This will be my 3rd big independent travel adventure since 2008. The general strategy is to do a major trip every 2 years or so. This time, I plan on spending about 4.5 months in Asia, focusing mainly on Nepal, India, Burma, and the Philippines.
I'll be flying from Calgary to Kathmandu(35 hours) on Oct 3, 2012 and returning from Manilla on Feb 13, 2013. I don't travel with a detailed itinerary, but for this trip I'll first head to Nepal to do some trekking, then ship my trekking gear back to Calgary before flying to Delhi to explore India for a month or so. Then I'm back to Bangkok, to get a visa for Burma and a flight to Yangon. After 3 or 4 weeks in Burma, I'll head back to Thailand, and then finally fly to the Philippines for a few weeks.
Trekking in Nepal - 6 to 7 weeks total, with 32 days of trekking - yikes!!
I hooked up with Elsie James in September, to help with the Trekking itinerary and hiring of a Guide/Porter. I'll start with the Annapurna Base-camp(ABC) Trek for 14 days, then spend a few days in Pokhara before heading back to Kathmandu. If I really like the ABC trek, I'll confirm my flight to Lukla and head out on the Everest Base-camp(EBC) Trek, combining it with the high pass(Cho-La) over to the Gokyo Lakes region. This will take about 18 days after the short flight to Lukla. I'll be hiring a Guide/Porter in Kathmandu for both treks through Elsie James' trekking agency, so I'll only have to carry a day-pack. This will be "Tea-house" trekking, so no camping or tents are involved, but the accommodation and meals are very basic. Think sleeping bag, no running water, and basic meals supplied at the Tea-houses There are some high passes, so elevation and cold temperatures are involved, but I'm not climbing any of the "trekking peaks", or using any climbing gear. I'm not sure how much I'll like this type of long term trekking, as I've never done this type of multi-day hiking. But, I'm really looking forward to the Nepalese cultural experiences, and the views of the "big mountains".
Exploring India - 6 to 8 weeks
India has always fascinated me, and it might involve some of the most challenging independent travel I've attempted. They say you either love or hate India. I was in Mumbai a few years ago to teach a technical course in Telecommunications, but that was for only a couple weeks, and I was staying in a Business class hotel. This time is going to be a tad bit different, to say the least. I'm not sure that my traveling skills are up to the challenge, but I guess we'll soon find out.
I'll be starting in Delhi, then heading off to explore Rajasthan, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore NP, Bundi, Karauli, Udaipur, Pushkar, Orchha, Khajuraho, and Varanasi. I'll probably fly back to Bangkok from Kolkata(Calcutta). If I really like India, I might extend my travels to parts of the north such as Shimla and Amritsar. South India is an option, and as flights are cheap, I mind head down to Kerala and Goa for a couple weeks, depending on how much time I have.
I'll pick up a visa in Bangkok, and enough US cash to last 4 weeks (no ATMs, Travellers Cheques, or Credit Cards are accepted in Burma). Then I'll fly to Yangon on Air Asia.
Burma is very undeveloped compared to the rest of SE Asia, so it might be a bit challenging, but I'm hoping it will be very interesting. My rough itinerary includes Yangon, Mandalay, the Bagan Temple complex, an Ayeyarwaddy riverboat, and the Inle lake region.
Then back to Bangkok for a flight to the Philippines.
Philippines - 3 weeks
I want to explore the rice terrace in the north, as well as one of the islands... maybe Palawan. I hope to catch up with friends who live in the Philippines before flying back to Calgary from Manila.
Gear
After trekking in Nepal, I will ship my trekking gear back to Calgary, and travel light for the rest of the trip. I'll take my new Deuter Travelpack which I used in Central America I was trying to get the gear weight down to 10kg total, but it looks like it will be about the same weight as my previous trip (about 15kg total). This includes the pack weight(3.3kg), a Netbook(1.9kg), and Camera stuff.
