au désastre....
"Le touriste apparait comme le principal agent de diffusion du mépris anti touristique. Plus le touriste se voit en miroir de l'autre, plus il le déteste".
Pour ce qui est du motif, c'est pas compliqué... MONEY
Oui, bien sûr, ça on l'avait deviné. Je pensais au-delà.
Je m'explique : Ce n'est pas d'hier qu'il y a un grand nombre de touristes à Phuket et, partant, de pauvres qui les envient. Ce qui est plus curieux, c'est l'accentuation du nombre d'agressions en un laps de temps aussi court (à moins que quelqu'un ait des statistiques démontrant le contraire, je n'ai pas approfondi, pas le temps).
Y aurait-il un relâchement dans la population (cf un article lu où il était spécifié que le "gouverneur" de Phuket était en manque de 500 policiers) ? Une évolution négative des moeurs au sein de la jeunesse thaie ? Un abandon des valeurs ? Le mauvais exemple de la police elle-même qui se "sucre" abondamment dans ses arnaques en tous genres ?
A n'en pas douter c'est un mix de tout cela...et pour les agressions sur Phuket cela fait maintenant un peu plus d'un an que ces attaques se multiplient .
Il y a même un décret passé il ya peu de temps demandant aux gogo girls de ne pas circuler en vetement de travail pour pas "choquer" les écoliers...!
il manque 500 policiers ? ils vont renforcer tout ça en rapatriant le quartier général de la police pour les 7 provinces du haut-sud de la Thailande à Phuket, il était auparavant à Surat, on va voir si il y a du résultat.
Quand l'eau baisse les fourmis mangent les poissons; quand l'eau monte les poissons mangent les fourmis.
Il n'y a que le changement qui ne change pas.
j'ai lu cela ici ou sur un autre forum il y a un mois environs. Tant mieux s'ils ont trouvé le truc pour pallier à la situation, avec la haute saison qui approche, ça ne fera pas de mal.
ils vont renforcer tout ça en rapatriant le quartier général de la police pour les 7 provinces du haut-sud de la Thailande à Phuket, il était auparavant à Surat, on va voir si il y a du résultat.
Ben si c'est comme en Belgique... pfff... c'est pas gagné 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️😉
Eh oui, tout fout l'camp à Phuket et c'est vrai qu'il faut être plus prudent qu'il y a qques années. Ce matin encore grosse baston à Patong à la sortie des bars. Une petite dizaines de farangs qui se sont foutus dessus à coup de bouteilles. La raison de la baston? Un était fan du PSG l'autre de l'OM! Véridique. Ils ont été embarqués par la police et goûteront aux cellules thaies...
"There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way" Buddha
"Le vrai voyageur n'a pas de plan établi et n'a pas l'intention d'arriver" Lao Tseu
Eh oui, tout fout l'camp à Phuket et c'est vrai qu'il faut être plus prudent qu'il y a qques années. Ce matin encore grosse baston à Patong à la sortie des bars. Une petite dizaines de farangs qui se sont foutus dessus à coup de bouteilles. La raison de la baston? Un était fan du PSG l'autre de l'OM! Véridique. Ils ont été embarqués par la police et goûteront aux cellules thaies...
Pour en arriver là ça doit pas être des gens intéressant à fréquenter, c'est très petit comme esprit .
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
quelle idee qd meme d'aller se taper sur la gueule pour un jeu de ballon...
cela dit, faut differencier fan et addict
y en a qui ont rien d'autres dans la vie qu'une passion demesuree pour ce jeu ou 20 acharnes courent apres une bille et ou 2 mecs attendent pendant 90 minutes qu'on veuille bien leur foutre un but 😛
Eux c'est moins graves.....Ils etais tous consentant🙂
C'est comme si toi tu vas te battre parce que tu vas trouver un éléphant plus beau que celui de ton voisin durant le festival des éléphants, pareil . 😏😏😏😏
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
J'en connais quelques uns de vue, il y a un an tout les soirs vers 23 heures sur la longue route droite qui mène jusqu'à Fantasea ils faisaient des courses de motobykes trafiqué et très bruyante à celui qui bat le record ils sont une dizaine environ, depuis quelques mois la police à mis fin à leurs agissements .
@+ , Marco .
On aura jamais assez de temps pour tout ce qu'on veut découvrir et comprendre dans nos voyages qu'on se le dise , Amis voyageurs .
fair 10 000 borne pour se foutre sur la gueule pour une histoire de baballe🤪
on dit que la connerie jaillit du con comme le sang d'une blessure 😉
la sa a dut jaillire
ma fois l'obstination c'est la volonté du con
vive la douceure thai et leurs piments hai hai hai
tiens, les agresseurs de phuket semblent avoir des freres dans la police de pattaya😄😄😄
A MOINS QU ILS SOIENT DOUES DU DON DE DE SE TELEPORTER A DISTANCE...encore un suedois ( ils leur en veule???°😮
SWEDISCH MAN ATTACKED DURING MOTORBIKE ROBBERY IN JOMTIEN
In the early hours of Friday Morning Mr. Rahim Aayani aged 51 from Sweden
made his way to Dongtan Police Sub-Station where he made a Police Report concerning an incident he was involved in earlier in the night on the Tepprasit Road in Jomtien. Police Major Anuchaert took up the case and was told that Mr. Aayani was driving his motorbike along the road when he was told to pull over by two men on a further bike They claimed they were Police Officers and they must check him and his bike. He complied with their request and the two men approached him and one of them proceeded to punch him in the face.He fell to the ground and the pair proceeded to steal his motorbike and left in the direction of the Sukumvit Road.Police have received descriptions of the two men who were not wearing any cloths or ID badges suggesting they were Police Officers. APPAREMMENT C EST L ANNEE DE LA SUEDE EN THAILANDE🏴☠️
Euh..., à Phuket il est question, du moins pour les dernières victimes, d'un Norvégien, d'une Australienne et d'un Suisse. Pas de Suédois à l'horizon... 😛🙂
"There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way" Buddha
"Le vrai voyageur n'a pas de plan établi et n'a pas l'intention d'arriver" Lao Tseu
Salut tout le monde...
