Sharcal

my husband & I are going to SE Asia for five weeks in Feb,2013. I have read many of your reports. I loved Kathie & Cheryl's trip to Burma, and want to definitely do aprox. 10 days there. I will plan the rest of the trip around that. We are in our late 50's, and like the creature comforts at night. I think Kathie's accommodations seemed great. We love to walk and have different adventures. We love history and architecture , not a big shopper or interest in textiles. We are interested in having an overall SE Asia adventure without duplicating the same types of experiences, so I definitely want to take a ride down a river in a boat to see villages, I loved the Inle Lake experience Kathie described, I definitely want to see temples, but not everywhere. I want city experiences, and laid back small spaces too.I don't want a beach holiday. I can fly from place to place, but a 3 night river cruise somewhere might be nice as well. I don't think I can handle the train environment. Also it takes too much time. I am just starting to try to set an itinerary. I am trying to decide , apart from BUrma, where else to go. Luang Prabang, Ankor, Hoe An or Hue, Bangkok or Hanoi,? If I don't want to duplicate similar things, what do you suggest.

MmePerdu

I've taken 3 boat trips on the Mekong River, one from China to Thailand, one on a freight boat from Houei Say in Laos, (across the river from Chiang Khong in northern Thailand) to Luang Prabang and this one on the same route. This is the one I'd recommend: http://www.luangsay.com/

Craig

Wow, 5 weeks! Use Bangkok as your base and do spend several days there for your big city experience. From Bangkok, you might include 3 days at Angkor Wat (Cambodia), 4 days or more in Luang Prabang, a week on Bali, several days in Hanoi and, of course the 10 days in Myanmar. All of these are reachable via short flights with the exception of Bali which takes 4 hours. I've included Bali in my recommendations because of its unique Hindu culture - it is not really a beach destination, as you might assume. Your could stay inland for your entire time and not miss much. In your planning, you must allow for the time it takes to get from one place to the other - flights aren't always convenient. Lastly, don't try to do too much, which should be easy given that you have 5 weeks.

MmePerdu

I should add that the boat trip above combines nicely with a stay in Chiang Mai. Not too long a bus ride to Chiang Saen on the river, taxi to Chiang Khong nearby and small boat across to Houei Say to the river cruise boat.

Sharcal

thanks,

Kathie

Five weeks sounds like a long time, but you can fill it up quickly in SE Asia.

Burma - if you really want to do a river cruise of three days, you'll need more time in Burma in order to cover Inle, Bagan and Yangon. You might choose to have your river cruise in Laos instead as MmePerdu suggests. Set your dates for Burma NOW - you need to contact a travel agent and get reservations. Burma is suddenly very popular, and it doesn't have the infrastructure to support more visitors.

Places I'd recommend you visit include Bangkok, Luang Prabang, Angkor Wat, Georgetown (Penang) Malaysia, perhaps the Golden Triangle area of Thailand. I'd say choose either VN for a week or Bali for a week. Bali would be a nice contrast to your other destinations.

MmePerdu

Along with Penang which I love, I'd also suggest Kuching on the Malaysian side of Borneo. Lots of interesting side trips from this most civilized and pleasant small city.

If the Golden Triangle which Kathie mentions is of interest this is the area from which the river cruise I mentioned leaves from to Luang Prabang.

Kathie

Kuching is delightful, but it takes time to get there as you have to connect either through KL or Singapore.

Sharcal

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am now going to do more research within the confines of your ideas. Had not thought of Bali. I hope to post again in about a week, after the research, and get your feedback then. Have a great week all.

MmePerdu

You can also get to Kuching from other parts of Malaysian Borneo (Sabah & Sarawak) or Brunei by plane and boat if exploring other parts of the island.

Sharcal

Hi again, I am new to this forum stuff, so I hope I am doing this right, by just adding to my original topic. I have spent the last few days researching some more, after reading your opinions. I think going to Bali or Penang is rushing it because it is further away. I think I can get a great experience without it. So this is what I think. Bangkok, Yangoon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Luang Parang, Nam ou river-Nong Kiaou, Hoi An, Siem Riep for Angkor temples, Bangkok. What do you all think? How are the logistics of this route. Or I could reverse it depending on weather and availability in Burma for the places I want.

