Malaysia or Philippines? Where is the best place to buy a ticket? The best Southeast Asian countries to live in: my experience Philippines or Indonesia

Southeast Asia is a very attractive region for a certain category of tourists. People with heart and cardiovascular problems and parents with children should not go this far. The road is open to everyone else, have time to choose - or.

What unites these two regions is not only their location geographical map, a certain similarity can be seen in climatic conditions, beach holidays, leisure options. But there are also enough differences, let’s try to evaluate what are the advantages of holidaying on the largest island and in the Philippines, which, as you know, are located on 7,500 large and small islands.

Bali or the Philippines – whose beaches are better?

The ideal idea of ​​Bali as an island of paradise beaches can change greatly upon closer acquaintance with it. There are corners of paradise, but they still need to be found; on most of the beaches of this island there are certain difficulties, for example, strong undercurrents, ebbs and flows, which affect the bathing process. In some regions of the island there are strong winds, so these places are suitable for surfing or windsurfing, but not for sunbathing.

The best Balinese beach is covered with coarse golden sand, waves are very rare guests here. The second most popular place among tourists is the beach, where young people who are trying to master a surfboard hang out, and tourists who love walking along the coast live there.

Beach holidays in the Philippines are not yet available for many Russians due to high prices and a long flight. But those who reach the “end of the earth” have the feeling that they are in paradise. You can choose one of more than 7,000 islands for your holiday, each of them has its own paradise beach, sometimes running along the entire coast. A feature of local coastal areas is the presence of shallow snow-white sand, convenient for sunbathing.

Diving and other sports

The two most popular sports in Bali are surfing and diving. Stunning deep-sea landscapes await lovers of the underwater kingdom. You can see outlandish landscapes, strange sea inhabitants, wrecks in the form of artifacts of the Second World War. There are places for beginner diving, experienced divers gather in the Pemuteran area, their goal is to explore the enormous coral reef, main feature– it consists of soft corals.

The Philippines is in no way inferior to the island of Bali in terms of sports entertainment, and the most popular activities here are diving and surfing. Deep-sea landscapes and landscapes are considered the best on the planet, and the abundance of corals, sponges, fish and other living sea inhabitants amazes even experienced divers. In , the capital of the country, the most developed infrastructure for diving, others interesting places dive sites are located near the islands of Mindoro and Palawan. There is a gathering place for surfers in the Philippines - this is Puraran Beach, which is located on the island of Catanduanes. This is where water sports fans find optimal waves; several famous Hollywood films have been filmed in these places.

Attractions and entertainment

The main entertainment of the island of Bali, in addition to the beach and sports, is associated with local ancient religions. Arouse interest temple complexes, amazing in idea and implementation, amazing designs and interior decor. A fascinating sight is the ritual and ceremonial dances, which can be performed by more than 100 people at the same time.

Holidays in the Philippines mean getting to know cities, monuments and attractions. Most of them are concentrated in Manila, a conglomerate that unites 18 cities. Among the objects of interest to foreign guests, one can note Fort Santiago, built in the 16th century, the Manila Cathedral; some tourists prefer walks in the Roxas Boulevard area, where there are entertainment (specific) establishments for adults.

Comparative analysis showed that in the field of tourism, the policy of Indonesia and the Philippines is the same - to do everything so that foreign guests are satisfied with their vacation and return in a year. If we look at the components of rest in more detail, we can notice many significant differences.

Therefore, the island of Bali is chosen by tourists who:

  • do not consider a beach stay the main thing;
  • they love the process of catching a wave and testing themselves for strength;
  • ready to go to the kingdom of local Neptune;
  • They love to watch rituals, ritual dances and amazing temple complexes.

The Philippines is chosen as a holiday destination by travelers who:

  • know about snow-white paradise beaches;
  • they love to fly over the wave and sink to the seabed;
  • love boat trips and exotic nature;
  • Would like entertainment for adults.
(archive) / Indonesia

Available with tickets and within the budget, the following set was obtained: Thailand Vietnam Indonesia Philippines Previously, I was only in Thailand. Important points to make your vacation wonderful... at prices: Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines- what is the average budget per day? If Indonesia - fly to Jakarta - where to go from there - get to Bali, or There is good places and at the most... time of year, what is the best way to get from the airport? If Philippines- where is the best place to go from Manila, which resort choose? In principle, you can combine accommodation in different places, maybe...