Je vois que ça s'enflamme au sujet d'agressions tres localisé, sur une petite ile de 20 km de long😉!!!!!
Franchement, vous avez tous l'air de vivre dans des residences surveillés, entourer d'un bunker...
Je vais tous vous donner RDV en bas de chez mes parents, à Toulouse, ce soir (ça tombe bien, c'est samedi, le jour ou les agressions se multiplies🏴☠️) et je vous garantie qu'a partir de 22h. vous allez tous vous faire braquer!!! Le pire, c'est que meme moi qui vient de cette cité de 40 000 habitants je vais y passer s'y je n'essaie pas de me rappeler le nom d'un cousin, un voisin ou le beauf d'un des agresseurs pour m'en servir de "JOKER" collectif (entre VForumiste😄😄😄)......
La derniere fois que j'ai eu une embrouille la-bas, j'ai failli le payer tres cher...Pourquoi? Parce que dans l'apres-midi j'avais aider (...avec des amis) un representant de la ligue de football, venu prendre des notes a cause d'agressions commises à l'encontre d'arbitres les semaines precedentes... Repéré dans la tribune par un groupe de jeunes, ce meme representant aller se faire cogner sur la gueule pour rien🏴☠️!!!!
Le soir suivant, l'un de ces jeunes (majeure) est revenu pour me faire ma fete en compagnie de ces amis(+/- 25 types), tous déchirés!!!! Ils hurlaient mon nom et mon prenom partout dans la cité, et ils se meme cogner entre eux tellement ils avaient "la rage"😕!!!!!!!
Le lendemain, en apprenant ça, j'ai meme pas eu le temps de dire un mot, que mes amis avaient pris certaines "dispositions", et avant meme d'ouvrir ma bouche j'avais un sac de sport (vert "pomme", trop discret...) dans la main, et a l'interieur un canon scillé, du calibre 12 (special sanglier) et un 17 coups de chez glock...
Pendant 1 semaine j'ai fait l'aller-retour entre chez mes parents (a la base j'etais venu passer une semaine de vacance en famille😎) au Mirail et la cité ou j'ai grandi, Tabar....Certains me diront "Mais pourquoi t'as pas appelé la Police?), parce que si je croise cette equipe, accro au shit, a la coke et au Ballentine's, le temps que la police intervienne je suis deja en route pour les urgences (...au mieux!!!🤪)
C EST PAS A PHUKET, C EST EN FRANCE QUE CELA S EST PASSER!!!!!!!!😎
Si vous ne lisez pas la presse, vivez en autarcie je ne sais ou, tant mieux pour vous mes chers amis...
Ce que je viens de vous racontez n'est qu'une embrouille parmis tant d'autres dans les cités, sans oublier que la cité d'ou je viens est pleine d'enfants de coeurs 😇comparer a la region parisienne (la bas c'est des caisses d'armes et des tonnes de shit...), marseillaise ou lyonnaise....
Heureusement que j'ai vu "Le monde du silence" du commAndant cousteau a l'age de 7 ou 8 ans ("...ils sont délivrés de la pesanteur. Ils évoluent librement." AMEN COMMANDANTE😇) et que la plongée est devenu une obsession, ou sinon, ce soir j'aurais été surement parmis vos agresseurs😛...
Vive la Thailande (la-bas au moins, on moins on me laisse tranquille)
Aykel (...dit le "chanceux"😄😄😄)
PS( A Patong, il y a enormement de types "calibrés", mais c'est pas pour nous faire du mal, c'est pour nous "protégés"....Les farangs (...un peu frileux) appeler ça "la mafia locale", les thais les appelés"nos anges gardiens"😇)
Voyager, c'est naître et mourir à chaque instant...
Victor Hugo
Tout cela est certes dramatique. Mais il est utile de dire aux gens qui se déplacent en Thaïlande que si la plupart du temps, tout se passe bien, ce n'est pas non pus, contrairement à ce que beaucoup dècrivent ici un pays sans violence, sans délit, sans histoires compliquées, sans "fracture sociale". Parfois comme le disait un autre intervenant, les gens sont dans le déni genre : "ils sont pauvres mais heureux". Çà leur évite surtout de se demander si celui qui leur fait à manger pour un euro ou leur propose une chambre pour trois euros est heureux de le faire ou contraint....
"Le touriste apparait comme le principal agent de diffusion du mépris anti touristique. Plus le touriste se voit en miroir de l'autre, plus il le déteste".
