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Started By
Message
Updated - Going to Laos and Myanmar
Posted on 9/7/17 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 9/7/17 at 12:36 pm
Welcome to suggestions for these locales, would really appreciate it.
So I burned a ton of American miles and have this itinerary:
AUS - SFO - Hong Kong - Bangkok flying Cathay Pacific Business class with my buddy.
Day 1: Land in Bangkok and probably catch flight to Vientiane and do a quick afternoon there and then on to Vang Vieng.
Day 2: Full day in Vang Vieng. Things on our list in VV are Blue Lagoon, tubing, and whatever.
Day 3: Finish up whatever we may want to do and head to Luang Prabang.
Day 4/5: Luang Prabang and area around it: Definitely going to check out Kuang Si Waterfall
Day 6 - 8: Yangon - Check out the pagoda and the old dilapidated colonial architecture.
Day 9 - 10: Bagan temple complex.
Day 11: Flying Cathay Dragon/Cathay Pacific business class from Yangon - Hong Kong - Chicago and then back to Austin.
Not sure if I'll be able to get to Naypyidaw for the story of it. We'll see how this may change.
In an effort to make sure I'm not missing anything, I seek your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps I've missed a must see.
Scenario: My wife(no pics) has graciously accepted the fact I have more vacation time than her, and I have some points to burn to Asia. I'll be going with a buddy (TBD), but I'm making the destination decision. Travel would be towards end of monsoon season September to November 2018 period. These itineraries are loose, so if there is a good suggestion or a wholesale change, please reply.
First, what's ruled out: Thailand, Vietnam, Japan. Places I've been to or my wife ruled out since she wants to go with me. Fair enough. Philippines and Indonesia seem more romantic but prove me wrong. South Korea just isn't high on my list.
I've also been to Bangkok, Thai islands, Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Northern India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur) but I guess I'd consider Southern India (Kerala/Goa). Laos seems out because you usually couple that with Thailand or Vietnam, but let me know if I'm wrong there.
Places/itineraries I'm considering.
Current Leader: Myanmar
Why? It is Myanmar, that's why. I also have a thing for British colonialism in the region. Start in Rangoon (fine, Yangon), go to Bagan, Inle lake, etc. I'd make a stop for TD at the new capital Naypyidaw because it is so damn weird. Google it!
2nd: China
Why? I've only been to Shanghai for a day. It was rad.
Start at Guilin/Yangshuo and work my way towards Beijing. Stops would be at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar) and X'ian (Terracotta warriors).
3rd: Lhasa, Kathmandu Nepal, Bhutan
Why? I've never met someone who has been to Bhutan.
Issues here are the permits required for Tibet and Bhutan, and at most I'd just take a peak at Everest from the ground or Everest flight since it takes 10 days or something to trek to base camp. It may also be difficult timing wise with how little traffic these airports deal with.
Generally speaking, I'm looking for a little boozing, a little adventure, and some history.
So I burned a ton of American miles and have this itinerary:
AUS - SFO - Hong Kong - Bangkok flying Cathay Pacific Business class with my buddy.
Day 1: Land in Bangkok and probably catch flight to Vientiane and do a quick afternoon there and then on to Vang Vieng.
Day 2: Full day in Vang Vieng. Things on our list in VV are Blue Lagoon, tubing, and whatever.
Day 3: Finish up whatever we may want to do and head to Luang Prabang.
Day 4/5: Luang Prabang and area around it: Definitely going to check out Kuang Si Waterfall
Day 6 - 8: Yangon - Check out the pagoda and the old dilapidated colonial architecture.
Day 9 - 10: Bagan temple complex.
Day 11: Flying Cathay Dragon/Cathay Pacific business class from Yangon - Hong Kong - Chicago and then back to Austin.
Not sure if I'll be able to get to Naypyidaw for the story of it. We'll see how this may change.
In an effort to make sure I'm not missing anything, I seek your thoughts and ideas. Perhaps I've missed a must see.
Scenario: My wife(no pics) has graciously accepted the fact I have more vacation time than her, and I have some points to burn to Asia. I'll be going with a buddy (TBD), but I'm making the destination decision. Travel would be towards end of monsoon season September to November 2018 period. These itineraries are loose, so if there is a good suggestion or a wholesale change, please reply.
First, what's ruled out: Thailand, Vietnam, Japan. Places I've been to or my wife ruled out since she wants to go with me. Fair enough. Philippines and Indonesia seem more romantic but prove me wrong. South Korea just isn't high on my list.
I've also been to Bangkok, Thai islands, Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Northern India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur) but I guess I'd consider Southern India (Kerala/Goa). Laos seems out because you usually couple that with Thailand or Vietnam, but let me know if I'm wrong there.
Places/itineraries I'm considering.