Anna I also looked at the tickets from the offers: Cambodia, Malaysia, and as luck would have it, the price for Thailand fell by 25%... well, how can you choose... I understand that Phuket will be cheap, but I’ve already been there... I really want to go to Cambodia, but according to various reviews it turns out that they should it's going to rain... is it so? There's still crazy a budget option to Taipei, but it seems like you need to get a visa there... Quote: Taking the north of Bali from Pemuteran to Amed is quite good, although the beaches are far from Bounty :) and where are the Bounty beaches in Bali? all at a loss... where to go?

Another popular destinations for holidays in countries South-East Asia- This Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. These countries, on the one hand, are similar, and on the other, have their own unique attractions, natural features and unique attractiveness. Therefore, tours to Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines have become actively included in the plans of tourists, especially in the winter season.

The Philippines is a country scattered over 7,100 islands, each of which is rich in variety for recreation. The largest islands in the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Masbate. Two islands in the north and south - Luzon and Mindanao - make up 66% of the country's territory. The archipelago is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire (this is a zone of increased seismic and volcanic activity), so there are many active and extinct volcanoes. Biggest mountain range - Cordillera(central and northern parts of Luzon island). The highest peak in the country is Mount Apo Volcano(height 2954 m) on the island of Mindanao.

Sights of the Philippines

Philippines famous for their rice fields and modern megacities, volcanoes and Asian buffalos. Holidays in the Philippines are suitable for young people, for married couples, for lovers of active sports - diving and surfing.

Definitely worth a visit capital of the Philippines – Manila, which consists of 18 cities that form a large metropolis. Visit the Dr. Rizal Museum, visit the memorial with mosaic maps of battles in the Philippines, Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, St. Augustine Cathedral. Roxas Boulevard is known for its adult entertainment.



In summer, the country's capital moves to Baguio- a city 250 km from Manila, in the province Benguet at an altitude of 1525 m. Mild climate, fresh air and many attractions - the Mansion (this, by the way, is the summer residence of the president), the “Temple of the Bell”, rocks and ancient burials.

Entertainment on the islands includes nightclubs, bars, discos, parties on the beaches, concerts and festivals, casinos and beaches.

Weather and climate in the Philippines

The tropical climate of the Philippines is divided into three seasons: a season with high temperatures (dry cold season, from December to February), a warm season - March-May and a season with high humidity and rain (from June to November). Best time to visit the Philippines– from December to May. You should beware of typhoons - the peak occurs in July-October, but they can happen at any time. Earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions are also not uncommon.

Hotels in the Philippines

Most hotels are bungalows, and there are practically no multi-storey buildings, as the authorities care about nature.



Getting to the Philippines possible on Korean Air flights with a transfer in Seoul, KLM with a transfer in Amsterdam, Qatar Airways via Bangkok, Amsterdam or Dubai. Planes arrive in the cities of Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Kalibo, Laoaga, Manila or Zamboang. Most flights operate through Cebu International Airport in the central Philippines. Low cost airlines use Clark Angeles Airport (85 km from Manila). There are flights from Francisco Bangoy Airport or Davao Airport to Singapore, while Kalibo Airport connects the Philippines with Seoul, Shanghai or Taipei.

To visit the Philippines for up to 30 days, tourists from Russia do not need a visa. Citizens of Belarus you need to apply for a visa to the Philippines, which can be obtained at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.

Malaysia is a relatively new destination for tourism, but the tourist flow here is growing every year. The number of hotels and resorts in Malaysia is increasing at a rapid pace, fully meeting the various demands of tourists. People come here for diving, food and beaches. Basic tourist cities Malaysia- the capital is Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Georgetown, Kuantan. And beach holidays in Malaysia can be found in resorts such as Langkawi, Penang, Sipadan. A separate area of ​​tourism can be considered visiting national parks and natural attractions, because the nature of Malaysia cannot but surprise.

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia, which is geographically divided into two parts: western and eastern. I also call West Malaysia Malaya. It occupies the territory of the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore and Indonesia. East Malaysia consists of two large regions, Sabah and Sarawak, and occupies the northern part of the island of Kalimantan.


Weather and climate in Malaysia

Coolest time in Malaysia– November - January – air temperature drops to 26 degrees. In summer, the average daily temperature reaches 33 degrees. The rainy season in Malaysia occurs in different areas in different time. But heavy, short-term downpours occur throughout the year. The best time to visit Malaysia in the western regions is November-February, in the eastern regions - from May to September.

