Post: #1

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a city in the Southeast Asia region with the best mixture of these characteristics for a project that I'll be starting in March. I will have a month to myself to get shit done and I know that it's impossible to find "the perfect city" but I'm really looking for a place with a great atmosphere for me to focus and be super productive and have a fun month on the side.

MUSTS:
- solid internet connection
- highish prevalence of English speakers in the local population

PREFERABLE, but not completely necessary:
- access to martial arts gyms
- near a beach
- low cost of living
- fun bar/nightlife scene

Saigon is a possibility. Anybody been to Battamburg (Cambodia)? Hsinchu (Taiwan)? Kuching (Malaysia)?

Post: #2

Kuala Lumpur is an amazing party city if you know the right people. Everyone knows english, I'm sure there is a decent internet infrastructure. However cost of living is not that low, and there is no beach, but hey you can always go to genting highlands for a retreat.

Post: #3

(09-14-2015 11:03 AM)mau man Wrote:  Saigon is a possibility. Anybody been to Battamburg (Cambodia)? Hsinchu (Taiwan)? Kuching (Malaysia)?

I have been to both Hsinchu and Kuching. Can't say I'd recommend Hsinchu, although Taipei may be my favorite place in Asia. Hsinchu is extremely boring and is not particularly large. You'd be best to just base yourself out of Taipei, a city where women love foreigners and you will have no trouble at all.

Kuching is similarly small, and I went there with a girl so I can't comment on the gaming side of things there. It is a great place to visit for a few days or a week, although I don't know how internet and logistics are outside of the city center. Kota Kinabalu might be a better fit for this area of the world, or KL would be a safe bet.

Bangkok is the easiest place to get stuff done from your list, although I'd say to take a look at Taipei as well. Skip Manila and skip anywhere in Mainland China if you want decent internet.

Post: #4

The only SEA city I've been to is Manila. According to your must-haves:

- solid internet connection
Stay away from Manila if this is important to you. I loved my trip there, but if I were running my online business, this city would not be a candidate for a long term stay. Internet is horrible. So bad it cost me some bangs because some girls I pipelined got upset that I didn't respond to their messages.

- highish prevalence of English speakers in the local population
Lots of people speak fairly good English in Manila (and all over the Philippines), but I'm sure you can find better cities to post up in long term with a good English speaking population.

Post: #5

Thanks to all for the replies! Taipei seems to fit the bill. I forgot that a close friend of mine is taiwanese and can probably hook me up with some contacts so I won't hit the ground cold. Unless anyone has a better suggestion, I may have found my match.

Post: #6

How about Bangkok? Very fast internet and a decent amount of English speakers. I believe it is still do able to live there comfortable for 1000-2000 dollar a month (take your pick). Enough gyms and martial arts, though different quality of course, nightlife is awesome for sure. Enough beaches between 2-4 hours away:

Hua hin (a bit quiet)
Pattaya (sodom&gomorra)
Koh Samet (nice island)
Bang Saen (not bad)

If you can find cheap flights (which there are plenty of) you can get to any island in Thailand within 2 hours, or go north to Chang Mai and further to Chiang Rai. I am a big fan of northern thailand and the mountains there.

I also like
- Hanoi (cheap cost of living and really awesome food, decent internet, but less english speakers and no beaches)
- Saigon (also cheap cost of living, good food, internet should be fine and more english speakers then in hanoi. Beaches are about 2-3 hours away (Mui Ne, though not a good beach town, more for kitesurfing) and Nha Thrang (10 hours by bus, one by plane)
- Hong Kong (but quite expensive)
- The Philipines in a whole are awesome and have the best beaches in Asia I think. But don't stay on Luzon (Manila), go to some of the other islands. Maybe Cebu is an option? Many islands close by and a big enough city to have fun and find a decent internet connection.
- Some places on Java, Sumatra or Islands like Bali can be ok. It will be cheap, internet can be a hit and miss though (except for Bali, internet is fine there, but life is more expensive)
- Cambodia is very cheap too, and not too big to travel around. You can get to sihanoukville in a few hours from Phnom Pheng. Havent been to Battambang though.

