World Tour
2012
- Trip 6: Jan 07 — from Yogyakarta, Indonesia by plane to Kuta, Bali
...it was raining when I arrived, and it continued for the next 36 hours... so I left.
- Jan 09 — by plane to Yogyakarta
- Jan 14 — by train to Jakarta
- Jan 16 — by plane to Singapore; by plane to Angeles City, Philippines
- Jan 20 — by bus to Manila; by plane to Davao
...I'm getting to where I like Davao as much as, or perhaps even more than, Cebu.
- Jan 26 — by bus to General Santos
...my first visit to GenSan (as it is called).. didn't really care for it all that much.
- Jan 28 — by plane to Cebu City
- Feb 03 — by plane to Singapore; by plane to Jakarta, Indonesia
- Feb 04 — by train to Yogyakarta
- Feb 15 — by plane to Kuta, Bali
- Feb 18 — by van to Padang Bai; by high-speed ferry to Gili Trawangan, Lombok
...with it raining (make that, storming) during my last visit to Bali, I wasn't about to brave the ferry over to Gili – so I tried again this time.
- Feb 20 — by high-speed ferry to Padang Bai, Bali; by van to Kuta
- Feb 21 — by plane to Yogyakarta
- Mar 01 — by train to Jakarta
- Mar 03 — by plane to Singapore; by night-train to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
...didn't really wanna stay in Singapore, but sleepers for the train to Kuala Lumpur were all booked. Decided to go anyway, so I had a very sleepless night in a 2nd-class seat in a very cold coach.
- Mar 09 — by train to Butterworth; by ferry to Penang
...my first time back to Penang since 2001.
- Mar 13 — by ferry to Butterworth; by train to Bangkok, Thailand
...a loooooooooooong train trip from Penang to Bangkok – starting at 14:00 on the 13th until 11:00 the next day – 17 hours; 717 miles (there's a coincidence for my Coincidences page). ;-)
- Mar 22 — by car to Pattaya; by car to Trat; by high-speed ferry to Koh Kut
...my first new island destination in Thailand in quite a while.
- Mar 24 — by high-speed ferry to Koh Mak
...decided to visit two new islands in the same trip.
- Mar 26 — by high-speed ferry to Trat; by car to Bangkok; by night-train to Vientiane, Laos
- Apr 09 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand; by train to Chiang Mai
...first time back to Chiang Mai in almost 9 years. Decided to celebrate Song Kran (Thai New Year) there.
- Apr 17 — by night-train to Bangkok
...wanted to extend my 15-day visa-on-arrival. After a LOT of trouble finding the right place to do so, and filling out the required form, getting the required copies, and the required passport photo, I was told that my visa-on-arrival could only be extended for 7 days (not the 90 days I had requested) – and they would be happy to do so for a mere 1900 baht (about $63 US dollars!). [No thanks!]
- Apr 21 — by night-train to Hat Yai; by night-train to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
...my best "escape" from Thailand before my all-too-short visa expired was to go by train to Kuala Lumpur. It turned out to be a 40-hour trip consisting of two overnight trains and an 8-hour layover in Hat Yai.
- Apr 27 — by plane to Singapore; by plane to Angeles City, Philippines
- May 07 — by plane to Cebu City
- May 21 — by plane to Davao
- May 30 — by plane to Cebu City
- Jun 08 — by plane to Davao
- Jun 15 — by plane to Cebu City
- Jun 18 — by plane to Angeles City
- Jun 22 — by plane to Bangkok, Thailand
- Jul 20 — by night-train to Vientiane, Laos
...a quick visa run to Laos.
- Jul 25 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand
- Sep 21 — by night-train to Vientiane, Laos
...another quick visa-run to Laos.
- Sep 24 — by night-train to Bangkok, Thailand
- Dec 21 — by plane to Negombo, Sri Lanka
...first venture into new territory since my visit to Indonesia more than a year earlier.
- Dec 22 — by car to Mount Lavinia
...not knowing much about Sri Lanka, just took my chance on where to go; booked 4 days... stayed only 1.
- Dec 23 — by van to Colombo; by train to Mirissa
...went to see blue whales; didn't turn out so well; ended up spending more than 12 hours on the boat due to engine trouble.
- Dec 25 — by train to Colombo; by train to Negombo
- Dec 26 — by plane to Male, Maldives
...I've wanted to visit Maldives for a long time. Finally made it!
- Dec 27 — by ferry to Maafushi
...Maldives turned out to be one of the most expensive destinations in a dozen years of travel. It ranked right up there with Japan and Norway.
- Dec 29 — day-trip (by high-speed ferry) to Picnic Island and back
...a beautiful island, very well-maintained; great for a day-trip.
- Dec 31 — day-trip (by high-speed ferry) to Biyadhoo and back
...first went to an island they said was "very nice". It turned out to be a dump - quite literally. Opted instead for a pay-for-the-priviledge trip to Biyadhoo Resort.