Itinerary Advice/Comments Wanted
 

Please send me any comments/suggestions for a trip I will be taking to India in Feb through the end of April/begining of May and ending the trip around December in China.

Fly from DC to London to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
DAY 1. Aurangabad – Ajanta – Aurangabad – Take tour MTDC BUS TOUR
DAY 2. Aurangabad/Indore
DAY 3. Indore/Bhopal (5 hour train)
DAY 4. Bhopal
DAY 5. Bhopal/Sanchi temple Madhya Pradesh 9km sw of Vidisha (Temple 17) 1 ½ Bus
DAY 6. Sanchi
DAY 7. Sanchi/Bhimbetka or Bhopal 1 Hr Bus
DAY 8. Bhimbetka
DAY 9. Bhimbetka/Orchna
DAY 10. Orchna /Khajuraho
DAY 11. Khajuraho
DAY 12. Khajuraho
DAY 13. Khajuraho/Agra
DAY 14. Agra
DAY 15. Agra/Jaipur
DAY 16. Jaipur
DAY 17. Jaipur/Pushkar – 4 Hours Bus
DAY 18. Pushkar
DAY 19. Pushkar/Ajmer
DAY 20. Ajmer
DAY 21. Ajmer/Udaipur – 8 Hour Bus
DAY 22. Udaipur
DAY 23. Udaipur
DAY 24. Udaipur/RANAKPUR
DAY 25. Ranakpur/Jodhpur
DAY 26. Jodhpur
DAY 27. Jodhpur/Jaisalmer
DAY 28. Jaisalmer
DAY 29. Jaisalmer/Bikaner – 8 Hour Bus
DAY 30. Bikaner
DAY 31. Bikaner/Delhi – 11 Hour Bus
DAY 32. Delhi
DAY 33. Delhi
DAY 34. Delhi
DAY 35. Delhi/Varanasi
DAY 36. Varanasi
DAY 37. Varanasi/Sarnath
DAY 38. Sarnath/Varanasi
DAY 39. Varanasi
DAY 40. Varanasi/Bodh Gaya
DAY 41. Bodhgaya
DAY 42. Bodhgaya
DAY 43. Bodhgaya/Rajgir
DAY 44. Rajgir
DAY 45. Rajgir/Nalanda
DAY 46. Nalanda
DAY 47. Nalanda/Patna
DAY 48. Patna
DAY 49. Patna/Vaishali/Kesariya/Patna (Hire driver?)
DAY 50. Patna/Kushinagar
DAY 51. Kushinagar
DAY 52. Kushinagar
DAY 53. Kushinagar/Gorakhpur
DAY 54. Gorakpur
DAY 55. Gorakpur/Nepal Sunauli/Lumbini

