| The Southeast Asia is a backpacker's paradise. | | | | 4. BOOK your NOOK: Lodging reservations |
| Backpacking was invented for Asia particularly | | | | You know, after hours on end of air and road |
| because it simply rectifies the essence of | | | | travel, to be able to check in and shower in your |
| backpacking culture ofa low-cost, independent, | | | | selected hotel accommodation is perfect bliss. But |
| international travel. Southeast Asia could be the | | | | for other parts of the trip, booking hotels or |
| ideal place to spend a holiday from university for | | | | hostels is less than necessary. Tourism is a huge |
| more reasons than one, and if you bother to ask, | | | | economy generator, lest you didn't know. That |
| money-wise, yes. Except for the Banana Pancake | | | | Southeast Asia is improving on backpack travel |
| Trail, the traveller will find in almost any place | | | | infrastructures is only to the traveller's advantage |
| off-the-beaten paths and hundreds of options to | | | | just because s/he will almost never run out of |
| personalize and customize the travel experience. | | | | hotels. Also, it is a great advocacy to help |
| And if you've picked Southeast Asia as your | | | | independent or family-owned hotels to make sure |
| gap-packer destination right now, you are in the | | | | you're helping sustainable tourism in the country |
| right state of mind, because if it's raw and | | | | and directly benefit local economic development. |
| authentic backpacking you want, this is where you | | | | While you're at it, you can also research and book |
| need to be. You may not need your Lonely Planet | | | | tours that contribute to preservation of culture |
| Guide, you'll see. | | | | and endangered wildlife in the area, such as the |
| 1. VISA-vis: visa reminders | | | | elephant camps in Chiang Mai. Animal rights |
| Very important! Southeast Asia is definitely one | | | | activists fight for elephants which are made to |
| of the most backpacker-friendly destinations for | | | | wear painful wood in their backs to carry tourists |
| the inexperienced traveller mainly because of | | | | for hours in the jungle. These cuts through the |
| cost, proximity of the countries, and, hey, entry | | | | pachyderms and is a truly distressing truth. By a |
| is not such a complex thing either. For U.S. | | | | small act of choosing tours, like elephant camps |
| citizens, countries in SEA can and will be traversed | | | | that offer elephant-back safari, you are ensuring |
| without the necessity for visas for a certain | | | | that cultures and wildlife will subsist until your next |
| period of time like Malaysia -90 days, | | | | time here. |
| Singapore-30 days, Thailand – 30 days, and | | | | 5. PICK your PACK: The right pack |
| Philippines – 21 days. For Laos, Cambodia, and | | | | |
| Indonesia, visas-on-arrival are issued in the airport | | | | Backpacks are essential, need I say? Having |
| without hassle for fees no more than US$50 | | | | taken care of the more important things, it's high |
| depending, of course, on your planned length of | | | | time to freak about your pack, and I say that in |
| stay. | | | | a good way. There are many good choices for |
| Most backpackers commence their SEA journey | | | | packs these days but the operative word is |
| in BANGKOK, which, along with MANILA, are | | | | comfort, as it has been throughout the article. |
| strategic places where the traveller can apply for | | | | Right size, zip-around, compartments, chimney, |
| visas to anywhere in the Southeast Asia. Some | | | | and straps – these are what you want in your |
| prefer a business visa that does make travel | | | | pack. Zip-around versus top loading is |
| easier because of its stretched validity and | | | | self-explanatory (no more digging everything out). |
| multiple entry access, which is good for a year's | | | | Internal and external compartments offer great |
| worth of stay in SEA. But leave this for the | | | | organization. Chimneys will create ventilation |
| seasoned backpacker. For a two month stint, a | | | | between man and pack, so definitely no flat |
| tourist visa will work super fine. | | | | backs, please. Straps for securing the pack in |
| Visa regulations are recurrently updated depending | | | | place as lug this around. Finally, the right size also |
| on foreign and political situations, so watch out for | | | | means making sure the pack and its would-be |
| extra requirements like exchanging at least | | | | contents stays within the carry-on limit. |
| US$300 to MMK in Burma. But don't be intimidated. | | | | (Pick a sturdy and reliable set of shoes for |
| Check the State Department website for | | | | trekking as well!) |
| up-to-date information on visa and travel, or, | | | | 6. HAPPY PACKING |
| when all else fails, seek advice from a credible | | | | |
| travel agency such as Liberty Travel. | | | | Never shall I more happily stress this… pack |
| 2. SURE TRAVEL: Insurance policy coverage | | | | light, pack well. This is the code of the |
| The SEA region remains entirely unpredictable | | | | backpacker. No matter how big your bag, there |
