Daydreaming of a Long Break

It was just some weeks ago that I came back from a relatively long trip (it is fairly long for Filipino workers) BUT I want to be back on the road again.

One of, somehow, my New Year's Resolutions is to save money and to save money meant not spending for traveling.  Oh well, New Year's Resolutions is valid only for a day.  Hahaha...

Last year, I have already booked tickets to Davao to visit friends there and join another friend who will be first time going to Mindanao.  I've also told myself that that would be the last time traveling for the first half of the year.  Hahaha...

BUT today, feeling the itch, I was just checking Skyscanner and found a ticket from Dumaguete to Manila at a somehow OK price.  So, I booked it and even recruited one to join me.

That is just the Dumaguete to Manila ticket.  The how-to-go-to Dumaguete is the real adventure!!!

I will be using again my old route --- island hopping my way to Negros.  So, soon, I'll say hello to Mindoro, Panay, and Negros again!!! :-)  I cannot wait for March!

Yeah yeah yeah!!!

One-week to go...

View Break 2012 in a larger map
Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!

South East Asia, here I come!

I am excited.  I am happy about it.  But I am also a bit insecure.

Four countries in 14 days. Taking stretches of road from Johor Bahru to Hanoi through Thailand and Laos.

With the time frame, I am not sure if it is enough. So one of main goals is: REACH HANOI on 5.January 2013!

I am not yet preparing anything. I should not bring so much with me anyways.  I got no baggage allowance.  But I found my passport again today. So I should be fine.

Adventure 2011?!

I might be a bit conservative this year BUT that depends on my scholarship results. Here are the possible scenarios:

A. I GET THE SCHOLARSHIP AND WILL HAVE TO LEAVE FOR GERMANY IN SEPTEMBER.

That would mean I will not go abroad for traveling unless I will have to attend a conference or a meeting. I would better spend the months with my family before moving temporarily to Germany (if ever).

B. I DON'T GET THE SCHOLARSHIP.

Then I might go to India for some months or back to Borneo and Sarawak, the rest of Sabah, and the Indonesian Borneo.

The most possible adventure this year would be the backpacking through the Eastern Philippine Nautical Highway.

Or another adventure would be starting my own business. I am thinking of registering my own travel company focusing on a niche market. And also going for my T-Shirts business. Or do some serious writing for some travel magazines and websites.

Oh well, life is an adventure with many different forms.

Welcome 2011!!! Bring it on!!!

30 by 30

It's a dream of many nowadays to visit 30 countries (or more) before or when they reach 30 years of age.

I am one of them. I want at least visit 30 countries before reaching 30. That leaves me 2 years and 7 months... and 15 more countries to go.

That is still quite a lot!

One strategy to reach this goal is to be back in Europe. From there, I can visit:

(1) Croatia - to see Sven and finally drink that white wine he promised me;

(2) Belgium - to see Sven again as he will be moving there for a job;

(3) Hungary;

(4) Luxembourg;

(5) Lichtenstein;

(6) Italy;

(7) Spain;

(8) Greece;

(9) Portugal;

(10) Czech Republic;

(11) Switzerland - to visit Mischi and be with another crazy again;

(12) Egypt - I can fly cheap from Germany to Egypt;

(13) Turkey - I heard great stuff about the country;

(14) Romania; and

(15) the UK if there is a chance to it.

It is definitely possible!

Now we have to wait for my scholarship that will bring me to Europe. Hahaha...

The New Plan - latest version

I received the confirmation for the World Ecotourism Conference in KL today... I got the volunteer post and so after the conference in Ho Chi Minh, I will fly to KL. Then after KL, maybe some days in Singapore then it is still open.

Since Thailand is in chaos, I will not go there. From Cao Bang, I will go to Dien Bien Phu to volunteer there for a week to 3 weeks as an English teacher to young kids. Then I will travel to Laos and Cambodia then will be back to Saigon for the follow-up meeting with the RED.

