Best Open Water Races in Asia?

Has anyone had any experience with the Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival in Taiwan? Have never done this swim but have heard of it. Not particularly interested in it because it's not a competitive timed swim, just a fun lake crossing. Also way too many participants!! In 2009, there were over 25,000 people! (most of whom apparently wore flotation devices). I pulled up this piece on the Internet from last year: ==== Sun Moon Lake to host world's largest swimming race Thursday, 22 July 2010: Taiwan Rebecca Burns The largest swimming race in the world will take place at one of Taiwan’s top tourist sights, Sun Moon Lake (Jih Yueh Tan in Taiwanese), located in the heart of the country, on 20 September 2010. The Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Festival is an annual event staged around the Mid-Autumn Festival and attracting around thousands of competitors who swim 3.3 kilometres across the lake, often using flotation devices. Swimming is not usually allowed in Sun Moon Lake, which is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery and is considered sacred by local indigenous tribes, so this mass swim is quite a unique event. It is not a competitive timed race, but simply a fun, mass participation cross-lake swim, and in 2009 attracted some 25,888 registered swimmers, making it easily the biggest event of its kind in the world. ====

Has anyone had any experience with the Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival in Taiwan?

Apology for pushing this thread up, but I am looking for races in order to build my roadmap to marathon swimming. There are some 5 km races in Japan but they tend to have short cut-off limit which is roughly my target times and I don't feel confident in making it. Are there any 5 - 10 km races with more generous cut offs?

I have heard about Bosphorus International Swim. I think its started in 1989 and the distance is 7.1km.

Apology for pushing this thread up, but I am looking for races in order to build my roadmap to marathon swimming. There are some 5 km races in Japan but they tend to have short cut-off limit which is roughly my target times and I don't feel confident in making it. Are there any 5 - 10 km races with more generous cut offs? there are a few swim events here in malaysia, thailand and phillipines For Malaysia - there are 2 very nice swim 1. 6.5KM kapas marang swim usually in April / May - 4 hours cut off time 2. 4km or 16km Perhentian Island Challenge (16km solo, duo and team) usually sept / oct - 16km - 7hours cut off time For Thailand - a few 1. Oceanman Krabi - usually oct - 2/5/10km 2. Pattaya swim - usually Dec - 2/6/10km 3. Sattahip open water swim -usually Dec - 6.5K 4.5K 1.5K For Philippines 1. VIP lobo -may- 2.5km / 5km 2. El nido -June - 4km / 8km 3. caramaon - July -5km / 10km / 15km 4. sicogon Sept- 3km / 5km/7km 5. Lakawon - April- 1km /2km / 5km Hope this helps. Janice

Apology for pushing this thread up, but I am looking for races in order to build my roadmap to marathon swimming. There are some 5 km races in Japan but they tend to have short cut-off limit which is roughly my target times and I don't feel confident in making it. Are there any 5 - 10 km races with more generous cut offs? you can look into these swims in asia www.facebook.com/.../ www.facebook.com/.../ www.facebook.com/.../ hope this helps Janice

I'm starting to think about some goal races for the next few years and none of my aspirations include the Channel, Manhattan, or Catalina. I'd like to start going farther afield for my races, making it a fun vacation for my entire family with a longer race thrown in. Has anyone done any open water in Thailand? Indonesia? Vietnam? Korea? Japan? I'd love to do 10K or longer. mobdro Any suggestions? Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival - 3.3K (Jih Yueh Tan, Taiwan)

there are a few swim events here in malaysia, thailand and phillipines For Malaysia - there are 2 very nice swim 1. 6.5KM kapas marang swim usually in April / May - 4 hours cut off time 2. 4km or 16km Perhentian Island Challenge (16km solo, duo and team) usually sept / oct - 16km - 7hours cut off time For Thailand - a few 1. Oceanman Krabi - usually oct - 2/5/10km 2. Pattaya swim - usually Dec - 2/6/10km 3. Sattahip open water swim -usually Dec - 6.5K 4.5K 1.5K For Philippines 1. VIP lobo -may- 2.5km / 5km 2. El nido -June - 4km / 8km 3. caramaon - July -5km / 10km / 15km 4. sicogon Sept- 3km / 5km/7km 5. Lakawon - April- 1km /2km / 5km Hope this helps. Janice These are tropical countries, what's the expected water temperature? I'm afraid it may be too hot.

These are tropical countries, what's the expected water temperature? I'm afraid it may be too hot. For the Swimjunkie Challenge events in the Philippines, the average water temp year-round is 28-29C. www.facebook.com/.../

For the Swimjunkie Challenge events in the Philippines, the average water temp year-round is 28-29C. www.facebook.com/.../ I don't think I can sustain 10 km at race speed in such temperature - even 5 km may be a problem.