Around the world in 8 weeks

[allstar88]

dublin,london,paris,rome,egypt,jordan,dubai,india, thailand,vietnam,tokyo,    australia,new zealand,amtrak train across the usa then an atlantic cunard cruise

[bigmick22]

and week 2?

[Chinaman]

(katoeylover @ Jul. 21 2009,15:31) Loved central America - Costa Rica's Pacific Coast and guatemala City.

Guatemala is one of my favourite spots, but not Guatemala City. Great places are Antigua, the old capital, Panajachel at the lake for relaxing and Chichicastenango for the market, but then you have to be there on market days.

If Guatemala, I would dedicate a week as there is also Tikal, perhaps 2 including Mexico.

Costa Rica seems to be more a spot for nature - and some pretty girls I was told but haven't been there myself.

If u go to Guatemala, you need to check on the current security situation. Same goes for Mexico.

[Chinaman]

(Snick @ Jul. 21 2009,15:37) China, yes, but important to pick the right time to go to beijing.
Winter too cold, Summer too hot. Occasional sand storms.

Looks like Ozzie will be in Beijing in October - that should be a good time of the year.
The Wall takes a day, Forbidden City another one and you could go to the Temple of Heaven which is my favourite spot in Beijing - not as crowded and quite manageable and an outstanding piece of architecture.
You might also consider flying to Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and from there down to Thailand.
I don't know if I'll still be in China by then, probably not, but pm me once you know more about your itinerary.

[Chinaman]

(bickers @ Jul. 21 2009,17:43) Cuba before tha US eases travel restrictions and it becomes another Miami

I certainly second that one and p4p might be more fun and safer there than in Brazil. They do have quite some cute lbs in Havanna, but you'd need to rent a car and Spanish helps ...

[tim1212]

i also think your trying to many destinations for 8weeks , you'll want at least a week in thailand, so i'd leave philippines and japan for another time there closer to oz as well for a shorter trip.
defo south america 3weeks see rio/ pantenal / amazon in brazil ,also 100miles east along coast from rio, cabo frio-beautiful place,
dublins 4nights london 3nights amsterdam 4nights
prauge 3nights cairo i'd miss shit hole-but if you have to 2nights
china 5nights leaving 2weeks in thailand??

even this looks like your going to be non-stop rushing !! but a lovely delemer to have

[jprc2]

(Ozzie @ Jul. 21 2009,17:04) (...) This is more a sight seeing and cultural experience (...)

The big question is to know what you mean by "sight seeing and cultural experience ", and what you like to do...
I am afraid only your best friends and your dog know about it.

Almost as many ideas as human beings...

Do you travel with a gof bag? Do you like great sceneries? Do you prefer to see places on your own or mix with locals? Do you feel comfortable being with other tourists or do you prefer to explore parts of the planet few know? Do you look for city or countryside? Do you like walking randomly in a city or havinga guide? Do you want comfort or do you accept more local conditions? Can you eat local food without side effects or do you need your home food? etc, etc...

You are also obviously not new to travels and you know that it is not because you drop a few days in a place and be between airports and hotels that you will really "breath" the country...
It would be like trying to know Thailand only staying in Pattaya walking street.
I think it is nice if you can have a mix of "road trips" and have sometimes a slower pace in your trip, before jumping in the next flight / continent ...

So many options.
..
One example is : Arrival at Johannesburg. Then flight to Cape Town. You rent a good car from Avis or Hertz (roads are very good in RSA, and cars are good. left drive.). Then drive east along the coast for 200 or 300 kms... (lots of gorgeous golf courses, but also whales / dolphin /sharks, superb food and wines, etc...) and through the Karoos. At Georges Town or port Elizabeth you go north to Maseru (Lesotho) and take 1 day drive in the hills of this remote landlocked country. You should not have snow anymore in September. Back in RSA, cross the Drakensberg region (stay in cosy B&B while in RSA, there are many) then head to Swaziland. Cross south/north this tiny country (a kingdom, with a king taking a new ten-something wife every year, and 40% hiv...). Reach the Kruger Park north of swaziland and back to RSA. Stay 2 days looking for big games in the largest national park in Africa. No, no rangers for looking games for you (like in the artificial Kenya). You drive on your own through the park... Then straight to Maputo/Mozambique where you will have the first and true feeling of what Africa is really about... At Maputo, let you car at the airport, (it is why I said Avis or Hertz), and fly either to Lisbon (lisbõa) in Portugal, or Johannesburg in South Africa.  If you can, go to see a match of the rugby world champions... From the hub that is JNB, you can then proceed to South America. (total 6 to 7 days)

And if you do not know France and would like a very pretty itinerary accross this country, tell me and I will draw a quick one...
If you go to Lisbon, hire also a car, and drive north through the Douros, Spain, Andorra, the Pyrénées, Massif Central in France...

