Brainstorming Flights Routes

///Friday, 30 March 2012 - Perth (PER) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

D7 237

0650 (PER)

1230 (KUL)

=290AUD

WITH ROUND TRIP

***Saturday, 28 April 2012 - Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Perth (PER)

D7 236

2350 (KUL)

0525 (PER)

(+1 day)

=199.00 AUD

///Friday, 30 March 2012 - Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Chengdu (CTU)

D7 326

1800 (KUL)

2240 (CTU)

=87.86USD

///Saturday, 28 April 2012 - Vientiane (VTE) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

AK 1413

1705 (VTE)

2045 (KUL)

=73.00 USD

USING THE ROUND TRIP

***Saturday, 28 April 2012 - Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Perth (PER)

D7 236

2350 (KUL)

0525 (PER)

(+1 day)

///Flights from Lhasa to Daqing (Yunnan)

Main China Airlines - www.airchina.com

China Eastern - Only fly Tues and Monday & Friday - http://en.ceair.com/mu/

///Could fly from Bangkok to Laos ~$200AUD oneway, then will need to get to Bangkok and figure out how to get back to Perth e.g. China > Bangkok or China > Singapore?

Hence a reverse route

{KL}>[fly]>

{CHINA-SICHUAN}Chengdu>[bus]>Huanglong>[bus]>Jiuzhaigou>[bus]>Chengdu>[train]>

{TIBET}Lhasa>[fly]>

{CHINA-YUNNAN}Zhongdian>[bus]>Lijiang>[bus]>Dali>[bus]>Kunming>[bus]>Mengla/Jinghong>[bus]>Mohan(Border town)>

{LAOS}Luang Namtha>[bus]>Oudomxai>[bus]>Luang Prabang>[bus]>Vientiane

#Visa Info from: http://www.laos-guide-999.com/from-China-by-road.html

*NOTE: due to reverse route have to get Visa at Lao border...Little bit harder

Only Mohan/Boten (Mengla in Yunnan province / Luang Namtha province) border crossing point is an international crossing where travellers can get Lao visa on arrival

**NOTE: China to Lao by Water

It is also possible to travel to Laos by boat from Kunming or Xishuangbanna, China, through the Mekong river straight South to Xieng Kok river port in Luang Namtha province.

At this stage Xieng Kok river port checkpoint does not issue Lao visa on arrival. I'd recommend you get visa for Laos from the Lao embassy beforehand if you plan to enter Laos at this checkpoint.

#Visa info from Australian Embassy: http://www.laos.embassy.gov.au/vtan/AEV0001.html

Tourist visas valid for 30 days can be obtained on arrival at Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airports, and at the Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai Thailand and Vientiane Laos

Passport photographs are required for a visa on arrival. All other crossing points require a valid Lao visa already in the passport, which must be obtained from a Lao Embassy abroad.

NOTE:

Travellers are remined to check their passports, when entering and leaving

Laos, to ensure they have received a correctly dated entry/exit stamp. Penalties can apply for entering Laos without an entry stamp and for crossing the border at non authorised crossing points.

#Visa info from: http://projectvisa.com/visainformation/Laos

---as off Jan/2011

China [type L - visa info via http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84246.htm]:

Mohan - Boten.

Xiengkok riverport. (No visa on Arrival)

Sohun Checkpoint. (No visa on Arrival)

Researching Tibet

Continue of:

http://ayu452-adventures.blogspot.com/2011/09/2012-trip-plan.html

http://ayu452-adventures.blogspot.com/2011/09/visa-research-china-and-tibet-and-laos.html

Found and awesome post @ Lonely Planet

------------------------------------------------------

How to Travel Cheaply in Tibet via http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1878944

by lobsangy

There are a few things you cannot avoid when you travel in Tibet. First, as matter of government policy, you need a Tibet Entry Permit, which is only arranged through locally-registered travel agencies. Second, while you are travelling in Tibet, you must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide, which must also be arranged by a local travel agency.

Having said that, there are ways to reduce the overall cost of travel to Tibet, which are not always advertised by travel agencies:

(1) Travel Permits: As a traveler, the first thing you should ask is how the travel permits are arranged and how much you will be charged. If the travel agencies are based in Lhasa or are locally registered with TTB, they will often charge less than those based in Chengdu, Xining, or elsewhere. You can call travel agencies in Lhasa directly to see how much they charge and how quickly they can do it for you.

