Reality Check Needed

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by worth

I'm about 2 months away from departure. Here is my blog if anyone is interested:

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/

I have 4 main adventures on this trip that I have come up with so far. If anyone has any other suggestions, please post them.

1) Hike to Everest Base Camp
2) Travel the Silk Road from Xi'an to Kashgar and then cross the border into Kyrgyzstan
3) Buy a bike in Hanoi and ride it 2000km to Ho Chi Minh City
4) Cross an ocean on a Cargo Ship, possibly from India to Africa

Sounds like great trip, and the blog looks good so far. I tried the sketching thing when I started traveling last year, but everything that I drew looked like it was made by a 5-year-old, so I went back to photos. It appears that you have the artistic talent to pull it off though.

If you make it to Angkor Wat/Siem Reap, let me know and I'll buy you a beer.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by worth

Safari should definitely be on the list and will be if I make it to Africa. I just don't know how long I will be in Asia for, so that is my problem. I may run out of money before reaching Africa.

I have a few more visas to get before I leave and 1 or 2 more rounds of vaccines and I am good to go. I've got my yellow card so I can actually get into Africa if I end up there.

Thanks for the support guys.

Going to have to disagree on a multi country safari Africa - by far one of the most expensive trips I've been on. (2x vs Asia / Middle East) Lots of flights to get around. Food is expensive, as are accommodations. Visas will cost you a lot (@#$! Zim). You will get a bigger return for your buck in other parts of the world. Now if you do a single country in africa (SA) you might have better luck. Decent flight pricing from the UK. The SA Rand has been killed the last few days (see below)

Don't forget Ha Long Bay. Amazing.

One tip I'll pass on - look for great experiences where having CAD will go far - it's automatically cheaper that way.

You left off the middle east - amazing experiences. Discovering it was no where near "Blackhawk Down" and some of the friendliest people I've met on the planet has been the highlight of my travels. Syria used to be my reccommended go to, but obviously no more.

Following my tip - try Turkey, the Turkish Lira has been beaten down the last few days. Another tip - go where where the common tourist is *not* going, knowing that all parts of the country are not bad. Egypt right now is pretty quiet - do you homework on where it's OK to go and you'll get some amazing value right now.

Save 1st world places till the end - you may get too accustomed to creature comforts. Australia would be a great place to end it all. QLD is just stunning (and that's just the girls).

------

I hear from friends all the time - I'll travel when I retire. Here's the honest truth. You travel differently when you're 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age. Once that decade passes, you'll rarely go back. You'll do all manner of stupid stuff when you're 20 but probably take a different route later on. By 60 you're comparing pills and medication with your other retirees. It's never the same afterwards.

[WhiteTiger]

It sounds like you have a great trip planned. I couldn't do it, but I wish you well!

[worth]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Sounds like great trip, and the blog looks good so far. I tried the sketching thing when I started traveling last year, but everything that I drew looked like it was made by a 5-year-old, so I went back to photos. It appears that you have the artistic talent to pull it off though.

If you make it to Angkor Wat/Siem Reap, let me know and I'll buy you a beer.

Thanks for the kind words. The sketching is more for my own personal pleasure, so even if it turn out to be crap, I don't care.

I'm sure I will make it there are some point! I will let you know!

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Going to have to disagree on a multi country safari Africa - by far one of the most expensive trips I've been on. (2x vs Asia / Middle East) Lots of flights to get around. Food is expensive, as are accommodations. Visas will cost you a lot (@#$! Zim). You will get a bigger return for your buck in other parts of the world. Now if you do a single country in africa (SA) you might have better luck. Decent flight pricing from the UK. The SA Rand has been killed the last few days (see below)

Don't forget Ha Long Bay. Amazing.

One tip I'll pass on - look for great experiences where having CAD will go far - it's automatically cheaper that way.

You left off the middle east - amazing experiences. Discovering it was no where near "Blackhawk Down" and some of the friendliest people I've met on the planet has been the highlight of my travels. Syria used to be my reccommended go to, but obviously no more.