NEPAL (30)
DAY 56. Lumbini
DAY 57. Lumbini/Tansen
DAY 58. Tansen/Pokhara
DAY 59. Pokhara (International Mountaineering Museum, World Peace pagoda, Devi's Fall, Tibetan Refugee camp)
DAY 60. Pokhara/Bandipur
DAY 61. Bandipu/Manakamana
DAY 62. Manakamana/Katmandu
DAY 63. Katmandu
DAY 64. Katmandu
DAY 65. Katmandu
Day to Day Itinerary for Langtang gosainkunda lake Trekking
DAY 66. Kathmandu-Syabrubesi: 8 hours by bus You will start early bus journey to Syabrubesi; the starting point of the trek. Behind Trisuli Bazaar the road is tricky because of the grubby road. During the travel you will pass through many small villages on the way will be fascinating you with snippets. Overnight in Syabrubesi (1,440m/4,724ft).
DAY 67. Syabrubesi-Lama Hotel: 5-6 hoursCrossing through the suspension bridge and heading precipitously along a stream. The River you are following is mostly the Langtang River. You can enjoy the walk going through oak, rhododendron and bamboo forests. There is also a variety of wildlife in these forests: yellow-throated martens, wild boars, langur monkeys, red pandas and Himalayan black bears. Overnight in Lama Hotel (2,470m/8,104ft).
DAY 68. Lama Hotel- Langtang: 5- 6 hours After having breakfast you will continue your trip to your next destination. You are starting your trip descending towards a steep forest slope to the Langtang River. You cross a bridge and head up with a winding path. The trail descends into a valley to cross a stream and climbs past several water-driven mills and prayer wheels to the large settlement of Langtang .Overnight in Langtang (3,430m/11,253ft).
DAY 69. Langtang - Kyanjin Gompa: 4-5 hours You pass through the tiny village, stone-built houses and climb to a Chorten and passed a huge mani along a gentle path of a hill. The valley relocates to a U-shaped one as you enter into a level of riverbed. Today is short walk; allowing time to acclimatize and explore the surrounding.This place is famous for cheese and curd. Overnight in Kyanjin Gompa (3,870m/12,697ft).
DAY 70. Kyanjin Gompa: explore day Kyanjin Ri (4,800m/15,748ft) and Tserko Ri (5,000m/16,404ft) are the good viewpoints in the area that you can climb. After the breakfast visit Tserko Ri (5000m) for spectacular view of the langtang Lirung, Langtang range, Kinshung, Yansa Tsenji and the foot of the huge lirung Glacier. Back to guest house for Lunch having short rest and walk around the Kyanjing valley with guide. Overnight in Kyanjin Gompa.
DAY 71. Kyanjin Gompa- Lama Hotel: 5-6 hours Today you retract to Lama Hotel. All the way downhill but you will see fantastic views of towering mountain what you have missed on the way up. Take more time and suggested you to walk very slow. Overnight in Lama Hotel (2,470m/8,104ft).
DAY 72. Lama Hotel - Thulo Syabru: 5-6 hours First trail decent to river, cross the river and ascend to Thulo Syabru. You will see the fascinating view of Langtang Himal and more. On the way of your trek you will pass through pine and Junieerps forests. Overnight in Thulo Syabru(2,230m/ 7,316ft).
DAY 73. Thulo Syabru- Shin gomba: 3-5 hours You take the broad trail climbing up to Dimsa village and the trial continues less steeply, through rhododendron, hemlock and Oak forests to Shin gomba. On the way of your trek you will see fantastic views of Langtang Himala and langtang valley. Shin gomba is another popular place for Cheese. Over night in Shin gomba (3,330m/10,925ft).
DAY 74. Shin gomba- Gosainkunda: 5-6 hours The trail ascends smoothly through rhododendron covered point to the top of the rim and through a forested area. The area in-between Shin gomba and Laurebina Yak is a sanctuary for the red panda, an endangered species that the Nepalese call cat bear. You return to the ridge path and climb a wider route through alpine country to arrive at a Gosainkunda. Explore around the Lakes and overnight in Gosainkund (4,460m/14,632ft).
DAY 75. Gosainkunda- Back to cholangpati: 3 hours hours Today wake in the morning and lake view in the sunrise time After breakfast back down to Cholangpati.. Overnight in laribinayek(3,700m).
DAY 76. cholangpati to Dhunche. (5-6 hrs walks) Today after breakfast we trek to long down hill come to Sing Gompa through the same way back and we steeply trek downhill through the pine and rhododendron forest and some bamboo bushes. When we reach at stream then cross the river and walk to down stream and an hour gently up hill through the farm field will reach at District headquarter of Rasuwa called Dhunche for the overnight at remaining time stroll around the area.
DAY 77. Drive back to Kathmandu. Today, we drive back to Kathmandu via same way takes 6-7 hours to get in Kathmandu valley. Arrival in Kathmandu guide will transfer to the hotel and rest of the time simply relax at the hotel or explore the local area and overnight at hotel.
DAY 78. Kathmandu/Swayambhunath – Get
DAY 79. Kathmandu/Patan
DAY 80. Kathmandu/Bhaktapur
DAY 81. Kathmandu/Pashupatinath
DAY 82. Kathmandu/Boudhanath
DAY 83. Fly to Kolkata or Bhubaneshwar or Fly to Silguri or Kathmandu to Kakarvitta (17 Hours) – Kakarvitta to
Silguri – Silguri to Kolkata (12-16 hour train) (India Airways $174)

