Thinking about...

money.
Its stressful worrying about having enough money when we go.

this is what makes it all worth it...

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?)