À compter du 27 novembre prochain, la compagnie Air France proposera une nouvelle liaison directe entre Paris-Charles de Gaulle et Phuket, au sud du pays…
Une nouvelle loi entre en vigueur à compter du 20 août. Pour lutter contre le tabagisme passif, il sera interdit de fumer à domicile. Pour l'instant, aucune…
Nouvelle loi en Thaïlande: d'ici 90 jours maxi il sera interdit de fumer dans un périmètre de cinq mètres autour de l'entrée et de la sortie de tout lieu…
Une info issue agence consulaire de Phuket et Phuket.fr:Une ligne de bus est crée entre l'aéroport et Rawai;ce sont des smart bus de 24 places qui vont…
Je cherche la perle rare pour mon 3eme séjour sur Koh Lanta : un bel hotel qualitatif au bord d' une plage facile d'accès dans un endroit animé.
Si vous connaissez quelque chose qui s'apparente à ma recherche et que vous souhaitez partager n' hésitez pas.
Bonjour je souhaite diviser mon séjour en 2 parties soit 15 jours à phuket et 15 jours sur krabi. Savez-vous si je peux louer une voiture et la rendre a krabi lors de mon retour en France
Merci de vos retours
Bon dimanche
Martine
Hi, is anyone there in Flores right now? According to some websites, everything is closed and the situation is tough. But our guide says it's fine. Who should we believe? We're supposed to leave on September 2nd. Thanks to anyone in Flores at the moment!
Bonjour précieuse communauté,
J'envisage de me rendre au Cambodge cet hiver, juste après Noël, pour un premier voyage seule, et mon premier voyage en Asie. Pour deux semaines (oui, je sais, c'est peu, mais je ne peux vraiment pas plus...). J'ai deux grandes envies: Siem Reap, et la campagne, les villages, le Mekong...
Que pensez-vous de cet itinéraire? Arrivée à Siem Reap, départ de Phnom Penh
SR: 5 jours (1 jour pour l'arrivée, 3 pour les temples, 1 pour le lac et ses villages)
Kratie (étape sur la route du Mondolkiri): 3 jours (1 jour de trajet, 2 jours sur place)
Mondolkiri/Sen Monorom: 4 jours (1 jour de trajet, 1 jour sur place, 2 jours de treks)
PP: 3 jours (1 jour de trajet, 2 jours de visite)
Je pense qu'il faut que j'enlève un jour quelque part, si je pars du samedi au samedi, ou du dimanche au dimanche. A Kratie, peut-être? à PP? et je rate le trajet en bateau que tout le monde conseille (SR-Battambang), mais je ne vois pas où le caser. Sauf à faire un PP-PP en commençant par l'est, laisser tomber Kratie ou vraiment juste une nuit, puis SR, puis PP).
Dans mon timing, j'ai l'impression que le Mondolkiri est plus proche que le Ratanakiri, qui me tentait aussi beaucoup! Est-ce que cela restera pas trop compliqué toute seule? Je pense faire appel à des guides locaux, ou une petite agence locale, pour faire une escapade dans la nature et les villages.
Je lis qu'il y a beaucoup de monde à SR entre Noël et Nouvel An, je peux aussi faire le circuit dans l'autre sens. Mais je trouvais plus facile de me familiariser avec le pays en arrivant en territoire touristique, je me trompe peut-être...
Merci pour vos conseils et avis!
Hi fellow travelers,
First trip to Vietnam.
We’ll be arriving in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet.
Is it complicated to find accommodation and get around during this period?
Any tips would be welcome.
Thanks for your replies.
Hi everyone.
I’m planning my trip, and based on all the posts I’ve read, this country is amazing.
Of course, I’ve got a ton of questions for you.
Here’s a possible itinerary: Vientiane - Vang Vieng - Phonsavan - Sam Neua - Nong Khiaw + villages - Phongsali - Luang Namtha and the area - Udomxai - Huay Xai - Luang Prabang and back to Vientiane.
What do you think?
We’re planning to prioritize local transport—is it possible to do this loop?
We’d also love to go kayaking, but I’m not sure if the season’s right or where the best spot is.
For trekking—I read that Phongsali is the most authentic spot to visit villages and see wildlife. Do you know of a reliable agency and a guesthouse with reasonable prices?
Is it worth taking a slow boat for a stretch on the Mekong, and if so, which route?
For accommodations, is it better to book through Booking.com and Agoda or look when we arrive?
Are mosquitoes bad in Laos, and should we take malaria prophylaxis?
What’s the average daily budget (accommodation, food, visits)?
Is renting scooters a good option for exploring towns, and if so, which ones?
From what I’ve read, it’s best to carry cash—euros or dollars? Is it risky to walk around with that much cash?
I’ve still got tons of questions. Thanks to anyone who can help, and I’m open to all tips, info, etc.
Thanks again
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Vietnam in February, specifically Da Nang and Hoi An.
Does anyone know a French-speaking guide in the area?
Thanks for your help
Hi there,
I’m planning a family trip (my wife and I, both 47, and our two sons, aged 5 and 12) to Malaysia for the last week of June and the first two weeks of July 2027.
We used to love road trips as a couple, then as a trio, but since our second child arrived, we’ve taken a break with "camping village" style trips.
Now feels like the right time to get back to our old habits, while adjusting the pace for the kids.
We’re craving Asia. We’ve been lucky enough to visit Thailand, Indonesia (Bali and Lombok), and Sri Lanka before.
Friends have raved about Malaysia, so we’re definitely tempted.
For those who know and love Malaysia, what would be a good itinerary starting from Kuala Lumpur, with a maximum of 3-4 stops? We’d like a mix of culture, nature, and relaxation (just to clarify, we’re not big beach fans). All of this without rushing, of course.
Hello,
We’re a family of four with two teens aged 16 and 18. We’re heading to Thailand this summer. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and plan to take a flight to Luang Prabang.
