Grinder backpacking Asia round 2

So I've got my ticket booked to Asia for just under 4 months starting in January. I will be going to India for a month. Starting in New Dehli and then backpacking though Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Mumbai and then finishing in Goa.

In Goa I will doing some chip collecting. They have 18 casinos, 6 of them are riverboats and 12 are in high end hotels. I'm getting conflicting reports on if the onshore casinos have tables. I've seen sites that say no and some that say they do but are partially electronic but do have chips so I will just make my rounds while I'm there.

I will be visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand. Thailand doesn't have any casinos as gambling is illegal but I will be visiting a poker club that a friend of mine plays all the time as he lives out there half the year. The game is very safe he says and they even have a Facebook page.

Next up is Cambodia where I will do the majority of my gambling on this trip. On my way from Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia you pass through a casino border town called Poipet. I will be stopping there for the night and they have around 10 casinos. I will then head to Siem Reap the next day. This is the part of my trip I am looking forward to the most as Angkor Wat is supposed to be the most amazing place! After Siem Reap I will head to the capital of Phnom Penh. They have one casino there (Nagaworld) plus a few poker clubs around the city. Next up is the beach town of Sihanoukville where I plan on grinding for a week or so. They have 6+ casinos where I will collect from. It is much harder to get information on all these places in Asia then in NA but I think I've found a enough to figure it out.

After Sihanoukville I will be heading to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. On my way I will be passing through the other casino border town of Bavet that is there for Vietnamese citizens. There seems to be about half a dozen casinos here. After Ho Chi Minh City I will be heading to a casino resort by the beach for one night before getting back to travelling. I will be taking a hop on hop off bus to northern Vietnam. I will be stopping in Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi and probably Ha Long. There are 6 more casinos in Vietnam with tables and I plan on hitting two of them that are on the path I will be on. I'm not willing to veer off my intended path on this trip to collect.

From Hanoi I will be flying to Luang Prabang in Laos because the alternative is a 38 hour bus ride and I refuse to go through that hell when I can afford a $150 plane ticket. Call me spoiled I guess lol. I will spend 3-4 days in the capital before heading to Vientiane for 3-4 days. I will visit the casino there as well as in my next stop which is Savannakhet. My last stop in Laos will be in Pakse because I've heard its beautiful. At that point I will fly back to Bangkok.

I have planned the trip with 2 weeks of "extra" days at the end of the trip just in case I get delayed somewhere or the poker games are great in Cambodia. That way I don't have to skip any of my planned destinations. If everything goes as planned and I end up in Bangkok with 2 weeks before my flight then I will buy a plane ticket somewhere. Maybe I'll go back to Macau or somewhere new.

Those are some weird sounding countries.

Let me know if you find any good promos and I'll get a flight over there I'll send someone else over there who knows stuff about the oriental world and wouldn't die of starvation.

Life rough, eh?

Quote: AxelWolf

Life rough, eh?

Have I ever complained life was tough lol?

Here is a link you might want to spend a few hours looking at

https://100saturdays.com/

scroll down you will see write ups on many of those places you are planning on seeing...you might pick up a few tips on places to stay...on the cheap

Oh and the writer Mike Hamilton he is from some place in Manitoba too.... same city as you?

https://100saturdays.com/2014/07/05/saturday-1-20140705-winnipeg-manitoba/

Sounds like a great trip as it's planned. I can't wait to follow the TR!

Round 2...ding-ding...looking forward to the pics.

Quote: PokerGrinder

Have I ever complained life was tough lol?

Just wait until you find out you can't see the cards being introduced and realize you are being cheated.

Have fun

Quote: Boz

Just wait until you find out you can't see the cards being introduced and realize you are being cheated.

Hahahaha but it's probably not as big a deal that the cards come from China in that part of the world 😂

I have made a few changes, I am not going to Pakse, Laos because the journey there sucks and the journey from there to Bangkok is a long bus/train trip. I was debating whether to go to Pakse anyways. This way I can just fly from Savannakhet to Bangkok at the end of my trip.

Also I was talking to a friend of mine who grew up in India and she told me not to bother going to Jaisalmer. The main attraction is camping in the desert and riding camels, both of which I did in Israel and I wasn't a big fan of riding the camel. She says there is nothing else to do there and it is quite far off the beaten path. It's a 12 hour train ride each way.

Quote: RS

I'll send someone else over there who knows stuff about the oriental world and wouldn't die of starvation.

You won't die of starvation in the orient but you may well die of "additives" such as insecticides, fusel oil, diesel fuel, etc. Resort areas and border towns would be my worst fears.

