My Itinerary. Roughly Anyway.

It was surprising how quickly I settled on a route to travel through Asia. It may have been over a decade of day dreaming and random evenings planning that big trip but I knew I wanted to start in Nepal, and finish in Japan. It was only a matter of connecting the dots in between.

The criteria I applied myself was temperate weather conditions. That was it. Follow the comfortable weather. Following temperate weather conditions gave me a rough time frame to work with, October is an ideal time to explore Nepal, April - Japan. India - November... naturally the itinerary took shape.

My Itineary:

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Nepal

India

Thailand

Laos

Cambodia

Vietnam

Japan

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Nepal and Japan were no brainers. For as long as I can remember they have been on top of my bucket list. The Himalayas stand as a monument to the idea of travel. I think it is a country that offers different things to different people, whether you seek to enjoy the simple pleasures of trekking amongst towering mountains or seeking spirituality amongst the back drop of temples, multicoloured bunting and burning incense. It is certainly a country that appeals to the romanticised view of adventure.

Japan is a country on quick glances seemingly similar to our own, but you don't have to look far to realise it is remarkably different. It feels like a country that has been given the same tools as any other civilised western country but as grown in its own isolated bubble, and given its history of political and economic isolation (Sakoku) between the mid 17th and 19th century, it has. It is a country whose ethos and rich cultural traditions are so different from our own it demands to be explored and experienced. It is the country that I'm most looking forward to visiting.

Having only citied travelled in Europe, Nepal and South East Asia made sense. They are well established backpacking countries and areas where things can't go to drastically wrong. I could wax lyrical why I want to go to Nepal and Japan, but South East Asia I would probably struggle a little bit. But I figured that passing through South East Asia would be an experience in itself, it would surprise me, but also I could go there with little preconceptions or expectations. After all I'm pretty sure everyone else wings it too.

I'm not sure what i am expecting from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, but i'm sure it will be well worth the experience. I'm interested in what Thailand and Laos offers the most. Thailand I am a little wary off, not so the country or its people, but more the party atmosphere it attracts. Thailand is a country twice the size of the UK so it is a bit ridiculous to think that is all Thailand has to offer.

Laos is the one country that doesn't get talked about, seemingly overlooked in favour of South East Asia's big three. But researching the country it seems it is South East Asia's little secret. One whose reputation is growing as I guess seasoned travellers look for something different. It seemingly doesn't have the infrastructure that helps new travellers get around the rest of the continent, but I guess thats is half the appeal.

After I leave Nepal, I fly back west to New Dehli. India. Oh India. The things that people say about India! I suspect it may be the most challenging country I'll visit. Secretly i'm looking really forward to it. I kind of like being beat around the head with new senses. It makes me tick, but i'm also aware that I may need to take a few days off just to have a breather. At the moment i'm looking at spending my time in India in Rajasthan. I would love to visit places like Hampi or Darjeeling but India is so big, so vast, I will probably have to stick to one area and take it at a slower more rewarding pace.

So why not Malaysia, Philippines or Indonesia? Mainly time and not wanting to take too much on. The northern ranges of South East Asia fitted my idea of connecting Nepal and Japan together. They are well established countries in regard to tourist infrastructure and for a new traveller it made sense. They are certainly countries I would like to include in a trip in the future though.

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So how long am I going for?

I leave the UK on October the third (there is something nice writing the date like that) and planning to come back sometime in May. I'm aiming to spend a month in each country give or take depending on how all this pans out. Whether I am enjoying a place, what friends or spontaneous decisions i'll make along the way.

My plans originally started out as a year round the world trip. But as I started to plan and get into the realties of what I was doing I realised that a year is actually a really long time. A long time to be away from your friends and family, but also being 32 i'm in that awkward phase of laying down the foundations for the rest of my life. Supposedly anyway. So I figured 6 months would work and I started to narrow down my scope. South America or Asia? Nepal and Japan in my head trumped Chile and Peru, so Asia it was. A pretty easy decision. Sorry Chile and Peru! As I started to plan, that time stamp grew again. You realise that one month in a country is actually not that long. The more I research the more I think I could easily spend two in Nepal. And India? So far I feel like I'm barely scratching the surface and have already decided to spend 6 weeks there. So I am allowing my self a week extra here and there depending on where life takes me. It wouldn't surprise me if I did actually end up doing a year! Future foundations eh?

So I will be in Nepal on my birthday and most likely be spending Christmas and New Year in Thailand. Japan when Spurs Win the league. This should be pretty, pretty, good!

If you have any tips, recommendations please feel free to share.

Thanks, Joel