I’ve seen there are some great visits and excursions to do (temples, markets, waterfalls) and maybe even venture a bit north to places like Nong Khiaw, Muang Xay, Muang Ngoy, or Oudom Xay.
But I’ve also heard about the Bokeo region with the Gibbon Experience.
Since we won’t be able to do everything, I’d love to hear about your experiences, impressions, and advice on the two options I’m considering, especially since we’ll be meeting family in Chiang Mai, Thailand, afterward.
Option 1: A loop from Luang Prabang heading slightly north, then a flight from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai.
Option 2: A few days in Luang Prabang, exploring within a few dozen kilometers around, then heading to Bokeo province for the 2-day/1-night Gibbon Experience. For this option, I saw on Rome2Rio that it’s possible to book a ferry trip on the Mekong from Luang Prabang to Huay Xay—they mention about 8 hours. But is that realistic? What type of boat is it?
Then, to get to Chiang Mai, there aren’t many options—bus or minivan—but how does crossing the border work?
Finally, for those of you who’ve been to Laos in August, what was the weather like?
We’ve already visited Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during the same period over the past four years and weren’t really bothered by bad weather.
I’m starting a discussion about guides in the Mekong Delta because we’ve just finished our trip in this region and had a hard time finding a French-speaking guide. We had Thanh—she speaks French really well and travels all over the delta region, including Ho Chi Minh City. She’s super friendly and flexible. I recommend her wholeheartedly. If it can help someone...
Feel free to contact us for her number.
Hi everyone,
I couldn’t find any recent info on Kuching.
Can anyone recommend a hotel or guesthouse for under 100 RM that’s nice and affordable? No dorms, please.
Also, does it rain a lot in November, and is it still worth visiting Semenggoh or Bako?
We’ll be arriving in Phnom Penh this coming January and we’re thinking of starting our trip with a stop in Kampong Cham, then Kratie.
After Kratie, we’re considering heading toward Siem Reap with a stop in Kampong Thom.
That said, I’m not really sure how long the Kratie–Kampong Thom journey might take or how complicated it is.
Does this stop on the way to Siem Reap seem like a good idea to you?
If we don’t visit the Sambor Prei Kuk site, are there still any walks or sights worth checking out in Kampong Thom?
Silly question—backpack or hard-shell suitcase for the Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Tioman, KL trip?
I’m struggling to fit all my son’s and my stuff into the 70L backpack... and I’m thinking a suitcase would be easier, but I’m not sure if it’ll work for getting around.
Hi there,
I didn’t plan to return to Thailand this year, but my health conditions mean it’ll be the best place for me to stay between two trips to India. The tourism setup there is so well-organized that it’s the most "comfortable" country for a short visit. Thailand feels too sanitized for my taste, and there’s too much religion, Buddha, and the King, but it’s still the best option given how my health has been evolving. I’d considered two weeks in ThaTon for hiking, but I got too sick from the burn-offs during my trips to the mountains around Chiang Rai. So I’m not sure where to go this year. Definitely not the sea, touristy spots, or the mountains with burn-offs...
After a stay on Koh Phayam this coming November, I’d like to spend 2 or 3 days on Koh Phra Thong before heading further south.
Do you think it’s doable to leave Koh Phayam early enough to catch the 10 AM boat from Khura Buri to Koh Phra Thong? The next one isn’t until 4 PM, which would cost me a whole day.
I’m planning a trip to Indonesia, specifically Sulawesi and Java, in September for 10 days.
I don’t know this part of the world at all—any advice is welcome!
I’ll be traveling solo and would also love tips on meeting other travelers or locals.
Hello everyone,
Not long ago, I used to travel as a couple, but my husband has since passed away, and I’ve decided to set off again. The trip I took to Cambodia in January 2025 did me a world of good.
I’m now considering Thailand, a destination we never included in our plans because even 15 years ago, people said it was too touristy. Still, I’m thinking about the itinerary below, but I don’t feel up to arranging buses, trains, or guides on my own while I’m there. I’m looking for one or more drivers and have been in touch with an agency, but their offers are just copy-paste group tours that I don’t want.
So, if you have any contacts, experiences, or advice, I’d be so grateful if you’d share them with me. Here’s my rough plan:
Arrival in Bangkok
Ayutthaya (2 nights)
Kanchanaburi (2 or 3 nights)
Sangkhlaburi/Sai Yok (3 nights)
Sukhothai (2 nights)
Lampang (I’ve planned 3 nights, but that might be a bit much—it depends on what time I arrive in the city)
Chiang Mai
Chiang Dao
Pai
Chiang Rai
I was thinking about the Mae Hong Son loop—thoughts?
What do you think about staying overnight at the Golden Triangle?
When I look online, of course, I can find agencies that organize tours to national parks, etc.
I’m retired but in great physical shape. I’d rather go hiking than sit in hot springs with crowds of tourists who’ve all arranged meet-ups. I don’t want to spend a day at an elephant camp, and I don’t want to visit Karen villages.
I’d love to hear your advice.
Thank you all,
Hi,
On September 1st, we're heading to Kalimantan for six weeks, probably from Pontianak to the Derawan Islands.
I've scoured this site, which is usually my go-to 😉, and others like VoyageForum, but recent info is pretty scarce.
I'd love any tips on places you've visited—our itinerary is still a work in progress.
We're two couples traveling with backpacks, using buses, boats, guesthouses, and homestays.