(2) Accommodations: As mentioned above, most travel agencies will book you in their own contracted hotels, which are not necessarily better or cheaper. Most travel agencies will tell you or imply that only travel agencies can book hotels or get good deals for you. This is not true. As long as you have a permit and tour guide, you can stay in any hotel or guesthouse that has been designated for foreign tourists by TTB.

As a small hotel owner in Lhasa, I am often frustrated with travel agencies for their unfair commissions for hotels. For example, they may take 50% or more of the rate given to customers, which not only overcharges customers, but also underpays hotel owners.

You can tell your travel agency that you will arrange your own accommodations. It will require a little more research on your part, but you can definitely find many interesting, comfortable, and affordable hotels online or in guidebooks and contact them directly.

(3) Hiring Cars: This is bit tricky because it involves several issues. First, there are no clear rules and regulations regarding this matter. TTB simply states that all tourist vehicles must have insurance and all drivers must be qualified as tour drivers. While there are transportation companies, at the moment, most people still go through a travel agency to arrange transportation because these transportation companies are not easily accessible to the average tourist. However, if you wish to put in the extra effort, you can ask around for transportation companies and compare rates. If you are lucky, you may find a good transportation company offering a good rate.

(4) Tour Guide: As a matter of policy, as mentioned before, all foreign tourists must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide and the tour guide must be arranged through a travel agency. The cost of a tour guide depends on the travel agency. In order to reduce the cost of a guide, many tourists join groups to share one guide. By joining a group, the cost can then be shared by several people.

(5) Meals: Again, many travel agencies will direct you to restaurants where they receive the best commissions for themselves. These restaurants do not necessarily reflect better quality or price. So if your travel agency offers to arrange meals for you, just smile and say thank you! If you aren’t sure where good restaurants are, you can ask your tour guide (but sometimes your tour guide may also take you places in their own self interest), your hotel staff, or a travel guidebook. After all, you have come to Tibet, so please try some Tibetan food.

(6) Entrance Fees: Tourists are required to pay entrance fees for most monasteries, temples, and other tourist sites in Tibet. For example, during the peak tourist season, it costs 100rmb for a ticket to the Potala and 85rmb for a Jokhang Temple ticket. Because tickets to the Potala Palace are limited to 2,000 per day, many travel agencies will charge a fee to book this ticket. However, if you are willing to go to the ticket office in Lhasa the day before (during the highest peak season there may be a line), you can book your own ticket, and thereby avoid the booking fee. During the off-peak tourist season, you can usually purchase the ticket the same day. Your tour guide can also help you with purchasing this ticket.

(7) Off-Season Travel: The peak tourist season for Tibet is approximately late June to October and prices for air tickets, rail tickets, hiring cars, hotels, and entry tickets to tourist sites are considerably higher. If you plan your trip during the off-peak season, you may find that costs for the above may be cut in half.

------------------------------------------------------

Traveling in Tibet: What do foreign tourists need?

Foreign travelers often wonder why traveling to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is so expensive and inconvenient even though Tibet is one of poorest regions in the world. First of all, needless to say, there are several policies to safeguard stability in the region. In addition to these policies, which are regulated by various government agencies, private enterprises such travel agencies and the hotel and transportation industries also shape tourism in Tibet. We can better understand the cost and procedures for travel in Tibet by looking briefly at each item needed.

Tibet Entry Permit

The first thing needed (after you obtain your China tourist visa) is the famous Tibet Entry Permit for foreign tourists traveling to the TAR. This is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB), which is a government agency responsible for basic policies related to tourism in the TAR. This permit is needed even to purchase an air or train ticket to the TAR.

Tour Guide

According to the most recent TTB regulations, all foreign tourists must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide.

Alien’s Travel Permit

If you plan to travel to “closed areas” in the TAR, such as the Mt. Everest area and Mt. Kailash, you need an Alien’s Travel Permit, which is issued by the Foreign Affairs Section of the Public Security Bureau. This is usually done only after arriving in Lhasa. Your travel agency can help you with this.