INDIA
DAY 84. Kolkata
DAY 85. Kolkata
DAY 86. Kolkata
DAY 87. Kolkata/Bhubaneshwar – 15 Hour train
DAY 88. Bhubaneshwar
DAY 89. Kolkat – Udayagiri
DAY 90. Khandgiri Caves
DAY 91. Orissa
DAY 92. Nandankanan Zoological Park
DAY 93. Konarak Sun Temple
DAY 94. Puri
DAY 95. Puri
DAY 96. Puri/Bhubaneshwar
DAY 97. Bhubaneshwar/Kolkata15 Hour train
DAY 98. Kolkata
DAY 99. Kolkata – Yangon,Myanmar - Fly to Myanmar see what days they fly – This looks like a Wed. so need to
add or substract 2 days
looks like flights are Mondays and Fridays

MYANMAR (28) – add Hsipaw?
DAY 100. Yangon (ChaukHtat Gyi Pagoda – Botataung Pagoda – Shwedagone Pagoda)
DAY 101. Yangon
DAY 102. Yangon/Mawlamyine
DAY 103. Mawlamyine
DAY 104. Mawlamyine/Kyaikmaraw/Mawlamyine
DAY 105. Mawlamyine/Kyaiktiyo
DAY 106. Kyaiktiyo
DAY 107. Kyaiktiyo
DAY 108. Kyaiktiyo/Yangon
DAY 109. Yangon
DAY 110. Yangon/Myitkyina - Fly
DAY 111. Myitkvina/Bhamo
DAY 112. Bhamo
DAY 113. Bhamo/Katha
DAY 114. Katha
DAY 115. Katha/Shwebo
DAY 116. Shwebo
DAY 117. Shwebo/Monywa
DAY 118. Monywa
DAY 119. Monywa/Mandalay
DAY 120. Mandalay (Sagaing Hill)/Mingun
DAY 121. Mandalay/Amarapura
DAY 122. Mandalay Pakokku/Bagan (10 hour boat ride)
DAY 123. Bagan (Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigone Pagoda, Htilominlo Pagoda)
DAY 124. Bagan (Mt. Popa)
DAY 125. Bagan/Pyay (Bawbawgyi Pagoda, BeBe Gyi Pagoda, Payagyi and Payama Pagoda) (Sri Khitera – ancient capitol)
DAY 126. BaganYangoon/Bangkok

THAILAND (30)
DAY 127. Bangkok, Thailand
DAY 128. Bangkok
DAY 129. Bangkok
DAY 130. Bangkok/ Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Pathom Wat Bang Phra for Tattoo
DAY 131. Nakhon Pathon
DAY 132. Nakhon Pathon/Bangkok
DAY 133. Bangkok/Kanchanaburi (Tiger Temple) – From the Southern Bus Terminal ("Sai Dai"), buses leave every 30min for Kanchanaburi, the last one departing at 10.30pm. The journey takes a little under two hours.
DAY 134. Kanchanaburi
DAY 135. Kanchanaburi/Sanglaburi – 5 hour bus
DAY 136. Sanglaburi
DAY 137. Travel to Nongkhai
DAY 138. Travel to Nongkhai
DAY 139. Travel to Nongkhai
DAY 140. Nongkhai 3 day training for Laos (Day 140) June 30, 2010
DAY 141. Nongkhai 3 day training for Laos
DAY 142. Nongkhai 3 day training for Laos
DAY 143. Nongkhai to Vientiane to Ban Na Volunteer

