A year in Asia advice
Dec 4th, 2015, 02:17 PM
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A year in Asia advice
Hello all. I'm hoping you can help me with a little itinerary fine-tuning and advice.
My husband and I are planning a gap year with our two children who will be 10 and 8 when we leave. We'll be travelling independently as far as possible (except Bhutan and Tibet) and have planned a rough itinerary (we're in the UK):
Sept: Jordan (2 weeks, the usual places, Amman, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Red Sea, Petra etc)
Sept - Oct: Nepal (3 weeks, Kathmandu - Pokhara and down to Chitwan)
Oct - Dec: India (8 weeks, starting in Varanasi, Rajasthan, Delhi, hopefully getting to McLeod Ganj and Shimla too)
Dec: Myanmar (2 weeks)
Jan: Thailand (4 weeks, some down-time on the beach, then Bangkok to Chiang Rai)
Feb: Laos (3 weeks, slow boat to Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane
Feb - Mar: Cambodia (4 weeks)
Mar - Apr: Japan (4 weeks, for cherry blossom viewing)
Apr - Jun: China (6 weeks inc. Tibet for EBC, Beijing to Yangshuo, visas permitting)
Jun - Jul: Viet Nam (4 weeks, Hanoi down to HCMC)
Jul - Aug: Indonesia (8 weeks, where to start? Bali, Flores, then Java or Sumatra, hmmm)
Fly back to UK from Singapore
We'd like to get a week in Bhutan in there somewhere too (budget permitting). Should we go before or after touring Nepal? Nepal does flow rather well into India as we can get the train to Varanasi from Gorokphur. Or we could fly to Bhutan from Delhi and out to Bangkok though this would mean going there mid-December.
My question is, does this seem a (reasonably) sensible route? Unfortunately there will have to be quite a few flights but I've tried to avoid too much backtracking. If we weren't travelling with our children then I think we'd just buy a one-way ticket and see how it went, but my husband wants to book the main stops in advance. We also need to have our visas organised.
Are we spending obviously too long/too little time anywhere? (Myanmar I'm looking at you). There's not enough time to see everything we'd like to, even with a year!
Many thanks for any advice.
My husband and I are planning a gap year with our two children who will be 10 and 8 when we leave. We'll be travelling independently as far as possible (except Bhutan and Tibet) and have planned a rough itinerary (we're in the UK):
Sept: Jordan (2 weeks, the usual places, Amman, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Red Sea, Petra etc)
Sept - Oct: Nepal (3 weeks, Kathmandu - Pokhara and down to Chitwan)
Oct - Dec: India (8 weeks, starting in Varanasi, Rajasthan, Delhi, hopefully getting to McLeod Ganj and Shimla too)
Dec: Myanmar (2 weeks)
Jan: Thailand (4 weeks, some down-time on the beach, then Bangkok to Chiang Rai)
Feb: Laos (3 weeks, slow boat to Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane
Feb - Mar: Cambodia (4 weeks)
Mar - Apr: Japan (4 weeks, for cherry blossom viewing)
Apr - Jun: China (6 weeks inc. Tibet for EBC, Beijing to Yangshuo, visas permitting)
Jun - Jul: Viet Nam (4 weeks, Hanoi down to HCMC)
Jul - Aug: Indonesia (8 weeks, where to start? Bali, Flores, then Java or Sumatra, hmmm)
Fly back to UK from Singapore
We'd like to get a week in Bhutan in there somewhere too (budget permitting). Should we go before or after touring Nepal? Nepal does flow rather well into India as we can get the train to Varanasi from Gorokphur. Or we could fly to Bhutan from Delhi and out to Bangkok though this would mean going there mid-December.
My question is, does this seem a (reasonably) sensible route? Unfortunately there will have to be quite a few flights but I've tried to avoid too much backtracking. If we weren't travelling with our children then I think we'd just buy a one-way ticket and see how it went, but my husband wants to book the main stops in advance. We also need to have our visas organised.
