Backpacking in S.E.Asia
Backpacking in S.E.Asia is a truly marvelous experience, this region has got to be the most beautiful on Earth. The delights of overland travel from Malaysia to Myanmar, Cambodia to China, Vietnam to Vientiane, Saigon to Siem Reap ( Angkor Wat ) are out there just waiting for you to come and visit.
I usually spend 3 weeks travelling around a country, this is ample time to see the major sites of interest provided that you have done your homework. A good guide book, such as Lonely Planet or Rough Guide will give you all the facts that you require to plan an itinerary. If you find that you do not have enough time to see all the sights that you would like then you can always return another year.
My first taste of backpacking came from a trip to India in the early 90's, this is a magical country, rich in history, culture, and architecture. For the first time traveller I can thoroughly recommend India there is so much to see and do there.
Click on the links below to view my experiences of backpacking in Cambodia and Vietnam.
I have also created a site solely on the subject of the Tunnels of Cu Chi. There are a series of photographs and a history of the tunnels for anyone to browse at their leisure. The 'photos' may take a while to download as I have left them 'as is' not compressed, so there is more detail. Click on the Tunnels button below to view the web page.
NEW: I have added my friend Dave B's diary of his Travelling in Vietnam and Singapore 2005 (with his permission of course) to this web site. Anyone who is contemplating visiting these countries and has a little time to read it will find it amusing and (I hope) helpful. Just Click on the button Singapore_Viet below to view.
NEW: I have added a news feeder to this site. This is a BBC news site.You can access the news from around the World from here. This is constantly updated, so the information is always up to date. Just 'Scroll' to the bottom of this page to access it.
If you are heading for Thailand, maybe to do some shopping in Bangkok before catching the 'plane' home or are going to a foreign Embassy to get your onward visas then Click on the (hostel in Bangkok) link below to view a good, clean and safe hostel owned by Anil. The hostel is situated just off the Sukhumvit Road so it is very central for the nightlife and the Embassies in Bangkok. It would be almost impossible to list all the hostels on this web site but I have been there and can thoroughly recommend it.
Also included is a link for cheap travel insurance with comprehensive cover for backpackers and gap year students looking for long stay, including sports and adventure activities cover. This is a UK based company. Please bear in mind, I do not get any renumeration from this company. This placement is purely to assist travellers find cheap travel insurance.
The Author of the Myanmar page is my friend Dave B. He and his then girlfriend, now wife Jackie, spent 18 months travelling in this region. He is a veritable fount of information about these parts.
Special thanks go to Ian L, Graham C and David B