| when it comes to health and property theft | | | | will always be a way to fill it with crap. (Yeah, |
| incidences. Hence, as a student, you may want to | | | | take that laptop out.)So, understand your |
| organize and purchase a comprehensive travel | | | | destination – SEA. The basics would cover a |
| insurance and screen what circumstances are | | | | first aid kit, travel size toiletries, a sweater or a |
| covered and not covered by the policy, like | | | | sarong, trekking shoes, passport (photocopies and |
| medical evacuation. Save for Thailand and Manila, a | | | | photos for visa apps), USD currency and yourself. |
| big bulk of hospitals in the SEA is not equipped for | | | | Laptops and other expensive e-gadgets are quite |
| anything beyond First Aid remedies. It may get | | | | risky due to theft and damage concerns, rather |
| quite ugly, say, when an accident happens while | | | | bulky too. Keep your techie luggage to cameras |
| tubing in Vang Vieng, and even uglier when your | | | | and mobile phones. Anyway, the region teems |
| medical coverage, you find, cannot accommodate | | | | with internet shops, while hotels are mostly Wi-Fi |
| evacuation to Bangkok or does not extend to | | | | ready. Make sure your backpack is half empty |
| accidents from "extreme sports". | | | | when you come here to save space for your |
| These are decisions that matter, decisions that | | | | shopping. Keep that first aid kit. With the poor |
| can save your life. So talk with your insurance | | | | medical facilities in some rural areas, this might |
| provider, know the limits, keep receipts of your | | | | just save your life. |
| valuables, and make copies of your insurance | | | | Save for… |
| policy to leave at home. When the inevitable does | | | | The amazing thing is that all your modern comfort |
| happen, don't forget to file and acquire a copy of | | | | needs are here, authentic and cheaper. Toiletries |
| the police reports, and always make accessible | | | | are manufactured in Thailand and Philippines like |
| your insurance provider's 24-hour emergency | | | | J&J and Colgate. The sarong, whichyou can |
| number accordingly before paying for whatever | | | | also choose to buy here, is handy as a makeshift |
| medical services. | | | | blanket for the cold nights or as a shoulder/leg |
| 3. FARE WELL: Airfare deals | | | | cover-up for those solemn temple visits. Thongs |
| When that's set, plan for your air transport. You'd | | | | or flip flops which come cheap in SEA (less than |
| want to get the best deal without compromising | | | | US$1) are also necessary for that city trek and |
| comfort. Not to be too patronizing, but a 12-hour | | | | for bathroom use when things aren't looking that |
| flight to a faraway land and the entertainment | | | | nice and clean. Don't forget that dear Southeast |
| system breaks down on you is outright injustice. | | | | Asia is a shopper's discount haven for counterfeit, |
| Go for an airline with a "decent" track record. But | | | | original, and all brands. In fact, you can also buy a |
| before finalizing your booking, check your agent | | | | cheap tri- or quad-band mobile here with a local |
| or airline representative for special offers when | | | | SIM for $50 less to stay connected. |
| booking before purchasing your ticket | | | | *** |
| Some airlines have an "ALL ASIA PASS" like CX | | | | The real deal in backpacking is freedom and the |
| or "ASEAN PASS" like Thai Airways and Malaysian | | | | ability to choose. The ultimate advice to date is to |
| Airlines. Cathay's All Asia Pass is a roundtrip | | | | be highly adaptable and flexible to situations. |
| promo available for U.S. residents flying from L.A., | | | | Seriously, Southeast Asia is the place for |
| San Francisco, or New York to Hong Kong then | | | | "Tenner-A-Day" student travellers. Daily budget: |
| to at least 2 basic cities of your choice. Prices are | | | | $10-$20, not including shopping. |
| subject to change, but the figures for 2010 travel | | | | Weigh your options when a risky but fun |
| begin at US$ 1599, inclusive of the roundtrip USA | | | | opportunity comes along, and simply SIMPLY (I |
| fare. Even better, is Thai Air's ASEAN PASS | | | | mean really) avoid messing with drug policies, not |
| which I heard go by a coupon per flight which | | | | just in Southeast Asia. Tourist or local, drug |
| have incredible cut-rate prices which go as low as | | | | violations render unmerciful sanctions for being |
| US$99 for each coupon (minimum of 3 and | | | | caught dabbling whilst in Southeast Asia. In some |
| maximum of 6 coupons). MAS' ASEAN PASS is | | | | countries, it could be a choice between jail time, |
| good for 4 flights to Southeast Asian major cities | | | | deportation, life sentence, or the best of all, death |
| for a charming price of US$322. | | | | penalty. |
| For these, you will need them issued at the same | | | | Delays and cancellations can be an amazing thing |
| time as your international flight ticket, so planning | | | | too, so keep cool and go with it. Should you get |
| is of the essence. Check or for details and | | | | lost, what can I say? That's the whole point! This |
| updates. | | | | will be an exciting trip! |