Are we spending obviously too long/too little time anywhere? (Myanmar I'm looking at you). There's not enough time to see everything we'd like to, even with a year!
Many thanks for any advice.
Dec 4th, 2015, 02:39 PM
#2
I've traveled for 6 months at a stretch and in planning, one must consider, first, are visas generally granted for the length of stay you have in mind. I'm American and don't know how long UK citizens can stay in various places. Based on my experience, China may be the first for you to check, if you haven't already. I think most on your list give you at least a month, but do double check them all before you buy flights. Some countries may give you a longer or shorter visa, at their discretion.
Also consider buying your intercontinental flights in advance but the shorter hops within Asia as you go. It leaves you with opportunities to change plans, should interesting deviations present themselves, as I've done a number of times. Buying closer to departures in Asia often cost little, if no more and with the time you have, you may find some interesting surface means of getting where you want to go. So I suggest you allow for as much flexibility of destination and mode of travel as you can manage.
Also consider buying your intercontinental flights in advance but the shorter hops within Asia as you go. It leaves you with opportunities to change plans, should interesting deviations present themselves, as I've done a number of times. Buying closer to departures in Asia often cost little, if no more and with the time you have, you may find some interesting surface means of getting where you want to go. So I suggest you allow for as much flexibility of destination and mode of travel as you can manage.
Dec 4th, 2015, 03:40 PM
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What a luxury to have so much time to travel!
I would want more time in Myanmar; I'd max out the amount of time allowed: 28 days.
Are you aware that you can drive to EBC on the Tibet side? That would turn me off to EBC, which is one of the most despoiled areas in the Himalayas in any case.
Enjoy!
I would want more time in Myanmar; I'd max out the amount of time allowed: 28 days.
Are you aware that you can drive to EBC on the Tibet side? That would turn me off to EBC, which is one of the most despoiled areas in the Himalayas in any case.
Enjoy!
Dec 4th, 2015, 03:55 PM
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Super envious. For a more contemporary experience, you might want to add a week in Korea, fascinating and quite different from the other places -- with excellent food and a stylish futuristic vibe that the kids might like.
I also recommend that you take a look at the blog of my friends who spent a year traveling with their kids, then 10 and 13. They went entirely around the world, so their time in Asia was more limited, but epic and very kid friendly. They are talented filmmakers and documented their adventures with some amazing short videos.
www.ayeartothink.com
I also recommend that you take a look at the blog of my friends who spent a year traveling with their kids, then 10 and 13. They went entirely around the world, so their time in Asia was more limited, but epic and very kid friendly. They are talented filmmakers and documented their adventures with some amazing short videos.
www.ayeartothink.com
Dec 4th, 2015, 03:55 PM
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Super envious. For a more contemporary experience, you might want to add a week in Korea, fascinating and quite different from the other places -- with excellent food and a stylish futuristic vibe that the kids might like.
I also recommend that you take a look at the blog of my friends who spent a year traveling with their kids, then 10 and 13. They went entirely around the world, so their time in Asia was more limited, but epic and very kid friendly. They are talented filmmakers and documented their adventures with some amazing short videos.
www.ayeartothink.com
I also recommend that you take a look at the blog of my friends who spent a year traveling with their kids, then 10 and 13. They went entirely around the world, so their time in Asia was more limited, but epic and very kid friendly. They are talented filmmakers and documented their adventures with some amazing short videos.
www.ayeartothink.com
Dec 4th, 2015, 04:09 PM
#6
I agree with Kathie that Myanmar deserves longer. I would take at least one if not two weeks from Indonesia. Consider Lombok, don't bother with Jakarta.
I also agree with skipping EBC - I haven't been, but have no desire to either. Not only does it appear to be literally a dump, I don't see the point if you're not actually going to climb Everest. There are other, better, reasons for going to Tibet, although sadly you may find more Tibetan culture in neighboring areas of China proper.