Military Permit

If you plan to visit Ngari, Nyingtri, and Nakchu, which are regarded as sensitive military areas in Tibet, you need the Military Permit issued by the Military Office in Lhasa. This is usually done only after arriving in Lhasa. You will need to provide your passport to apply for it, which will take around 2-3 business days. Your travel agency can help you with this.

Travel Agencies

Locally registered travel agencies in the TAR are the only ones who can arrange for tour guides and the Tibet Entry Permit. They can also arrange for the Alien’s Travel Permit and Military Permit if needed. Because of the long and complicated process of registration, there are currently only about 50 registered travel agencies in Lhasa. Travel agencies based in other cities such as Chengdu, Beijing, and Xining are not registered in the TAR, and therefore cannot apply for your permits directly. They are able to make these arrangements only through the TAR-based travel agencies. For example, if you pay a travel agency in Chengdu or Xining to get your permit, those travel agencies have to ask a registered travel agency in Lhasa to apply for the permit for you. Thus, if you arrange your permits and tour guides through travel agencies based outside of the TAR, you are paying extra for intermediary fees.

Transportation

Air

To purchase your air ticket to Lhasa, you will need your passport and Tibet Entry Permit. You may purchase this yourself at any air ticket sales office, or your travel agency may do this for you. At the moment, the original copy of the Tibet Entry Permit is also required to board the plane.

Train

To purchase your train ticket to Lhasa, you will need your passport and Tibet Entry Permit. You may purchase this yourself at any rail ticket sales office, or your travel agency may do this for you. You need the original copy of the Tibet Entry Permit to board the train.

Hiring Cars

Most travel agencies do not own their own ground transportation but have contracts with transportation companies. The drivers and vehicle must be approved for tourists by TTB. The cost of hiring cars (including driver) is usually calculated per kilometer, and is currently approximately 4-8rmb/km during the peak tourist season.

Accommodations

Most travel agencies do not own hotels or hostels but have contracts with hotel owners. Because of this, different travel agencies will prefer to book you in different hotels according to their contracts. There are no regulations requiring foreign tourists to book hotels through travel agencies. If you wish to book your own hotel, you may do so by contacting the hotels directly. The only requirement is that they are approved for foreign guests. Currently, the star rating system is more arbitrary than not and is not a reliable factor for selecting hotels. In Lhasa, there is a reasonable selection of higher end hotels, and more recently, there is also a greater selection of various types of hotels, from family-style guest houses in the old Tibetan quarters to boutique hotels and hostels

Visa Research China and Tibet and Laos

Hardest bit of any trip is Visa issues

http://ayu452-adventures.blogspot.com/2011/09/2012-trip-plan.html

Trying to figure out how to go to/from these difficult countries.

///Foreign Embassy Information For Australians

List of Embassy - http://protocol.dfat.gov.au/Mission/list.rails

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

///Travel Advice China/Tibet

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/china

///Visa Info for China

China visa can be divided in to a few kinds, but the "L" kind which means travel visa.

When you come to China via Nepal (Kathmandu) and come to Tibet, you have to have the China visa issued in Kathmandu no matter if you already have it or not. This is the agreement between China and Nepal.

Apply for a China Visa within your country. Do not mention Tibet otherwise it will take much longer.

Single entry will suffice if visit Tibet and returning to China.

Forms and Prices - http://www.chinatravel.com.au/download

Australia China Embassy - http://au.china-embassy.org/eng/ls/

Perth China Consulate - http://perth.chineseconsulate.org/eng/bgxz/

Travel Advice - http://www.travelcentre.com.au/travel/asia/China/china_visa_requirements.htm

More Visa stuff - http://www.traveltibetguide.com/tibetpermits.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

///Visa Info for Tibet (Tibet Travel Permit) - Part I

Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permits are necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and are obtained through tour operators as part of arrangements for travel; A T.T.B. permit does not obviate the need for an Aliens' Travel Permit for any closed areas that may be visited. But you can get them easily from Travel Tibet Guide.

Here is a note from Lonely Planet:

"Lhasa PSB will not issue travel permits to individuals and will direct you to a travel agency. Agencies can arrange a travel permit to almost anywhere but only if you book a Land Cruiser, driver and a guide."

