Places Visited

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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.