LAOS (30-60)
DAY 144. Vientiane
DAY 145. Vientiane to Ban Na
DAY 146. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 147. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 148. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 149. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 150. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 151. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 152. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 153. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 154. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 155. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 156. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 157. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 158. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 159. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 160. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 161. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 162. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 163. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 164. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 165. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 166. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 167. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 168. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 169. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 170. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 171. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 172. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 173. Ban Na Volunteer
DAY 174. Ban Na to Vietiane
DAY 175. Vietiane extend Visa – if needed or follow the rest of schedule North and South
DAY 176. Luang Nam Tha Province
DAY 177. Luang Nam Tha Province
DAY 178. Luang Nam Tha Province
DAY 179. Luang Nam Tha Province
DAY 180. Luang Nam Tha Province/Muang Sing
DAY 181. Muang Sing
DAY 182. Muang Sing
DAY 183. Muang Sing/Huay Xai
DAY 184. Huay Xai boat to Luan Prabang – 2 days boat
DAY 185. Huay Xai boat to Luan Prabang
DAY 186. Luan Prabang
DAY 187. Luan Prabang
DAY 188. Luan Prabang
DAY 189. Luan Prabang
DAY 190. Luan Prabang
DAY 191. Luan Prabang/Xien Khuang Province – Phonsavan
DAY 192. Xien Khuang Province – Phonsavan
DAY 193. Xien Khuang Province – Phonsavan
DAY 194. Xien Khuang Province – Phonsavan
DAY 195. Xien Khuang Province – Phonsavan/Van Vieng
DAY 196. Van Vieng – Can Volunteer here – if so do it for around 2 weeks or so
DAY 197. Van Vieng
DAY 198. Vientiane – Extend Visa
DAY 199. Vientiane
DAY 200. Vientiane
DAY 201. Vientiane
DAY 202. Vientiane – Bus to Savannakhet
DAY 203. Pakse
DAY 204. Si Phaan Day
DAY 205. Si Phaan Day
DAY 206. Si Phaan Day
DAY 207. Si Phaan Day
DAY 208. Si Phaan Day
DAY 209. Pakse – Champasak – Boat  Don Daeng
DAY 210. Don Daeng and Don
DAY 211. Pakse – cross over into Cambodia

CAMBODIA (30)
DAY 212. Siem Reap
DAY 213. Siem Reap
DAY 214. Siem Reap
DAY 215. Siem Reap
DAY 216. Siem Reap
DAY 217. Siem Reap
DAY 218. Skuon - spiders
DAY 219. Phnom Peng
DAY 220. Phnom Peng
DAY 221. Phnom Peng
DAY 222. Phnom Peng
DAY 223. Phnom Peng
DAY 224. Kratie?
DAY 225. Kanpot & Bokar and Around?
DAY 226. Sihanoukville – weather?
DAY 227. Phnom Penh to Moc Bai or Chau Doc or Vinh Xuong
DAY 228. Ratanakiri Providence

VIETNAM (30-60)
DAY 229. Chau Doc or Moc Bai or Vinh Xuong
DAY 230. Phu Quoc Island?
DAY 231. Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 232. Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 233. Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 234. Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 235. Phan Thiet
DAY 236. Phan Thiet
DAY 237. Nha Trang
DAY 238. Nha Trang
DAY 239. Chua Muong
DAY 240. Chua Muong
DAY 241. Chua Muong
DAY 242. Hoi An
DAY 243. Hoi An
DAY 244. Hue
DAY 245. Hue
DAY 246. Hue
DAY 247. Nin Binh
DAY 248. Nin Binh
DAY 249. Nin Binh
DAY 250. Hanoi
DAY 251. Hanoi
DAY 252. Hanoi
DAY 253. Hanoi
DAY 254. Hanoi
DAY 255. Halong Bay
DAY 256. Halong Bay
DAY 257. Halong Bay
DAY 258. Halong Bay
DAY 259. Cao Bang – Mt Yentu
DAY 260. Cao Bang – Mt Yentu
DAY 261. Cao Bang – Mt Yentu
DAY 262. Sapa? Bac Ha?
DAY 263. Ba Be National Park?
DAY 264. Dong Dang – Pingxiang, China

