other Asian cities
 

Sometime this summer I want to get out of Bangkok and visit another Asian country. I've already been to Laos, Burma, Cambodia, China and Malaysia. I will only have about 8-10 days to spend, so I'd like to concentrate on one city or area. I'm thinking of trying one of the following:
Jakarta, Indonesia (or maybe Bali; but I'm not a big beach person)
Hanoi, Vietnam
Kathmandu, Nepal
Delhi, India
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Any opinions on these cities? I certainly wouldn't mind finding sex during the journey, but it's not my sole reason for travelling. I enjoy old historic sites, good restaurants, and just friendly people. Advise me please!

Of the ones you mention, Kathmandu is definitely the pick (in my opinion), but sex is not easily found there. Otherwise, it's a magical place.

The summer heat should rule out Delhi and maybe even Hanoi, unless you are able to put up with 40-45 degrees C.

Kathmandu and Colombo may be interesting, but not Jakarta. It's very much like Bangkok - urban sprawl, traffic gridlock, flooding during rainstorms - without any historical/architectural interest.

I would be wary about both Kathmandu (which I visitied ages ago and loved) and Colombo in view of the very difficult political situation in both countries. Nepal has just kicked out the king and is experimenting with a Maoist government. No-one knows how this will turn out. Friends who have just returned from Colombo said they could not feel comfortable as the threat of violence (a result of the decades-old war) is never far away. If you don't mind the heat and humidity, I'd certainly prefer Hanoi.

Fountainhall,

The same thing could be said about Thailand at the moment, but I don't think you would advise people not to visit. As long as one avoids demonstrations, and does not hang around places that might be a potential terrorist target (government and military facilities), you are likely to be just fine.

I work in Hanoi so I'm abit partial to it. The weather doesn't often get 40+ but the humidity is a killer. Nonetheless it's a very charming city

I just came back from Kathmandu, and Kathmandu and Nepal in general is very safe and comfortable for foreigners. The Maoists represents no threat to foreigners, that is just US propaganda. You may experience slow trafic due to demonstrations and strikes, but that is all. Gay Nepalis you can find on the net.

options
 

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I've been leaning towards Kathmandu (have a friend who has been there many times and loves it) but the cheap Air Asia fares to Hanoi and Jakarta (have a friend living there now and a cute guy I met online last year) are tempting.

-- In the weekly and British magazine the Spectator, (24 may '08.), is an article entitled: Luxury in a war zone.
- Their intrepid reporter and his female companion flew Quatar Airways to Colombo and thence to GALLE.
In GALLE they stayed in THE FORTRESS HOTEL, wch. - despite being a member of the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World club - cost no more that the HOLIDAY INN at MILTON KEYNES!
- 'Despite the news' reports of civil war and bombs, I feel more concerned about walking through the streets of Shepherd's Bush, (London.), at night than I did in Sri Lanka.'.
- further info.: http://www.spectator.co.uk
-- Usual disclaimer. -- Bibi.. --

Unfortunately your post virtually coincided with the latest atrocity in Colombo. 19 dead and 40 injured in a bus blast right in the city.

Vietnam is probably the safest of all locations at the moment. I now rate Jakarta as fairly hostile to caucasians.
Hanoi is delightful, rather like traditional chinese cities used to be, plus visiting "Uncle Ho's" house and the "Hanoi Hilton" (prison) are fascinating. However for me, the main reason to head north is the stunning beauty of Vihn Halong (Halong Bay,) an archipeligo of over 3,000 island thrusting vertically out of the S. China Sea, (like 300 sets of Phi Phi Islands all linked.) Hire a boat with skipper and cook and select fresh seafood from the fishermen who sail up to you......if you have a "special friend" with you, you'll feel like real queens! I've never cruised there (took my long term Aussie b.f who is Vietnamese) but suspect there would be some very horny guys around (very much AYOR.)

Definitely be careful in Hanoi. There are organized gangs at work who prey on foreign men (both gay and het) looking for companionship. Good-looking boy or girl approaches lonely foreigner, strikes up conversation, and invites him for a night on the town. Party moves to a cocktail lounge or karaoke bar. After an hour or so (or however long it takes), lonely foreigner is presented with a bill for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Thugs appear to extract mentioned sum from lonely foreigner. Party over.

The Colombo situation is a concern.Still don't downplay the new phenomena of drunken, violent youth in some Western cities espicially in U.K and Australia.Aimless drunks spoiling for a fight after 3am is a major problem.Youth culture and liquor a bad mix 2008.