I would say Bangkok is your best choice, though I am biased. Love the place and been there over ten times And also a great hub to explore the region. Cheap flights to be found to any other country for 50-100 dollars.

Post: #7

Youre right that Bangkok is awesome, though I've spent probably two months in total there between my trips. I purposefully left it out because I want a new city to experience.

Koh Somet intrigues me by the way. I'll definitely check it out next time I'm in the area.

Also thought up another good possibility reading through your Vietnam breakdown...Hoi An. I went maybe five years ago just for a day and had a blast. Didn't really get to experience much of it though beyond the surface. Can anybody vouch for it? Cost of living was cheap, lots of girls were out and about, big drinking culture, english proficiency seemed to be relaticely hugh thanks to all of the tourists. Anybody around here familiar with Hoi An?

Post: #8

(09-14-2015 03:45 PM)mau man Wrote:  Youre right that Bangkok is awesome, though I've spent probably two months in total there between my trips. I purposefully left it out because I want a new city to experience.

Koh Somet intrigues me by the way. I'll definitely check it out next time I'm in the area.

Also thought up another good possibility reading through your Vietnam breakdown...Hoi An. I went maybe five years ago just for a day and had a blast. Didn't really get to experience much of it though beyond the surface. Can anybody vouch for it? Cost of living was cheap, lots of girls were out and about, big drinking culture, english proficiency seemed to be relaticely hugh thanks to all of the tourists. Anybody around here familiar with Hoi An?

Ah I see. Funny that you mention Hoi An. I was there a month ago. My second visit, first time was back in January 2012. Was there for a full week before going to Hanoi and Sapa and on to Myanmar. Started there because I felt it was the nicest place in Vietnam based on my first visit. I really liked it.

Compared to a few years back there are more tourists and certainly more Chinese tourists Still a great place though.

I can totally vouch for it. It is really cheap. I had a very good and big room with a good shower, fast wifi and breakfast for 20 us dollars a day. Met a lot of different people there, it's very easy to connect with people.

First time I was there I did not experience the drinking culture but its true. If you want to pick up girls it must be one of the easiest places in Asia. I am not a big fan of the backpacking type of girls since I prefer asian women but it sure is easy. There are a few places that are buzzing if you cross the old bridge and turn right. Maybe 3 to 4 places right next to each other. Always packed and there are after hour parties almost every night somewhere else in Hoi An. Met some Americans who were real approach machines and they always ended up with someone. Got a lot of homemade whiskey from locals as well.

English proficiency is quite high, I talked to some young Vietnamese girls there, apparently there are lots of girls working there in the tourist industry when having time of from school/university.

The food is really amazing, and very cheap and I also like the beach. Not too busy and great seafood with also one or two places that have decent live music at the end of a day. Go to An Bang beach. Cua Dai beach is not very good. Hoi An is also great because DaNang is not very far. Nice day trips on a motorbike. You should watch the Top Gear Vietnam special, when they cross the Hai Van Pass between Da Nang and Hue, an awesome ride. There are some genuine clubs in Danang, about a million people there so not a small place.

But Hoi An is my favorite place in Vietnam for sure, will probably go back next year. If you want to know anything else bout it let me know.

Post: #9

Phuket, Thailand seems to fit what you're looking for, mostly.

Check out Phuket Top Team, Tiger Muay Thai, or AKA Thailand for training.

Post: #10

I personally wouldn't recommend Battambang or Cambodia period. The english is low and the nightlife isn't good. I would stick to Bangkok or KL. Both places have better food as well.

Post: #11

Im been thinking about Taipai as well to start an asia tour next year since Im lazy about getting my china visa....whats the quality like there?

Post: #12

The Internet in Mainland China is ok, at least in Tier One cities. Shenzhen sort of fits your descriptions (apart from English speaking) but isn't really in SEAsia.