I will be leaving on Feb. 8 for my big trip that will hopefully take me from India-Nepal-Burma-Thailand-Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam-China. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sigh,
I would like to comment on your Burma/Myanmar portion of the trip. I lived there for 3 years and was just wondering about some of the stops you plan on making and the time alocated to each. Why would you want to spend the better part of 4 days visiting Kyaiktiyo? You can hire a car and make this a long day trip, I have done it. The three days in Mandalay is more than enough and Bagan can be easily done in 3, the market there is nothing special and the trip to popa can easily be done in less than a full day. The temples of Bagan are in a fairly condensed area and you can rent a bike or car and see most of it in a day and even have time for an evening river cruise. The trip down from from the top end is going to be very tiring as the roads can be difficult. My favorite part of the country was Inle lake which you have bypassed for some reason, its one of the best spots in the country. I would spend at least a couple of days there and then fly back to Yangon, takes less than an hour by air or 8-12 hours by bus depending on road conditions. I also knew no one in 3 years that bothered traveling to Mawlamyine for a visit. The other side of the delta might be more interesting, napali beach or north up the coast to sitwee or myruk U is a good trip. I guess you have your reasons though for visiting this area. You will also be visiting during the hottest time of the year, just before the rainy season hits when you arrive. If the rains come early, your entire trip will be on the wet side but will be cooler. The real downside to this is that all the transportation slows down during the rains so your bus trips may take longer than you anticipate if it begins to rain early.
I would also schedule in a trip up to chang mai while in thailand or down to pukett to get a look at two very different parts of Thailand. I am living in India now and dont envy your plan to take the bus between many of your stops. It's a cheap way to go but slow and crowded and can be very hot. I am going to be doing an 11 day trek in Nepal about the same time you are there. 30 day there seems like a stretch from what my friends say but I don't know for sure. Hope your plans work out and your trip is all you hope it will be.
Thanks so much for your comments.
I have changed my itineary around based on the suggestions I have received and may add Inle Lake/Pinndaya Cave if I have time. I may also head north first then extend my visa in Yangon and do the southern portions. I have so much time in Kyaiktiyo because I want to hike around area some and hike to top of the Golden Rock. As for Thailand, I have been there before and have visited Chiang Mai and Phuket. India is going to be hardest part of this trip (I think). Nothing is written in stone and we will see how things turn out. Keep in touch and if we are in Nepal at the same time maybe we can meet up for a beer. Thanks! Brian
DAY 99. Yangon (ChaukHtat Gyi Pagoda – Botataung Pagoda – Shwedagone Pagoda)
DAY 100. Yangon
DAY 101. Yangon/Mawlamyine
DAY 102. Mawlamyine
DAY 103. Mawlamyine/Kyaikmaraw/Mawlamyine
DAY 104. Mawlamyine to Hpa-an – Boat
DAY 105. Hpa-an
DAY 106. Hpa-an
DAY 107. Hpa-an/Kinpin
DAY 108. Mt. Kyaiktiyo
DAY 109. Mt Kyaiktiyo
DAY 110. Mt Kyaiktiyo
DAY 111. Mt. Kyaiktiyo/Yangon
DAY 112. Yangon
DAY 113. Yangon/Mandalay either by train or overnight bus
DAY 114. Mandalay (Sagaing Hill)
DAY 115. Mandalay to Hsipaw
DAY 116. Hsipaw
DAY 117. Hsipaw
DAY 118. Hsipaw/Mandalay
DAY 119. Mandalay/Mingun – boat than boat to Amarapura
DAY 120. Day
DAY 121. Day
DAY 122. Amarapura to Monywa – bus (thanboddhay Paya)
DAY 123. Monywa to Pakokku bus
DAY 124. Pakokku/Bagan 10 hour boat ride (The local boat leaves only on Wed & Sunday. Malikha Express, leaves with fix departure dates. Check out first.)
DAY 125. Bagan (Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigone Pagoda, Htilominlo Pagoda)
DAY 126. Bagan (Mt. Popa)
DAY 127. Bagan (Bawbawgyi Pagoda, BeBe Gyi Pagoda, Payagyi and Payama Pagoda) (Sri Khitera – ancient capitol)
DAY 128. Bagan
DAY 129. Yangon
DAY 130. Yangon/Bangkok
So what happens if one of those buses blows a tire? That itinerary is a little rigid.
This is not meant to be followed strictly, but a blue print of places I would like to go and the best way to get from place to place. However, I am sure things will arise and I may want to stay in a place longer or leave a place earlier etc. However, I need to have some plan of places I would like to visit - others may arise. The only things that are set in stone is my one way ticket to Mumbai, my hotel in Mumbai and my train ticket to Aurangabad - other than that I have a trek in Nepal (timing not set in stone yet) - volunteering in laos (nothing set) and I would like to add a retreat at a buddhist monestary in India and/or in Thailand.
DAY 230. Ratanakiri Providence ( Province, I presume?).
Why not visit Ratanakiri ( Ban Lung ).. . from Stung Treng, a place that you will have to disembark when you cross over from Laos to Cambodia at Don Krolor?
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