BudgetTravel

I'm not a huge Bangkok fan although it does have some amazing temples. I think Phnom Penh is more interesting since it is rapidly changing and not as touristy.

If Nepal is going through a peaceful phase (check the State Department warnings), I love Kathmandu -- one of Asia's greatest treats, up in the pre-Himalayas and small and walkable and full or unique atmosphere.

In India, my favorite state is Rajastan and my favorite place is Jaisalmer. It's way out in the desert with palaces and you can do camel safaris out in the desert.

And if you can make it -- keep going to Ulan Bator in Mongolia -- I loved the Soviet feel and the remoteness! And oil-rich Brunei is fascinating if only for its special status as a tony enclave within Malaysia. Is that 10? I hope so!

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Hartford, CT: I would like to visit various Asian countries: Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong. What would be the best approach in doing this? How long should one stay in each country? What would be 2 or 3 sites one should see in these countries/cities?

Matthew Link: For any traveler seeking to cover a lot of ground in Asia, a Cathay All Asia Pass is mandatory. For $999, you can fly to 17 Asian cities over the course of 21 days, and that includes your flight from the U.S. to Hong Kong, Cathay's hub. Be sure to book the pass at cathayusa.com by signing up for the free "CyberTraveler" program, since it will cost $200 extra to purchase the pass by other means. Then you need your travel agent to actually book the flights for you -- Cathay insists. (The pass has been around for a long time, so most agents are familiar with it, and Cathay's web site is loaded with a ton of info on routes and add-on cities.) And if you are over 55, that brings the air pass down by $100. The $999 pass price is good from August 17 through December 1, 2004 -- but if you want to travel during the high summer season time period, the price goes up by $300. Don't forget to budget for airport taxes too -- they fluctuate, but usually hover between $10 to $30 per passenger depending on the country.

Cathay Pacific only flies out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and New York -- the latter probably being your preference.

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Matthew Link: Thanks for your questions! It's been fun. Be sure to check out Budget Travel for articles on the Philippines and Asia. Next week, our live chat is about Hong Kong - so be sure to come back then.

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