CHINA (30-60) –
DAY 265. Pingxiang, China/Nanching
DAY 266. Nanching
DAY 267. Guangxi
DAY 268. Guangxi
DAY 269. Tunix –Huang Shan
DAY 270. Huang Shan
DAY 271. Huang Shan
DAY 272. Hangzhou, Zhejiang West Lake
DAY 273. Hangzhou
DAY 274. Hangzhou
DAY 275. Hangzhou
DAY 276. Shanghai
DAY 277. Shanghai
DAY 278. Shanghai
DAY 279. Shanghai
DAY 280. Xingjing
DAY 281. Xingjing
DAY 282. Putuoshan
DAY 283. Putuoshan
DAY 284. Suzhou
DAY 285. Tongli or Lushi or Zhujiajiao
DAY 286. Toi An (Tai Shan (Dai Temple)
DAY 287. Toi An
DAY 288. Jinan
DAY 289. Jinan
DAY 290. Beijing
DAY 291. Beijing
DAY 292. Beijing
DAY 293. Beijing
DAY 294. Beijing
DAY 295. Beijing
DAY 296. Chengde
DAY 297. Chengde
DAY 298. Chengde
DAY 299. Wu Tai Shan
DAY 300. Wu Tai Shan
DAY 301. Zhengdin
DAY 302. Henan (Song Shan – Shaolin Temple)
DAY 303. Henan
DAY 304. Hebei
DAY 305. Luoyang (Longmen Caves)
DAY 306. Luoyang
DAY 307. Luoyang
DAY 308. Xi An (Hua Sha, Wudang Sham)
DAY 309. Xi An
DAY 310. Xi An
DAY 311. Leshan (Emi Shan)
DAY 312. Leshan
DAY 313. 3 gorges
DAY 314. 3 gorges
DAY 315. 3 gorges
DAY 316. Chongqing
DAY 317. Chongqing
DAY 318. Chendu
DAY 319. Chendu
DAY 320. Lijiang
DAY 321. Lijang
DAY 322. Kunming
DAY 323. Kunming
DAY 324. Kunming – flight to Bangkok or train to Bangkok

THAILAND
DAY 325. Chiang Khong
DAY 326. Phrae
DAY 327. Chian Kham
DAY 328. Bangkok

this is a fabulous trip....for me, i would need some down time here and there.....you are constantly on the move...

i hope you have built in flexibility as i am sure you will want and need it...

bon voyage

That's one long... trip!

This is super. I would echo RhkKmk's advice and schedule some relaxation time periodically. Asia is very hot and crowded. It can be overwhelming. However, relaxation is available in many places, beaches, pools or just nice hotels (three star hotels can be very pleasant at a very reasonable price.) You can maintain your schedule, but be aware that somedays you may need to just chill out and go easy. Even an afternoon off here and there can suffice.

We are very jealous.

This is a lot to digest all at once - it might be easier to comment if you broke it up. Looks like a great trip - lucky you! Do you have a blog or website?

You might find some of my itineraries of interest - I did 10 weeks round India by train, 3 months in SEA, and a 10 month RTW - see www.wilhelmswords.com.

