I'm outta here! (nearly)

[DaGaffer]

As some of you may remember, I was talking about taking a year off and heading off around the world a few months ago. Well, I'm a bit late, but its finally happening. Today is a big day for me, I've just quit work and completed on a new flat and paid off my mortgage, so in about 4-5 weeks I should be all ready to go. I've started having all my various travel jabs (5 down and about 8 to go) and I should have all my visas and tickets sorted in the next couple of weeks. I've still got some money things to sort out (so if anyone wants to buy a low mileage Nissan 350Z give me a shout ), but then I'll be away until next summer. I've had to change my original plan a bit, (I've cut out India basically) and now I'm going:

London>Brussels>Berlin>Moscow>Irkutsk>Ulan Bator>Beijing>Shanghai by train. Then down the Yangtze by boat, then on to: Vietnam>Laos>Cambodia>Thailand>Malaysia>Singapore. Then I fly to Australia (Sydney for Christmas), then on to New Zealand, then I fly to Rio De Janiero (for Carnival), then, Argentina (all the way to the bottom) then back up through Chile, Bolivia, Peru. Down the Amazon back into Brazil, then up to Venezuela and home.

I'm going to do a blog (coz its easier than emailing) and I'll stick the URL up here later for anyone who's interested. Any travel tips or places to go on my route will be gratefully received (and thanks to those of you have already), and anyone who happens to be on my route and fancies a pint, I'll be happy to oblige!

 

[throdgrain]

You lucky sod, that sounds like fine fun
Is your girlfriend / wife coming with you?

 

[dysfunction]

All the best on your trip you lucky bastd!!
Sounds like a fantastic holiday.

Enjoy yourself and come back and not tell us about it...

 

[TdC]

holy shit! goold luck and have fun mate! I'm certainly wanting to follow your adventures so send me that blog addy!

 

[DaGaffer]

You lucky sod, that sounds like fine fun
Is your girlfriend / wife coming with you?

Nope. All on my ownsome. I'm meeting friends in various places on the way (Moscow, Sydney, Thailand etc.), but a big part of it is just wanting to get out there. Its also why I'm avoiding planes as much as possible.

 

[TWS]

Wow..!

Nice one mate...Hope you have a fantastic time.
Interested in reading the blog, so post the URL!
Good luck and savour every minute.

 

[Wij]

Keep posting updates. GL

 

[Aada]

As some of you may remember, I was talking about taking a year off and heading off around the world a few months ago. Well, I'm a bit late, but its finally happening. Today is a big day for me, I've just quit work and completed on a new flat and paid off my mortgage, so in about 4-5 weeks I should be all ready to go. I've started having all my various travel jabs (5 down and about 8 to go) and I should have all my visas and tickets sorted in the next couple of weeks. I've still got some money things to sort out (so if anyone wants to buy a low mileage Nissan 350Z give me a shout ), but then I'll be away until next summer. I've had to change my original plan a bit, (I've cut out India basically) and now I'm going:

London>Brussels>Berlin>Moscow>Irkutsk>Ulan Bator>Beijing>Shanghai by train. Then down the Yangtze by boat, then on to: Vietnam>Laos>Cambodia>Thailand>Malaysia>Singapore. Then I fly to Australia (Sydney for Christmas), then on to New Zealand, then I fly to Rio De Janiero (for Carnival), then, Argentina (all the way to the bottom) then back up through Chile, Bolivia, Peru. Down the Amazon back into Brazil, then up to Venezuela and home.

I'm going to do a blog (coz its easier than emailing) and I'll stick the URL up here later for anyone who's interested. Any travel tips or places to go on my route will be gratefully received (and thanks to those of you have already), and anyone who happens to be on my route and fancies a pint, I'll be happy to oblige!

Don't wander off the tourist areas in Brazil/Cambodia etc you'll quickly find yourself mugged.

Had a friend who did this sort of trip last year and following almost exact same route as you.. in Cambodia he wondered off the tourist area and had everything taken from him from a gang and beaten.

 

[taB]

Brilliant,

I did the other way, Singapore --> St Petersburg three years ago. Absolutely amazing.

Planes are cheating

Will be quite a change to the Yangtze, they'd almost finished relocating (or at least moving off) the 3 million odd people who's homes / farms were going to be flooded when I went up.

The bottom half of China has some amazing parts (across towards Vietnam), quick google finds these random people with a nice few pics:
http://www.ianandwendy.com/slidesho...inaVietnamCambodia/China/Longshen#id=954&num=

Make sure you get out into the steppes and national parks in Mongolia, the most amazing photos I have are from there.

I'll have a flick through my 600+ photos if theres some other reccos I can give.


Ben.

P.S. Make sure you stock up on vodka & Pot Noodles for the Trans-Sib, iirc Irkutsk to Moscow is four days and three nights!

 

[Trem]

Good lad, living the dream.

Take care and bring me back some ciggies.