I have done long term travel - ten months was the longest - and you need to factor in some down time for R&R - rest and resupply.
I assume you will be homeschooling, so that takes time as well.
Some visas age out - i.e. you have to use them within a certain time. In that case you need to make sure you can get them on road.
Two weeks is plenty for Jordan. Not much to see in Amman, but do allow at least two full days for Petra.
With eight weeks in India you should be able get to the south as well as the north. Don't allocate too much time to Rajasthan, it's the most touristy area, aside from Goa.
Besides considering adding Korea, also consider adding Taiwan. Taiwan retains far more actual history than China, where much of it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Has some good scenery, too. If necessary you could take a week off Vietnam.
Another family doing long term travel with a child:
http://www.soultravelers3.com/
Initially all about Europe, but they added Asia as their daughter got older.
I also agree with skipping EBC - I haven't been, but have no desire to either. Not only does it appear to be literally a dump, I don't see the point if you're not actually going to climb Everest. There are other, better, reasons for going to Tibet, although sadly you may find more Tibetan culture in neighboring areas of China proper.
I have done long term travel - ten months was the longest - and you need to factor in some down time for R&R - rest and resupply.
I assume you will be homeschooling, so that takes time as well.
Some visas age out - i.e. you have to use them within a certain time. In that case you need to make sure you can get them on road.
Two weeks is plenty for Jordan. Not much to see in Amman, but do allow at least two full days for Petra.
With eight weeks in India you should be able get to the south as well as the north. Don't allocate too much time to Rajasthan, it's the most touristy area, aside from Goa.
Besides considering adding Korea, also consider adding Taiwan. Taiwan retains far more actual history than China, where much of it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Has some good scenery, too. If necessary you could take a week off Vietnam.
Another family doing long term travel with a child:
http://www.soultravelers3.com/
Initially all about Europe, but they added Asia as their daughter got older.
Dec 4th, 2015, 04:34 PM
#7
I missed the EBC mention. No personal experience, but stories of my travel pal on his trek from the Nepal side, no toilets along the way, people go where they must along the trail. I can only guess both sides are the same in that regard.
Agree, spend all the time you're allowed in Burma. You won't be sorry.
Agree, spend all the time you're allowed in Burma. You won't be sorry.
Dec 4th, 2015, 11:18 PM
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Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you and your kids.
I agree with others' comments that securing visas will take up a lot of energy. Indonesia, for example: Your dates are still almost a year and a half away and things can change, but right now you can get a 60 day tourist visa at an Indonesian Embassy outside of Indonesia, BUT you must use it within 90 days of its issuance. You can also get a 30 day visa on arrival at many Indonesian airports, which can be renewed for another 30 days, but only at certain locations. (Bali is one.)
The catch is that if you take advantage of the visa-free arrival that UK citizens are entitled to, you can only stay 30 days and cannot extend. If you want to extend you have to purchase a visa on arrival.
Indonesia is a big place, but in eight weeks you could cover a lot of ground. The places you choose will depend on what you want to do and see. In addition to Bali and Java (East and Central) I like the idea of Sumba/Sumbawa/Flores and would also consider Sulawesi -- Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi and the Manado area in North Sulawesi. I would choose Sulawesi over Sumatra, for culture and nature. Raja Ampat in the far eastern end would also be high on my list.
Make sure that your passports are valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Indonesia (and other countries) and get reliable medical evacuation insurance.
July/August is good weather for most of Indonesia but it's also high tourist season and rates are inflated. In 2017, the Islamic holidays following Ramadhan will be celebrated first week of July. This is not a good time to travel in Java as millions of people will be on the move.
I agree with others' comments that securing visas will take up a lot of energy. Indonesia, for example: Your dates are still almost a year and a half away and things can change, but right now you can get a 60 day tourist visa at an Indonesian Embassy outside of Indonesia, BUT you must use it within 90 days of its issuance. You can also get a 30 day visa on arrival at many Indonesian airports, which can be renewed for another 30 days, but only at certain locations. (Bali is one.)
