Travelling/backpacking

dannythomas89 · September 10, 2012

Anyone done it before? Going end of next year with 3 mates for around 6 months, wanting to do china and japan for a few weeks then southeast asia for a longer stint and maybe work in australia for a bit f possible. Any tips or places worth visiting?

LTblue · September 10, 2012

dannythomas89 said:
Anyone done it before? Going end of next year with 3 mates for around 6 months, wanting to do china and japan for a few weeks then southeast asia for a longer stint and maybe work in australia for a bit f possible. Any tips or places worth visiting?

Don't do that due to my Everton commitments, but I usually will do a 6 week job in June-July time if there is no World cup or family trip to US planned. I have done backpacking in South Africa in the bush which was amazing, I have been on an Amazonian river trip which was amazing, I have done a Jungle experience in both Malaysia and Guatemala and have done cultural trips to Japan, China and Mexico, of course i'd always recommend a four/five star hotel in Florida over that, but if you want to be challenged and learn things about different cultures and wildlife and feel like you are Bear Grylls or Indiana Jones, I would strongly recommend any of those experiences.

dannythomas89 · September 10, 2012

Cheers mate sound good

EFCNIK · September 10, 2012

Just got back from 5 weeks in thailand and laos. Do it mate. The place is off its tits but great all the same.

Do not go to a go go bar though. They will charge you whatever they want. True story.

Blue 1 · September 10, 2012

A couple of tips if travelling with mates:

Don't not do stuff you wanted to because your mates aren't up for it. You'll end up resenting them for it and fight about it later on. Be prepared to go your separate ways and meet up again later on.

Try and take similar amounts of money or that's likely to cause problems as well.

Have spent about a year in SE Asia so will try and write a bit more later.

LTblue · September 10, 2012

EFCNIK said:
Just got back from 5 weeks in thailand and laos. Do it mate. The place is off its tits but great all the same.

Do not go to a go go bar though. They will charge you whatever they want. True story.

I love how they have 7 eleven petrol stations in Thailand but the next corners they are serving fried insects.

The-Golden-Vision · September 10, 2012

Be careful in those bars mate.

NSFW!!

[video=youtube;9JPKo5vUbuo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=9JPKo5vUbuo[/video]

dannythomas89 · September 10, 2012

Blue 1 said:
A couple of tips if travelling with mates:

Don't not do stuff you wanted to because your mates aren't up for it. You'll end up resenting them for it and fight about it later on. Be prepared to go your separate ways and meet up again later on.

Try and take similar amounts of money or that's likely to cause problems as well.

Have spent about a year in SE Asia so will try and write a bit more later.

Ok cheers that would be great dont suppose you went to vang vieng in loas did you? Heard that place is pretty mental

Blue 1 · September 10, 2012

dannythomas89 said:
Ok cheers that would be great dont suppose you went to vang vieng in loas did you? Heard that place is pretty mental

Don't start me on Vang Vieng.

I went there before it had been raped. It is mental, but not in a good way, really. It's all the worst bits of Had Rin crossed with the Khao San Road these days, or was when I last went there in 2006. Can't imagine it's got any better.

Probably still have a laugh there though, like.

chicoazul · September 10, 2012

Reidy on here is good for this stuff mate. Good luck.

EFCNIK · September 10, 2012

Blue 1 said:
Don't start me on Vang Vieng.

I went there before it had been raped. It is mental, but not in a good way, really. It's all the worst bits of Had Rin crossed with the Khao San Road these days, or was when I last went there in 2006. Can't imagine it's got any better.

Probably still have a laugh there though, like.

Was dead when I was there a week ago. They've shut it all down coz too many people were dying. 1 guy inconveniently snuffed it a day before we got there and apparently that was the last straw for the president who actually visited 3 or so days prior. First day we got there there were LOADS of police around and they told us if they caught us drinking and tubing theyd take us in for a night or make us pay a heavy fine. We just bought **** loads of vodka and went to a lagoon thing instead on the first day. Got chatting to people the next day and they were all going tubing and the police presence was significantly lower so we went. All the jumps and slides were shut. First three bars were open but the music was down really low. Still about 50-100 people there at any one time and we still had a sik time, but we were gutted when we first got there. One of the bars ignored the 11pm curfew in the town so there was still a bit of nightlife. Opened till 5 one night but the others the police closed it down at 1.

Blue 1 · September 10, 2012

EFCNIK said:
Was dead when I was there a week ago. They've shut it all down coz too many people were dying. 1 guy inconveniently snuffed it a day before we got there and apparently that was the last straw for the president who actually visited 3 or so days prior. First day we got there there were LOADS of police around and they told us if they caught us drinking and tubing theyd take us in for a night or make us pay a heavy fine. We just bought **** loads of vodka and went to a lagoon thing instead on the first day. Got chatting to people the next day and they were all going tubing and the police presence was significantly lower so we went. All the jumps and slides were shut. First three bars were open but the music was down really low. Still about 50-100 people there at any one time and we still had a sik time, but we were gutted when we first got there. One of the bars ignored the 11pm curfew in the town so there was still a bit of nightlife. Opened till 5 one night but the others the police closed it down at 1.

Wow. Must have got ridiculous there for that to happen.

Pretty shocked at that to be honest. Something had to give though. Shame people just have to be knobs and ruin things for everyone else, it used to be a really, really top place before all the "Friends" bars and before the river got really silly, with too many bars and ropeswings etc and it actually took a bit of effort to get there. Suppose it's easy to forget where you are and get lulled into a false sense of security. Pity the families of people who die out there.

Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian · September 10, 2012

Left here with a return flight to Greece, was away for a week short of 7 years but not continuous backpacking.

Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian · September 10, 2012

dannythomas89 said:
Anyone done it before? Going end of next year with 3 mates for around 6 months, wanting to do china and japan for a few weeks then southeast asia for a longer stint and maybe work in australia for a bit f possible. Any tips or places worth visiting?

Japan I'd say Expensive. China same in Cities. I am guessing though. Not so sure that Oz is as good these days for bumping up the funds either from the last person I know that went there.

SE Asia is still cheap but not the places you say.

Go to India and chillum out.