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
Could you share your thoughts on my 3-week itinerary?
We’re a small group (family + friends) of 12 people, planning to leave around January 21, 2027.
Here’s my itinerary:
3 nights in Bangkok
4 nights in Chiang Mai
3 nights on Koh Samui
3 nights on Koh Phangan
4 nights in Krabi
4 nights in Phuket
I’m also open to any great tips you might have...
Thanks, everyone! Alain.
Hi,
From Malacca to get to Jerantut, is it better to go back to KL and take a bus from there, or take a bus to Tampin and then a train? Any feedback on the "Jungle Train"? (duration, price, comfort, etc.). Thanks
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week family trip next summer with our three kids, who’ll be 8, 8, and 7 years old.
After some research, we’re leaning toward Malaysia to combine nature/forests and paradise beaches. The idea is to introduce our kids to the country’s culture, nature, and wildlife.
We want a great trip but without splurging on luxury options like high-end lodges and resorts. We’re looking for comfort with a touch of authenticity—basically, a good middle ground.
I’ve started putting together an itinerary and would love your expert advice and tips to help us build this amazing trip with our little ones.
Day 1: Departure from France
Day 2: Kuala Lumpur
Stay at a hotel near the airport or KL Sentral.
Just one night.
Day 3: Morning flight to Sandakan (Borneo).
Stay in Sepilok
Day 4: Sepilok:
* Orangutan Center
* Malayan Sun Bear Center
* Rainforest Discovery Centre
Day 5: Depart for Kinabatangan.
Boat safari in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Sunrise safari.
Jungle walk.
Evening safari.
Day 7: Final safari.
Return to Sandakan.
Flight to Kuala Lumpur, then to Kota Bharu (or overnight transit depending on schedules).
Day 8: Transfer to the port.
Boat to the Perhentian Islands.
Days 9 to 13: Perhentian Besar
5 full days.
* Snorkeling
* Hiking
* Turtle watching
* Wild beaches
* Relaxation
Day 14: Return to the mainland.
Bus or private car to Taman Negara.
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Flores and then Bali at the end of September.
We’ve already visited both but this time, once we’re in Labuan Bajo, we’d like to take a boat to the Komodo Islands to see the famous Komodo dragons.
I don’t want to sleep on the boat—just a day trip would be perfect.
Does anyone know a reliable and friendly provider to recommend?
Thanks in advance, and have a great summer!
Summer seems to be the best time weather-wise for Bali.
And since summer’s when we can take a long trip, let’s go for Bali... even though we know it’ll be *packed* with people!
So we’ll steer clear of the island’s south...
Our current plan (19 days on the ground, 7 stops):
- 4 Nights (3 days) in Ubud
2 days for rice terraces / activities (Tegallalang, Campuhan Ridge, Monkey Forest, Bird Park, coffee plantation, market (?), dance "pestacle," cooking class and/or spa)
1 day with a driver for the Temples (Pura Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul Spring, Pura Mengening, Goa Gajah...)
- 2 nights in Sidemen (1 day for Pura Kehen + Batur Caldera + Pura Besakih and 1 day to relax in the rice terraces)
- 3 nights on Gili Meno (Rest and beaches) from Padangbai
- 2 nights in Amed (1 day from Padangbai with the Abang rice terrace and Tirta Gangga baths, and the next day a boat tour in Amed)
- 4 nights in Pemuteran (1 day for transfer and rest, 1 day to visit Kawah Ijen, and 2 days of snorkeling at Menjangan Island)
- 2 nights in Munduk (1 day with the Dayang rice terrace and the 3-waterfall hike, 1 day at Pura Ulun Danu Bratan)
- 2 nights in Jatiluwih (1 day in the rice terraces, and on the last day, we’ll stop by Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi and Pura Tanah Lot before catching our red-eye flight).
Accommodations in homestays or hotels.
Transportation to be arranged on-site with the lodgings (?)
Boat to Gili Meno to book in advance (?)
Kawah Ijen excursion to plan ahead (?)—check with the homestay (?)
Thanks for your thoughts/comments to help us explore this destination...
After reading and researching, we're planning the following stops in Cambodia in January 2027:
- Phnom Penh
- Kampong Cham
- Kratie
- Siem Reap
- Battambang
- Kampot (round trip)
I'm wondering about the direction of these stops, which could also influence our international flights.
Either a round trip from Phnom Penh in the order above.
Or landing in Siem Reap with the following order:
This second option would save us the Battambang - PP - Kampot trip but means doing a round trip to Battambang from Siem Reap and placing the "highlight of the trip" (Angkor) at the beginning of our stay.
We’ll be arriving in Phnom Penh this coming January and we’re thinking of starting our trip with a stop in Kampong Cham, then Kratie.
After Kratie, we’re considering heading toward Siem Reap with a stop in Kampong Thom.
However, I’m not quite sure how long the Kratie–Kampong Thom journey might take or how complicated it is.
Does this stop on the way to Siem Reap seem like a good idea to you?
If we don’t visit the Sambor Prei Kuk site, are there still some walks and/or things to see in Kampong Thom?
Hi there,
We’re planning to travel from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang next November.
We’d like to take a slow boat from Chiang Khong—or rather from Huay Xai in Laos—with an overnight stop in Pakbeng.
Could you let us know if the boat still leaves Huay Xai in the late morning? If so, what time roughly, and what’s the price for the trip?
Thanks for your help!