The catch is that if you take advantage of the visa-free arrival that UK citizens are entitled to, you can only stay 30 days and cannot extend. If you want to extend you have to purchase a visa on arrival.
Indonesia is a big place, but in eight weeks you could cover a lot of ground. The places you choose will depend on what you want to do and see. In addition to Bali and Java (East and Central) I like the idea of Sumba/Sumbawa/Flores and would also consider Sulawesi -- Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi and the Manado area in North Sulawesi. I would choose Sulawesi over Sumatra, for culture and nature. Raja Ampat in the far eastern end would also be high on my list.
Make sure that your passports are valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Indonesia (and other countries) and get reliable medical evacuation insurance.
July/August is good weather for most of Indonesia but it's also high tourist season and rates are inflated. In 2017, the Islamic holidays following Ramadhan will be celebrated first week of July. This is not a good time to travel in Java as millions of people will be on the move.
Dec 5th, 2015, 01:31 AM
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As part of your planning, make sure you visit the FCO Travel Advice websites for each country, eg. Cambodia...
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia
...all the tabs on the FCO Advice contain stuff that you might not even think about. The Health tabs for long trips are well worth a good look at. Make sure you arrange an appointment with you GP Travel Clinic in good time. Note that most GPs aren't qualified in Travel Medicine, so make sure you use a properly trained person. Our GP Travel Clinic uses MASTA http://www.masta-travel-health.com/. You're face-to-face health advice will include lots of questions and answers, and at the end you'll get a bespoke health guide fitted to everything you've discussed, and it will be v.useful if you need to make a claim against your Travel Insurance.
The Trip Advisor forums are usually kept well up-to-date with anything that changes, and also Lonely Planet Thorntree forum. Sometimes you might have to read between the lines, but all forums are like that.
From the information you've given, and from my own experience...
- Jordan might be too long.
- Nepal. Like it. There's a lot to include in Kathmandu and Kathmandu Valley. Pokhara is good for 'downtime', and make sure you include a couple of night side-trip to a place called Bandipur. Never went to Chitwan so can't comment.
- Thailand. Like it. Have a look at including the Kanchanaburi area for 3 nights of beautiful scenery and WWII History (Bridge over the River Kwai).
- Laos. Like it. LP-VV-VT are all on the beaten tourist track. Vientiane sits right on the Mekong, just the other side of the Friendship Bridge is a frontier town called Nong Khai, which we really enjoyed for a few days downtime. You can also enter/exit Laos over the Friendship Bridge.
- Cambodia. Like it, but 4 weeks might be a bit long. This might help a bit...
http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srhome.htm
- Vietnam. Like it. Just had 4 weeks there, and only skimmed the surface. I'd try and add a week or two.
- Indonesia. Thoroughly enjoyed the parts of Bali we saw, particularly Sanur for downtime, and Ubud for culture and colour.
Looks like you'll have one suitcase full of Lonely Planet Guide Books! Enjoy your research.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia
...all the tabs on the FCO Advice contain stuff that you might not even think about. The Health tabs for long trips are well worth a good look at. Make sure you arrange an appointment with you GP Travel Clinic in good time. Note that most GPs aren't qualified in Travel Medicine, so make sure you use a properly trained person. Our GP Travel Clinic uses MASTA http://www.masta-travel-health.com/. You're face-to-face health advice will include lots of questions and answers, and at the end you'll get a bespoke health guide fitted to everything you've discussed, and it will be v.useful if you need to make a claim against your Travel Insurance.
The Trip Advisor forums are usually kept well up-to-date with anything that changes, and also Lonely Planet Thorntree forum. Sometimes you might have to read between the lines, but all forums are like that.
From the information you've given, and from my own experience...
- Jordan might be too long.
