tentative itinerary

there are two types of travelers. ones who plan it, and ones who wing it. i've always been the former- the obsessive planner. i just like to do my research and find out what each city has to offer; that way i don't feel like i'm not missing out on something ridiculously important (95% of time, it involves some type of food/restaurant). i get a lot more done this way, efficiently and effectively, and i don't mind doing the work (aka researching, planning, scheduling).

though, i have always envied those who pack a bag and set off for a destination, not knowing where they will end up next. the open-ticketed backpackers i've encoutered in asia, free-spirited vagabonds who let wind pick up their trail. i've always told myself, one of these days, i am going to travel like that.

when i first decided on traveling to SEA i was thrilled to sort of float around aimlessly... but soon it drove me crazy. i was looking up all these cities, all these restaurants, and i had no idea if i was going to actually make it there. will i really make it to sapa this time around? or try to brave it in burma? what about a jungle-trek in the heart of cambodia, or drinking merlot in vietnam wine country of dalat?

in the end, to compromise the two (that's my life in a nutshell, the endless pursuit of balance between two very extremes), jo and i have mapped out the following, very TENTATIVE route:


thailand - malaysia - singapore - philippines - vietnam - laos - cambodia - thailand


that's a lot of countries, i know, but some of these countries we're visiting strickly to dive. that's right, dive! i am getting my open-water certification (PADI) in thailand and will be one step closer to diving (not just snorkeling... which is uber lame) the great barrier reef one day!

see? there i go again, with the planning...