I am still waiting for a news from Berlin if I am going there in August, if not, I might come back to Vietnam then find my way to China.

Next Stop: Cao Bang

Cao Bang is the second to the my last stop on the first leg in Vietnam. It is in the northeast of Vietnam and boundary to China (Guangxi Province).

I will be visiting two friends in Cao Bang, both were my colleagues during the training I attended in Germany. Both are also very dear to me - I will finally see Vu and Ha again.

I'll stay there for some days before I head to Dien Bien Phu.

The Whole Route to Hanoi

Yeah, I need to fill in some content to this blog but when things keep on moving, it is somehow hard to catch up... So before I forget everything, here is how I reached Hanoi (flavors to follow):

From Saigon, I bought this Open Bus for 620,000 which allows me to stop at Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, and finally in Saigon. It also means that I can take as much time that I like at the areas where I am getting off. But I made mine fast.

I stopped at Nha Trang for just a day and took the afternoon bus to Hue via Hoi An. In Hoi An, I basically just ate breakfast then took the next bus to Hue. In Hue, I stayed overnight because I am visiting a friend (got some interesting stories here). And just yesterday, I am in Hanoi... and it is a long night.

In my seven days in Vietnam, it felt like a month already. Not that I am already exhausted, NO. I am actually very much full of energy and full of experience in such a short time.

What are my next plans? I will stay here in Hanoi til Tuesday or Wednesday morning before I head to Cao Bang. And after Cao Bang will be in Dien Bien Phu. I already arranged my schedule for volunteering there. I will be there on the 22nd-28th of May... and might be back there in July and August for a longer time. It now depends on how the Berlin thing goes and how I will like it there then I will know. But both options will be fairly good!

I'm still in Vietnam! Wohoo!!! ;-)

Open Bus

620,000.00 VND for about 1,800km ride is a good deal! Most Vietnamese I know don't know it. It is probably something for the tourists but it can for sure save them some bucks if they do take it.

I will leave tonight to Nha Trang and I am taking the sleeper bus. Sleeper buses gives you more space to rest your legs, just like having a bed. You paid once for two - transport and accommodation.

I will be arriving in the morning in Nha Trang then spend the day by the beach which is part of the China Sea. Heard things that it is nice there. Can't wait!

After a day of basking in the sun will be a long journey to Hue. The bus will pass by Hoi An, another interesting town, but I will not be staying there, instead, I will be waiting for the next bus to Hue. There will be some hours to kill in the wee hours of the night but it will be OK. I will then get the bus to Hue which will be another 4 hours. Then there I will stay overnight.

I booked an accommodation already for 10USD with the help of a Vietnamese friend. Then from Hue, I will be heading to Ha Noi. For how long, we will see. I just want to be in Ha Noi to meet a friend, see the city a bit and meet some new people. Cao Bang will be thee second to the last stop for VietNam. There live two Vietnamese friends of mine. Then finally, before existing to Laos, I will volunteer for a week in Dien Bien Phu.

8 days more... Laos Plan

I know and I must really try to exit Vietnam through Dien Bien Phu (DBP). Why there? DBP got included in my list because of a friend who is quite particular with walls. He once asked me to bring him a piece of the Berlin wall. Being not good with "pasalubong" (a Filipino custom of bringing something back to friends and family if you went somewhere - doesn't matter if it is near or far, as long as you are not home it is "away"), I forgot to get him one from the souvenir shop.

So, Dien Bien Phu it is... and I hope not to forget about the wall (if there is a wall), if not, a photo of the boundary might do.

I will travel from DBP to Luang Namtha to Huay Xia (Laos boundary to Thailand). In Huay Xia, there are slow boats to Luang Prabang via Pakbeng. Many were telling me that Luang Prabang is interesting. Maybe bacause it is like a hub of the Mekong transportation.

From Luang Prabang, I want to see Vang Vieng then off to Vientiane before I exit to Cambodia.

