I've been planning a long arduous, but a necessary and a madness staving off trip in Asia for the last couple of years. I've penciled out the later part of 2012 or early 2013 for it. However, I could not wait not to make a trip right now. With my work in between and rolling on a dire budget, I consider this upcoming November trips of mine to the cities of Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Cambodia), Bangkok and Chiang Mai (Thailand) as only a precursor to the big bang that is bound to happen either in 2012 or 2013.
Since I cannot afford to be on the road for a long time (YET), I've divided these incursions into two legs. The first part will consist of Saigon - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap and the other half will be Bangkok - Chiang Mai.
Saigon - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
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| Map showing the Saigon - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap route |
The first part will take me from Manila to Saigon, then head straight to a bus terminal bound for Phnom Penh where I'll arrive in the afternoon and hopefully check some sights before spending the night in a cool guesthouse (courtesy of Roomorama). The next day I'll take another bus ride towards Siem Reap where I'll spend at least two days to the point of experiencing a "temple overdose" in the vast grounds of "Ankor Wat". I will then go back to Phnom Penh for another night before heading back to Saigon for another couple of days.
Bangkok - Chiang Mai
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| Map showing the route from Bangkok - Chiang Mai |
The second leg, happening in the tail-end of November will be a shorter one but will require strenuous traveling. Hey I like it that way, an "Amazing Race" pace. I'll spend the first day at Bangkok since the flight from Manila arrives very early in the morning, then will hop in to a sleeper train (should be fun, as its gonna be my first time) en route to Thailand's ancient capital of Chiang Mai. I will spend two full days there before taking yet another sleeper bus or train back to Bangkok for another day.
Sounds like a plan! isn't it? Yeah I'm excited, pumped up and ready to roll. Hope to see some of you on the road. If ever, some of you will be in the are around November, just drop me a line.
"The world is like a book, waiting to be read" lets turn its pages one trip at a time.
"The world is like a book, waiting to be read" lets turn its pages one trip at a time.
