So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we all own too much stuff. Alex Steffen wrote a great piece on Worldchanging a while back about creating “use communities” – groups of people who share items that you only need every once in a while. I mean do we all need to own a power drill? As I’m prepping for my trip to SE Asia, I’m realizing that some of you probably have some of the stuff I need for my trip. Should I spend the money and contribute the unnecessary amount of crap being produced/thrown away or should I see if I can borrow this stuff from my friends? I figure I’ll start with the latter option and buy things if necessary. So this is the first of several likely posts about my travel planning and some ways you might be able to help.
First, enjoy this video. Tom and I get vaccinations! We received vaccinations for Hepatitis A and pills for Typhoid as well as prescriptions for Malaria pills and Cipro (in case of traveler’s diarrhea).
I’ve already received a ton of emails from people who have spent time in the region. So thanks so much for your recommendations. Our basic plans are to fly to Bangkok where we will spend a few days, head up north to Chang Mai and a few other spots in Thailand, then cross into Laos, check out Luang Prabang, chill the hell out, do some river tubing, etc, then move into Cambodia where we will visit Ankgor Wat, Phnom Pehn and do some dirt biking, then down to southern Thailand for the beaches, ending back in Bangkok. We’re not currently planning on hitting Vietnam (it just seems like too much to fit into a month) but if you think this is a huge mistake, please let me know. I’d hate to spend a month in SE Asia and miss the second coming of Jesus or something… Well, you know what I mean.
OK so here are some things I need that I figure some of you might have lying around:
1. I need a good waterproof backpack. Something with lots of pockets and easy access to things like maps and watter bottle.
2. Water filtration bottle
3. Headlamp
4. Ultralight rain gear
5. Waterproof hiking boots, over the ankle, size 8.
6. I need a helmet cam! Maybe you know of a good place to get one cheap or know how to make one? We’re gonna be renting motorcycles and dirtbikes quite a bit and I think it might be fun to record some of our adventures.
7. Lots of mini DV tapes. Know where I can get a bunch cheaply? Lemme know.
Also if anyone has recommendations for travel insurance, that would be most helpful. Oh and my passport expires Sept 2. Our nurse at the travel health place expressed some concern that I might want to renew before leaving since it’s so close to expiration. Again, our dates are June 23 – July 23 and we’ll be crossing from Thailand into Laos into Cambodia and Thailand again. Anyone have any thoughts?
Oh and one more thing. I’m looking to sublet my apartment. Please check out my facebook listing.
Thanks!
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Headlamp. Got one. It’s yours.
A good friend of mine just spent about two years traveling through SE Asia with his wife. Great tips and videos are up at http://www.brianschaller.com/.
Direct link to tips is http://www.brianschaller.com/travel-advice-backpackers.html
Have fun! Be safe!
Passport Health is where my wife and I got repeatedly stuck for our trip to Africa in 2005 if that’s the one on Wilshire near Western then I think you were even in the same office as us. Dude, I think we’re related or something now.
Awesome itinerary. Can’t wait to hear your impressions of Luang Prabang and Siem Reap. It’s been almost 10 years since I went to either of them. I think I saw no more than half a dozen tourists in either location during our stay.
The Lao are some of the kindest people in the world. Everywhere we went in Laos we couldn’t go more than a few minutes without someone greeting us with a “Sabai dee.” I really want to go back to LP just to track down some of the kids we met there. One of them was a novice month whom we sent a bunch of English language tapes and books. There were also a pair of adorable kids living in a shop on the main drag, a few blocks to the right of the old royal palace. Every time we walked by they came out to visit, wanting to play paddycake. They must be in their mid/late teens now. A friend of mine spotted them about five years ago; they still had copies of the pictures we sent them.
Sigh… Now I’m getting all nostalgic. You’re about to go to some very magical places. Bring _tons_ of DV tape. I’m still kicking myself for only bringing audio recording equipment and a 35mm camera when I went…
Chohk dee na khap, mahk mahk!
woops… that should have said “novice monk.” Not sure what a novice month would be. February perhaps?
Thanks for the tips, Jenn! I will be definitely be at the WC retreat. Hope to see you there!