Kat & Andrew's Worldwide Adventures

South East Asia Itinerary

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 30 July 2013 | Views [1113] | Comments [1]

It’s only been a year and a half since we were living the dream backpacking around South America for almost 6 months after living like a local in Canada for almost a year. When we first arrived in New Zealand it felt fantastic being surrounded by family and friends again and having the stability of a full time job, money consistently coming in, getting back into the routine of the gym, not living out of a bag and not having to find where to wash your clothes, where to sleep or where your next meal was coming from in a non-English speaking country etc We were content.

After 6-9 months, we started to feel a bit bored. What’s so great about this being stuck in one place thing?! The same routine week in and week out… is this what we wanted?

After 12 months we just wanted to be free!!! And then begins the planning and the count down to when this can be so.

This time however, emotions have been very different for me. When I moved to London and Canada, each time, I knew I only had a year visa and that I would be coming home. This time after our Asia Adventure I am moving to my fiancés home in Australia indefinitely….. I went through a stage of panic where the thought of never being able to live in my home country again terrified me, what if I didn’t like in Australia? What about my family, my friends?! I know Melbourne (Frankston) isn’t far away but realistically I’ll be seeing my family and friends once a year, if that. And when we have kids they won’t be apart of their every day lives…. It saddened me A LOT. I had trouble getting excited about our Asia trip because it had the sour twinge of knowing I was leaving my home, maybe for good this time.

If I’m honest, it still saddens me but I’ve gotten to the point where I know life goes on. I’ve been away for years before and it hasn’t changed my relationships with my closest friends. Moving now represents the next step in my life – getting married, owning a home, starting a family. I’m finally ready for that and it’s exciting. I want it all NOW! And I can’t WAIT to get to Asia! To have no responsibility’s again, where every day I can do exactly what I feel like doing! Exploring incredible landscapes and cultures, relaxing on the beach, trekking in the jungle, visiting temples, reading a book, getting a massage, meeting the locals and very importantly – finding a wedding venue!!

By the way, I’ve done it again…. We have a set itinerary. I’ve written before about how I would love to just turn up at a place and see where we end up but that’s against my nature. When you only have a certain amount of time and money and you have a long list of things you want to see and do, you HAVE to make a plan to be able to fit it all in….. Things may change as we go along but this is the idea:

Itinerary:

31^st August – Fly to Queenstown. (Not exactly Asia I know, but a side trip to the snow. Had to be done!) Snowboard a day each at Treble Cone, Cadrona, CoronetPeak and the Remarkables.

5^th September – Back to Auckland for final packing, shipping of my life’s personal belongings to the Land of Oz and tearful farewells.

10 Sep – Melbourne, Australia

11 Sep – Singapore

14 Sep – Ayutthaya, Thailand

15 Sep – Chiang Mai, Thailand (Trekking)

19 Sep – Pai, Thailand

21Sep – Chiang Rai, Thailand

22 Sep – Huay Xai, Laos

23 Sep – Gibbon Experience, Laos (Zip lining above the forest & sleeping in treehouses)

26 Sep – Luang Prabang, Laos

29 Sep – Vang Vieng, Laos (Tubing!)

2 Oct – Vientiane, Laos