Sights of Malaysia

Malaysia will be able to surprise with temple complexes and natural features and cultural traditions. Mountain resort Genting Highlands can provide both cultural and entertaining holiday in Malaysia it is a visit to the Chin Sui Temple, and for entertainment - Genting Highlands complex with an area of ​​6,000 hectares - the “Malayan Las Vegas”. Separate excursions are organized to tea plantations, orchards and farms. There are many ancient temples, caves and grottoes on the island of Penang.

The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur everyone is famous for its Petrona's Twin Towers Twin Towers, as well as mosques and temples. Take a walk around theme parks and join the world of flora and fauna. Stormy night life flows into Kuala Lumpur - clubs and restaurants welcome guests around the clock.


Get to Malaysia It’s not possible from Moscow directly, but there is charter flights, which are organized during “peak seasons” - New Year and May holidays. The best way to fly with Qatar Airways is through Doha. Emirates Airlines via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Air China with a transfer in Beijing or Uzbek Airlines via Tashkent. Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines with connections in Bangkok and Singapore. In addition to flights from Russia, you can find any air tickets to Malaysia from any European capital. The flight duration may vary depending on transfers and the convenience of connections from 12 to 24 hours.

To visit Malaysia for up to 30 days, citizens of Russia and Belarus do not need a visa. After arrival you need to fill out migration card and store it until leaving Malaysia. Tourists are charged a registration fee of $8-10.


Holidays in Indonesia allow you to combine business with pleasure - there are beaches for every taste and great opportunities for active sports.

Weather and climate in Indonesia

The climate in Indonesia is tropical, divided into two seasons - dry from March to September and wet from November to March. During the wet season, precipitation occurs more often at night in the form of showers, making land travel around the islands difficult. The average annual air temperature is from 26 to 35 degrees, water - 26-27 degrees all year round. Hottest months– July and August.


Indonesia hotels

In Indonesia, hotels provide a wide range of services and a good level of service. There are cheaper hotels - 2-3 stars, and five-star hotels belong to the “delux” category.


Souvenirs from Indonesia

Most often, batik, mother-of-pearl, masks, dragon figurines, jewelry and jewelry are brought from Indonesia.

The most popular attractions in Indonesia are the volcanic Lake Toba, the royal tombs, the palace on Samosir Island, the Mesjid Raya Mosque, the military museum in Medan, and the Gunung Leser Nature Reserve.

The most important news is that we are home, in Mariupol. Is our three-month trip "Malaysia-Thailand" ended just a couple of days ago, and we are already getting ready to celebrate the New Year in a cold city with real winter, a Christmas tree, Santa Claus and our relatives, women and grandparents, discharged from Moscow. By the way, this will be the first Arinkin New Year in Ukraine. She met the previous ones all the time on her travels. Today we’ll tell you a little about what this year has been like for us. The brightest moments, photos and stories.

Exactly a year ago we were in a place where you need to fly on four planes. It will not work out less, because the Philippines are islands at the very edge of the Earth.

IN New Year's Eve we had dinner on the Puerto Princesa embankment, rode with Arina's friend Gippy on a bike with a stroller, watched a concert, and by midnight we were already there and watched the fireworks over the palm trees in our pajamas. Even then we knew that in a month we would go on our most ambitious journey from the south to the north of Vietnam.

It was so hard to say goodbye to the island of Palawan. We lived there very peacefully and calmly: Arinka went to kindergarten, Sasha played billiards, I learned English with Melanie and gradually understood a little about and. However, if you want more details, then everything is in the farewell post.

Now I can’t believe that we did it! At the beginning of February, we flew to Vietnam with the serious intention of driving through it from south to north. Arina was not yet three years old, but for some reason it seemed to us that we could do this adventure. We spent the first month in our apartment in Vung Tau, developing the travel route in the smallest detail. We even managed to buy a bike (anyone else remember?) and successfully sell it, having decided that 3 thousand km on a bike with a child was somehow too much.

As a result, instead of a bike, we chose short-term motorcycle rental on site. The most vivid impressions from Vietnam - these are elephants in Dak Lak...

The city where eternal spring, beautiful temples and waterfalls - . Tourist, cozy and intimate, as well as quirky and unusual.

But our favorite place in Vietnam was in the very north of the country. Remember these landscapes?