First impressions:
- Plan to visit Ellora as well as Ajanta from Aurangabad - I preferred it.
- Why are you staying overnight in Sanchi and Bhimbetka? They are both just day trips from Bhopal.
- You are skipping South India, which is quite different to north India. I would recommend visiting Kerala, although not necessarily Goa! Take some of those extra days in Bhopal and cut back on Rajasthan
- Again, Sarnath is a day trip (really half-day trip) from Varanasi.
- I'd try to add Amritsar
- You do know that you can't go into the Jagannath Mandir in Puri?
- Don't understand "Nongkhai 3 day training for Laos" - Vientiane is a short tuk-tuk ride. Or do you mean Nong Khiaw? (But no railway there.)
- How are you getting from Vientiane to Luang Nam Tha?
- The spiders in Skuon aren't worth an overnight!
- Four nights for Halong Bay? Are you kayaking?
- If you're crossing to China at Dong Dang it would make sense to do the Kunming - Lijiang etc. section then instead of backtracking. Otherwise it would be easier to take the train north from Hanoi.
I don't understand the three gorges bit - you seem to be both starting and ending at the upstream end.
- There's no train from Kunming to Bangkok. There used to be a train to the Vietnam border (where you crossed back on day 264) but it hasn't run for some years.

Whew! That's a once over lightly.

Thanks! Yeah, I thought about breaking it up and posting as such, but this was easier. This is just an outline and I'm sure things will come up and it will change. It has changed numerous times already. However, I wanted a rough sketch because I only have limited resources and will relax and stay longer in places that I love.

I initally thought about doing all of India - but that turned out to be about 6 months in India - so I just decided to do North India and will do Southern India with my wife sometime in the future.

thursdaysd - thanks for the suggestion - I will look into your suggestions. Great advice on China crossings.

What a trip!

I agree it makes sense to schedule in some relaxation time. You'll be absorbing a lot of new experiences and without some downtime it will just be numbing.

There are a lot of places that are just one day. In my experience one day somewhere is usually not worthwhile. You have travel time to consider, and so one day often becomes just an overnight and no time for what you wanted to see/do/experience.

I've just returned from Burma, so have a few comments about what you have planned. Burma has the worst infrastructure of anyplace I've traveled, so expect horrible roads and delays of all kinds. Wherever practical, you'll want to fly. One of the highlights for us was Inle Lake, and I noticed you haven't included it. I'd recommend you consider adding it in or substituting it for something else. Three full days there was just right for us. Also, you have two days to explore the Bagan area (one day you are at Mt. Popa). If it were me, I'd cut Mt. Popa and stay in Bagan. You've listed particular pagodas you want to visit, but I'd suggest you be flexible. Some of the most wonderful places were off the radar of the guidebooks, some were unnamed or only numbered.

You have a lot of time in Phnom Penh. Unless you have a special reason for this, it's a place you could cut a few days and opt to relax. You've listed one day for Sihanoukville, you might consider taking a few days at the beach.

And unless you are spending 4 days kayaking at Halong Bay, four days is WAY too long there.

Have a wonderful trip!

thursdayd: Jagganath Mandir -- no admission for non-Hindus??

indianapearl - not in 2001, anyway, and doubt it's changed. I think the four holiest Hindu temples in India are all off limits. See pic at tinyurl.com/ykvozxk - password "orissa"

thursdayd: These photos are glorious! My spouse thinks "seen one, seen 'em all," but I don't agree. While there's a design theme, if you will, there's something unique that distinguishes the various temples I've seen.

Thanks! I haven't really edited these pix yet - I "only" took them in 2001, lol! (But I did put together a PP presentation for that trip.) You can see over the walls at Jagganath Mandir, one of the local shopkeepers will invite you up onto his roof. Are you going to Orissa? Definitely don't miss the sun temple.

thursdayd: Just got back from India and am heading to west Texas after Christmas.

We did a similar lengthe trip in 2008. Whilst planning is half the fun, I feel that it is possible to paln too much. We started off by planning everything and then gave up and simply sorted out the broad outline of our route, the time we wanted to spend in each country and booke our RTW ticket accordingly.

A number of realisations quickly became apparent.

