Guess where this is?

[Nowhere]

Jawohl

Can you tell the name of at least one of the two buidlings? :> It's not very hard...

[KvHagedorn]

Can't find them unfortunately

[Brian Ellis]

OK, am reviving it from a dead end. Here is a tricky one.

[KvHagedorn]

did I win the last one? wasn't sure I was specific enough..

[KvHagedorn]

Well, knowing you, Brian, I will say Bangkok.

[Novdid]

India?

[lecter]

It looks a lot like the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.

[Brian Ellis]

It is the Batu Caves in KL. Bravo!

[lecter]

Well, I guess it helped that I was in them last week BTW, a million thanks for the E & O recommendation made earlier in this thread, it was THE best hotel I've ever been in...corporate 5-star hotels don't hold a candle to its beauty, elegance and service.

Here's something to check out:

[Brian Ellis]

Well, I'd guess it was in the Far East. Not really much to go on. The one country I would rule out is S'pore. The glimpse of the mountain plus the kind of vegetation makes me think of Malaysia, but I could be far wrong. OK, as you mention it, Penang?

Yup! The E&O takes you back a century. I heard that it changed hands a few weeks ago, along with its parent, Raffles. But I found that all the hotels in Penang still offer good service. A few years ago, I even stayed in the Holiday Inn at Batu Ferringhi and that could almost rival the surrounding 4 and 5* hotels, although my usual haunt there was the Rasa Sayang (now being rebuilt into a "6*" luxury resort. However, it deteriorated between 1995 and 2004 by becoming too big and less personal.)

[lecter]

Think further east than S'pore or Malaysia...

Didn't have time to go to Batu Ferringhi this time (how would you rate it compared to Thai beaches & facilities?), but I think I'll do Malaysia yet again...this has been my 3rd visit so far, but I still haven't checked out Melaka, Langkawi or the Cameron/Genting Highlands. Every time, I've found it an extremely civilized place to visit

[Brian Ellis]

Hmm! Further East! I haven't been to Cambodia or Laos, but it could be in the hinterland of S. Viet Nam, as well.

I've never been to a Thai beach resort; the nearest was a factory I visted in Pattaya, making aircon compressors! Had an excellent lunch there at the very exclusive golf club! Boring ride from BKK, though! BF was considered THE place in Malaysia up to about 10 years ago, but it is becoming distinctly seedy now. I don't know whether the new Rasa Sayang + the Muriata hotels can revive it, but Langkawi has the name now (never been there). I've stayed in BKK many times but the only R&R in Thailand was at Chiang Mai at a fantastic resort hotel there - not cheap though! At least there is no tsunami risk at CM!

[lecter]

Further East than even Vietnam, and more to the south...and I'd reckon you haven't been there

Would love to hear the name of the place in Chiang Mai...we could continue this conversation through e-mail, so as not to hijack this thread, I'm most interested in your experience around here, seeing as how we seem to have certain similar tastes Cash-wise, I'm willing to pay a price for great facilities...it's all my own earned money, teaching every week, so why not use it to pamper myself & me loved one

[GNEP]

PNG?

[lecter]

Indeed, but can you tell me where?