 

[Whipped]

I'd love to do something like this one day, I envy you mate. Good luck and have fun. I think I speak for most people when I say that we expect lots of pics on the blog

Avoid Israel and you should be ok

 

[nath]

Christ, nice one. Sounds like the trip of a life time.

How much do you want for the 350z?

 

[old.user4556]

G'luck Gaff, awra best for it - I see you've left Scotland off your world tour *grumble*.

Will be a shame to see the Renault .. I mean Datsun ... I mean Nissan go.

 

[nath]

Pff, it's far sexier than your BMW hairdressermobile

 

[old.user4556]

Lies.*


















* maybe Lies.

 

[Mobius]

Wow, that sounds amazing. Have a good time. Take some pictures of Irkutsk!

 

[Paradroid]

Have fun dood and don't sleep with any strange men. A valuable lesson I've learned (from watching the news) is that at least 2 British tourists are involved in everything that happens abroad - so be aware of what's around you and remember that anything can happen at anytime ... and try not to act paranoid, they can smell fear. Also, don't start any wars by stealing their wimen and stuff.

Wear a Freddy's T-shirt and try to get on the telly as much as possible, if you meet Michael Palin harass him for a few days until he goes home.

Wear a large-brimmed colourful hat (or mirrored), it might show up on google earth.

Are you taking a carnival costume with you, or are you hiring there? (*imagines DaGaffer hiking through Cambodian trail with ostrich-feather hat and stilts.*)

 

[DaGaffer]

Christ, nice one. Sounds like the trip of a life time.

How much do you want for the 350z?

20K. I've been offered 19 trade.

 

[DaGaffer]

Have fun dood and don't sleep with any strange men. A valuable lesson I've learned (from watching the news) is that at least 2 British tourists are involved in everything that happens abroad - so be aware of what's around you and remember that anything can happen at anytime ... and try not to act paranoid, they can smell fear. Also, don't start any wars by stealing their wimen and stuff.

Wear a Freddy's T-shirt and try to get on the telly as much as possible, if you meet Michael Palin harass him for a few days until he goes home.

Wear a large-brimmed colourful hat (or mirrored), it might show up on google earth.

Are you taking a carnival costume with you, or are you hiring there? (*imagines DaGaffer hiking through Cambodian trail with ostrich-feather hat and stilts.*)

Right, so avoid other Brits (check); don't start wars (check); wear a Freddys t-shirt (need Freddys T-shirt); harass Michael Palin (would be easier if I was a pretty female researcher, but I'll try); get on Google Earth (burn down rainforest in an interesting pattern - would that be wrong?); wear carnival costume (watches Priscilla Queen of The Desert, thinks it might be a bit tricky, and possibly violent).

 

[Trem]

Kick Palin in the **** if you do see him.

Anti car tree hugging fucktard

Would of liked to see him go around the world without a bloody car to help him.

 

[Sar]

Good luck, & watch out for the ladyboys*!







*Take that either as encouragement or a warning

 

[Pirkel]

Wow that sounds amazing.

I have a lot of respect for people who dare to dream. I have a whole lot more for people who dare to live their dream.

Good luck and I'll be looking forward to reading your blog!

 

[Ch3tan]

Make sure you keep that blog updated!

Sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[Insane]

I vote on keeping the blog updated lots and not let it fall into obscurity especially if you grab Wordpress and Gallery2, you can inter-link them with a couple of plug-ins so its easier to insert images into the blog in relevant spots

 

[phazey]

Give us a shout when you hit Thailand - maybe a beer etc. Also if you fancy heading over to Myanmar for a day or two, it's be worth it to see the Shwedagon.

Good luck.

 

[rynnor]

Good Luck - have a great time and avoid fellow tourists and their reccomendations and try to find the real people

Sounds like a great route - when are you expecting to reach NZ?

 

[DaGaffer]

Good Luck - have a great time and avoid fellow tourists and their reccomendations and try to find the real people

Sounds like a great route - when are you expecting to reach NZ?

Should arrive in Auckland about the 3rd of Jan, and I'll be in NZ until mid-Feb.

 

[Cdr]

Have fun in NZ, and don't let Auckland taint your opinion of the rest of the country (oh, and if you hire a car - be prepared for some of the worst driving in the world - Aucklanders can not drive)

Jan / Feb last year was pretty hot, so hopefully you'll have some great weather to travel around in.

Where abouts in NZ are you off?

 

[Tom]

*envy*

 

[TdC]

Should arrive in Auckland about the 3rd of Jan, and I'll be in NZ until mid-Feb.

Have fun in NZ, and don't let Auckland taint your opinion of the rest of the country (oh, and if you hire a car - be prepared for some of the worst driving in the world - Aucklanders can not drive)

Jan / Feb last year was pretty hot, so hopefully you'll have some great weather to travel around in.

Where abouts in NZ are you off?

imo get your arse to the south island asap, though tbh there are bits of the north island worth seeing. Best thing in Auckland is the plane to Christchurch