New Year, New Plans...

Happy New Year!

Its 2011, and the year that we really get our asses in gear and go travelling!

There have been some early hiccups though,

After a bit of research, it became clear that the China visas are going to be a little harder that we orginally thought.

We were hoping for a 6 month multiple according to advice, the most we are going to get is a double entry visa valid for 60 days at a time.

Giving us only 4 months in China.

Even this visa might not be doable, because apparently China are constantly changing their visa rules...we might only be able to get a double entry 30 days at a time, giving us only 2 months!

So, this is going to make a big difference to our trip...

If we can only get a double entry, it will mean that we will have to do Taiwan first before we enter China, and leave out South Korea, so our 1 exit can be to Mongolia.

Really stressed about it when I found out, because I'd been looking at our planned China trip in minute detail and this might mean cutting out the majority of places we planned to go to.

BUT, the truth is we always said we would be flexible about our route and stuff, so we will have to adapt.

If we cant get the Visa we want, we’ll just have to agree to come back another day and do the bits we missed out on!!

AND, it frees up some money to spend more time elsewhere- like the Philippines or Indonesia! OH YEAH!

Happy Friday

Its payday Friday!

Is there any better day on the month??
(well, maybe payday Saturday)

I went to Itchy feet today, which is their official last day of being open.
It was a little disappointing, because the stuff wasn't as 'bargain-bin' as id hoped.
and i didnt see any of the stuff I was spying on their website

There was lots of jackets and backpacks on sale, but for only around 10% off and Ive not really decided what I need yet anyway.
I ended up only buying map of Indonesia that was 25% off.
It looked a little like this...




It got me a excited about travelling,
and excited about buying all those bits, like walking boots and stuff :)

Anyway,
I'm so glad it's the weekend, we are going to Woburn (!) so although its not as exotic as the places I normally chat about on here, Ill write how it was when i get back...
We come back Monday, so I have the day off...yay!

Having a down day...

wow, Im in a really shitty mood today.
So I need to think of stuff to cheer myself up with some stuff Im looking forward to....

1. Sleeper trains in China
I know to some these may be nightmarish journeys on horrible beds, but it one of the things Im weirdly looking forward to, Ive always liked train journeys and the idea of travelling overnight and sleeping on one is really exciting and pretty cool.
We'll probably end up doing quite a few of these on our travels.

2. Tokyo

3. Diving
I really want to learn to dive, and am super excited about doing it either in Thailand (might be a bit touristy and expensive) or indonesia.

4. Discovering random little places, things and people that arent on the tourist map.

5. Not working for a WHOLE YEAR AND MAYBE LONGER! WHOOOOP!

2010 is the year I start travelling

So Im thinking seriously about routes and stuff.

JW bought me a great Lonely Planet book on China to get my teeth into,

I have decided it will be cool to Start in Kathmandu, then travel to Lhasa, Tibet with an organised tour, From Lhasa, the plan is to get a train to Golmud in Qinghai province...then head East.

Map of China's Provinces

Also still mulling over the order, was thinking I might do Japan a little earlier, but I think Ive settled on...

China-Taiwan-China-Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore-Indonesia-Philippines-Japan

where, when, how?

The plan is to start in Tibet, travel through china for a few months.
Then through
Cambodia
Vietnam
Laos
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore

Then spend a few months exploring Indonesia

Through the Philippines, Taiwan.
Explore the Islands around Japan, then spend a few months travelling through Japan.

Then, possibly travel to Australia and New Zealand to do a working holiday for a few months

(possible detours through Northern India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and North and South Korea?)