Southeast Asia forum

Bazz

You don'y say how much time you have for the momentous journey. If you have 6 monts, then there will be heaps of suggestions. If only a short time....well!!!

I suggest it might be better if you gave yourself a more detailed plan in relation to time. It's not that you necessarily have to follow that plan, but in the process of planning you get to learn about possible stop off places, and how long travel can take in SE Asia.

Cheers

Bazz

In effect, your journey is to begin at BKK on 2nd September, and be at Southern Thailand for the full moon party on 23 October. That gives you 7 weeks.

The 'traditional' route is BKK, > Chiang Mai (++), > Chiang Khong/Huay Xai, >Luang Prabang, >Viang Veng, >Vientiane, >Pakse, >Siem Reap (via Thailand), >Phnom Penh, >Saigon, >Nha Trang, >Danang/Hoi An, >Hue, Hanoi (Halong Bay, Sapa), from whence you'd fly to BKK or southern Thailand.

This is 'explained' at:

http://www.travelfish.org/trip_planner/thailand-indochina-tour1

While this is 'achievable' in 7 weeks, much of your journey will be cacooned in various forms of transport. And, your hope of 1 day between places invariably isn't!!! The 'journey listed above (....tour1) requires - at the minimum - 27 actual days of travelling

I assume you've read:

http://www.travelfish.org/travel-planning/less-is-more

and looked at the various 'journey' options in the bottom section of 'Before you leave' in the middle of the grey section of the Travelfish 'header'.

Nevertheless, it's your journey (FULL STOP).

But, for mine, I'd drop Vietnam and just 'do' Thailand, Laos & Cambodia.

Reason?

Much of the interesting stuff in SE Asia is off the beaten track. And, when you are on the beaten track, you're being imposed upon to spend money on all sorts of 'tours', etc. Moreover, to get to 'relate' with people who aren't out to sell you stuff - and therefore more likely to let you into the real 'world' of SE Asian life - one really needs to be away from the beaten path (or at least the well worn beaten path.

As you've indicated you want to spend 12 months in Oz & Kiwiland, you could always take a flight to Vietnam from Oz during this journey (as a break) and 'do' Vietnam for a month.

I'd like some feedback from you on this before making any further suggestions.

- - - -

As for Malaysia, yes just continue on from Sthn Thailand (there are a couple of spots near the border with Malaysia that you need to be careful about (maybe train it from Hat Yai to Butterworth (to go to Penang). The western side of Malaysia is a mix of Chinese & malay (Nonya) and offers a wonderful contrast to Thailand. KL is very upmarket (for SE Asia), and Malaka is a great destination (as are Jahore Bahru & Singapore). If you can make it to Taman Negara, you'll see a totally different side to SE Asia.

Travelling on from Singapore to Indonesia is a well worn path. But, I think you'd be better to try Borneo (Kalimantan in Indonesia), Manado [great coral reefs] on Sulawesi, and island hop to Flores, Sumbawa, Lombok & Bali before heading to Oz. To me, Sumatra & Java are just huge Asian cities +/or support networks for cities.

- - - -

And, where in Oz, kiwiland are you aiming to see, etc.?

Hope this is a bit more helpful.

Cheers

I know this is completely unrelated but I hope you have booked accommodation or have a place to stay if you wanna be in Oz over xmas and new year. Esp if you are heading to Sydney and are planning to get there in December. Everywhere will be packed and hostels get ridiculously expensive!!!

Hey, Bazz

If you think Oz is chocka at chrissy, try kiwiland...

Nevertheless, as you are heading into Ch-ch, there are some options. One (which I'd recommend) is to go tramping/camping along the northern areas (of the South Island). If you can get yourself to Collingwood, and also get a camping permit for around there (maybe Puponga), I suggest you'll have a chrissy to remember for a long, long time.

Cheers