I'll be flying from Calgary to Kathmandu(35 hours) on Oct 3, 2012 and returning from Manilla on Feb 13, 2013. I don't travel with a detailed itinerary, but for this trip I'll first head to Nepal to do some trekking, then ship my trekking gear back to Calgary before flying to Delhi to explore India for a month or so. Then I'm back to Bangkok, to get a visa for Burma and a flight to Yangon. After 3 or 4 weeks in Burma, I'll head back to Thailand, and then finally fly to the Philippines for a few weeks.
Trekking in Nepal - 6 to 7 weeks total, with 32 days of trekking - yikes!!
I hooked up with Elsie James in September, to help with the Trekking itinerary and hiring of a Guide/Porter. I'll start with the Annapurna Base-camp(ABC) Trek for 14 days, then spend a few days in Pokhara before heading back to Kathmandu. If I really like the ABC trek, I'll confirm my flight to Lukla and head out on the Everest Base-camp(EBC) Trek, combining it with the high pass(Cho-La) over to the Gokyo Lakes region. This will take about 18 days after the short flight to Lukla. I'll be hiring a Guide/Porter in Kathmandu for both treks through Elsie James' trekking agency, so I'll only have to carry a day-pack. This will be "Tea-house" trekking, so no camping or tents are involved, but the accommodation and meals are very basic. Think sleeping bag, no running water, and basic meals supplied at the Tea-houses There are some high passes, so elevation and cold temperatures are involved, but I'm not climbing any of the "trekking peaks", or using any climbing gear. I'm not sure how much I'll like this type of long term trekking, as I've never done this type of multi-day hiking. But, I'm really looking forward to the Nepalese cultural experiences, and the views of the "big mountains".
Exploring India - 6 to 8 weeks
India has always fascinated me, and it might involve some of the most challenging independent travel I've attempted. They say you either love or hate India. I was in Mumbai a few years ago to teach a technical course in Telecommunications, but that was for only a couple weeks, and I was staying in a Business class hotel. This time is going to be a tad bit different, to say the least. I'm not sure that my traveling skills are up to the challenge, but I guess we'll soon find out.
I'll be starting in Delhi, then heading off to explore Rajasthan, Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore NP, Bundi, Karauli, Udaipur, Pushkar, Orchha, Khajuraho, and Varanasi. I'll probably fly back to Bangkok from Kolkata(Calcutta). If I really like India, I might extend my travels to parts of the north such as Shimla and Amritsar. South India is an option, and as flights are cheap, I mind head down to Kerala and Goa for a couple weeks, depending on how much time I have.
I’ve been doing a bit of research
for my upcoming trip, and happened across this BBC Series on India.
The DVD includes six 1-hour episodes, narrated by Michael Wood. Michael who is a
young historian who travels throughout India, and narrates this series with
incredible energy. The narration and photography are amazing. I was really
impressed by this series. Highly recommended.
www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/
Burma - Myanmar - 3 to 4 weeks (or Sri Lanka)
www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/
Burma - Myanmar - 3 to 4 weeks (or Sri Lanka)
Burma is very undeveloped compared to the rest of SE Asia, so it might be a bit challenging, but I'm hoping it will be very interesting. My rough itinerary includes Yangon, Mandalay, the Bagan Temple complex, an Ayeyarwaddy riverboat, and the Inle lake region.
Then back to Bangkok for a flight to the Philippines.
Philippines - 3 weeks
I want to explore the rice terrace in the north, as well as one of the islands... maybe Palawan. I hope to catch up with friends who live in the Philippines before flying back to Calgary from Manila.
Gear
After trekking in Nepal, I will ship my trekking gear back to Calgary, and travel light for the rest of the trip. I'll take my new Deuter Travelpack which I used in Central America I was trying to get the gear weight down to 10kg total, but it looks like it will be about the same weight as my previous trip (about 15kg total). This includes the pack weight(3.3kg), a Netbook(1.9kg), and Camera stuff.
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