Almost Trip Time to SE Asia AGAIN.

As many of you who read my blogs, know, I went to SE Asia last winter and was based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I'll be off again at the end of October 2015. I will again be blogging the trip but haven't set up the blogs yet on my website. There is time yet, but not a lot.

This year's itinerary includes an apartment in Chiang Mai again but a different and better one from last year. I'll be at the Smith Residence. Should anyone be waltzing around Chiang Mai while I am there, I would love to have a smoothie or coffee (lots of fruit smoothies are drunk in Chiang Mai). The itinerary includes a stop in Taiwan on the way out and a 10 sojourn in Kuala Lumphur and Borneo during the trip. Both Taiwan and Malaysia are return of home hospitality as a result of hosting some people in my home. It is another variation on home exchange when dates do not match up and everyone is flexible.

My blog can be found here: altecockertravels.weebly.com. I will post the link to the trip blogs as they evolve so check back here if you are interested. The more internet savvy are, of course, welcome to go directly to the blog and go to the upper right hand corner where you will find "Upcoming and Recent Trips". A menu will drop down and you should see what you want once the trip starts. Once I get to Thailand, an almost immediate trip is planned to the Surin Elephant Round Up, so that should be interesting. Then I have a friend from Paris coming in to stay with me for some days in Chiang Mai and we might do some traveling around together. On a long trip sometimes you plan things as you go, as over planning is not a good idea.

While I am not home exchanging in Thailand, I will be gone a long time. I do have people in and out of my house (as well as friendly neighbors keeping an eye on things). Sometimes making preparations for your house takes as much time as planning the trip.

Wherever your travels take you, have a blast!

I'm glad you've found a better apartment for yourself in CM. And your destination this year don't require visas, so I hope for a smoother trip for you.

Enjoy!

Yes, no advance visas and I will be seeing the orangutans in Borneo! Just visas at the airports.

The Taiwan blog has now begun:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...mber-2015.html

Enjoying reading your detailed report. Where do I find information on your apt rental in Taiwan? As to the weather - is there a better time than fall to visit Taipei? What months are best for less humidly and rain? I appreciate your help; we are just starting our SE trip planning.

How nice to see someone else on Fodors visiting Taipei. I was there in 2010, just as the mainland tourist invasion was getting underway - sounds like it was good timing. At the time I thought my timing was terrible as I arrived just ahead of a typhoon (see https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...oon-on-taiwan/ ) but I don't remember having the problems with humidity you describe.

Assorted comments:

The Chinese characters used in Taiwan are not all the same as those used on the mainland - the Communists simplified some of them.

Your Palace Museum visit sounds awful, and I thought my problems with crowds in Europe this year were bad enough. I really think museums et. al. should set aside some hours for groups and others for independents.

I was very disappointed with the set up at Beitou, but I had just come from Japan.

The really fast trains only run down the west side of the island, that's why your "fast" train to Hualien wasn't impressive.

I had a car and driver my first day at Taroko Gorge. I thought it was well worth the cost, but I don't remember how much it was. I didn't think it was expensive at the time. I had trouble finding somewhere to eat in Hualien, too. Loved the gorge!

I finished up in Taipei yesterday and am now at the Smith Suites in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the next 3 months.

Please note that I did not rent an apartment in Taipei. I was part of a reciprocal hosting arrangement. I hosted the lady and her daughter and she hosted me back; I got the deal through homeforexchange.com. Of course, it is not as nice as staying at a hotel, but, on the other hand, you get to go somewhere you might not have visited if you did not have the arrangement and I had access to a washer. So, for me it worked. I do prefer simultaneous home exchanges over hospitality, but you have a very difficult time getting home exchanges in Asia, so I decided to be flexible.

I am now in a long stay apartment in Chiang Mai. I came to Chiang Mai last year and enjoyed my time here, but I have no plans to live permanently in SE Asia as some retirees do. I like visiting my house in the Washington, DC, area as well.

Happy travels wherever you go and how you do it.

Here is a list of all the blogs from the trip. Please note that some are currently empty (e.g., Malaysia and Bangkok) because I have not been there yet.

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...mber-2015.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...mber-2015.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...mber-2015.html

Oops, the list got sent to fodors before I was finished. The following blogs are to be added to the list:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...uary-2016.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...mber-2015.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...ber-12-17.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/bangkok1.html

The outlines of the trip are contained here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...2015-2016.html

The Malaysia blogs will be here once I get to Malaysia:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-malaysia.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...uary-2016.html

Just a follow up word on this trip:

I was hosted in Taiwan and will be hosted in Malaysia--both in Kuala Lumpur and Borneo.

In Chiang Mai, I rented a serviced apartment at the Smith Suites (highly recommend).

Singapore was the Dorsett Singapore (hotel). I had a good stay and recommend the hote.

Bangkok, as of now, has yet to be arranged. More on Bangkok will be on the blog.

You can reach me through the blog if you have specific questions.