Thailand is undoubtedly a very interesting and distinctive country. However, for many of our compatriots, it has become a "second home" - today it is one of the most budgetary and popular East Asian destinations. That is why some tourists think about where else to fly from Bangkok in order to get a portion of completely new bright emotions and see several countries during their vacation.
Angkor city - the soul and heart of the Khmer people
Angkor is a "dead" city, which flourished in the X-XI centuries. Today, a huge number of temples have survived here, including the legendary Angkor Wat, which is considered the largest religious building in the world. Its outline flaunts on the national flag of Cambodia. Moreover, this very place was, is and will forever remain the soul of the Khmer people - here you can get acquainted with the traditions, culture, art of a great civilization. In addition to Angkor Wat, other temples are also interesting: Phnom-Bakheng, built one of the first (in the 9th-10th centuries), Angkor Thom, which served as a city citadel, Bayon with giant stone sculptures of Buddha's faces, which were supposed to instill fear in northern aliens ...
The most curious and restless tourists can go to the jungle - there are unique complexes, untouched by restorers, and iconic pools. There are special routes for guests passing through the main "mast see", so it is almost impossible to get lost. You can get from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok to the ancient temple complex of Angkor and the nearby city of Siem Reap by plane in an hour - there are direct flights and there are many of them.
Singapore is the city-state of the future
The small city-state of Singapore attracts travelers from all over the world. What unofficial names are not attributed to him - and "city of the lion" (in fact, it is translated from the Malay "Singapore"), and "Disneyland for adults", and "metropolis of the future", and "city of prohibitions." All of them only partially reflect the peculiarities of this place, because it is impossible to find one word to describe Singapore. It is too different ... The Raphael Hotel, reminiscent of the distant architectural traditions of the 18th-19th centuries, here side by side with futuristic skyscrapers. A quiet, cozy zoo and botanical garden, whose age has already exceeded 1.5 hundred years - with the highest Ferris wheel and a fantastic amusement park with dizzying, literally and figuratively, attractions. In addition, representatives of four religions coexist on a small territory.
In general, Singapore is a very unusual “cocktail of the future” for fans of excursion programs, who believe that they have already seen everything and it is impossible to surprise them with anything. But fans of beach holidays are better off looking for other options. Even the world famous Sentosa cannot boast of a coastline that resembles a picture from a bounty advertisement - the beaches of Singapore cannot be called clean and cozy. You can get from Thailand to Singapore from the Thai airports Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang. The flight takes about 2.5 hours. Flights are operated by various airlines, including low-cost airlines.
Kuala Lumpur - a city of lights and skyscrapers
Lively, modern, a little chaotic - all these definitions perfectly fit the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, or as the locals fondly call it "Kay-El". Today this city is considered one of the most beautiful in Asia and it really has something to surprise tourists. Skyscrapers lost among the clouds are side by side with beautiful parks, fashionable restaurants - with cozy cafes, the oldest mosques - with modern museums and exhibitions. It would be most logical to start your acquaintance with the city from its place of origin, the square near the Masjid Jamek mosque. Also, one cannot bypass the modern symbol of the Malaysian capital - the Petronas Twin Towers, the legendary 88-storey skyscrapers.
Almost at their top, on the 86th floor, there is a magnificent observation deck. On the 41st floor there is a covered bridge over which you can go from one skyscraper to another. Also inside there are panoramic restaurants, an art gallery, numerous boutiques, and a concert hall. In general, it is a real paradise for a tourist who simply does not want to leave. Minara TV Tower is not as tall as its neighbors, but it boasts a revolving restaurant that is wildly popular with tourists. From Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, the flight is not so long, only 2 hours. There are enough flights to choose a convenient time.
The Indonesian island of Bali - a world of ancient sanctuaries and paradise beaches
Many vacationers in Thailand and those who love this country are completely perplexed - why go to Bali and change some beaches for others? In fact, at least in order to compare Thai massage with Balinese and understand how they differ, "catch the wave" on the surf and look at the Australians who have learned to do it masterfully, and, of course, get acquainted with unusual cultural and architectural traditions that differ even from Indonesian in general, not to mention Thai. The island of Bali is convenient for curious tourists because it is very compact.
By renting a car with a driver for one day, you can see all the "mast see": the temples of Uluwatu, Tahan Lot and some others (there are more than 1000 ancient sanctuaries on the island and each is interesting in its own way - you have to make a choice), rice terraces, the capital of Denpasar and The "craft capital" of Ubud, Lake Bratan. And, of course, spend at least a few hours on one of the beautiful sandy beaches, reminiscent of a picture from a bounty advertisement, and admire the dizzying sunset. Also interesting are the ebb and flow, which are quite strong. You can get to Bali Island (Denpasar Airport) from Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok. Travel time is about 4 hours. There are flights with transfers - more budgetary, but the road can "stretch" for 8-10 hours.
