Updated Travel Itinerary – 6 more countries!

I’ve been traveling for almost two months!

It’s time to update my travel itinerary!

I’ve enjoyed San Francisco, had good and bad experiences in Thailand, and am now working my way through Laos.

I’m having a blast! Not once have I regretted selling all my things, leaving my job, or being so far from family. It’s not all fun in the sun, I’ve said that a few times, but for the most part, this is a wonderful lifestyle for me.

Up to this point, I’ve been sticking to my original itinerary of spending about a month in each place, but there’s so much more I want to see while I’ve over here so we’re jumping to warp 9!

Here’s the new plan:

Laos – Arrive May 22nd-June 1st  

Arrive by slow boat from Huay Xai or Chiang Rai

• Take slow boat to Pakbeng and Luang Prabang . 
• Visit Phonsavan and go to plain of jars
• Take the night bus to Vientiane

Vientiane

• COPE Laos – museum about US bombing of laos
• Buddha Park

Fly to Vietnam – I don’t think I could be on a pukey bus for 22 hours.

Vietnam 

Hanoi – Living with a local family via Workaway to practice English.

• Old quarter
• Thang Long water puppet theater
• Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi. John McCain was imprisoned there during the war

Hue

• Two nights

Hoi An

• Visit tailor for a dress

MAYBE: In Vietnam I would take the road into Da Lat in the mountains before heading to Phan Theit. Awesome experiences of canyoneering.

Phan Thiet

• Lotte Mart
• Hon Rom – lots of locals on weekends, fresh seafood

Ho Chi Minh

• Galaxy Hotel & Capsule – $8/night with a/c
• Ben Thanh Market
• The Starlight bridge
• Bach Dang, looks like floating markets

MAYBE: Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City, provides some insight to the war and some of the tactics used by the NVA.  Wiki link for the lazy 

Cambodia

Kep

• Recommended by the redditors – best crab dinner under $5

Phnom Penh

• Genocide Center
• Patio Hotel and Urban Resort – INFINITY POOL!!
• The Royal Palace
• Central Market
• Russian Market
• Aeon Mall (probably has A/C)

Sihanoukville

• STAY AT THIS HOSTEL!
• Possible swim with horses?
• Phsar Leu Market

OR INSTEAD:: Koh Rong Sanloem or Koh Ta Kiev

Koh Ta Kiev

• Beautiful island

Battambang

• Bat Cave – $3 bike ride to the top, bats come out around 6-6:30
• Crocodile farm – couple bucks, accessible by bike
• One hour walk from town, but awesome death site
• Phsar Nath Market

Siem Reap

• Angkor Wat
• Pub Street – free to walk around! Go at night.
• Silk workshop, free, close to pub street ^
• Terrace of the leopard king
• Psar Chaa “Old Market” – free to wander!
• The Victory Gate
• Free traditional children’s (by orphans) dance at 6:30 pm, donation based

Fly to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia $55

• Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
• Chinatown
• Little India
• Bird Park if humane
• Batu Caves
• Twin Towers (freakkkky!)
• Dining in the dark – a restaurant by the visually impaired You’re served a preselected menu, they don’t tell you what’s on it, and you eat it in the dark! Sounds freaky and fun! About $30, we’ll see where money is at that time.

Bus to Singapore (stay 2 days)

• Eat Hainanese Chicken Rice & Hokkien Mee as recommended by Reuben
• Ferris wheel & Orchard Road (window shopping)
• Haw Par Village (recommended by Reuben), cool cultural / chinese folklore area

Fly from Singapore to Jakarta, Indonesia – $50 

Jakarta

• Try the mall food – cheap and plentiful – also in the basement of department stores
• Lots of museums, I’m actually not a huge museum person so this will depend on prices
• Ride the public transit

 

Fly from Jakarta to Hong Kong – $100

• Ride the Star Ferry at night to see the skyline
• EAT ALL THE THINGS!
• Horse racing – $10 on Wednesday and weekends. Check if humane!
• Take the Tram to the island – $2.50, it’s like a ski lift
• Dim Sum if I can find friends to go with – it’s expensive!

Fly from Hong Kong to Tokyo / Osaka ~$150

• Aokigahara – the suicide forest
• Toyko Metro!
• Ride the bullet train
• Akihabara – anime central!
• Fish Market!
• Visit all 11 landmarks from Studio Ghibli films!!!
  • Dogo Onsen from Spirited Away (the bath house)
  • Yakushima Island (princess mononoke)
  • Tomonoura – Ponyo!
  • Totoro Bus Stop in Oita
  • Kamikochi Imperial Hotel – The wind rises – $300 a night! goddamn.
  • Yokohama Motomachi Shopping Street – the cat returns.
• Eat my face off in sushi
• Visit the Studio Ghibli Musuem
• Visit an Onsen if I can find one that allows tattoos

Fly from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea – $80

• Enjoy food!
• Teahouses
• Gyeongbokgung Palace – very beautiful

Fly to San Francisco from Seoul, South Korea – $400

San Francisco to Chicago – paid already

• Sleep off the jetlag
• Sushi Para M
• Stay with Mia and Tom

Chicago to Dayton – paid already

• Get a seasonal job, save for trip to Mexico
• Pet Yahtzee (my cat) till she bites me
• Freaking enjoy seeing my family!!

Am I getting ambitious – maybe too much?

Even to me, the answer is ‘Yes’ LOL. I’m worried the money won’t last (maybe I’ll get some birthday money in July) or that I’ll get pooped out. I’ve spent the day today contacting Workaways in these areas, despite my rough experience with the first one.

I’m still targeting a return to the states in September.

I know in my heart I can do it ^_^

Ever been to any of these places? Any tips? Glad to have you along! 😀

xoxo ❤