-- Agreed. Look-at what happened recently in London,(England.), after the new Mayor of London decreed that there would be no more public consumption of alcohol on London's public tpt.: six u'gd. stations had to be CLOSED, several Police-personnel were injured and several trains had to be taken OUT of svce. as they were damaged so badly. :(
-- Bibi.. --

warnings
 

I've heard and read similar warnings from other gay men who have visited both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Although many people rave about Hanoi's beauty, such organized gangs would make me wary. Bali still sounds intriguing, as does something totally different like Kathmandu. At least there haven't been any bombings there recently that I'm aware of. Kicking out the kind may have settled things down over there!

Hanoi
 

I haven't traveled widely but was in Hanoi a few months ago.

Interesting old architecture (very vertical because of old tax laws on width of lots, I was told). Only one or two high-rises, and none in the old quarter.

Good food both Vietnamese and French (probably because of embassies, French food can be outstanding--for instance at Verticale restaurant).

Nonstop motorcycle traffic with horns but very, very orderly; just cross the street deliberately and it's like swimming through a school of fish. Few cars. Streets free of litter, and foot pavements in generally good condition though often clogged with parked motorcycles in the old quarter, forcing pedestrians into the roadway.

Much good art and plenty of schlock as well. Don't miss the National Art Museum--outstanding, with fair prices on very good art at the museum shop.

Clothing as cheap as or cheaper than in Bangkok.

Even found a gay sauna--hardly any sex on premises, no private rooms, but clean, with pleasant people and plenty of hook-up opportunities. Also went to one gay bar downtown--small but pretty popular.

Was advised to be careful about being a lone man cruising along the central lake, for fear of being propositioned by ill-intentioned fake gays who might eventually present a danger if invitations accepted--but I wasn't alone, and I can't imagine anything overtly violent right there near the lake. I would think just being healthily skeptical might be enough.

Don't know how summer weather is, but winter weather was decidedly chilly.

A good young gay guide, very personable, advertises online.

-- Thanks for your update - appreciated.
1.- You have names & addresses?
2.- Any further info.?
-- Bibi.. --

Bar was Golden Cock (G/C), 5A Bao Khan, in the Hoan Kiem district, 825-0499.

Adam spa, 92 Ngo Tho Quan (narrow lane), Pho Kham Thien, in the Dong Da district, 241-3541, 093-616-8886, narrow lane begins between 215 and 217 Kham Thien.

Guide was Leo--see http://www.stickyrice.ws/?view=hanoi-really and www.picturetrail.com/longviettravel.

-- Stillthrobbing,
- Thank you for your prompt and complete reply - appreciated, (and not only by me, I'm sure.),.
- As has been noted elsewhere: good boyz, guides and so on deserve to be recommended so that they may reap their just rewards of being and doing.
-- Bibi.. --

I think these gangs are not too different from the Robinson boys. Just don't bother with them and you will have a good time in Hanoi.

One place to definitely check out in Hanoi is Mo's Little Red Lounge - a gay owned and run place right in the heart of the Chinese quarter.

Mo is a hoot - a really friendly guy who seems to have cultivated a bit of a devoted following. We arrived the night James Brown died - so we had a bit of a themed wake for him...

I have not heard of anything like this with Robinsons boys. What have you heard?

Only what my ex BF told me - the stealing and extortion without the gangs part. I'm too much of a chicken to pick up guys on the street..

-- It's many a long yr. since I've had any dealings with any of the boyz who hang-out in the gen'l. area of ROBINSON'S, the PAN PACIFIC HTL. and CHARN ISSARA TWR., (along Rama IV rd.),. In those days I was staying at the well-known SURIWONGSE HTL. where any and all of my valuables were in one of the safe-deposit boxes.
- However, if one has any doubts about one's companion - but they are o'come. by the desires of the flesh - then one should avail of that hotel's short-time rooms; better to spend an extra 300.Bh. than to have items taken from one's own hotel's room.

There's now a different type of gang operating in Silom......urchin Cambodian pick-pockets. Classic technique....returning from DJ about 2 am with new best friend, we were approached by young urchin with rather tatty looking bunch of roses who ran up to me and leant against me asking me to buy roses. ...as I tried to brush him gently away, I realise I ws being patted down from behind. I slapped a young hand just as it was heading into my side pocket (mobile phone) and I turned to see 3 even younger (about 9 or 10 year old) kids scampering away. I'd heard reports of this happening in Pattaya, but never seen in BKK before.

-- Timeo infantes et rosas ferentes!, (after Publius Vergilius Maro; 70-19BC.),.
-- :( -- Bibi.. --

These types of urchin gangs have been common in parts of Europe for decade - how sad they are now here in the LOS.