12:39 AM mmm contiki is one thing... at least SEA is the right budget for most contikians. I worry about the day when trafalgar and insight et al branch into it with their baby boomer tours and it all suddenly goes upmarket. case in point - novotel opening in halong bay in hanoi vietnam... sure it's great for the economy and all but it's a little disheartening. progress happens too quickly. Posted by: Christine on September 11, 2008 1:43 AM In December last year I had my first solo overseas backpacking trip - destination south east asia. Trip went for 6 weeks and took in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Bangkok. I could not describe how horrified I was when I read that contiki will rear its head in South East Asia. My immediate thought was that the beauty and innocence of Luang Prabang will be decimated by culturally insensitive hooliganism. That is not to say that there are not already western hooligans passing through Luang Prabang and likewise places. Unfortunately there are, however I feel that contiki with substantially increase this phenomenon. Ben is 100% right when he talks about the bonds you form with fellow travelers, particularly as you stand out alot more as a backpacker in asia than you do in Europe. There is a feeling that "we're all in this together". Ben is also dead right about running into the same people multiple times in the same village. Facebook is not really required for an organised rendezvous.