Following my tip - try Turkey, the Turkish Lira has been beaten down the last few days. Another tip - go where where the common tourist is *not* going, knowing that all parts of the country are not bad. Egypt right now is pretty quiet - do you homework on where it's OK to go and you'll get some amazing value right now.

Save 1st world places till the end - you may get too accustomed to creature comforts. Australia would be a great place to end it all. QLD is just stunning (and that's just the girls).

------

I hear from friends all the time - I'll travel when I retire. Here's the honest truth. You travel differently when you're 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age. Once that decade passes, you'll rarely go back. You'll do all manner of stupid stuff when you're 20 but probably take a different route later on. By 60 you're comparing pills and medication with your other retirees. It's never the same afterwards.

Great tips here, thanks. I have been to Egypt before, and it was a great experience. I would like to make it to the middle east, it's not a place I am frightened to go to. I actually know quite a few people out that was as well. And Turkey was on my list as well. I may try to end my trip there if I am in the area because I've always wanted to go.

I have pretty much zero interest in visiting first world countries at the moment. Too expensive and much more exciting to visit the third world. I was in Europe last year and I had a good time, but it doesn't match the excitement you get in other parts of the world.

[undercoverbrother]

Spoiler!

Essentials

• Passport
• Visas
• Leg Wallet
• Drivers License
• Debit Card
• Visa Card
• Spare Passport Photo
• Photocopies of all Documents
• Cash
• Insurance

Dopp Kit

• Mirror
• Eyeglasses & Case
• Contact Solution
• Contacts & Case
• Lubricating Drops
• Comb
• Toothbrush & Cover
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Deodorant
• Shampoo (Bottle & Sheets)
• Soap (Bottle & Sheets)
• Shaving Oil
• Razor & Blades
• Nail Clippers
• Hair Pomade
• Sunscreen
• Toilet Paper
• Towel
• Lip Balm

Clothing (Includes what i’m wearing)

• Gregory Z30 Pack (30L)
• Utility Straps (x2)
• Pack Raincover
• Black Diamond BBEE Daypack (11L)
• Large Packing Cube (3 shirts & 1x base layer)
• Small Packing Cube (3x socks & 3x underwear)
• Merrel Moab Gortex Hiking Shoes
• Socks (x4)
• Underwear (x4)
• MEC Pants (x2)
• Swim Shorts
• Shirts (x4)
• Light Fleece
• Long Sleeve Base Layer
• Rain Jacket
• Sandals
• Buff Scarf
• Sunglasses

Medical Items

• Band Aids
• Polysporin
• Ibuprofen
• Moleskin
• Imodium
• Water Disinfectant tabs
• Insect Repellant
• Yellow Card
• Gravol
• Knee Brace
• Tensor Bandage
• Sudafed

Writing/Sketching

• Journal & Pen
• Notepad
• Sketchpad & Pencil
• The Art of Pilgrimage (Book)

Electronics

• Kindle & Charger
• Camera & Batteries & Charger & Cable
• Larry Light LED
• Headlamp
• Spare AAA batteries
• MP3 Player & Headphones & Charger
• Travel Adapter
• Cell Phone & Charger

Miscellaneous

• Maps
• Paracord
• Duct Tape
• Laundry Sheets
• Postcards
• Sleep Sheet
• Ear Plugs
• Spork
• Plastic ZipLoc Bags
• Watch
• Compass
• Nalgene Water Bottle & Sipper
• Cable Lock

You know you forgot something, right?

[Hockeyguy15]

Clear your internet history before you leave.

[worth]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

You know you forgot something, right?

I didn't put it on there because my parents read the blog and I didn't really want to have a family discussion over dinner about it, haha.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by worth

I didn't put it on there because my parents read the blog and I didn't really want to have a family discussion over dinner about it, haha.

Fair enough, I just want to make sure you didn't get wet if it rained....

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by worth

I didn't put it on there because my parents read the blog and I didn't really want to have a family discussion over dinner about it, haha.

