A few options crossed my mind when it came to destinations for my trip. Since I recently got my motorbike driver's licence, I thought it would be awesome to get a cheap motorbike and tour through the United States. Although I still think this is very cool to do (and I might do it anyway in the future) I don't think it's the best plan to go with at this moment because of my budget, little experience with driving a motorbike and of course the 'difficulty' of getting the right (working)papers / visas in order to spend months in the States.
So, I soon came up with another fantastic idea, which I now get even more enthousiastic about every time I think of it. In a nutshell, this is the plan.
First I'll buy a one-way plane-ticket to Moscow, Russia and spend a couple of days there. From there I'll take the train which is known as the world famous 'Trans Siberian Express', which will bring me to Beijing, China. During this train trip of approximately 2 weeks, I'll stop a few times in Siberia and Mongolia in order to spend a few days there too.
After arriving in Beijing, I'll backpack through China and travel South, visiting at least the 2 major cities Sjang-Hai and Hongkong. I'm planning to spend at least 1 month in China, but I'm not quite sure yet. After visiting Hongkong, it's very easy to reach Vietnam by train, so that's what I'm going to do!As you may know, Vietnam shares its border with Cambodja and Cambodja shares its border with Thailand. I'll explore these 3 countries too and I want to spend at least 3 months there. Anyone who have seen the 'special' of the tvshow Top Gear about Vietnam, knows these countries are well known for their insanely busy traffic and chaotic motorbike culture! Almost everyone in these countries owns a motorbike and these motorbikes are dominating the traffic, that's for sure. Having this in mind, and being a future motorbike driver myself within the near future, I might concider to explore one (or all) of these countries by motorbike!
After Thailand I'm planning to fly to the Philipines, to it's capital -and world metropolis - Manila. From Manila I'll take public transport to Bagiou City, a big city where my uncle and aunt are living. I'm hoping to pay them a visit and spend a few weeks there too. Last time I was there, was in 2004 spending 5 weeks for my holiday there! This holiday still counts as one of the best ever and has a position within my top 5 of 'most amazing countries I've visited so far' ever since. So I'm pretty excited to go back there.
After spending a couple of weeks there I'll fly to Australia where I'll try to stay as long as possible in order to go backpacking, exploring and party as much as I can. I'll definitely try to get a 'work holiday visa' which allows me to travel and work for at least one year. Since it might be my final destination, there's a good chance I've run out of money by that time, so working there (like harvesting on the land or stuff like that :-)) would be a good option to expand my visit. How long I'll be staying in Australia or if I'm traveling even further after Australia I wouldn't know yet, I'll have to decide that when I'm there.
After spending a couple of weeks there I'll fly to Australia where I'll try to stay as long as possible in order to go backpacking, exploring and party as much as I can. I'll definitely try to get a 'work holiday visa' which allows me to travel and work for at least one year. Since it might be my final destination, there's a good chance I've run out of money by that time, so working there (like harvesting on the land or stuff like that :-)) would be a good option to expand my visit. How long I'll be staying in Australia or if I'm traveling even further after Australia I wouldn't know yet, I'll have to decide that when I'm there.
Although this is my plan, I'll book nothing in advance, except for my plane ticket to Moscow and my train ticket from Moscow to Beijing. After that, it is very well possible I'll change my plans last minute wherever I am. This depends on factors like budget, people I've met, stories I've heard or unpleasant situations and events in countries, I'd rather not encounter. But that's the beauty of a world journey ofcourse... not knowing (exactly) where you're going!! It's one big adventure.
- Bart
