Anyone have recommendations for my next trip?

[slang]

No I'm not "going to Hell" as some ask that I should.

The work here is up and down again and my passport is twitching. The "huge" wave of design work that was supposedly coming on in January seems mysteriously absent. The good folks at GE are asking that we ramp up but those that have been hired in the last 4 months have been twiddling themselves nervously hoping that they dont get layed off.

I, on the other hand would love getting another trip in so early in the year.

So...where have you been in Asia that you think was non-touristy but interesting? Where have you been in Asia where your head was not lopped off and you were not killed by a natural or political disaster? Where might someone crazy like me go for a few months to just wander around and learn about that area and those people? Where might I go that one doesnt need a million dollars to survive in common conditions of that region?

English speaking folks might be good as well but it's not required.

Japan...India...Malaysia....Korea...Russia...Hong Kong?

Japan is probably too expensive for a long trip but the 4 hours that I was there on the way to the Philippines, it seemed interesting.

India would be cool just because there are a few people that were here that I met through the years that I'd like to visit. That and looking for all those American programming jobs that were sent there might be interesting.

Malaysia seems interesting but not touristy from the quick research from the net. Not a common vaca destination but might be a cool place to visit.

Korea might be cool but there isnt much I know about it now.

Russia might be interesting in that mysterious "cold war" sort of way. There's a guy that works at the office from there that would rather die than go back but this would be just an exploration trip. Not going back to drink Vodka til my liver explodes ( although there is something that sounds kinda appealing about that too ).

Hong Kong...dangerously close to mainland China and those legions of cheap workers that make everything here. Have to look into that one more. It seems creepy for some reason but I'll give it a look.

And given the last few trips and the unintended consequences of political and natural disasters upon my return.....who should I jinx next (jinx NOT Jinx mind you )?

This is all in the pre-pre-prep stages as something may come through at work but my life is centered around travelling light. Thank you, "new economy".

All home items are bought and intended to fit into the car. The car fits into the secure storage unit here in Cincy. Inside a week everything can be wrapped up and another great adventure can be underway.

So what do you think? Where should the Slang curse hit next?