TTP Info - http://www.traveltibetguide.com/tibet-entry-permit.html

Do I need double/multi-entry visa if I come to Tibet from China mainland and return China mainland after the trip? [via http://www.traveltibetguide.com/faq.html]

No, because Tibet is a part of China, if enter Tibet from other cities in China mainland and after the trip in Tibet, get back to China mainland again, only a single entry visa is required.

For example:

Beijing→Tibet→Shanghai

For this, a single entry visa is okay

///Visa Info Tibet - Tibet Travel Permit - Part II

Quote from [http://www.tibettrip.com/essential/documents.htm]

Overseas tourists to Tibet must hold a valid passport issued by his or her homeland and a visa issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate. However, tourists from a country that has agreed upon a visa-free protocol with China can visit Tibet without a visa, but the stay usually can't exceed 30 days.

Tibet Tourism Bureau:

Tel: 0086-891-6835472/ 6834315

E-mail: webmaster@xzta.gov.cn

Address: No.3 Norbulingka Road, Lhasa, Tibet

Outside of Tibet:

1. Chengdu Office

Tel: 028-8555171

Address: No.3 Wuhou Hengjie, Chengdu

2. Zhongdian Office

Tel: 0887-8229028; 0887-8227892

Address: Room 2206, Xiangbala Hotel, Shangri-La, Yunnan

///Getting to Tibet via a Tour Agency - Part III

Registered tour agency withing Chengdu:

http://www.chinatouronline.com/china-travel/chengdu/chengdu-tourism/tourism-services.html

Possible head from Yunnan into Sichuan (Chengdu) then travel around Sichuan.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and the mirable Sanxingdui Museum. Visit to Kuan Zhai Xiang

Chengdu>Huanglong>Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot > Nuorilang Waterfall > Long Lake and Pearl Beach.

///Other Links

Brief breakdown - http://wikitravel.org/en/Tibet

From Chengdu/Kunming to Tibet - http://wikitravel.org/en/Overland_to_Tibet

To/From Zhongdian To/From Chengdu via http://wikitravel.org/en/Yunnan_tourist_trail & Train To/From Kunming/Chengdu

Tour agency to/from Lhasa - http://www.china-travel.nl/english/tibet.htm

http://wikitravel.org/en/Tibetan_journeys

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

///Travel Advice Laos

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/laos

///Visa Info for Laos

---Entry and Exit Requirements---

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Laos for the most up-to-date information.

You should ensure you obtain an entry stamp on arrival. Failure to do so may result in a fine.

You should use only official border crossing points to enter Laos.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

---Australia Visa---

Tourist visas valid for 30 days can be obtained on arrival at Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airports, and at the Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai Thailand and Vientiane Laos. Passport photographs are required for a visa on arrival. All other crossing points require a valid Lao visa already in the passport, which must be obtained from a Lao Embassy abroad. Tourist visas may be extended for 30 days at the Bureau of Immigration (Bureau of Aliens and Foreigners Protection) opposite the morning market in Lane Xang Ave, Vientiane. Fines for overstaying are imposed, they can be paid at the Bureau of Immigration or at the Friendship Bridge on departure. Fees apply for visas.

Lao Immigration require passports to have at least 6 month's validity remaining. Travellers have been refused entry into Laos when holding passports with less than 6 month's validity.

Travellers are remined to check their passports, when entering and leaving

Laos, to ensure they have received a correctly dated entry/exit stamp. Penalties can apply for entering Laos without an entry stamp and for crossing the border at non authorised crossing points.

http://www.laos.embassy.gov.au/vtan/home.html

Australians Entering Laos - http://www.laos.embassy.gov.au/vtan/AEV0001.html

Watsons Bay Part 1

Circular Quay > Watsons Bay
Sydney Ferries on a nice Sunday cruise.



Walking around the lil streets of Watsons Bay









































My little travel companions :) They have travelled to many countries and cities with me!

2012 Trip Plan

And so it begins, the biggest trip I am about to embark adventured is starting to grow.

My previous trips included:

2009# Singapore > from Saigon through south Vietnam andup into Cambodia by boat via Chau Duc > worked our way up from Phnom Penhinto Siem Reap by bus, we then flew back into Vietnam (Hanoi) and made our wayinto Sapa by train > then fly back to Saigon for a few more nights till Iflew back to Singapore and into Perth.

