I have 8 weeks between my last day of teaching and the day I go back home. I want to spend 4-6 weeks travelling, on (hopefully) no more than US$2000 total.
I’ve already been to Thailand, so now I’m considering other places. I’m thinking Yunnan (China) and Vietnam. If you’ve travelled to these places, or anywhere bordering them, I want to hear about your experiences, good and bad.
Also, if you would recommend them, can you also suggest what’s the best way to plan (logistically) a trip to that place? Is my budget realistic/do-able?
Also, bear in mind that I’m a young, single woman who will, most likely, be mistaken for a local wherever I go in Asia.
Can thoroughly recommend Yunnan, the entire province has sights etc worth visiting, and some outstanding scenery as well. It is an area rich in history, not all of it chinese related either.
It is possible to travel directly from Yunnan into Vietnam as well, assuming all the correct visas.
English is spoken very little outside of Kunming, and even there it will only be the major hotels where you might find anyone who can. Out in the stix, it has to be at least Mandarin, and in some areas it will be hard to understand mandarin as most locals choose to speak the local dialect.
Yunnan is a cheap place to visit, once you get there, ie not taking into account any flight costs. From Taipei, the easiest way is either through HongKong or Macau, not sure what any difference in cost might be.
Areas worth visiting outside of Kunming and the immediate surrounds are Dali, Lijiang, Zhiongdian, Xishuangbanna. Local transport has improved dramatically over the last few years there.
Aprimo, have been there many times, have relatives that live there.
The last few times we have flown Air Macau. TPE - Macau - Kunming. If memory serves me correct, it is Dragonair that does the route from HongKong.
You can also fly within Yunnan, although i have not done this in many years, the aircraft etc back then meant i always took off wondering if i would land in one piece.
[quote=“Jack Burton”]since you’re a young Asian woman, I suggest not going alone, or at least berating any locals that come near you in English.
Otherwise, you might be kidnapped and sold off as a wife to some farmer and his wonderful in-laws.
Incidentally, I can be hired as a companion/porter/guard for the right price! [/quote]
It’d be nice to have a companion, but aren’t you supposed to be at your new job before next month?
Yeah, yeah, you always hear that women shouldn’t travel alone. And at this point I’m just so sick of hearing that. I’ll take all necessary precautions, for sure. But if I’m going to die, I’d rather it be while I’m having a great time exploring a new country than here, on my way to work, under the tires of a frantic taxi driver.
Anyway, malaria and food poisoning will probably be more of a hazard than treacherous locals.
Well, I’m almost certain that if I go ahead with travelling, it’ll be Vietnam. Getting a visa to China (as a U.S. citizen) just seems too murky and complicated now. Even AIT doesn’t know what the new requirements are now.
I spent a considerable period of time this morning at Eslite reading the Footprint guide on Vietnam. Sounds like the biggest worries will probably be avoiding malaria (if I go to higher elevations or the south) and changing money.
If any forumosans have been to Vietnam, or know of someone else who has, I’d love to hear about your experience. Thanks.
You can go to HK, cross over into Shenzhen (where as a US citizen, you can get a 5-day visa at the border for $100HKD). It’s technically only good for Shenzhen, but I’ve gone to other parts of China with it. They don’t check at the airport.
After much research on prices, logistics and such, I’ve decided to go to Thailand after all/again/instead.
sigh
Thanks, though, to all who have put in their opinions/advice on Yunnan and Vietnam. I still hope and plan to make it to those destinations some day.
Anyway, my travel dates in Thailand will likely be July 3-29. If any of you are going there during any of those dates, PM me if you’d like a companion.
