On Friday night I met up with friends for a catch up drink and a chat about our New Years trip. I can not tell you how damn excited I am for our big ‘end of university’ adventure. Nick, or Camp Mother better describes him, has totally sorted what we need to know. He’s awesome! I feel completely safe going with him, I will turn up and say “point me in the right direction Nick!”.
Here, detailed by the red line, is our approximate route for the trip. I could not locate a decent route plotter online, so instead had to bring out my Photoshop skillz. It’s shocking I know but you get the general gist. We fly into Bangkok on December 26th and head south, via overnight train, to our New Years destination island; Ko Phangan. After a few days there we head west to the other coast and travel north, via train and bus, to Chiang Mai; which includes stops and sites on the way such as: tiger temple (petting tiger cubs), temple ruins, a water theme park, a Thai cooking class and more which I have forgotten* and will update later.
Next we head east to the French influenced city of Vientiane, Laos where we will visit a Buddha park and more that I have again forgotten*. From there we head north towards the mountains where I am told it will be cold, fun times!
We then head east to Hanoi, Vietnam. We’ll be travelling south down the coastline by train and bus to Ho Chi Minh City. On the way enjoying a junk boat cruise, maybe a spot of diving and once again, more things that I have forgotten*. But it’s going to be jam-packed action the whole way, with a few beach/recovery days sprinkled in for good health. About five weeks later we fly from Ho Chi Minh City back to Bangkok for a few days shopping before jetting back home to Auckland. The trip is scheduled to take just under six weeks; and with the nine of us going I can sense there is going to be some seriously good, bitchy blog fodder.
So now I am into serious penny saving mode. No more buying dresses, shoes and handbags! None of those will get me to or around southeast Asia, unfortunately.
*Nick is going to email around a list of the events that have been decided on, I will blog them when I have them.
