Where to go, where to go... Japan, USA, Singapore, Thailand?

[SimonSawSunlight]

I have a little list of 'far away' places that I want to go to. I think I can afford one of them next year (depending on a few different factors, of course...). this september I am flying to vancouver, which I am very excited about. those flights have been booked in february and could have been cheaper earlier, so I figured I might as well start thinking this through for next year already.

so it's between New York City, Bangkok, Tokyo/Yokohama or Singapore.
convince me! the only condition I can think of right now is that I would need a cheap (/free? 😀 ) and safe place to stay/sleep, which I already know I would most probably have in Yokohama.

cheerio.

 

[Strangeluv]

Never been to New York, Bangkok or Singapore. But I can tell you one thing, you will never run out of places to shoot in Tokyo. It's a wonderful city with amazing people and great food. Also, there are quite a few really good Whiskey bars as well 🙂

 

[andersju]

Regarding free accommodation, have you considered Couchsurfing? I think it's a great way to travel no matter where you're going (I believe just about every country is represented). Staying somewhere for free is just one part of it; it's also about the social/cultural exchange. I've been a member since 2009 and have hosted a whole bunch of people from all over the world in my apartment in Stockholm. Many amazing experiences. I also did some 'surfing' myself in Japan earlier this year and will do it again in the US this fall. Check it out if you haven't already! 🙂

 

[rizraz]

I have always love krungthep mahanakorn aka city of angels....... I always find something "new", gritty and interesting everytime I go there..... thank god I am only about 2 hours flight away from them.

Singapore is too nice for me, while japan is too expensive for my blood.

 

[sahe69]

If it boils down to living costs (not only lodging but food, drinks, transport etc.), Bangkok would certainly be unbeatable on that list. Very photogenic place too, I assume (have myself been only elsewhere in Thailand)

 

[thegman]

I'd go to Japan, I love it, and it's incredibly safe. I'm not even sure they have a word for violent crime. Out at night in Tokyo feels as safe as during the day, there is drunkeness, same as every other city, but there it's "happy drunk", not "I want a fight, drunk" like most UK cities.

Lots to see and do, plus you can get out of the city and see some nature too.

Bangkok is cool too, although the humidity I found oppressive, extremely photogenic though.

New York is a fantastic city, but of course somewhat touristy.

 

[Leica All Day]

Bangkok......Bangkok.......Bangkok.......

cheers, michael

 

[andersju]

Singapore is too nice for me, while japan is too expensive for my blood.

I think "Japan is expensive" is a bit of a myth. If you're not too fussy you can get by with very little money; it's certainly much easier than in, say, Sweden! In Osaka, there is a cluster of hotels in the Kamagasaki / Shin-Imamiya area catering to travelers where you can get a private room for ¥1500-2000/night. The area is infamous but I never felt uncomfortable there or anywhere else. In Tokyo, I stayed at a really clean, central hostel in Ueno for about ¥2000/night. And then you have the manga cafés and love hotels and whatnot; and Couchsurfing, as mentioned above - lots of options! 🙂 And travel in the country is super-cheap if you get the JR Rail Pass in advance.

 

[mgd711]

Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan!!!!

It's the closest you'll ever get to visiting another planet and I mean that in a nice way. It's just so different to anywhere else I've ever been and absolutely fantastic people.

 

[thegman]

Yes, I have never met friendlier people than in Japan.

 

[kully]

What so many people have already said - Tokyo, it is top of the list on my far-away place to go.

 

[5aru]

Simon, I have been to Japan for the fourth time now. And expecting 2 more trips before the year ends. Its not as expensive as how people perceive it. For food, there's always food chains like Sukiya, Yoshinoya or Lotteria if you are not too picky about food. For cheap hotels, you can always try :-
http://travel.rakuten.com/
http://www.japanican.com/index.aspx
http://www.booking.com/

For my base in Japan, I always position myself in Shinjuku, near to the center of Tokyo or Ikebukuro for its cheap hotels. Try to get the Japan Rail Pass here because it offers a 7 day unlimited train rides around japan which includes Kyoto, Osaka or Yokohama.

Japan is very, very safe. Even when I'm staying at the hotels near red light districts (cos' its cheap). The staff are extremely helpful and the rooms clean. Below is my route map in Japan for 2010, anyone is free to use it but bear in mind I have situated myself in a hotel in Shinjuku (Tokyo) and Amerika Mura (Osaka). You can refer to the map if there are places of interest you might wanna go that tallies with the places I have been.

To the moderators, if my images are too large, or linked wrongly that might somehow affects the load rate of rangefinderforum pages, do let me know. I'm still new to the linking thing. 🙂

 

[Chris C]

It really depends what your after. Tokyo's the only place on your list I haven't been to so it's a little hard for me to say anything about it (except I'm desperate to go ASAP).
Out of Bangkok, NYC and Singapore, I'd rate them in that order. I found Singapore to be incredibly easy and predictable and to be quite honest got a little bored of it after a few days. Bangkok is just an amazing place though. A city of such huge extremes and I always love places where people genuinely live their lives out on the street. I've been there 3 times now for about a week each time, and every time i like it more and more. Though I can imagine I'd probably feel the same about Tokyo…

 

[Harry S.]

Ive been to most of these places. I liked China best. Much better than Japan even.

 

[reaperman]

If i were in your shoes i would go to Japan. Next year i'll travel to Tokyio/Yokohama, Kyoto and Osaka. I'm trying hard to learn some Japanese because japanese Culture is realy that existing (ie Rinko Kawauchi as a photographer or Murakami as a novelist).

 

[gavinlg]

Tokyo, my favorite place in the world. Japan is the mother country.

 

[rizraz]

I think "Japan is expensive" is a bit of a myth. If you're not too fussy you can get by with very little money; it's certainly much easier than in, say, Sweden! In Osaka, there is a cluster of hotels in the Kamagasaki / Shin-Imamiya area catering to travelers where you can get a private room for ¥1500-2000/night. The area is infamous but I never felt uncomfortable there or anywhere else. In Tokyo, I stayed at a really clean, central hostel in Ueno for about ¥2000/night. And then you have the manga cafés and love hotels and whatnot; and Couchsurfing, as mentioned above - lots of options! 🙂 And travel in the country is super-cheap if you get the JR Rail Pass in advance.

True..... 🙂

 

[maddoc]

Japan is nice, safe but interesting. Tokyo ... maybe a must see but hopefully they get the electric power fixed until then ... TEPCO頑張って！！

 

[hans voralberg]

Japan!!! It's like the coolest place ever, endless camera shops, amazing diversity in the street and super super food!

 

[benlees]

Tokyo will be my next big destination. Just don't know when!