2010# KL to meet some Siti and the Hubbi> Taiwan (Taichung)and explore the rural lands of Taiwan > Singapore for a few more days to partyup and eat

2011# KL to meet some Siti and the Hubbi before the bigwedding > Korea (Seoul) > Busan by KTX > Japan (Fukuoka) by high speedferry > Kagoshima by Shinkansen > Osaka by Shinkansen > Kyoto by car> Hamamatsu by Shinkansen > Tokyo > Seoul by plane > KL for awedding

My goals are to fly from Bangkok into Laos and from theretravel north into China (Yunnan) and make my way into Tibet (originally it wasNepal, but I am planning to save that for when I tour India).

I have 1 month to cover some 4000km across 2.5 countries(Tibet belongs to China, kind of?)

From Tibet I will have to create away back to Perth? I wantto do as little flying as possible!

My goal is to always use local transport to the MAX and thethree day train from Tibet to Beijing might just do it :) I will be using anumber of buses through Laos and various boats along the way.

I might have to fly from Yunnan into Tibet L the car journey cantake up to 8 days!

Route Options I am thinking of:

--- Laos --- approx 8 days

01# Bangkok > Vientiane > Vang Vieng > Phonsavan> Luang Prabang > Oudomxai > Luang Namtha

02# Bangkok> Vientiane >Luang Prabang > Phonsavan> Oudomxai > Luang Namtha

03# Bangkok > Vientiane > Phonsavan > Luang Prabang> Pakbeng >Houayxai > Luang Namtha

04# Bangkok> Luang Prabang > Phonsavan > Oudomxai> Luang Namtha

05# Bangkok > Luang Prabang > Phonsavan >Pakbeng>Houayxai > Luang Namtha

--- China (Yunnan) --- approx 8-10 days

01# Laos > Mengla > Jinghong > Kunming > Dali> Lijiang > Zhongdian > Tibet

02# Laos > Mengla > Kunming > Dali > Lijiang> Zhongdian > Tibet

03# Laos > Mengla > Kunming > Lijiang > Baishuitai> Zhongdian > Tibet

04# Laos > Mengla > Kunming > Lijiang > Liming >Weixi > Deqin – Zhongdian (Shangri La) – Baishuitai > Tiger Leaping Gorge> ?

--- Tibet --- approx 8 days

*** need to find suitable trek***

--- China (Beijing/Chungdu) --- approx 2-3 days

Lhasa > Chengdu > Jiuzhaigou Valley > ?

Sydney Harbor Bridge...Meh!

Went to the bridge. Lucky for the good weather. It was ok haha
Needed to see it as a tourist, i guess.

The Waterfront

Some lucky shots of the view

Streets of Sydney & 2 Oxford St

Hyde Park View of St Mary Church


























Pie Face!













Lemon Juice on Oxford St













Paddington markets.

Opera House!

Only the fisheye can cut it!  Its to vast











Looked like a KL singer on the stairs taking photos










Didn't have a tripod but it turned out ok











Harbour front? I forgot what it is called

Darlington Harbour & Cockle Bay

Darlington Harbour by day.











Cockle bay by night.

Wacky Asian Store - Streets of Sydney

A really groovy shop. Has a bit of everything inside. It is like stepping back in time into parts of Asia.
http://www.maoandmore.com/tour.htm









Shop 267-271 Cleveland Street Surry Hills Sydney






















Definitely worth a walk through. Even maybe a small purchase

Luke Nguyen Restaurant - Red Lantern

I don't know about this place. The ambiance is nice, the service is great but the food is avg and price is expensive.
I think I expected to much. I was hoping for a taste of Vietnam. But this is just another fusion restaurant that fails to kick start the taste buds.
Should have guessed by the customer demographics.

A Splash of Sydney Part 2 - Queen Victoria Building

Queen Victoria Building Interior

A Splash of Sydney Part 1

Went to Sydney for the weekend. Not to bad. Just the three days. Walked around the city and up oxford street. To many fashion shops, I was going cross eyed.

Hyde Park Fountain




















<St Mary Church >




Hyde park











Hyde park part 2

Temple Haven!

Big Buddha! A temple not to far from where I was staying in Taichung.
Nice little walk in the morning with my Asian family.
Also had some freshly cooked squid!












The nice view from my walk










Inside the buddha











The buddha backside!