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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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bossface
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:52 am Post subject: MEGATRIP around Asia |
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starting next september, so i'm a ways away, but i'm serious about this.
general idea - overland from Seoul to East Timor (or, if possible PNG and Australia)
presumed itinerary: ferry to China from Incehon.
1 month in China - likely a week each in Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, and Kumming. (Kumming because a buddy of mine lives there)
train to Vietnam
2 weeks to one month in Vietnam. North to South. finish in HCMC.
boat to Cambodia
1-2 weeks in Cambodia.
likely skip southern Laos, go from Cambodia to Laos via Eastern Thailand
1-2 weeks in Laos (likely Vientiane to LP, then boat to Chiang Mai) also, if it's 1 month in Vietnam, it means i'll do 2 weeks each in Laos and Cambodia. if it's 2 weeks in Vietnam, it means i'll do 1 week each in Laos and Cambodia.
Thailand - 1 month. start in the north at Chiang Mai, end in the south at Hat Yai. lotsa islands and beaches..
Malaysia - probably 1 week. I love Malaysia, but i've been there a bit and its expensive. likely a west-coast run down to Melacca, then a ferry to Sumatra.
Indonesia - 1 month (the visa length) 1 week in Sumatra, i.5 weeks in Java, and a rapid 2.5 weeks crossing the easterly islands (only a few hours in Bali as its expensive and i've been there)
if i end up figuring out the PNG/Australia portion, than i would travel overland to ONG from Indonesia, and by boat to Australia. I would ultimately return to Korea or move on to China/Japan/Taiwan via flight from Sydney or Melbourne. and the trip would end. if i chose to go to East Timor, then...
East Timor - 2 weeks-1 month.
Indonesia again - another month going west to pay attention to the places i skipped going east.
ultimately, the plan is to end up in Singapore, KL, or Bangkok to get a convenient flight back to a (hopefully) pre-arranged job back in Korea, or in China or Japan or Taiwan.
tl:dr - tell me good places to go in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. East Timor, Australia, or PNG. i know the obvious. |
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johnnyrook
Joined: 08 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Two weeks is a little rushed for Vietnam and one week in Cambodia is plenty of time if you're just there to see the sights, and not going down to the coastal areas for some partying. |
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cazador83
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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Do 1 month for Vietnam, definitely. The northern half was forgettable (Halong Bay didn't impress me), but central/south Vietnam had SO much to do and was nice.
You only need 5 days or so for Cambodia, so a week is fine. You could also take a boat up the river from southern Laos up to Vientiane if you have the time. Otherwise, must sees are LP and Vang Vieng (float or kayak the river).
1 week in Sumatra is impossible. Either choose West Sumatra (Padang area) or North Sumatra (Medan area). Even then, 1 week is pushing it. |
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jk1984
Joined: 03 Nov 2010
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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How much is all that gonna cost?! That sounds epic! Want some company!?
I leave in Sept too and am off to Oz but I'd be up for a monster trip |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: MEGATRIP around Asia |
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| bossface wrote: |
starting next september, so i'm a ways away, but i'm serious about this.
general idea - overland from Seoul to East Timor (or, if possible PNG and Australia)
presumed itinerary: ferry to China from Incehon.
1 month in China - likely a week each in Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, and Kumming. (Kumming because a buddy of mine lives there)
train to Vietnam
2 weeks to one month in Vietnam. North to South. finish in HCMC.
boat to Cambodia
1-2 weeks in Cambodia.
likely skip southern Laos, go from Cambodia to Laos via Eastern Thailand
1-2 weeks in Laos (likely Vientiane to LP, then boat to Chiang Mai) also, if it's 1 month in Vietnam, it means i'll do 2 weeks each in Laos and Cambodia. if it's 2 weeks in Vietnam, it means i'll do 1 week each in Laos and Cambodia.
Thailand - 1 month. start in the north at Chiang Mai, end in the south at Hat Yai. lotsa islands and beaches..
Malaysia - probably 1 week. I love Malaysia, but i've been there a bit and its expensive. likely a west-coast run down to Melacca, then a ferry to Sumatra.
Indonesia - 1 month (the visa length) 1 week in Sumatra, i.5 weeks in Java, and a rapid 2.5 weeks crossing the easterly islands (only a few hours in Bali as its expensive and i've been there)
if i end up figuring out the PNG/Australia portion, than i would travel overland to ONG from Indonesia, and by boat to Australia. I would ultimately return to Korea or move on to China/Japan/Taiwan via flight from Sydney or Melbourne. and the trip would end. if i chose to go to East Timor, then...
