I have been in Manila, Philipines. Guards outside the 7/11 with shootguns in the best area (banking district), the other less protected areas there is no_ guards and robbery is common, being shot as well.
I spent 14 days on Boracay, a very_ small island but it's the place you take your hun with you and not being alone, but they got nice beaches.
If you get to Phuket, Thailand and offer enought beers you have your own privatly guide, been living in Thailand since late 2004 (before the Tsunami)
Edit:
I tend to not go to all thoose places people say you should go to, since most of the tourists go where other tourists go.. I use to head up to Layan Beach, walk out to the island and be total alone and have a real good relaxation, head for northwest and eat cheap seafood and be the only one who is not a Thai.. things like that is really relaxing. Driving motorbikes is also one of my joys here on the island, feeling the real freedom,
walk in tshirt, shorts and flipflops.. i bet you will sit on the airport crying or with your notebook writing down what you can sell and/or how to move your business to thailand after your visit.
Edit2:
Take the train thru Thailand, then head for Cambodia and see Angkor Wat. It's close to Malaysia aswell, Kuala Lumpur is a damn nice city, andhtey got IKEA with meatballs too! Cost ~ $200 t/r from phuket to KL so atleast try spend 3-4 weeks here if you want to get out most
of it.
Have been in Phuket for 4y+, and still not visited PhiPhi island, i rather visit Ko Similan (Check it on google earth)
All depends a bit what you want to do on your vacciation
