Smoking

Each to there own. I don't mind the smell of some cigarettes either. I don't know if it's considered "cool,", but smoking (among men, mostly) is incredibly popular in most of Asia.

Back to prices--I was just in Malaysia and I think they were less than US$3/pack for Marlboros. I think the prices in Vietnam and Cambodia are very cheap, but it probably depends on the brand. I can't remember.

When I was in Singapore three years ago I saw cigarettes for sale in a lot of places and was astonished at how expensive they were. Something like US$12 or $15 a pack. Where do people even go to buy cigarettes there now if the rules are so strict? People can smoke in their homes, no?

And sam, before you get back on your high horse, the title of this thread is "Smoking" so I gave my opinion on the matter.

Hear, hear, well said Sam. Smokers have rights too and I agree that treating them like second class citizens is simply unfair, and not right.

To answer part of your question about prices…currently in Indonesia a pack of “fags” (as Westwood would say) runs between 12 and 14K IDR per pack, or about US $1.50 a pack. For a carton of 20 expect the per pack price to be roughly 10% less. Overall for SE Asia, smokes cost less in Indonesia than most anywhere else, and in “Sinsomemore” (what Singapore used to be called), they are the most expensive in all of this region…even higher per pack than in the US.

Isn't that sort of like judging a book by its cover?

It's always best to read the post...not just the title. ;<)

Oh, and btw, Sam, (not to encourage your habit) the quality of Indonesian produced tobacco is world class and extremely high. No small wonder that the tobacco conglomerate, Philip Morris, bought 49% of Sampoerna a few years back.

Updown...trust me, here in SE Asia one can get a nose full of far more intense foul odors than cigarette smoke at most every turn! Ah...shrimp paste in the morning, followed by a whiff of just opened durian, the burning of garbage at night, and the neighbor's pigs and ducks!

These are a few of my favorites! LOL

Oh I read the post, but I thought I'd give my opinion on "Smoking" and how it is not only unhealthy for those who do smoke, but it is selfish to do it in public e.g outside a grocery store, mall, bus stop, because they are harming innocent bystanders with their foul stench, and second-hand smoke.

The title of the thread is meant to grab peoples attention to come and post on the matter. Not only that but, the title should reflect what the topic is about and what the rest of the thread will be on.

So I see really no point in sams hostile remarks to me. When he himself started this thread, and should expect views/opinions on all matters connected to the title of "Smoking"

This is of course going into detail but I just thought I would give a valid point. After all this is a public forum, and we are all entitled to our points, views and opinions of any topic on here.

Perhaps the title of "Places of legal Smoking" Or "Prices of Smoking in South East Asia" Would have been better. Then I would have no reason for posting my opinions on smoking.

@Sam

These forums are for travellers to obtain info pertaining to their trips

Do not tell me what 'these forums' are for, when you have just joined this travel forum 2 days ago for one reason, to get answers to your smoking habit.

I have been on this forum for nearly 5 months, and have been reading the posts on the forum for over 2 years. I think I would know what 'these forums are for'

Anyways, all I did was state my opinion, which is my right in a free country. None the less, enjoy your trip!

Back to the real topic at hand however, i'd like to thank everyone who actually helped me out with this post!

You're welcome Sam! :<)