My friend Bryden and I have created a tradition. Every winter since we started university we have gone on a trip. The first one was small; a few days in Death Valley. We drove south and explored the national park, went off-roading, and explored abandoned mines. Last year we went further, and headed to Puerto Rico. We spent new years in San Juan, spent a couple nights camping in the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands, and rented a car and took a road trip around this island. This year will be our most exciting yet, however. We will be heading to Thailand and Myanmar, with brief stops in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore at the end. We plan to relax a little, see a lot, and wear ourselves out with constant travel.
Our Destinations
Ever since we spent a month in Asia, exploring Vietnam and Singapore in 2016, we have wanted to return. Over this past summer I mentioned, slightly jokingly, that we could return for winter break. After a little thought, we decided that there was no good reason not to take this trip, so we booked some cheap flights into Thailand and out of Singapore and started thinking about where we wanted to go.
Our first idea was to take a train from Bangkok to Singapore. This would take us through the beautiful beaches and islands of southern Thailand, into the center of Malaysia, finishing in the futuristic, utopic city of Singapore that we both love. This trip would be exciting, but dangers in southern Thailand as well as the lack of off-the-beaten-path adventure made it less appealing.
Our second idea was to take a train to Laos, travel south to Cambodia on busses and motorbikes, and finally fly into Singapore. We were excited by this as well, however we decided that traveling through three countries with a lot to see would need more time than we had.
We then decided on something different; something hopefully more adventurous. After arriving in Bangkok, we will hop on a night train to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, where we will rent motorbikes and spend four days exploring the countryside. We will then see Chiang Mai, and visit a [very ethical and humane] elephant preserve. Next, we will fly to Mandalay, Myanmar. We will travel south through Myanmar to Yangon, passing through Bagan and through the Shan State. We will finally fly to Kuala Lumpur, and then to Singapore before heading back to school.
Thailand and Myanmar, where we will spend the bulk of our time, have always been places we are interested in. Thailand is renowned for its great food and friendly people, so we figure it would be a great travel destination. It is also a very popular place to go so the travel infrastructure is well developed. Myanmar, on the other hand, is less well developed, and not as popular of a place to travel. They are working hard to become a destination for budget travelers so we are hoping to see the country before it becomes popular.
Collecting Data
One of my intentions for this trip is to keep close track of our expenses. I will be cataloguing everything I pay for, in an effort to create a very comprehensive dataset. You can expect me to be very transparent about our expenses during this trip, and I will work to analyze the data as we travel, following up with a complete analysis once we return.
Packing
Similar to our last Asia trip, we are packing very lightly. Bryden and I are both bringing 35 liter backpacks, and few clothes. My packing list is as follows:
Clothes
- 3 Tee Shirts
- 1 Long Sleeve Button-Up Shirt
- 1 Light Wool Sweater
- 1 Thin Pocket-Sized Rain Jacket
- 1 Primaloft Jacket
- 1 Pair Light Shorts
- 1 Pair Jeans
- 3 Pairs Synthetic Underwear
- 3 Pairs Wool Socks
- 1 Pair Flip Flops
- 1 Pair Running Shoes
Technology
- Macbook Pro
- DSLR
- Kindle
- Hard Drive
- Portable USB Battery
- Wireless Headphones
- Phone
Other
- Insulated Water Bottle
- Notebook
- Pocket-Sized Compressible Backpack
- USA & Canada Passports
- Watch
- Packing Cubes.
As you can see, I am aiming to not bring much. By traveling light, with a two-thirds full 35 liter backpack, it is much more comfortable to travel and move around.
Communication
While abroad, we will still be very connected. When in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore my phone will work with my normal number. I plan on buying a sim card for Myanmar, however my normal number will still be reachable through FaceTime and iMessage. I will also be posting short, ~500 word posts with photos daily while we travel, so we will keep everyone updated on our plans and adventures.
Lastly, please leave comments below! I will always see when they are posted and respond to them, so feel free to ask any questions or share any comments. Also, the comment forum asks for your email and website, however you don’t need to include those if you wish not to. Can’t wait to begin this trip in just a couple weeks!