I expect to read every triumpth alone the journey on your blog and please don't skim on the details.

[worth]

Tomorrow is the day I leave for Beijing, so I probably won't be on here too much for the next year, but I may stop in every now and again.

Thanks for all the advice from this great community.

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/

[endeavor]

Enjoy seeing the world! I'll be sure to follow your blog. I'd like to do something like this some day.

Stop by once in a while to say hi!

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by worth

Tomorrow is the day I leave for Beijing, so I probably won't be on here too much for the next year, but I may stop in every now and again.

Thanks for all the advice from this great community.

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/

Just saw this thread for the first time (I think, anyway).

I lived in Beijing for several years (albeit about 15 years ago now) and have visited frequently (most recently about 6 years ago.)

With respect to your proposed Silk Road trip, I've also travelled from Beijing to Kashgar as well as from Kashgar down to Pakistan, and then up through Afghanistan to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (again, this was about 6 years ago.)

If you want any advice, just let me know. Am happy to provide it.

[worth]

Any tips would be great. I don't have visas for any of those countries, I plan on getting them in Bishkek. I think language barriers will be the biggest problem. I don't speak mandarin or russian or any of the other languages mashed up in central asia and am traveling alone, so won't really have anyone to translate for me.

I plan to study some Russian basics while in Bishkek.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by worth

Any tips would be great. I don't have visas for any of those countries, I plan on getting them in Bishkek. I think language barriers will be the biggest problem. I don't speak mandarin or russian or any of the other languages mashed up in central asia and am traveling alone, so won't really have anyone to translate for me.

I plan to study some Russian basics while in Bishkek.

Language will definitely be a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. In China, very few people speak English. This is especially true of people in industries where a smattering of English would make your life far easier (ie, taxis, restaurants, train stations, etc.) Of course, perhaps Beijing has improved in this respect post-Olympics. I recommend writing out your destination etc in Chinese characters in order to show to train station attendants and taxi drivers.

Speaking Mandarin in Xinjiang wouldn't help you much in Kashgar anyway as the Uighurs' Mandarin was even worse than mine when I was there.

Beijing is a handy place to obtain visas as essentially every state in the world has a significant embassy there (although the ease of obtaining said visa likely depends on Beijing's relationship with that particular state at the relevant time.)

I can't recommend taking the bus from Kashgar to Gilgit, Pakistan (at least) enough. Its one of the most spectacular drives in the world (the highest paved road in the world apparently.) It passes through the Hindu Kush only several hundred kilometres from the base of K2.

[squiggs96]

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by sun

Wow, good thing you didn't listen to this guys' advice. Invert every single thing he told you and that would've been my advice.

Congrats, man. Gonna be a life-defining trip. Don't sweat the job at the end of it. What's the worst that can happen?

You guys are like Oiler fans in year one of the rebuild.

Best of luck worth.

K

[tvp2003]

Stumbled across this thread again and thought I would bump it if anyone is interested. According to his last update, our old pal Worth is getting ready for an epic bike ride in Vietnam.

http://strattondelany.tumblr.com/

Warning - beware of the rabbit head happy meal and the midgets in the panda suits. +1 for finding China's biggest Flames fan

[worth]

So i'm back in town... it was an incredible trip of a lifetime. A year goes by just like that. I went to some weird (by western standards) places, and if I can take one thing away it's that everyone is basically the same. We all want safety for ourselves and families, we all want to be healthy and happy and for the most part respect each other and all that gushy stuff. Doesn't matter if you live in downtown Calgary or rural Uzbekistan.

Anyway, I have to return to normal life unfortunately, at least for a little bit, but hopefully soon I can get back on the road again.

I've got a pile of photos to go through and once I do that i'll post some here that you guys might enjoy.

Thanks for all the advice!

[surferguy]

Welcome home worth! You are richer for having done this.

[Kswiss]

Nice to hear Worth! Sounds like an epic decision you made. I am wondering if I should do this myself

Let me know how you are dealing with reverse culture shock, if any. I am always curious as to how people adapt to this.