Good news. Early retirement is HERE! No more cramming trips into 18 days; no more stressing over what to see and how to get it all done.....I'm off to Asia for 4 months.

Time for the slow travel to begin.

I will arrive in Phnom Penh and spend two days. Ponheary is sending me a guide, don't know who yet but will be happy to have someone take me around to see the sights, since time there will be rather short. Over the next few months I'm sure I'll be making several trips to PP, so I'm not going to dawdle there.

A driver will take me from PP to Siem Reap. I've never done this stretch before and look forward to seeing some countryside.

Then I'll be in Siem Reap for 2 weeks, helping Ponheary get 3,300 kids in school. Logistics will be nightmarish; if any of you will be in Siem Reap from September 25 to October 4th, we could use some help! I will be staying at Ponheary's Guest House.

Once everyone is in school, I will leave SR and fly to Hanoi, one day and one night at the Metropole; sufficient time to eat massive amounts of Bun Cha, then take the overnight train (Victoria Express) to Sa Pa. I have read a lot of mixed reviews about the human zoo up there, and so I just need to go see it for myself. One thing for sure; the situation will only deteriorate, so I'm thinking I should go now. I'll be hunting for Yao textiles. I've hired a guide who came highly recommended on trip advisor to take me trekking, overnighting in the villages in homestays. Will do the Bac Ha market on sunday.

Then train back to Hanoi, spend the night and the following day. (More Bun Cha) Fly to Luang Prabang. A friend who lives in LP is going to take me to some village on the river just past Pak Ou Caves and we will homestay in that village and do some meditation at the temple there. I'll be there for 4 days.

Then I will take the slow boat to Thailand....the Luangsay
http://www.asian-oasis.com/Luang.html
Anyone been on this boat?

Then a few days in Chiang Rai, (never been--open for suggestions) Then bus to Chiang Mai, stopping halfway to stay overnight at some village near Fang on the burmese border. A couple of days in Chiang Mai (been before) then fly to BKK, overnight in BKK just to say hi to Tong then fly on to Siem Reap.

I will stay in Siem Reap, teaching English and working for the foundation (www.theplf.org) I plan to come home at Christmas but will no doubt return unless something happens to change my mind about that.

So, please throw out any suggestions on what to do or see in these places, or what to add on..l'm starting to get very excited about this trip; I've never had the luxury of slow travel....

I will probably do one more trip before Christmas.....thinking about flying to Saigon and taking the train upcountry to Hanoi, getting off at various locations then fly back. Wonder if that's a good way to see the country? Is the train awful?

The other option is to try to get to Burma....

Lori

Lori, your trip sounds truly wonderful. Good luck in your retirement. Do consider a trip to Burma...

Craig your Burma report is part of why I want to go there...I'm going to be looking into it.

Congratulations Lori! I have no advise but all the best wishes in your travels.

Aloha!

Congratulations, Lori! Your trip sounds wonderful. I know you will stumble across fascinating people and places with so much time to wander!

And thanks for the reminder that it's time to think about getting Cambodian kids to school. For so little money we can make such a difference! US$12 to send a child to elementary school for a year, or secondary school for US$15 a month, or English tutoring for US$30 a year.

lori.....best of luck in your retirement....karen starts her first day of retirement one week from today, so you both will get long deserved leisure time...

keep us updated on how things are going...

lori - congratulations! Welcome to early retirement - it's great.

The train in Vietnam is not as comfortable as the Chinese soft sleeper, but is not too bad, and is a good way to see the country.

Definitely consider Myanmar. I didn't go my first time in SEA because of the government, but a friend I met on the road went and virtually adopted her driver (www.myinttours.com), so the next trip I traveled with them and found it absolutely fascinating. I just finished the book by U Thant's grandson, and he is very much in favor of travel there.

Lori I am so so envious of your early retirement! How did you do it?! Congrats!!!
Sounds like a great trip.
Take care
J

thanks for the warm congrats.

I'm so excited I can barely stand it.

And thanks Thursday for the skinny on the train...if Ponheary doesn't work me too hard, maybe I can do the Vietnam via train trip AND Myanmar before I come home at Christmas.

Bob-my only regret will be missing the GTG in October. Maybe a web-cam?

Forgot to mention that seat61.com/Vietnam.htm has pix of the inside of the trains, along with timetables. Just avoid the train that goes from the Chinese frontier to Hanoi. BTW, Thai trains are also worth considering - I like them better as the bunks are parallel to the side of the compartment, with curtains, so you get more privacy.

Congrats on early retirement Lori!! Your trip sounds fantastic - and I look forward to hearing your teaching stories. Will you be teaching children - or adults or both?

Lucy

Lori, when will you be in Siem Reap? Perhaps we'll be there at the same time? Would love to meet you!

Never mind. Got to read more carefully, and I'd see you put your dates.

lori....then we will expect you to visit in '08 for the GTG...

Kim-makes me sick to know I'll miss you. But you'll be in good hands.

Bob-have the 08 GTG in Bkk!

Lucy where the H__L have you been? I will be teaching secondary school kids. Most are aged 15-18. They are adults by their reckoning I suppose, although not by mine....

Thursday-I'm am leaning heavily toward the train trip, although Burma compels me: i think maybe enext time for that, all on it's own. I think the train trip through VN would push me and I am looking forward to a little of that....

BTW I want to make a shameless plug for a new friend in BKK who is a travel agent and helped me with all these plans/itineraries/flights. etc. His name is Jeff. [email protected]

He's the Scotland Yard of SEA travel arrangements. No request too crazy. Love him.

Compared to shopping for oxen, the train should be a breeze.

Sounds like a great trip. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Say hi to Tong for me...

When will you be in Bangkok, if at all?

<Compared to shopping for oxen, the train should be a breeze.>

As long as there are no oxen on the train....

KimJ-I will only be in BKK for 36 hours Oct 19-20; may add on another day depending on Tong's schedule.