- Nepal. Like it. There's a lot to include in Kathmandu and Kathmandu Valley. Pokhara is good for 'downtime', and make sure you include a couple of night side-trip to a place called Bandipur. Never went to Chitwan so can't comment.
- Thailand. Like it. Have a look at including the Kanchanaburi area for 3 nights of beautiful scenery and WWII History (Bridge over the River Kwai).
- Laos. Like it. LP-VV-VT are all on the beaten tourist track. Vientiane sits right on the Mekong, just the other side of the Friendship Bridge is a frontier town called Nong Khai, which we really enjoyed for a few days downtime. You can also enter/exit Laos over the Friendship Bridge.
- Cambodia. Like it, but 4 weeks might be a bit long. This might help a bit...
http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srhome.htm
- Vietnam. Like it. Just had 4 weeks there, and only skimmed the surface. I'd try and add a week or two.
- Indonesia. Thoroughly enjoyed the parts of Bali we saw, particularly Sanur for downtime, and Ubud for culture and colour.
Looks like you'll have one suitcase full of Lonely Planet Guide Books! Enjoy your research.
Dec 5th, 2015, 06:40 AM
#10
"one suitcase full of Lonely Planet Guide Books! Enjoy your research."
Or a lot of ebooks. LP just had a sale on ebooks, not sure whether it's still on. I much prefer paper, but on a long trip some compromoses are necessary! Used to be you could stock up on second hand ones on the Khao San Road, but didn't work out the last time I was in BKK. Maybe you can still buy knock-offs in Cambodia.
Or a lot of ebooks. LP just had a sale on ebooks, not sure whether it's still on. I much prefer paper, but on a long trip some compromoses are necessary! Used to be you could stock up on second hand ones on the Khao San Road, but didn't work out the last time I was in BKK. Maybe you can still buy knock-offs in Cambodia.
Dec 5th, 2015, 07:36 AM
#11
On the 6 month trip I mentioned, as Marmot mentions, I was juggling dates on visa validity, had to get my China visa in Delhi, which meant giving up my passport for a week. These are the sorts of complications you'll need to keep in mind and plan in advance for.
I ran out of steam at about the 5 month mark. I pushed on through, didn't go home early but I'm thinking about keeping up the stamina of 4 people together on the road. Just a possibility to be aware of and be ready to cope, maybe by taking a break in an easy place, as mentioned above, even an extended one.
I ran out of steam at about the 5 month mark. I pushed on through, didn't go home early but I'm thinking about keeping up the stamina of 4 people together on the road. Just a possibility to be aware of and be ready to cope, maybe by taking a break in an easy place, as mentioned above, even an extended one.
Dec 6th, 2015, 04:45 AM
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Thanks for all the responses. It's heartening to see that people don't think we're crazy or that the plan is a terrible one.
I suspected that you would recommend more time in Myanmar. Kathie, I will read your trip reports for ideas!
What a shame about EBC, I hadn't heard about it being a dump. My husband's always wanted to go and I thought that Tibet side would be easier as you could drive there, though I have read about a family hiking from the Nepal side recently. We will reconsider those plans.
I had also read that Tibetan culture is more authentic in some other parts of China so if EBC is off the list we may well seek it out elsewhere. I'm not sure if we will be able to obtain 60 day visas in any case, and they would have to be applied for in Tokyo as I think we'd spend a week there anyway. If not Taiwan or South Korea would be an interesting alternative if I can't squeeze them in!
The visas will need careful planning, thank you for the tips.
Mme Perdu, I think you're right about the flights and arranging as we go along (though the organiser in me wants to book everything!). However I'm definitely going to pre-book all of Japan as far in advance as possible as the cherry blossom season is manic. We may get tired of constantly being on the move even though I don't want us to spend fewer than 3 - 5 nights in most places and Laos should be fairly relaxing (I hope). Luckily some easy places such as Thailand are visa free for us so a month's worth of downtime will be easy to arrange should we need to.
