This feels a bit different starting a new thread as I've always replied to other people's. I'm visiting my boyfriend who lives in Japan next August and we have about 18 days that I'd like to use travelling in SE Asia. What I'm proposing is to:
fly into Ho Chi Minh, spend about 3 days there.
Head to Phenom Penh, check that out for 3-ish days, check out the Killing Fields, etc.
Head up to Siem Reap/Angkor Wat 2-ish days
Make our way to Bangkok - hello shopping - spend a few days there and head back to Japan.
Is the weather flat out crappy in August for backpacking (I realize this is monsoon season)
Is this way too rushed? Are there things I'm missing out on that must be seen (even if we only have 2 1/2 weeks)?
Flipping through Lonely Planet, it looks like there are buses that connect with all these places. Is it easier to fly?
I would love to spend more time in Thailand but the boyfriend is deathly allergic to peanuts and I don't think he's too keen on living off of energy bars for more than a few days.
Grazia.
Reply to this I think I'll send the questions back to you, one by one 😊
>>Is this way too rushed?
I guess this depends on your preferences. I love travelling around a lot, but it is easy to fall into the trap of wanting to squeeze in as much as possible on a limited period of time. The major drawback for me about moving around quickly is that just as you are about to get the hang of how a city works you are shipping out to the next. And if you are keen on taking photographs you won't have time to wait for good weather and have to make do with the conditions you have.
>>Are there things I'm missing out on that must be seen?
Probably. But on the other hand, if you find that you like a place you can always come back a second time. If this is the first time you are heading to these places you may find that they don't really appeal to you at all anyway.
>>Is it easier to fly?
Yes. Especially on a cramped itinerary you may want to spend it on location as opposed to in transfer on a bumpy bus ride. It all depends on what you enjoy, if you just like to be on the road seeing the countryside from the window of a bus then you may want to go for it anyway.
I've never been to SE Asia in August so I am going to pass on that one. I didn't understand the reference to peanuts. If you go to a metropolis such as Bangkok it shouldn't be a problem finding your preferred diet there.
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