Gambling in Vietnam is legal during Tet.

Quote: FleaStiff

Resort areas and border towns would be my worst fears.

Gambling in Vietnam is legal during Tet.

Why would resorts and border towns be your worst fear?

Quote: PokerGrinder

So I've got my ticket booked to Asia for just under 4 months starting in January.

Based on what I read I your 1st TR, I thought you would consider including the Philippines. I've lived there before, and you might enjoy many side trips as well with a companion.
http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/philippines

Sadly, I was not into VP or BJ when I lived there.

Or, review the list of casinos opening elsewhere in Asia:

http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com

There will be several new casinos opening in 2018, so it would be a good time to enjoy marketing perks!

Have a great trip!

I would like to go to the Philippines at some point but it isnt at the top of my list at the moment. Actually it's quite far down my list. So many interesting places to go that it's hard to go everywhere.

I do follow worldcasinodirectory for casino openings. Thanks for that. I think the only new one I'll hit is the one in Daman, India.

Angeles City might be interesting to put on your Philippines list. You can go backpacking in the National Park.😳

Quote: PokerGrinder

Hahahaha but it's probably not as big a deal that the cards come from China in that part of the world 😂

Do you think there's some guy over there who claims he is losing because of American made cards?

And also he has a Christian sounding screen name like, Prince of Peace, and everybody is like, "from what I understand about Christianity, you don't seem very Christian."

I leave tomorrow at 6 am central time for my trip. I will be flying from Winnipeg to Vancouver, Vancouver to Seoul and then Seoul to Bangkok. I will be spending about 2 days in Bangkok before I head to Dehli, India.

Ut oh Bangkok has you now

One night in Bangkok....

Have a tremendous trip PG! I am looking forward to your report and pix!

Enjoy your trip

I will try to send you another example of my mathematical skills for your airport waiting lounge entertainment.

I hope you enjoy your trip

Thank you everybody! I’m nervous and excited!

Why are you nervous?

You're a pro at this. Go have an adventure. Looking forward to another great thread.

Quote: MaxPen

Why are you nervous?

You're a pro at this. Go have an adventure. Looking forward to another great thread.

I’m actually not sure why I’m nervous. I’ve never been nervous before any trip but for some reason India solo is making me a little nervous. I’ll be fine but it might take me a few days to get used to India.

Stay away from Islamic areas in India and areas where rape prosecutions have been successful due to Foreigners interference in Indian justice.

Very odd advice Fleastiff, thanks I guess?

Quote: PokerGrinder

Very odd advice Fleastiff, thanks I guess?

Yes, very odd advice from a very odd person.
These are the only two major groups in India that appear to be presently up in arms against foreigners.
I believe Gujurat is the most upset state in India these days. Legally a woman's feeble 'no' constitutes consent in Gujurat.

Well it is 4:55 am local time and I’m waiting for my flight to Vancouver. Having Tim Hortons since I won’t be able to get that in Asia. I managed to get a couple hours of sleep but I’m definitely tired.

Quote: PokerGrinder

Well it is 4:55 am local time and I’m waiting for my flight to Vancouver. Having Tim Hortons since I won’t be able to get that in Asia. I managed to get a couple hours of sleep but I’m definitely tired.

Should be easy to sleep on the plane, then. That's good, as you're changing so many time zones.

I hope you have an amazing trip! Really looking forward to your reports.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Should be easy to sleep on the plane, then. That's good, as you're changing so many time zones.

I hope you have an amazing trip! Really looking forward to your reports.

Sadly I’m never able to sleep on planes. No matter how tired I am. As far as the time zones, I only get like 4 hours of January 5th this year because of the time change.

Thanks for the well wishes Babs, I hope everyone enjoys the trip reports even though a lot of it won’t be gambling related.

Side not I’m hoping this site is accessible from India. If not I’ll probably send the reports home and get my family to post them.

Why wouldnt the site work?

Some countries ban gambling websites.

Siem Reap- If they let you climb it in Angkor Wat- CLIMB IT!
Near Chang Mai- Elephant experience- great--- I have a painting that an elephant did, with me watching, that is 100x better than I could do!
If you are not morally opposed, a cock fight in a stadium in Cambodia is a once in a lifetime experience.

I'll be following this trip report. Bangkok and Cambodia are both on my list of places I'd like to visit.

Quote: SOOPOO

Siem Reap- If they let you climb it in Angkor Wat- CLIMB IT!
Near Chang Mai- Elephant experience- great--- I have a painting that an elephant did, with me watching, that is 100x better than I could do!
If you are not morally opposed, a cock fight in a stadium in Cambodia is a once in a lifetime experience.