Current Leader: Myanmar
Why? It is Myanmar, that's why. I also have a thing for British colonialism in the region. Start in Rangoon (fine, Yangon), go to Bagan, Inle lake, etc. I'd make a stop for TD at the new capital Naypyidaw because it is so damn weird. Google it!
2nd: China
Why? I've only been to Shanghai for a day. It was rad.
Start at Guilin/Yangshuo and work my way towards Beijing. Stops would be at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar) and X'ian (Terracotta warriors).
3rd: Lhasa, Kathmandu Nepal, Bhutan
Why? I've never met someone who has been to Bhutan.
Issues here are the permits required for Tibet and Bhutan, and at most I'd just take a peak at Everest from the ground or Everest flight since it takes 10 days or something to trek to base camp. It may also be difficult timing wise with how little traffic these airports deal with.
Generally speaking, I'm looking for a little boozing, a little adventure, and some history.
This post was edited on 11/19/17 at 10:09 pm
4
Posted on 9/7/17 at 12:52 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I've been to Myanmar and I can highly recommend it. This was 5 years ago so I'm not sure what it's like now but It was one of my favorite places I visited on my 4 month trip to se Asia.
Posted on 9/7/17 at 1:02 pm to MnM
quote:
I've been to Myanmar and I can highly recommend it. This was 5 years ago so I'm not sure what it's like now but It was one of my favorite places I visited on my 4 month trip to se Asia.
Sweet. Can you drop some favorites in here and maybe a little explanation as to why compared to the other places you've been?
I think my biggest draw is it hasn't been totally taken over by westerners yet and probably closer to Thailand, say 40 years ago. I'm sure Chinese tourists are crowding there but they are every where these days.
This post was edited on 9/7/17 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 9/7/17 at 2:22 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Of your list, I'd put Kerala/Goa at the top. Interesting food, landscape, people.....backwaters/houseboat tours, spices, tea growing in the hills....
Posted on 9/7/17 at 3:07 pm to hungryone
quote:
Of your list, I'd put Kerala/Goa at the top. Interesting food, landscape, people.....backwaters/houseboat tours, spices, tea growing in the hills....
Ya, I researched it a bit when I did northern India and am interested, but I think the thing holding me back the most is it is just too recent to go back with what's ahead of me. I was there in 2013. I understand the south is different from the north culturally, just not too sure its appreciable to an American with two weeks to spend.
I'm a big India fan though. Place is wild.
This post was edited on 9/7/17 at 3:54 pm
Posted on 9/7/17 at 9:31 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Myanmar
Never been, but I agree this should be at the top. Just very intriguing to me.
I know you said, Korea isn't high on your list, but there's some great places to see there.
quote:. I can assure you on the boozing. Soju!
Generally speaking, I'm looking for a little boozing, a little adventure, and some history.
quote:
work my way towards Beijing
There's some great stuff to see in China, but I was very underwhelmed with Beijing.
Posted on 9/7/17 at 11:00 pm to speckledawg
quote:
There's some great stuff to see in China, but I was very underwhelmed with Beijing.
Ya, I'd probably prioritize the Great Wall over the city itself.
quote:
. I can assure you on the boozing. Soju
Ya it's not good for boozing when I kinda ruled out all the good places to booze! I appreciate the Myanmar vote. Wondering if anyone isn't intrigued/had a shitty time there.
This post was edited on 9/7/17 at 11:01 pm
Posted on 9/7/17 at 11:05 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I went to Rangoon, bagan, and inle lake. Bagan was really cool with all the ancient temples and I remember inle lake having an amazing landscape. At the time I was there visas had just opened up so there weren't many westerns or tourists. It felt like going back in time 30 years. Not sure if it's still like that but I think that's one of the reasons I liked it so much compared to some of the other countries.
Posted on 9/8/17 at 8:11 am to MnM
quote:
I went to Rangoon, bagan, and inle lake. Bagan was really cool with all the ancient temples and I remember inle lake having an amazing landscape. At the time I was there visas had just opened up so there weren't many westerns or tourists. It felt like going back in time 30 years. Not sure if it's still like that but I think that's one of the reasons I liked it so much compared to some of the other countries.
Thanks for reply. Ya, that's what I was thinking. I imagine it hasn't gotten too far down the line in 4/5 years. They still have some work to do.
Posted on 9/8/17 at 10:26 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:Some of the best and most pristine diving in the world, if you are into that.
Philippines
Hong Kong or Taiwan would be awesome, most western of the Chinese cities.
Posted on 9/8/17 at 12:04 pm to Mahootney
quote:
Hong Kong
I would be flying through Hong Kong, but its high on the wife's list to visit. Though, with what I'm looking to do, it would also be difficult to give it the time it deserves.
I'm going to Africa in March for a little over a week in March 2018 so this is spending out most of my remainder vacation, leaving a few days for my brother in law's wedding and Christmas
This post was edited on 9/8/17 at 12:06 pm
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