Travel in ASIA: Budget, Maps and Advises

4,5 months from mi – November to the end of March 2019

Map with itinerary

1. NORTH THAILAND
Bangkok – flight to Chiang Mai – bus to Chiang Rai – bus to Pu Chi Pha

2. NORTH LAOS Cross the border by bus to Huay Xai – boat to Luang Probabang – bus to Nong Khiaw – boat to Muang Ngoy – boat to Muang Khua – cross the border by bus Dien Bien Phu

3. VIETNAM Dien Bien Phu – bus to Hanoi – flight to Can Tho – bus to Dalat – bus to Hoian – bus to Danang – bus to Hue – cross the border by bus to Laos (Savannakhet)

4. SOUTH LAOS Savannakhet – bus to Pakse – bolaven loop by scooter – bus from Pakse to 4000 islands (Don Det) – cross the border by bus to Siem Riap (Cambodia)

5. CAMBODIA Siem Riap – bus to Phnom Penh – bus to Kampot – bus to Sihanoukville – boat to Koh Rong Sanloem island – cross the border by bus to Bamgkok (Thailand)

6. SOUTH THAILAND Bangkok – bus to Chumphon – bus to Kao Lak – bus to Ko Lanta – boat to Ko Ngai – boat to Ko Lipe – cross the border by boat to Langkawi (Malaysia)

7. MALAYSIA Langkawi – by boat to Penang (Georgetown) – by ferry to the main land and took a bus to Cameron Highlands (Tanah Rata) – bus to Kuala Lumpur – cross the border by plane to Philippines

8. PHILIPPINES Manila – bus to Taal Volcano (city Tagaitai, then a tour by boat) – flight from Manila to Palawan (Peurto Princessa) – bus to El Nido (Palawan) and back to Puerto P. – flihgt to Ceby City (Cebu island) – bus to Moalboal and back – flight Ceby city to Legazpi – bus to Donsol and back – flight from Legazpi to Manila – by plane to Bali

9. BALI (INDONESIA) flight to Bali (Denpasar) – bus to Ubud – mini bus to Amed – taxi to Kusamba – boat to Nusa Penida island and back to Sanur – taxi to Kuta (close to the airport Denpasar)

ASIA in Numbers

• 7 countries – Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia (Bali)
• 137 days
• 11 flights (including flight from Europe to Asia, and from Asia to New Zealand)
• 5 500 € – total budget for 1 person (all transport, insurance, accommodation, food, activity, visas)
• 92 € – for visas (for 1 person) : twice in Laos, 1 Cambodia
• 25 € – average daily budget for 1 person (excluding flights, visas and diving)

The biggest expenses

• 844 € Diving (open water certificate + 13 extra dives) for 1 person
• 1 100 € for 11 flights (for 1 person), including flights from Europe to Asia, and from Asia to New Zealand

Where did we spend our money?

• 37% – food. Be ready to spend most of the budget on food in Asia. Even if the food is cheap, you eat 2-3 times per day. There is no possibility to cook in the hostels. An alternative way is to buy a gas cooker if you have free space in your backpack.
• 24% – Accommodation is very cheap in Asia! 8-10 € for a double room is not a surprise. Though, don’t count on a lot of comfort, for ex. they don’t have hot water everywhere.
• 20% – Transport is cheap as well, especially if you take buses or rent a scooter. Flights are relatively cheap, but better to buy in advance.
• 11% – Activities – lots of things you can see by yourself, just by renting a scooter, it is cheaper and you will be alone. If you’re afraid or don’t have any experience to drive a scooter, its better to take excursions.

Top 3 Countries

• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Laos

Top 10 Best places

1. Koh Ngai (Thailand)

2. Nusa Penida (Indonesia)

3. Muang Ngoy (Laos)

4. Da Nang – Vai Hoi Pass / Lang Co Lagoon (Vietnam)

5. Bokor Hill, Cambodia

6. Moalboal (Philippines)

7. Penang/George Town (Malaysia)

8. Tayicseua (Laos)

9. Wat Chalermprakiat (Thailand)

10. Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Highlights of our trip in South-East Asia

Lantern festival in Chiang Mai , Thailand

Jungle Trek to the hidden temple in Doi Suthep, Thailand

Flying temple – Watchalermprakiat, Thailand

Boat trips on the river between Muang Ngoi and Muang Khua, Laos

Visiting local villages in Muang Ngoy, Laos

Crawling in the cave in Nong Khiaw, Laos

Driving on the Hai Van Pass, Vietnam

Trekking in Tayicseua, Laos

Visiting the world’s widest waterfall at the 4000 islands, Laos

Driving a scooter to Bokor Hill station, Cambodia

Road trip + Visiting the temple Beng Mealea, Cambodia

Diving in Khao Lak, Thailand

Camping at the Light my fire society in Koh Ngai and doing nothing, Thailand

Sunrise 5 days in a row in Koh Ngai, Thailand

Bioluminescent plankton on Koh Lipe island, Thailand

Finding all the street art in Penang, Malaysia

Escaping the heat in Cameroon Highlands, Malaysia

Hand feeding a wild sea turtle, Philippines

Snorkeling in Moalboal, Philippines

Snorkeling with whale sharks, Philippines

Watching fireflies, Philippines

Attending a full moon ceremony in a temple in Bali, Indonesia

Night dive on the Liberty wreck in Amed, Indonesia

Diving with Manta rays in Nusa Penida, Indonesia

Exploring Nusa Penida by scooter, Indonesia

What did we like in Asia?

• Weather
• People
• Unique style of life and mentality
• Cheap prices
• Easy and safe to travel
• Spectacular nature
• Biodiversity of animals (sea life included)
• Big culture shock (in a positive way!)

Disappointments

• Plastic garbage EVERYWHERE!
• Corruption at the borders
• Aggressive tricycle drivers in Philippines
• Prices are not fixed, constant bargaining and the feeling that you maybe paid double for a certain service (but who knows?)

What would we do differently?

• Be more informed about the country before entering (weather, best spots, possible scams etc)
• Make an international driving license (to be covered by the insurance while driving a scooter, we stupidly forgot)
• Skip a country or two (Wout – Philippines and Malaysia // Alena Malaysia and Vietnam) – not because they are bad, just to spend more time in the other countries
• Use more mosquito spray ?

… in Thailand

• We would not rent a car in Thailand, but a scooter
• We would not take a plane but a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (to avoid unnecessary pollution, because we had time)

… in Laos

• We would not take a slow boat to Luang Prabang but rather go to Luang Namtha (you take a lot of boats anyway during your stay in Laos)
• Make a visa to Cambodia in advance in Vientiane (to avoid the corruption)

… in Vietnam

• To come to the North Vietnam in a proper season (April)
• Get a visa for Vietnam (14 days is not enough)

… in Cambodia

• Take a 1 day ticket for Angkor Wat instead of 3
• Don’t stop in Sihanoukville but go direct to Koh Rong island
• Visit more of the countryside (to get off the beaten track)

… in Malaysia

• Take more time
• Visit Borneo island
• Do a jungle trek in the National Parks

… in the Philippines

• Don’t get sick
• Spend more time on one island
• Get off the beaten track (for ex. Port Baron instead of El Nido)
• Ask advice how to get somewhere from locals and hotels (to avoid scams, where they don’t allow you to sit in the jeepney, forcing you to take a tricycle)

… in Indonesia

• Take more time
• Visit other islands except Bali