Alod
We (3 adults: 68, 65, and 25 years old) are just back from a short trip to the Philippines, and I’d like to share a little summary of our journey. First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who contributes to this forum about this destination and answers the questions of those who aren’t familiar with it. I should also mention that my comments are personal and don’t reflect anyone else’s opinions. Since I don’t have any literary or photographic talent, I’ll stick to the facts and share a few details about the sights, hotels, and restaurants.
Preparations:
We chose this destination in December and quickly booked our flight tickets (540 € with Turkish Airlines) for a departure on February 16 and return on March 5, 2019. We then contacted two French-speaking tour operators based in Manila, asking them to put together an itinerary based on our wishes (places to visit, type of accommodation) and our budget. We wanted to see the rice terraces in northern Luzon, the hanging coffins in Sagada, before flying to the Visayas (Bohol, Siquijor, etc.), and the Taal Volcano, while limiting our nights in Manila as much as possible. In the end, we opted for Alize, whose itinerary and quote matched our request almost perfectly. Our exchanges helped us refine our circuit.
International flights:
The round-trip flights went smoothly. Turkish Airlines, while not at the level of Asian or Gulf airlines, does the job just fine.
Day 1:
We landed on time (6:15 PM) on Monday, February 16, at Terminal 3. We exchanged our euros (near the car rental counters), and I can confirm the exchange rate was very good. On the way to the St. Giles Hotel (decent and affordable for a transit night), we got our first glimpse of Manila’s dense traffic. The Makati district, where our hotel was located, offers a wide choice of restaurants, so we grabbed a quick bite to recover from the trip.
Day 2:
This day was dedicated to transferring to Banaue. Fortunately, we had a comfortable van and an excellent driver for this journey, which took all day (8 to 9 hours with stops). We got a taste of driving in the Philippines—and it’s terrifying. You wouldn’t want to drive on these roads. The first thing that struck us was the relatively good condition of the roads and the cleanliness (a change from other Southeast Asian countries). This impression lasted throughout our trip. Around 6 PM, we checked into our room at the Banaue Hotel (large, charm-free, but with a beautiful view of the rice terraces).
Day 3:
With the help of a local guide, we took a jeepney to Batad. And then—wow! The rice terraces form an amphitheater overlooking the small village. Under the sun, it’s simply spectacular and breathtaking! Even though we’re familiar with rice terraces (Sapa, Bali, Thailand, etc.), we were dazzled by so much beauty. We spent the day walking along the terrace walls. This place is timeless and fully deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. However, we returned to the hotel exhausted (due to our ages and lack of exercise). We had dinner with our driver at the Las Vegas restaurant in the center of Banaue. The meal was decent, cheap, and the Filipino owner played the guitar to accompany our dinner.
Day 4:
Today, our driver took us to Sagada. The mountain road offered spectacular landscapes (about 1.5 to 2 hours). Along the way, we stopped in Bontoc to visit the small but interesting anthropological museum. It features old photos and various objects from the Ifugao tribes, as well as a reconstruction of primitive dwellings.
We then went on a short hike in Sagada with a very friendly local guide who explained the region’s funeral rites. The walk started at the communal cemetery before reaching “Echo Valley,” where we saw the first coffins hanging on the cliff. We continued to the “Underground River” and a small waterfall, ending our journey in the “Lumiang Cave” burial cave. All in all, this day was very interesting. On the way back, we made a few photo stops.
In the evening, on our driver’s recommendation, we ate at the “Bistro,” a French enclave in the center of Banaue (good pizza, roasted quail, homemade fries).
Day 5:
Today was a transfer day. To limit fatigue and nights in Manila, our tour operator arranged a flight from Clark to Tagbilaran (Bohol), saving us 2 to 3 hours of driving. But to catch our flight, we had to leave very early: 5:30 AM. Our kind driver dropped us off on time at the airport. To use it, we had to pay a 150 PHP tax per person. The Philippine Airlines flight (15 minutes) left early and was far from full. Upon arrival, we were taken to the Loboc River Hotel, on the banks of the river of the same name. A very charming lodge lost in a tropical garden. We stayed in a stilt cottage overlooking the river. We relaxed a bit in the lovely pool. This place is really great—the staff is charming, and the food is excellent for a reasonable price.
Day 6:
This day was dedicated to exploring Bohol. The program was classic, starting with the tarsier sanctuary. We saw a few specimens in a small garden, each pointed out by a staff member. It was both good and disappointing because the animals were in pseudo-freedom in a small enclosure. Then we went to the “Chocolate Hills” and climbed 240 steps to admire the panoramic view of the hills—but by 10 AM, it was crowded. On the way back, we stopped at the butterfly garden, which was uninteresting: tiny, with few butterflies. We consoled ourselves by photographing beautiful flowers. To please our teen, we stopped at the Loboc Eco Tourism Adventure Park and crossed the river lying down, suspended from a steel cable (300 PHP). Finally, we had the traditional lunch-cruise on the Loboc River. It was a factory-like experience, and the meal was unremarkable. The only good thing was the singer on each boat and the lush vegetation. Afterward, we visited colonial churches and the cathedral, remnants of the Spanish presence, before returning to the hotel for a well-deserved dip in the pool. Note that for those interested, there’s an arena near the hotel where cockfights are held every Sunday—something Filipinos are passionate (if not obsessed) about.
