New Route and other things coming together

As you can see, I have drawn up a new map of our route, of course its still not set in stone,

This is the basic plan,

Fly into HK late March, spend a week or so there, and do a trip over to JWs family in Macau for 2 or 3 days,

Then fly in mid April to Taipei in Taiwan, and travel around the island (down the East coast and up the West back to Taipei)for around 2 months.

Then fly back to HK, and make our way into China for one month, travel North, Cross the border into Mongolia, spend maybe a week there, staying a few days in a ger hopefully.

Then back into China for 1 month, travelling South to the Vietnam border.

Then travel through SE Asia

1 month in Vietnam, 1 month in Cambodia, 1 month in Laos, then cross into Thailand

Because we are travelling in overland, we will only get 15 days in Thailand, but should be ok, because from all reports Thailand has far too many tourists already!!

Then cross into Malaysia, where we'll spend at least 3 months, travelling South and then through Malaysian borneo,

Making our way back to KL, we will fly to the Philippines for hopefully a month, and then fly back to KL, from there, we will go through Singapore and head to Indonesia for a month (hopefully more if we can) From there, we will probably make our way back to KL, and get a flight from there back to HK to fly home! In total, it should take around 14/ 15 months ( or however long we can get away with it for!!!)

Also JW gave his notice to work today, so very exciting that the ball is really rolling!

Map of tourism...

I came across this map today...
It is of the most visited places in the world (the lightest areas being the most and dark areas the least)

It's really interesting,
Especially how Europe is almost completely yellow. and most of Africa is dark.

Of course with my thirst for far away undiscovered places (there is of course, no such thing)
it mades me want to go to all the dark areas!!!



This is a zoom in of Asia, excited to see lots of the places we are going are dark or at least purple!
Yay!

A new map post

So, now that the ball is rolling (eek!)

I started making some serious decisions about routes and dates (double eek!)

I did a lot of research on adding Mongolia to our trip,
And also maybe venturing to Papa New Guinea.

Nothing's set in stone, and that the good thing about it.

I also thought about Air Asia, and it makes sense to use the cheap flights to cut time and expense when travelling through places,
so I decided that we should use KL as a jump off point for The Philippines and as a end point to fly back from (or to fly from to HK and fly back from there

A very rough and unfinished idea of dates and routes...

Feb/Mar- Arrive Hong Kong

Mar-Oct- China, Taiwan, China, S.Korea, China, Mongolia, China, Tibet, China

Oct- Vietnam

Nov- Cambodia

Dec- Laos

Jan- Thailand

Feb- Malaysia

Mar/Apr- Philippines

Apr/May- Malaysia

May/June- Indonesia

June- Malaysia/HK

June- leave to London

already some added extras...

After proudly posting my 'finished' route through china, it was only inevitable that I would make changes right?

After doing a bit of research, I have decided that it might be worth doing more of the North West, on the Silk Road route.

So, we will be visiting the one province I hadnt included in our plans, Xinjiang.

There is a 20 hour sleeper train that goes from Lanzhou to Urumqi (fact: the furthest city from the ocean in the world) which also stops in Turpan.

And after adding Xinjiang,

I thought, seeing as we are passing so close by, why not venture into Mongola?

So with that I decided to add a whole new country to our trip!!!

These two detours should only add a few weeks to our trip.

And it may mean that we dont bother travelling up to Har'bin, which I was uming and ahhing about anyway.

But we'll see!

China route map

Ive finally completed the rough guide to our route through China,

Starting in Hong Kong,

and leaving China to visit Taiwan, Japan and South Korea and then finally leaving China for the last time into Vietnam at the friendship Pass...

This picture isnt that clear, but you can see the general route,

Also, this isnt set in stone, it will change and evolve as we travel...

It exciting!

Matsu Island

Ive been getting quite deep into routes this week.