Right, back to the books and blogs! (I'll be reading through the ones recommended)
I suspected that you would recommend more time in Myanmar. Kathie, I will read your trip reports for ideas!
What a shame about EBC, I hadn't heard about it being a dump. My husband's always wanted to go and I thought that Tibet side would be easier as you could drive there, though I have read about a family hiking from the Nepal side recently. We will reconsider those plans.
I had also read that Tibetan culture is more authentic in some other parts of China so if EBC is off the list we may well seek it out elsewhere. I'm not sure if we will be able to obtain 60 day visas in any case, and they would have to be applied for in Tokyo as I think we'd spend a week there anyway. If not Taiwan or South Korea would be an interesting alternative if I can't squeeze them in!
The visas will need careful planning, thank you for the tips.
Mme Perdu, I think you're right about the flights and arranging as we go along (though the organiser in me wants to book everything!). However I'm definitely going to pre-book all of Japan as far in advance as possible as the cherry blossom season is manic. We may get tired of constantly being on the move even though I don't want us to spend fewer than 3 - 5 nights in most places and Laos should be fairly relaxing (I hope). Luckily some easy places such as Thailand are visa free for us so a month's worth of downtime will be easy to arrange should we need to.
Right, back to the books and blogs! (I'll be reading through the ones recommended)
Dec 6th, 2015, 07:21 AM
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If you want to see some Tibetan culture, let me recommend Sikkim. Formerly an independent country, it was taken over by India. It long had close relationships with Tibet, and after the Chinese invasion of Tibet, it acquired many more Tibetans. There are a number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries there. And the views of the Himalayas are amazing. I have a trip report here that gives the information on how to get there.
Dec 6th, 2015, 06:05 PM
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Went to Tibet for 3 weeks in 2010 and visited "EBC" during that trip. The Tibetan side is totally different from Nepal as it's dry with very few inhabitants in that area. It's just a long day of car ride from Shigatse with great scenery. The "EBC" is actually a few hundred meters before the real EBC where actual climbers set up their base camps. The "EBC" is basically a tent city and has great view of Everest. Our tent owners are Tibetans, though I won't be surprised if some of them are run by Chinese from elsewhere.
Tibet is still Tibet. Fascinating place. You just have to keep in mind that in Lhasa and Shigatse, all of the newer developments (including your hotel probably) are built by non-Tibetans. In fact, my estimate 5 years ago was that 90% of Lhasa was newly Chinese built. BUT when you go to the main inner city around Barkhor, it's still as totally Tibetan (other than the Chinese guards patrolling the place).
You can decide if it's for you. I strongly believe there's still no alternative if you want to see the real Tibet. This is still the real thing. As long as you know what to see and what to filter out.
Folder for all my pictures here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet0610
Specific albums for "EBC" are here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet061310 and here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet061410
Tibet is still Tibet. Fascinating place. You just have to keep in mind that in Lhasa and Shigatse, all of the newer developments (including your hotel probably) are built by non-Tibetans. In fact, my estimate 5 years ago was that 90% of Lhasa was newly Chinese built. BUT when you go to the main inner city around Barkhor, it's still as totally Tibetan (other than the Chinese guards patrolling the place).
You can decide if it's for you. I strongly believe there's still no alternative if you want to see the real Tibet. This is still the real thing. As long as you know what to see and what to filter out.
Folder for all my pictures here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet0610
Specific albums for "EBC" are here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet061310 and here: http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/tibet061410
Dec 6th, 2015, 09:52 PM
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Just returned to England after a year in Asia. Our trip focused upon SE Asia with side trips to Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Here are a few random thoughts, some of which may reinforce what other have said.
1. We effectively used Kuala Lumpur as a hub. Air Asia have an extensive network operating from there with efficient low cost flights to just about everywhere you could want.