Nepal is a country for those seeking harmony
Nepal is a small mysterious country about which many, even seasoned tourists, cannot say a couple of words. What is she famous for? Firstly, due to its location in the mountains - from habit and without a certain level of physical fitness, it can be difficult to be and move here. In addition, the territory is home to 8 of the highest peaks in the world, including the legendary Everest. Life in Nepal is unhurried, the locals are in no hurry and, it seems, do not even know what the fuss is. It is not surprising that tourists at the same time have unique opportunities - to learn what harmony is, to do meditation and, of course, to enjoy the beautiful nature.
The architectural component of the Nepalese program is not very diverse - it is limited to visiting ancient pagodas and magnificent temples. True, there are really a lot of them here. In addition, a must-see is the small town of Lumbini - the place where Buddha himself was born. What else is surprising to expect from Nepal? Basically nothing. The cuisine here is the most ordinary, not exquisite. There are no bright entertainments other than elephant safari. Which, in general, is not surprising. After all, this is, first of all, an Asian center of spirituality, and the main thing that mysterious Nepal can give is a special atmosphere, which you can either feel and fall in love with forever, or you don’t understand at all. The flight from Bangkok to Nepal is a little over 3 hours - not so much to find yourself in a "haven of tranquility and inspiration."
Vietnam is a country that amazes with its diversity
Vietnam is an unusually interesting and diverse country that deserves a separate visit and close attention. But, if you have time and desires, you can fly there and from Thailand in order to see a slightly different Asia. Moreover, the flight is not noticeable for more than two hours. Where to start acquaintance with Vietnam. There are many options. You can go to discover temple complexes and mysteries of ancient unknown civilizations. You can endlessly enjoy the splendor of the national park in Halong Bay - the local landscapes are considered one of the most beautiful on the planet.
You can get acquainted with the diversity of the underwater world - in Vietnam, the cheapest diving in the world, you can admire the performance of the Hanoi puppet theater, which takes place on the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake. You can ... in principle, in Vietnam, you can find entertainment for every taste and you can list them for an infinitely long time. Also, do not forget about the opportunity to look at the beautiful local beaches, if only in order to compare them with Thai ones and draw conclusions: where is it better. After all, these two Asian destinations are the most popular among Russian tourists.
Philippines - a state lost among the seas and oceans
The Philippines is another mysterious state that tourists do not know much about. Perhaps two indisputable facts are that its capital is Manila, and the territory includes more than 7000 islands. But the fact that this is the quintessence of all the best that Southeast Asia can only offer is known only to those who were lucky enough to be there. So what can tourists expect? Skyscrapers are not worse and not lower than Hong Kong ones - please. There are also ancient temples and an exotic excursion program, no less interesting than in Cambodia. Original cuisine, modern hotels and a high level of service are present. Beautiful nature, diving opportunities are available. There are even ski resorts in the Philippines. Few? It seems more than enough to drop everything and go to discover this exotic state. Moreover, the flight from Bangkok to Manila is no more than 3.5 hours.
Hong Kong - the financial capital of the world
Hong Kong is one of China's Special Administrative Regions, located on the Kowloon Peninsula and over 250 islands. Among tourists, the most famous are Lamma, famous for its excellent fish restaurants and the complete absence of gasoline transport, Lantau, where the Asia World Expo exhibition center is located, and, of course, Hong Kong itself, which occupies the city of the same name. It is with him that you need to start your acquaintance with the region.
From local attractions, it is worth paying attention to the numerous Buddhist temples built in the traditions of Chinese architecture, its own Avenue of Stars, an analogue of the Hollywood one, only with names known in the Asian film industry, Cat Street and Hollywood Road, along which antique shops are located - a great place to buy non-trivial souvenirs and, of course, skyscrapers rushing to heaven. It is in them that the offices of large companies from different countries are located, billions of dollars in transactions are concluded and issues related to the global financial market are resolved. Fly from Bangkok to Hong Kong in 2 hours 40 minutes or a little more, depending on the airline. Every day, almost 2 dozen flights are sent to each direction, at any convenient time.
Macau - East Las Vegas
The Chinese city of Macau is often called the gambling capital not only of the country, but of the entire eastern region, and is even compared to Las Vegas. Although in some respects it even surpasses it - after all, it is here that the largest casino in the world, the Venetian, is located, as well as many others, less large-scale, but no less famous: Sands, MGM, and so on. But not only gambling houses attracts many guests to Macau. Historically, this city was a Portuguese colony for a long time and came under the jurisdiction of China only in 1999. The result is an amazing interweaving of Eastern and European traditions. If you walk around the central part of the city, it is quite possible to forget that you are in Asia. Remind of this only ancient temples built in honor of Buddhist and Taoist gods.
It is noteworthy that formally Macau is just one of the cities in China, in fact it has a certain autonomy. For example, it has its own currency - pataca, its own government body, executive council, and even a special visa regime. There are both regular and charter flights from Bangkok to Macau. Travel time is about three hours. It is better to take care of purchasing tickets in advance, since they are popular not only among tourists vacationing in Thailand, but also among those who simply get to Macau with transfers - there are no direct flights from Russian cities, for example, to cities.