Ive had a re think about the China route,


Firstly because Ive figured out that its probably a lot cheaper and easier to fly in to Hong Kong,
And secondly, with the news about the floods in Southern China at the moment, it would be very unwise to be in southern china next summer (rainy season)


So, Ive decided to start in Hong Kong, and do some of the south, before heading to the northern provences for the summer months.
(Ill put a map up on here when I get round to doing one)


Also, been looking at getting to Taiwan...
and (kinda excitedly) discovered (thanks to that reliable man in seat61) that the best way to get there from china is to get a ferry from Fuzhou to Matsu (a tiny island off the coast of china) then to Taiwan.
It looks very cool!!!
see....

Matsu Island...

It doesnt look like there is much there, and even googling doesnt bring up much...

(these pics are from google maps)
But I just like the idea of going somewhere totally out of the way and where not many people go!

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!

Time for another map...

For no other reason than to make me feel better

Air Asia Routes

Looking at possible flights to travel between countries,
Air Asia always gets loads of backpackers recommending it for cheap flights.
But actually I was frustrated that they didn't have what I need and have pretty limited flight routes, everything goes through KL and Bangkok

I was looking for a Japan (possibly Kansai airport) to Shanghai, China flight as a possible way to cut down transit cost (the boat is about £200)
And a Vientiane, Laos to Bangkok flight to get around the visa issues of coming into Thailand overland.

Japan

Japan makes me excited.

I think its one of the main places Ive always wanted to see.

Im a bit gutted that its more expensive than the rest of asia, because I could happily spend 6 months or more there if I could afford it.

As is stands I think we'll spend 2 months there, going from bottom to top and down again.

Ive worked out you can get a ferry from Qingdao, China to Shimonoseki, Japan.

I cant wait...

China routes (kinda) sorted

As JW has been in SA this week (30 degrees everyday there!- so jealous) Ive been doing quite a bit of late night research on China routes,
I'm pretty much sorted on how we will be travelling through, although every little place or festival I read about I want to go to!
I know, i know, I cant do EVERYTHING, but you know, I feel like the world is out there, and I wanna grab it with both hands and get everything I can out of it.
Also, I'm not sure if Ill ever have an opportunity to go back to China and explore properly, and I should try and see everything I wanna see NOW!

Sometimes I worry that I'm being terribly selfish wanting to travel, travel, travel.
As I know JW is really the settling down type.
But I suppose that I have never been one to settle and stay still for too long,
I would (totally) travel for the rest of my life if I could (you know what why cant I???- Oh, yeah- Money)

I guess we have to compromise.

Ok, ok, ok, So I keep changing my mind

I have been researching routes almost every day this week.
I sadly have come to the conclusion that to travel to Tibet through Nepal is just toooooo awkward and expensive ( you need special permits, guides, to join a tour and then it effects your china visa)
So Ive come to the conclusion that after all that, I'll have to kiss goodbye to Kathmandu (for now) and start back at the drawing board again!
I think what the easiest thing will be is to fly directly into China (Possibly Beijing, or another major airport) and travel from there, hopefully still getting a chance to travel in Tibet at some point. I think it might be good to get a multiple entry visa, and then we can head intro S. Korea and Japan from China, instead of doing them later in the trip (might be good because I was worried about missing the Japanese blossoms in spring, but this way it might work.
Its weird how these things evolve over time eh?
Anyway, rather more important things are going on as JW's Dad is very ill, so JW is going out to Cape Town this weekend ( I wish I could go, but with saving money and work, its just not possible)So his focus is on that.

All moved and raring to go!

After lots of stress and a few arguements, I moved everything I own into one room in my parents house this weekend.

I'm back to work today, and can now really start thinking about where, what, when and how much?

I've been reading my lonely planet books like crazy, and trying to get together plans where I can!

So now have a few more route details...

Hopefully, should be starting in Kathmandu in Nepal, then travelling from there to Lhasa, Tibet.

On the way doing Everest base camp.

From Lhasa, travel through Tibet to Golmud.

Through Qinghai province to Xining,

Then on to Langzhou in Gansu.

And head towards Xi'an.

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?)