Day 8:
Very early departure for the port. We boarded a *banca* in search of dolphins. After about an hour of sailing, we were lucky enough to spot around a hundred dolphins. Our boat then headed to the small and charming island of Pamilacan. After a walk through the little village, we came across locals traditionally building a boat. They told us it takes about a month to finish their outrigger boat. Then we had to choose our snorkeling spot between the coral garden, the fish park, and the turtle enclosure. Note that a fee is charged for each spot: 150 PHP per place and per person. It felt a bit like we were being ripped off, especially since the spots weren’t amazing—we’d see much better on Apo for much less. We had lunch on the island at one of the many small eateries (350 PHP per person).
Days 9 and 10:
On our return, we were taken to the Bohol Sea Resort on Panglao Island, where we stayed for 2 nights. It’s a small, recent establishment in a quiet corner of the island. It’s relaxing—maybe a bit too much. It has a nice pool and access to Danao Beach, but the view is blocked by a flotilla of boats. We didn’t try their diving school. The meals were good. If we had to do it again, we’d skip this stop to spend more time in Negros.
Days 11 and 12:
We took a fast ferry (Ocean Jet) from Tagbilaran port to Dumaguete and were taken to the Thalatta Resort, about 20 km away near Zamboanguita. We stayed there for 2 nights. Let’s just say it was our favorite. It’s a small place facing Apo Island. The rooms are simple, and the pool, nestled in a magnificent tropical garden, is fantastic. The staff is friendly, and the meals are very good. The hotel has its own diving center (snorkeling gear provided) and its own boats. We booked the Apo Island excursion: 1,350 PHP per person, including lunch. It was incredible: magnificent corals, colorful fish, and turtles of all sizes. The crew was endlessly kind and didn’t hesitate to dive to guide us to the best spots. In short, a perfect day. This site is ranked among the top 5 diving spots in the Philippines.
Since we were lucky enough to be there on a Wednesday morning, we explored the surprising Malapay Market, a 10-minute walk from our hotel. You’ll find numerous stalls selling vegetables, fruits, live or dried fish, and handicrafts. Enclosures are set up for selling livestock (calves, zebu, pigs). There are also restaurants. We were lucky to see two pigs roasted traditionally on a spit. There are few Europeans, and the people are warm. A great moment.
We left this beautiful place with regret because we didn’t have time to visit the island or go swimming with whale sharks.
Days 12 to 15:
From Dumaguete port, we took a short crossing (1 hour with Ocean Jet) to Siquijor Island to reach the Coco Grove Beach Resort. A beautiful hotel nestled in a spacious tropical garden. Several restaurants and bars, 4 pools. Despite the size of the place, it remains intimate. You can snorkel (corals and fish) right in front of the beautiful beach. We stayed in a very pleasant duplex suite. For those interested, there’s a spa and a diving center. You can also take the Apo Island excursion (offered at 1,950 PHP).
We spent our days relaxing between the pool and the beach. In the evening, the sunsets over Negros and Apo were stunning.
We booked an island tour with a comfortable tricycle from the hotel (1,500 PHP). The circuit was classic and allowed us to go around the island. We discovered beaches, the famous 400-year-old ficus tree with its enormous roots, and its equally famous foot bath with its cleaning fish. Then we visited the St. Isidore Convent before heading to the Cambugahay waterfalls and their four pools. The setting is idyllic, and the water is surprisingly good—we had a lot of fun swimming. We had dinner at a restaurant overlooking the island, where you can see Apo, Cebu, and Negros. In the end, Siquijor turned out to be a real little tropical paradise.
Since the hotel restaurants were expensive, we dined at nearby establishments: Fuego (clean, good—excellent raw fish—and quiet), Chekesch (louder), and the very pleasant Baha Bar, which brews its own beer and offers more refined cuisine.
Days 15 to 16:
We left at dawn to return to Dumaguete and its airport by ferry. We had breakfast at the Coco Grande Hotel, an annex of the previous one. The Philippine Airlines flight went smoothly. A driver took us to the town of Taal. We stayed at Paradores Del Castillo, right in the heart of the old town. It’s a charming old house with only 6 rooms. The various rooms are decorated with antiques—a real little museum. The garden is pleasant and opens onto the town.
It’s an old early 19th-century house converted into a hotel, beautifully arranged with 6 rooms in the heart of the city. The restaurant in the garden is very pleasant and offers a panoramic view.
We visited an old Spanish house before heading to the beautiful Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the Philippines. A mass was in progress, allowing us to gauge the Filipinos’ fervor before we could visit. When we left, it was dark, and we could admire the illuminated building. We ended our evening by exploring the night market with its many fruit and skewer stalls. A nice surprise.
In the morning, we were taken to the shores of Taal Lake, an ancient caldera where a second volcano has formed in the middle of the lake, which in turn contains another lake. We boarded a *banca* to reach the island in the middle of the lake. This was followed by an uphill walk, made difficult by the high temperature (36°C) and the dust on the path. The dust was worsened by the many horses carrying (or bringing back) the less courageous. To illustrate the difficulty of the climb, the trail is marked by the Stations of the Cross and its 14 stations. We were panting while our guide trotted far ahead. Our effort was rewarded when we reached the summit and its viewpoints over the inner lake and the surroundings. The wisps of smoke seen here and there confirmed we were on an active volcano. Inside the lake, there are supposedly 45 small volcanoes, one of which emerged during its last eruption in 1911.
On the way back, we had lunch by the lake before returning to Manila and the Bayleaf Hotel, whose main merit is its location in the Intramuros district. In the late afternoon, we walked along the walls of the old city.
We had dinner on the hotel’s panoramic terrace overlooking the city and the bay.