2. Do check out pollution issues in the region and the timing of problem periods like the burning of crops in Northern Thailand, Lao, Burma etc. From Late Feb to late April caused massive problems this ( and in many other years). Forest clearance in Indonesia caused problems later in the year not only flor hay country but also for Southern Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
3. Don't move around too much. Changing location too regularly will add to cost considerably and can also bring on an attack of "travel fatigue" .
4. Being UK citizens, we didn't didn't find visas to be much on an issue but the best resource to find out what is required is the FCO website. Most places will grant 30 days on arrival which should be enough for your plans. We did plan on spending around three months in Indonesia. But only did one. The plan was to fly out, get a 60 day visa in KL ( pretty straightforward) and return but by then we had had enough of the country.
5. 30 days in Indonesia was enough to allow us to travel from Jakarta to Bali, mostly by train which was a great way to explore a country that doesn't have a great safety record for any other means of travel.
6. Money: travelling for a year means you will be using a lot of the stuff so the cost of fx can make a big difference. Rather than use our main bank account and cards we used prepaid travel cards ( in our case from www.fairfx.com) which we topped up online from time to time. We had 2 cards denominated in £ and 2 in US$. The charges and rates they use are way better than most, if not all high street banks. We also took a supply of US $ in cash as a back up.
7. As for your route, it does seem logical from a geographic perspective. As for the amount of time in each place, that is entirely down to personal preference and how much you like it when you get there. ( we arrived in the Philipines, didn't take to it and flew out again after five days!)
8. Places we loved included Vietnam, Laos, Japan, South Korea and Borneo - I would definitely consider including Borneo in your plans.
9. We organised everything as we went along and it all went fine. Accommodation is easy to find as are flights. Although the latter are usually cheaper if booked a few weeks in advance. Signing up for airline mailing lists will keep you abreast of sales etc.
Finally, avoid overnight travel on buses. Just not safe.
Enjoy you planning and have a great trip.
1. We effectively used Kuala Lumpur as a hub. Air Asia have an extensive network operating from there with efficient low cost flights to just about everywhere you could want.
2. Do check out pollution issues in the region and the timing of problem periods like the burning of crops in Northern Thailand, Lao, Burma etc. From Late Feb to late April caused massive problems this ( and in many other years). Forest clearance in Indonesia caused problems later in the year not only flor hay country but also for Southern Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
3. Don't move around too much. Changing location too regularly will add to cost considerably and can also bring on an attack of "travel fatigue" .
4. Being UK citizens, we didn't didn't find visas to be much on an issue but the best resource to find out what is required is the FCO website. Most places will grant 30 days on arrival which should be enough for your plans. We did plan on spending around three months in Indonesia. But only did one. The plan was to fly out, get a 60 day visa in KL ( pretty straightforward) and return but by then we had had enough of the country.
5. 30 days in Indonesia was enough to allow us to travel from Jakarta to Bali, mostly by train which was a great way to explore a country that doesn't have a great safety record for any other means of travel.
6. Money: travelling for a year means you will be using a lot of the stuff so the cost of fx can make a big difference. Rather than use our main bank account and cards we used prepaid travel cards ( in our case from www.fairfx.com) which we topped up online from time to time. We had 2 cards denominated in £ and 2 in US$. The charges and rates they use are way better than most, if not all high street banks. We also took a supply of US $ in cash as a back up.
7. As for your route, it does seem logical from a geographic perspective. As for the amount of time in each place, that is entirely down to personal preference and how much you like it when you get there. ( we arrived in the Philipines, didn't take to it and flew out again after five days!)
8. Places we loved included Vietnam, Laos, Japan, South Korea and Borneo - I would definitely consider including Borneo in your plans.
9. We organised everything as we went along and it all went fine. Accommodation is easy to find as are flights. Although the latter are usually cheaper if booked a few weeks in advance. Signing up for airline mailing lists will keep you abreast of sales etc.
Finally, avoid overnight travel on buses. Just not safe.
Enjoy you planning and have a great trip.
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Cynthia
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Jan 1st, 2003 03:04 PM