7 weeks of active travel around the country, 10 cities, many villages... This became the most ambitious adventure in 2013. It was hard, but very interesting. Would we do this again? Yes, only in another country.

We watched and participated in the parade on the occasion, launched flower boats into the sea during the full moon... There were a lot of other things we did, so I’ll write a separate report about Krabi.

It was there in Krabi that we had the biggest trouble of the whole year - 2 thousand dollars. It was very difficult not to hang up and continue to enjoy life, the sun, Thailand... But we managed and did not let the dark streak last too long. We left Thailand happy, although we didn’t want to fly home in the middle of winter.

The night before Catholic Christmas we flew from Bangkok to Kyiv.

“Why did you return to Ukraine in the middle of winter?”- Our friends ask us this question all the time. And here is the answer: a year ago Sasha bought an apartment in a building under construction in Pozdnyaki (a district of Kyiv). Now the house has been completed, we need to draw up documents and begin repairs there. Since the apartment is large and absolutely unfinished, this epic will last more than one month. We plan to be back in the country next fall. warm regions somewhere on the edge of the earth. In the meantime, I still have a few dozen unwritten posts in stock, for which I took wonderful photos while traveling. There will be time to write everything down.

What a year it was - six countries and a lot of memories in my head and on my blog. But there is still a lot that has not been shown or written. I'll catch up on everything, now I'll have more time.
We don't regret anything that happened. We are happy! Happy New Year everyone! Love to you and eternal summer in your homes!

If you like our blogwebsite and you want to be the first to read new posts, you can subscribe to the announcement newsletter at in social networks or by email.

One of the most popular countries for tourism in Southeast Asia are Malaysia and the Philippines. These countries are very similar and at the same time have serious differences.

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that is geographically divided into two parts: western and eastern. I also call West Malaysia Malaya. It occupies the territory of the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordered on the north by Thailand, on the south by Singapore and Indonesia. East Malaysia consists of two large regions, Sabah and Sarawak, and occupies the northern part of the island of Kalimantan.

Due to limited opportunities for economic development in Malaysia, tourism development is strongly supported. Now in Malaysia you can find a lot of luxury hotels, well-groomed beaches, well-established tourist routes. Many people come to the country for the excellent diving or delicious cuisine.

Most major cities Malaysia's capitals are Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, George Town, Kuantan. The main resorts in Malaysia include: Langkawi, Penang, Sipadan. Many tourists come to Malaysia specifically to visit the national parks here.

The climate in Malaysia, due to the fact that it is located close to the equator, is hot and humid almost all year round without seasonal changes. The coolest time here is from November to January, when the temperature drops to 26 degrees; in summer the temperature rises to 33 degrees. If we talk about the rainy season, it occurs at different times in different parts of the country. Heavy but short-lived downpours occur evenly throughout the year. The most favorable time to visit West Malaysia can be considered the period from late November to early February, and May-September is suitable for traveling around East Malaysia.

The Philippines is an island country in Southeast Asia. Once upon a time in the 16th century, Ferdinand Magellan discovered it for Europeans, Spanish colonization began, then later in the 19th and 20th centuries the Americans dominated the country. The cultural traditions of the Philippines are significantly influenced by the influence of these two civilizations: Spanish and American. More than 80% of the population is Catholic. In terms of population, the Philippines is significantly larger than Malaysia (105 million people and 28 million people, respectively), although the territory of Malaysia is larger than the territory of the Philippines. The Philippines has more large populated cities. In addition to the metropolitan conurbation of Metro Manila, which combines 16 big cities, the largest cities are:

  • Davao,
  • Cebu,
  • Zamboanga,
  • Antipolo.

The most interesting islands for tourism in the Philippines are:

  • Luzon,
  • Mindanao,
  • Palawan,
  • Mindoro,
  • Bohol,
  • Cebu.

There are many tourism destinations in the Philippines: beach holiday(the most famous resort -), active recreation (diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, rafting, mountaineering, golf and many others), viewing natural wonders (chocolate hills, underground river) and observing animals and flora V national reserves, getting acquainted with ancient monuments and ruins of ancient Spanish fortresses, visiting museums, .

The Philippines has a tropical monsoon climate, turning into subequatorial in the south. The average temperature throughout the year remains at 26 – 27 degrees. There are two seasons. The rainy season lasts from late May to mid-November. This time is considered unfavorable for visiting the country, but it is still possible to identify several islands in the southern part of the archipelago, which are less susceptible to the influence of seasonality.