Day 17:
Last day! Our tour operator joined us for a tour of the Intramuros district. He enriched the visit with comments on the history, geopolitics, and economy of the Philippines. We visited the Manila Cathedral, destroyed 7 times in the past (6 earthquakes and the 1945 bombing). It’s beautiful, and its stained glass is magnificent. We couldn’t enter the San Agustin Church, the oldest Catholic building in Manila. We passed by the memorial to the Battle of Manila, which claimed over 100,000 lives. We visited the area around Casa Manila, which was closed on Monday, and had a drink at Barbara’s cabaret, located in a historic house. A very enriching morning.
Then we went to the Mall of Asia, the world’s largest shopping mall, to buy some souvenirs (Kultura store) before being taken to the airport. We exchanged our last pesos at the buying rate right after check-in.
The return flight went smoothly. We regretted not being able to use the facilities of Istanbul’s new airport, as its opening was delayed by another month.
Finances:
In the end, we spent 1,640 € for the international flights, 4,200 € for the stay (hotels, visits, various transports) with the agency (whose professionalism we can only praise), and about 700 € for meals, tips, and souvenirs.
Summary:
Luckily, we had beautiful weather throughout our stay, with temperatures between 26 and 35°C. Discovering the Philippines was a wonderful experience. The diversity of the landscapes, the kindness of the Filipinos, the cleanliness, and the truly delicious fruits (especially pineapples and mangoes). We were never harassed, unlike in many touristy countries. On the other hand, the food, though generally cheap, wasn’t exceptional.
Since this country is so vast, we might return in the near future.
Though I’m not a specialist on this destination, I’m happy to answer your questions based on my experience.
So, my flight tickets have just been booked for a trip to Cambodia from November 4th to 27th, 2025.
I’ll be traveling solo and want to explore this amazing country while getting a bit off the beaten path.
I’m arriving in Phnom Penh and also departing from Phnom Penh.
My goal is to travel as much as possible by bus and scooter.
What itinerary would you recommend?
What are the must-do things?
I’m open to all tips and info.
Thanks in advance for your help and responses.
We got back enchanted from a 6-week trip to Cambodia!
Our itinerary: Kampot - Kampong Chhnang - Battambang - Siem Reap - Kampong Cham - Sen Monorom (Mondulkiri) - Banlung (Ratanakiri) - Kratie - Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh.
We traveled by bus, minivan, boat (between Battambang and Siem Reap), overnight bus, scooter, tuk-tuk, and rickshaw for shorter distances. We stayed in guesthouses, homestays, and even in the jungle during a trek.
While the Angkor temples are fabulous, it’s the people you should visit Cambodia for—the "Land of Smiles" truly lives up to its nickname! Tourists gather in Angkor but are quite rare elsewhere, even though the country is easy to travel around.
I won’t describe our trip in detail but instead highlight a few favorite moments.
From Kampot, don’t hesitate to head out around 6 AM to see the fishermen return and their wives selling their catch (just 10 minutes away by the coast). Guaranteed picturesque!
In Battambang, known for its food scene, we discovered a cooking class with Smokin’ Pot (authentic Khmer cooking class). They pick you up from your guesthouse to shop for ingredients (we made fish amok and beef lok lak) at their village market, then cook and eat together. A private class—just the two of us! They also send the recipes via WhatsApp as a PDF. +855 12 821 400
In Siem Reap, I can recommend a francophone tuk-tuk driver who was very attentive to our wishes. We visited tourist spots but also more remote villages and local grilled-pork restaurants with him. He’s a wealth of information about local life, and chatting with him was a real pleasure—we left with regret! You can reach him on WhatsApp: Vung Hem, +855 96 614 0146.
We did a 2-day, 1-night trek in Mondulkiri. Don’t expect a super dense jungle—it looks more like a forest similar to ours. But Nara, our Bunong ethnic guide, made the experience adventurous and ultimately very immersive! WhatsApp +855 86 630 489
Bee Bee’s Chalets homestay: If you pass through Banlung in Ratanakiri, we *loved* this family and their budget-friendly bungalows. Playing Uno, enjoying Nita’s cooking (ask for her fish amok—amazing!), it was a true homestay experience! Contact Nita on WhatsApp: +855 88 818 5525.
In Kratie, rent a scooter and follow the Mekong north for 40 km at your own pace. Being so close to the locals was a treat! Same goes for heading south if you have time.
Kampong Thom: Head 25 km out to visit the pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. Around a hundred monuments spread across three sites… and hardly anyone there!
A few practical tips:
Though prices are often listed in dollars, you can always pay in riels (1 USD = 4000 riels), which is what we preferred.
PassApp: An app to book tuk-tuks or rickshaws (and most importantly, know the price upfront).
Virak Buntham: A bus company connecting several cities, bookable online.
Feel free to ask me questions about places, accommodations, etc.—I’d be happy to answer!
Australian tourist Sooz Lomas, 27, is still recovering from her injuries after being pulled off her motorbike by gun-toting and knife-wielding thugs in the same area of Rawai where Simen Knudsen was killed two weeks earlier. 
Norwegian sea captain Simen Sparre Knudsen (pictured above) had been coming to Thailand for 30 years before he was stabbed to death on September 23. The case, headline news in Norway, again puts the spotlight on tourist safety in Phuket.
The first of the two brothers arrested for the September 23 murder of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen was identified by police only as "Pong", aged 16. Before the killing, he spent a year at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center on theft convictions. A third suspect, aged 18, is still at-large.