For Angkor Wat, what do you mean by climb it?

I will definitely be doing the elephant experience and I also want to go see the tigers. I know those places aren’t good but I’m a bad person and I really want to see the tigers.

Nobody has ever told me to go see a cockfight before, is it legal? I’m not sure how I’d feel about that one.

I would also recommend Preah Vihear in Northern Cambodia on the Thai Border ,it is not as crowded as Angkor Wat and also there are a couple casinos not too far away .

I just google mapped that and it looks great but way off the path that I’m planning on taking. My sister might kill me if I say we are going there and one of my excuses is that they have casinos lol. I told her when she asked to join me after India that I would be gambling along the way and she has agreed to some insane stops that I want to make. I can only push her so far though lol. She’s a doctor, she knows how to make murder look natural lol.

In Northeast Cambodia in Ratanakiri province is a nice wildlife refuge where you can take guided tours to see tigers elephants and other protected species,and Boeng yeak lom " crater lake" is nearby where you can see hill tribe villages.
Also you would be near a casino close to the Vietnam border.
Edit just saw your above post so disregard.

Quote: PokerGrinder

For Angkor Wat, what do you mean by climb it?

I will definitely be doing the elephant experience and I also want to go see the tigers. I know those places aren’t good but I’m a bad person and I really want to see the tigers.

Nobody has ever told me to go see a cockfight before, is it legal? I’m not sure how I’d feel about that one.

Angkor Wat is a bunch of tall spread out Temples. Some you are allowed to climb to the top of. Me and my family climbed every one we were allowed to. Some are pretty steep.
The cockfights were in a formal stadium. I am pretty sure they are legal in Cambodia. IF I went, i certainly wouldn't mention it upon arrival back in the USA. IF I went, My family and I would have been the only non-Cambodians in the entire arena. IF we went, my wife and her mother would have been the only two females in the entire arena. IF we participated in the gambling, we would have been 4 for 4, and won something like $50! By the way, in Cambodia we hired a private bilingual guide to take us around. He happened to raise 'cocks', so IF we went to the cockfights it was as his guest.

Quote: PokerGrinder

Sadly I’m never able to sleep on planes. No matter how tired I am. As far as the time zones, I only get like 4 hours of January 5th this year because of the time change.

Thanks for the well wishes Babs, I hope everyone enjoys the trip reports even though a lot of it won’t be gambling related.

Side not I’m hoping this site is accessible from India. If not I’ll probably send the reports home and get my family to post them.

I have the opposite problem, it's hard for me to stay awake in airplanes, something about the sound of the engines puts me to sleep on most flights.

As far as WOV in India, I've had two separate trips to Delhi each for two weeks (for work), and never had an issue accessing WOV.

Quote: FleaStiff

Yes, very odd advice from a very odd person.
These are the only two major groups in India that appear to be presently up in arms against foreigners.
I believe Gujurat is the most upset state in India these days. Legally a woman's feeble 'no' constitutes consent in Gujurat.

PokerGrinder is female??

Quote: PokerGrinder

Nobody has ever told me to go see a cockfight before, is it legal? I’m not sure how I’d feel about that one.

In my neck of the woods cock fights eventually get raided. Fairly severe fines and jail terms can result but if you've allowed your kid to be present at a cock fight, the kid will get an emergency hearing from Florida Family Services right away to see if there is a suitable adult he can stay with.

Of course ... when in Rome.

Soopoo I knew what Angkor Wat was and that is the most exciting thing on this trip for me but I had no idea that we could climb them. I will definitely be doing that! Thanks!

MidwestAP that’s great to hear about WOV being available in India. As far as the sleeping on the plane I envy you, I would love to be able to sleep on the planes.

100xodds I mean I guess you’ll have to take me on my word that I’m male.

Quote: 100xOdds

PokerGrinder is female??

No, of course he is not.

But its the American and British rape victims that call on their consular officers and home newspapers to intervene that anger the Indians. Even when a Hindu woman is raped under particularly newsworthy circumstances, the local Indian press and the local Indian courts get all worked up about foreign newspapers discussing it and foreign reporters showing up. Its this hatred of foreigners that that could lead to danger for Poker Grinder.

The whole cockfighting idea is interesting. Soopoo if you had gone was the hypothetical invite the only way to get in? Or could a westerner just show and hypothetically get in?

Of course this is all hypotheticals.

Quote: PokerGrinder

Or could a westerner just show and hypothetically get in?

As long as your money ain't hypothetical you will undoubtedly have no trouble getting access to any cockfight in Mexico, Phillipenes or India.