1. It is good to stay in each place at least for a few days rather than moving on each day. That said, we did move on from some places very quickly!
2. Breaking up the travelling with a stay of a week or two every so often enables you to REALLY get to know a place/country and helps to reduce travel fatigue. As gpanda rightly points out, it is good just to chill out every so often and if you are using budget accommodation, a splurge on something a little more luxurious every so often seems like heaven.
3. Build time for flexibility into your travels. Meeting and speaking with other travellers will almost certainly amke you want to change your plans.
4. Hostels are geat places to stay and to meet like minded travellers - we used www.hostelworld.com and www.hostelbookers.com both provided a good and efficient service.
5. Best to travel light. If I did it again, I would try to go with hand baggage only - it was amazing the amount of stuff we took with us only to use it rarely, if at all.
6. We tended to see most of the sights under our own steam but some places are just better done on a tour.

Finally, be aware we found that adapting to "normal" life after such a trip proved (and is still proving!) very difficult! Have fun, it sond like a great trip.

Well, a Google search on Brothbart shows that he has been planning this trip for over a year now, posting on multiple sites. Nothing wrong with that.

Indeed, here's a post from January 2009:
http://www.frommers.com/community/fo...ia/itinerary-1

Another post shows he's leaving for India on February 8 - six weeks to go. As crellston says, planning is half the fun. As crellston also wisely says, it's possible to do too much planning. Brothbart, quite how you've managed to spend twelve months on this and still have the most rudimentary errors of scheduling in your scheme is difficult to fathom. Have you looked in a guide book, even once?

According to your profile in matadortravel you're 33, 'happily married', you've been to 'Anguilla, Dominica, St. Maarten, Costa Rica, Belize, Thailand, Key West and San Francisco...' so you're quite grown up enough to cop a bit of reality. Without meaning to seem like a complete arse, I'd give you about ten days before it all starts crumbling around your over-eager ears.

Except for China I've been to most of the places on your trip for extended periods - even the god-awful wilds of Bihar. You are, if I might say, way, way, WAY off beam.

This is so ferociously naive, so extravagantly incorrect that you are going to spend large chunks of your time trying to get yourself out of the trouble you've put yourself in.

Abandon the plan. It was better twelve months ago. You've got over-enthusiastic, forgotten about yourself, over-worked it and now it borders on lunacy.

Sorry pal, but that's the truth of it. It's not what you want to hear but you're soon gonna find out. It won't be pretty. You'll find your feet eventually, you'll have had an amazing time by the end of it - but, if you stick to this plan, you're about to be eaten alive.

Listen to crellston. I know you don't want to listen to me. I know you just want us all to say 'Wow, how amazing, how cool'. Just stop and think. Now. Stop wasting your time in all those travel sites you've joined. Stop wasting your time on this stupid schedule. Do some proper research.

You wanted feedback, well, you got it. No, I don't want some yelp of defensive abuse in reply. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Good luck.

I understand that Bihar is not the greatest/safest places but that is where are the great Buddhist sites are and one of my main reasons going on this trek. As I said this is an outline and is not definitive. However, because I only have minimal resources I need to have at least a plan. It has changed a lot since I made my first post in April. Also' I've been told that I need to make bus and train reservations a couple of days ahead so I also need a plan. Also need a plan for border crossings and visa applications. I appreciate those that I should just go and wing it and that is what I am basically going to do. I have only bought a one way ticket to Mumbai so I am open for changes and when thing arise I will make changes. There are certain things I want to see so I have to ensure that I see them. I may find that I love India and scrap the entire other parts of the trip or I may find I hate India and want to leave sooner. Who know's but I am a person that needs some plan or I will spend most of my time while on the road doing research.

So, although I appreciate your feedback - it would be more helpful if you could give some concrete suggestions.

Wow, you really don't get it, do you? Good luck, pal. See ya.

What don't I get? You criticize my planning to say that I am way off base, but you don't give me any suggestions that may help. You say that I have "the most rudimentary errors of scheduling in your scheme", but don't let me know what you think they are. Others have been very helpful and I have cut out some things in Myanmar, rerouted my trip in China and made notes about other items. But you only criticize. Maybe it is you who don't get it.