I am still not sure about where to exit... In Vientiane or in Pakse. All I want to see this time in Cambodia is the Angkor Wat and I can then proceed to Thailand. Phnomh Penh is a place where I can go back to when I am back in Ho Chi Minh. I will be there during the last week of June and Phnomh Penh is just a bus ride away.

9 days... Vietnam Plan

Plans for the Vietnam part of the trip is now taking form. Here is somehow the brief list of the cities/places I want to see and experience:

Ho Chi Minh
Tra Vinh (passing by Mytho and Ben Tre)
Mui Ne
Danang
Hue
Ha Noi
Cao Bang
Ba Be National Park
Dien Bien Phu (exit to Laos)

I am planning to spend 14 days only in Vietnam (on top of the 7 days I will be spending in HCMC for a conference in 24-30 June 2010).

The above list is a result of the consultation with a very good Vietnamese friend of mine - Vu! I'll see him in Cao Bang.

My Travel Postcard

10 days

Still working on my travel insurance. I just applied online through my Loyalty Card to Philippine Airlines. It says Php622.00/month for a worldwide coverage. Quite fine for a travel insurance. I have to call them tomorrow to follow-up.

Aside from my travel insurance, I also have to finish my application for my master's in Germany. And there are so many things happening while I am planning.

On the trip, a friend will be picking me up in Ho Chi Minh and bring me to his hometown Tra Vihn. I would like to take the boat to Tra Vihn passing by some interesting places like Myto and Ben Tre.

I AM EXCITED!!!

The New Plan

13 days and counting down till my flight to Ho Chi Minh.

The initial plan was just to explore VietNam but at the moment I am toying with the idea of going to other countries as well.

I want to do: Vietnam (HCM-HaNoi), Laos (travel from Huay Xia to Vientianne to Pakse), Cambodia (Siem Reap-Phnom Penh), Thailand (Bangkok to Hat Yai), Malaysia (Penang to Melaka), Singapore... and back to Ho Chi Minh City for a conference on 24-30 June 2010.

I know how I will be travelling VietNam - thanks to the Open Bus that are offered. It costs 25$ from North to South or vice versa and you can travel at your own pace.

In Laos, I really would love to take the slow boat from Huay Xia to Lau Prabang then to Vientianne if there are also boats servicing the route.

From Laos, I want to see the Angor Wat and also the capital city Phnomh Penh. And with the political problems in Thailand, I might skip Bangkok - meaning not staying there for more than a day and take a Rail Pass offered by KTM of Malaysia to Butterworth (Malaysia).

You will be updated regarding my travel...

15 days

And here we are on the last 2 weeks of preparation... 15 days... and I am almost already sure of taking it wider than Vietnam.

I started to learn some Vietnamese and Bahasa Malaysia. I looked for flights in and out of the major points. I have now information on the trains and buses that can save me some bucks. And I received the traveller's Bible - Lonely Planet Southeast Asia (even it is 2004 Edition, it will still be of help).

Finances: I am quite happy about my bought Euros today. It is at 59Php to 1Euro. Dollars are on the downward direction and they should be lower by next week.

And I need to get my travel insurance. I will be using Malaya Insurance.

Now I gotta run to the parties with friends. Farewell again!

45 days

Yes, I am counting down and quite obssessed about it. You can see the timer below this entry.

How will I be spending my remaining 45 days of simple comfort of "home" and friends... of familiarity and some sort of job? 45 minus 12 minus 10 minus 2 minus 2 = 19 days remaining to work full-time (or something like).

12 days for my upcoming trip to Carabao Is., Tablas Is., Mindoro, Manila, Davao and Bislig.

10 days for a short-term assignment if I get it.

2 days for a planned beach trip with friends as farewell.

2 days for a Malaysian and German friends' visit to the Philippines.

and the remaining 19 days working hard!!!

We will see how things develop. Sure thing is that I am leaving and I am very much looking forward!

Countdown to Vietnam