Well, I think I will be heading back to SE Asia again this year! I am now about 90% sure I will make this trip. I took my first trip to SE Asia in Feb. of last year for 3 1/2 weeks and returned on a solo trip for 5 weeks in Nov./Dec.

I have spent time in Thailand visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi and Ko Phi Phi. I also spent time in Luang Prabang, Laos and Hanoi and Sapa, Vietnam. I spent 4 days in Siem Reap, Cambodia as well.

I will be spending a month traveling through Argentina with a short stint in Chile and I will arrive back to Portland, OR on November 27th.

I need to be back in Siem Reap on Nov. 30 as a volunteer with www.villagefocus.org for our 2nd annual bike race! Yippee!

While I am in SE Asia I would love to expand my horizons a bit and visit another country. Burma and Malaysia are the closest in proximity. I realize that Burma has some political issues but I am tempted. Malaysia is also very appealing! Maybe Southern China?

Budget is a factor as I will be traveling for 2 months straight and I am an self employed so will not receive a paycheck while away. I will spend 5-7 days in another country.

A little about me:

I love an adventure!

I don't find much joy in run-of-the-mill destinations

I don't require high end accommodations as I have slept on the floor of a hut in a non-touristy village in NW Lao.

Connecting with the locals, even with a language barrier, is highly appealing to me.

I will be traveling alone.

Suggestions are welcome!

Myanmar is a very interesting place, and I personally think visiting there is better than staying away. That said, there is quite a bit of control over where you can go. You might enjoy cycling around Bagan, or Yangon for that matter.

If you haven't done the elephant thang, you might have a look at spending some time at Elephantstay (www.elephantstay.com). It's a lot cheaper than some of the other options available, but still a little pricey.

Lastly, you might think about southern Laos. There are direct flights to Paxse now, but you could also fly or bus to Ubon in Thailand, then travel overland to Paxse, kick around there a few days, then make your way down river, maybe spend another night or two on Koh Kong before floating back into Cambodia.

Why the h### would you head back to Portland at the end of November??? I make it a point of never returning home between October and April. Brrrr!!

Elephantstay is more expensive than the TECC www.changthai.com.

Why don't you spend some time in Cambodia? There's more to it than Siem Reap for sure.

The Gibbon Experience in Laos? Not what most here are looking for, but we certainly think it looks very cool.

ET - I think Burma would work well for you since it is likely the least expensive country in SE Asia to tour. It is easy to connect with the locals as they are anxious to speak with foreigners. You would need more than 5-7 days though to really do it justice. At a minimum your first and last days would be spent in Yangon leaving the remainder of the time for Bagan, Inle Lake and possibly Mandalay.

Thanks for the replies!

I should have mentioned that I will be spending some time in Phnom Penh, Chiang Mai to stay with friends I met on my last trip in Nov. and then heading back to my village via the two day boat trip.

I will be traveling in SE Asia for about a month and then heading to California in time to meet up with my boyfriend for Christmas.

Although I like those adorable pachyderms, I am not interested in spending an inordinate amount of time with them. I rode around on the back of one in Chiang Dao. Interesting and glad to have done it but not interested in doing it again.

I am guessing the Gibbon Experience is not a "budget" experience.

Mickael and Craig, Burma may just be the ticket and I can allot more time than 5-7 days if I cut time from my village stay and other places.

Have either of you seen a movie called "Mystic Ball?" It is a documentary about aCanadian guy that learns to play chinlon and goes on to compete in championships. Very interesting movie!

Cheers!

I would definitely go to Burma and spend at least 3 weeks there which will enable you to really get off the beaten path and enjoy what is most magical about this country -- its people. It will also enable you to learn first hand about it and how its current horrible political situation affects its people.

Well - sort of got a picture of you. Very well travelled.

But unclear as to where you will be starting from for your 5-7 days in another country.

There's Malaysia, and Malaysian Borneo, and more of Laos than you have seen (Laos isn't just Luang Prabang). And hey - you don't have to fly (very uncool) - you can take an overnight bus from Vientiane to Pakse and then a boat, and then hitch a ride south. Does that appeal?

Many more opportunities to sleep on the floor. Though it might be a floor with a view.

Oops! Sorry "Michael." Typo.

gloria, I need to reread your trip report! I wish I had three weeks but I have just under a month and that includes the event I am volunteering for in Siem Reap and I have to go back to what I have come to call "my village" in NW Lao.

I may be able to squeeze 2 weeks, though!

Chimani, I may be spending some time in S. Lao along with www.villagefocus.org since I am very involved in their projects now, however, no overnight bus for me, thanks! I don't even sleep well in my own bed and I never get a wink of sleep on any form of transportation!

As for Laos, if you reread my post you will see that I also visited a village in NW Lao. It was 6 hours up the Mekong from LP and then a 2 1/2 hour hike in to the village. I spent 4 nights there sleeping on the floor of a family's hut and doing everything they did during the day. Amazing!

Can you share with me some of your favorite little places in S. Lao? I may need to skip Chiang Mai in order to visit other places! So many places...

Thanks again!

As you know, I've traveled a fair amount in Malaysia. Malaysian Borneo is truly amazing. While we opted for the expensive Borneo Rainforest Lodge, there are other options (though not in the Danum Valley). Malaysia has a lot to offer of many different types of experiences.

Frankly, any of the places you mention are reasonable options. Also, Since you've only been to northern VN, you might be interested in central or southern VN.

PS., May I point out that you are now as addicted to SE Asia as the rest of us? lol

Thanks Kathi. I really did enjoy reading your report as it seems you really loved Borneo. Yeah, I think I need to change my screen name! ;-)