First stage of backpacking – Choosing Destinations

For the past few days, I've been doing a lot of research for my first backpacking trip right after the last day of my national service. I'm not sure how long it'll take but I think it's a case to case basis kind of thing. I'm not really sure where to go yet but I've already quite a few ideas in mind. Thanks to self help travel guide books and the library which is just a couple of blocks away.

1. North Luzon Loop (Philippines) – Using Manila as a starting point, I will venture northwards all the way to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, passing through a handful of beautiful provinces along the way (will stop over for a day or two if need be). Once I hit the northern most tip, will then continue on eastwards to the the Cagayan Valley for some cave exploring. A long trip down, southwards, back to Manila will then end the journey.

2. Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand via KTMB train route(Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) – I thought of taking the KTM train/express to travel northwards all the way ti'll southern Thailand (Hat Yai) and probably taking a bus from there to venture around. From Woodlands (starting point) as a starting point, the train will then pass through known locations of Malaysia; Kluang, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Butterworth (gateway to penang and langkawi) and eventually, Hat Yai (Southern Thailand). This trip can get pretty costly though, I think?

3. The Java Expedition (Indonesia) – I saw this idea on Lonely Planet Guide, Indonesia. The journey starts in Jakarta followed by Bogor, Cianjur, Bandung, Pangandaran, Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Prambanan, then Solo. I believe Yogyakarta and Borobudur will be the highlights of the journey; having Yogyakarta as the cultural capital of Java and Borobudur for its famous temple.

The First option is void for now as June is the start of the monsoon season in the Philippines. I wouldn't want to get caught in the middle of a thunderstorms and Typhoons while I'm on a bus venturing the outskirt mountains of the South East. Might postpone it to November instead.

I'm still trying to widen my options at the moment. Hopefully I came up with something.

Kata, June 2011

Best place to chill with your favourite ska/reggae tunes
Ska Bar, Kata, Thailand, June 2011

Kata, Thailand, June 2011

Phi Phi Island, June 2011

Floating in the middle of nowhere, somewhere I thought I knew. Everywhere I look, I see blue, vast, empty, deep, blue. The only thing which sets me afloat was the fancy, cheaply made life-vest, loosely fitted over my body. I'm sure I was tempted to free myself from that life-saving, floating contraption as I can almost hear the depths beyond, faintly calling for my name - to dive in right into the dark, filled with uncertainty, depths of phi phi, just below me.

Phuket, June 2011

Patong Beach, Thailand, 2011

Late Afternoon
Phuket, June 2011

a south-east asian summertime

Phuket, Thailand (06.06.2011)










Ska Bar & kata seafood Restaurant @ Kata Beach

aged vessels, white foams and still tides

Somewhere in Krabi, Thailand (03.06.2011)