MmePerdu

A few words on the subject of booking in Burma. As many trip reports on the subject strongly recommended the use of travel agents, something I haven't felt I needed on past trips in Asia, I thought I'd listen to the advice. I contacted the most recommended agent first who has never responded. I contacted another who did respond after some time but has not confirmed anything. So about 2 weeks ago I decided I needed to try to do it myself and have largely been successful in confirming accommadations with 1 proviso - all of my first choices are booked solid. We're still waiting for confirmation of internal flights being handled (I hope) by out Yangon hosts.

So I recommend you begin making arrangements ASAP, however you decide to do it, as it seems Burma is booked to the rafters in the near future. Our trip is in November. Or it's possible our style of travel is not posh enough for these now very busy agencies to bother with.

One more thing, you may find a place on a tour. We considered Intrepid Tours who did have some availability:
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/destin...burma+(myanmar)

MmePerdu

I'll add that I'm not in any way criticizing the Myanmar travel agents. I have no doubt they're doing their best with the deluge they must be experiencing. If I were in their shoes I'd certainly accept the most profitable clients. But I do wish they'd drop us an email saying they don't have time for everyone.

Sharcal

I understand your frustration, but from what I read on other peoples report, you have to be a bit patient. I am hoping I can use the agent Kathie and others have used, Santa Maria, but I am not quite ready to book.

MmePerdu

I waited weeks for a reply and it was Santa Maria who never responded. You might put out feelers to see who is inclined to take you on even if you don't have specific dates pinned down. It might also help you make decisions on dates in your itinerary.

Sharcal

That is an idea.

Kathie

When you are dealing with travel agents in Burma, you have to be both patient and persistent. The internet is not reliable in Burma, so if you don't get a response, you have to be willing to send another email. Our agent suggested that we always send any emails to two of their addresses. There are also issues with emails from Burma getting quarantined to your spam folder. I opened a gmail account just for my correspendence with Burma.

My bias - but I wouldn't consider a tour group to Burma.

OK,so your curent thought is
"Bangkok, Yangoon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Luang Parang, Nam ou river-Nong Kiaou, Hoi An, Siem Riep for Angkor temples, Bangkok" You have 10 stops. That is possible, but pushing it a bit for 5 weeks. I'd be inclinded to cut one stop. The logistics - within Burma, that is a fine itinerary (though leave your time in Yangon for the end so you'll be back in Yangon to catch your flight to Bangkok in plenty of time). From Inle Lake to Luang Prabang will be at least a day maybe two - fly to Yangon, fly to Bangkok, fly to LP (one flight a day). Is Nam ou river-Nong Kiaou a cruise? where does the cruise end? From there to Hoi An is likely to be another complex connection. And it makes more sense to fly from LP to SR logistically. Cutting Hoi An will make your itinerary easier.

Take a look at the Bangkok Air Discovery Pass. Bangkok Air flies a number of legs you'll need that are otherwise fairly expensive.

This sounds like a wonderful trip!

Sharcal

Kathie, do you have both of the e-mail address for Santa Maria? Do I( just e-mail them with my requests? Is the only way to Burma from Bangkok? Can I go from Hanoi, or from Luang Prabang? I thought that if my dates in BUrma were more flexible, I could either start there, or end there,, or even in the middle. Maybe I do Hanoi,Hoi An, Angkor (siem Riep), Luang Prabang, Bangkok Burma, Bangkok, home. Or fly from BUrma back to Hanoi and then home

Sharcal

I found the answer to my own question Kathie, NO there does not seem to be any flight to Burma that doesn't stop in Bangkok first, so I have to go through there anyway. Maybe I Fly to Hanoi, Hoi An,SR,LP,Bangkok, Burma, Bangkok, home or Bangkok,,SR,,Hoi An,Hanoi,,LP, Bangkok, Burma, Bangkok, home?

MmePerdu

There are flights from Singapore also.