East Timor - 2 weeks-1 month.
Indonesia again - another month going west to pay attention to the places i skipped going east.
ultimately, the plan is to end up in Singapore, KL, or Bangkok to get a convenient flight back to a (hopefully) pre-arranged job back in Korea, or in China or Japan or Taiwan.
tl:dr - tell me good places to go in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. East Timor, Australia, or PNG. i know the obvious. |
I think you'd better stop right now thinking you can pull the above off, especially on a budget.
The first half of your plan sounds reasonable enough, a fairly well trodden path through China and into the SE Asia fairy tale land of cheap, easy traveling.
Traveling through Indonesia during the wet season won't be too much fun, and it's a long way to West Papua, and perhaps a very dangerous one with rough seas. West Papua (never been there) seems a very difficult place to travel in, and very expensive, and then over to PNG which is a place I've been too; it can be very very expensive, dangerous and very difficult to travel through, especially on a budget. It's the complete opposite to the basic, easy and safe travel through SE Asia. And for the record, there are no boats to Australia, nor are there any from Indonesia-even though some cruise ship may operate. You'll have a very very slim chance of getting on a yacht, but you'd have to ask yourself why someone with a yacht would want to take a complete stranger on board, and this trip wouldn't be easy too, with Australian border security looking for illegal boat people smuggling.
Your best bet getting to Oz is an expensive flight from Dili in East Timor, but that will only be to Darwin, on the other side of the continent to where you want to be, or better still, pre-book as far ahead as you can a flight from Bali to the Gold Coast, or Melbourne or Sydney on JetStar or Tiger Airways.
Good luck. |
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bossface
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:26 am Post subject: |
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good to know - West Papua and PNG and Oz are likely out. Seoul to Dili it is.
from this feedback, it looks like i'm better of spending the month in Vietnam too. i think i'd rather do it that way anyway.
i'm not sure on the budget yet. i'm thinking 10 or 12 grand USD. i might even forsake my winter vacation this year to save more money. most likely not though.
i don't intend to tour the whole of Sumatra, i know it's enormous. i presume i'll go to the Pedang area via Dumai before making my way south toward Jakarta.
thanks for the feedback all. again, i'm wide open to suggestions or tips on this trip. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:49 am Post subject: |
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| I don't know if you need a full month in Vietnam, but you should at least aim for 3. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| sorry, forgot a keyword: weeks. 3 weeks should be fine. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| bossface wrote: |
good to know - West Papua and PNG and Oz are likely out. Seoul to Dili it is.
from this feedback, it looks like i'm better of spending the month in Vietnam too. i think i'd rather do it that way anyway.
i'm not sure on the budget yet. i'm thinking 10 or 12 grand USD. i might even forsake my winter vacation this year to save more money. most likely not though.
i don't intend to tour the whole of Sumatra, i know it's enormous. i presume i'll go to the Pedang area via Dumai before making my way south toward Jakarta.
thanks for the feedback all. again, i'm wide open to suggestions or tips on this trip. |
Check out flight costs from Dili to Darwin, you'll be shocked.
If you really want to see some in Indonesia, maybe take an internal flight out east, and make your way to Bali, and fly from Bali, you'll get a much better price. Prices are not cheap from Darwin to other Oz cities, and it's a solid 4-5 days drive to civilization by car (ie., Melbourne).
Australia is an expensive travel destination these days. |
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greenshirt
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Cant imagine it would cost near to 10 grand. Maybe half that. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| If I were you, I wouldn't stay longer than 8-9 days in East Timor. There just isn't that much there. It's a cool place though. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:33 am Post subject: |
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Just curious, why so much time in East Timor?
2 weeks in Vietnam is really quick, and Vietnam is way better if you get to see a few of the other cities/towns that aren't on the main route along the coast (Hanoi/Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Dalat, Nha Trang, Saigon).
Have fun! |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| greenshirt wrote: |
| Cant imagine it would cost near to 10 grand. Maybe half that. |
Seems like 7 months of travel to me, plus flights to and from Australia; you reckon you can do that on 5 grand? ( about $24 a day excluding flights), I'd say 10 grand at least. |
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prideofidaho
Joined: 19 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Why not get a longer visa for Indonesia in lieu of not going all the way to PNG and Aus? The Seoul Indo embassy is fussy about providing the two month visa, but I managed to get one in the span of a hour, very few questions asked, in Tawau, Malaysia (Sabah)....can also be had in KL.
Good luck  |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Be flexible.
Keep your eyes open to opportunities as you go, change plans on the fly.
Make it an adventure! |
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