Introduction to Southeast Asia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 5

STREET FOOD
Southeast Asia boasts some of the world's tastiest cuisines, and the really good news is that
the cheapest is often the best, with markets and roadside hawkers unbeatable places to try
the many local specialities. Night markets, in particular, are great for tasting different dishes at
extremely low prices - sizzling woks full of frying noodles, swirling clouds of spice-infused
smoke and rows of glistening fried insects all make for an unforgettable gastronomic
experience. With each country, each region and even each town having its own specialities,
there's so much variety that your tastebuds will never get bored.
South of hailand, Malaysia deserves a leisurely exploration, boasting beautiful
beaches, good diving, and some rewarding jungle hikes. East Malaysia, which shares
the large island of Borneo with Indonesia's Kalimantan province and the little
kingdom of Brunei , offers adventurous (if costly) travel by river through the jungle
and nights in tribal longhouses. Singapore , along with Bangkok and Hong Kong, is a
major gateway to the region; though relatively pricey, it has a fascinating mix of old
and new, and after you've been on the road for a while you may find its more
Westernized feel quite appealing.
From Singapore or Malaysia it's a boat ride or short flight to Indonesia . It could take
you a lifetime to explore this vast and varied archipelago, with fantastic volcanic
landscapes, an unparalleled diversity of tribal cultures, decent beaches and diving, and
lots of arts and crafts.
Northeast of Indonesia, a flight away from mainland Southeast Asia, and consequently
less visited, the Philippines has some of the best beaches and most dramatic diving in the
whole region, along with some wonderful Spanish architecture, incredible rice terraces,
and unique wildlife, making it well worth the detour from the main tourist trail.
When to go
Southeast Asia sits entirely within the tropics and so is broadly characterized by a hot and
humid climate that varies little throughout the year, except during the two annual
monsoons. Bear in mind, however, that each country has myriad microclimates; for more
detail, consult the introduction to each chapter.
he southwest monsoon arrives in west-coast regions at around the end of May and
brings daily rainfall to most of Southeast Asia by mid-July (excepting certain east-coast
areas, explained on p.10). From then on you can expect overcast skies and regular
downpours until October or November. his is not the best time to travel in Southeast
Asia, as west-coast seas are often too rough for swimming, some islands become
inaccessible, and poorly maintained roads may get washed out. However, rain showers
often last just a couple of hours a day and many airlines and guesthouses offer decent
discounts at this time.
he northeast monsoon brings drier, slightly cooler weather to most of Southeast Asia
(east-coast areas excepted) between November and February, making this period the best
OPPOSITE FROM TOP PADDY FIELD NEAR SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA; YOUNG ORANG UTANS, BORNEO