I am sure you know Venice already. If not, sight seeing and cultural experience (if you like History) would be unequalled


... visiting some fjords in Norway from an icebreaker (not in September though) and volcans in Iceland, navigating in the Galapagos, sight seeing Nepal, speak French creole at Tahiti, have a grasp at what an amazonian jungle looks like in Guyanna, seeing the Cape Horn and going again from south to north in the beautiful Chile, the Beer Feast at Munchen, Lao then going up the N1 from HCM (saigon) to Hanoi...


Ah!!!
Lucky you...

[Chinaman]

(Ozzie @ Jul. 21 2009,15:04) My current plan in rough order is Argentina (Buenos Aires), Brazil (Sao Paolo, Rio De Janeiro),  Egypt (Cairo), Ireland (Dublin), England (London), Czech Republic (Prague), China (Beijing), Japan (Tokyo), Philippines (Manila), Thailand

I'm afraid that we all might be confusing you even more ... anyway, on second thought, I would skip the idea of Cuba, Guatemala and alike as it would just take too much time, also Machu Picchu as it is only worthwhile with some time. I think concentrating on the 3 cities in South America might be a good idea and not wear you out too much as they are all pretty close together.

Of course I'm a bit insulted that you are going to Prague and not Vienna but I can live with that and Prague is truely one of the European gems. I do miss Italy on your itinerary which I'd consider a must if in Europe unless you have been there before. Mid-October should still be ok, later it could get chilly and rainy and Venice might be flooded which is of course another sight of its own.

I also would consider leaving Japan and the Philippines for another time and spend a bit more time in either Europe and/or China.

Although 2 months sounds a lot for a start, it is not that much looking at all the places one could or would want to go.

Ozzie, what is the budget you are considering, just curious?

Are you booking one of these round-the-world tickets or buying your flights as you go along?

Definitely sounds interesting.

Cheers
CM

[juancarlos]

A few thoughts:

-Agree you should drop at least Phils and possibly Japan, the first altogether and the second because it is close enough to you for an independent trip (but when you go, see both Kyoto and Tokyo - old and new- can't try to understand Japan with just one)

-In Africa, in order of preference: (1) safari in Kenya or Tanzania (there is a wide range of cost, from the backpacker special to full-on luxury), (2) Egypt and a side-trip into Jordan to see Petra, and (3) South Africa, particularly Cape Town and the wine country

-In the Mid-East, Jerusalem and Istanbul are both extraordinary (history, architecture, religion, relevance to current events)

-In the mediterranean, Santorini in Greece or the Amalfi coast in Italy

-In South America, Buenos Aires

-Another easy trip for you, and thus perhaps one to save for another time, is to fly to Nepal, trek for a bit, then take a train to New Delhi, see the triangle, and fly back to BKK

[Ozzie]

(Chinaman @ Jul. 25 2009,15:13) I'm afraid that we all might be confusing you even more ... anyway, on second thought, I would skip the idea of Cuba, Guatemala and alike as it would just take too much time, also Machu Picchu as it is only worthwhile with some time. I think concentrating on the 3 cities in South America might be a good idea and not wear you out too much as they are all pretty close together.

Of course I'm a bit insulted that you are going to Prague and not Vienna but I can live with that and Prague is truely one of the European gems. I do miss Italy on your itinerary which I'd consider a must if in Europe unless you have been there before. Mid-October should still be ok, later it could get chilly and rainy and Venice might be flooded which is of course another sight of its own.

I also would consider leaving Japan and the Philippines for another time and spend a bit more time in either Europe and/or China.

Although 2 months sounds a lot for a start, it is not that much looking at all the places one could or would want to go.

Ozzie, what is the budget you are considering, just curious?

Are you booking one of these round-the-world tickets or buying your flights as you go along?

Definitely sounds interesting.

Cheers
CM

I am seriously considering missing Japan as I have been there before and as people say it is not too far from Oz or even BKK that I can pop over another time.

Another place I am thinking about skipping is Cairo. I do really want to go there and see the pyramids etc but might leave it to another time as it is one destination that is kind of out of the way and adds a bit of traveling time onto the trip.

Whilst I agree in some ways I might be trying to do too much. That is in fact what this trip is for. A sampler if you will of places I will want to go back to at another time.

I have thought about adding Moscow between Prague and Beijing. Also I am trying to see if I can do Xian and the Terracotta army.

I am buying and around the ticket which means it will be fixed route once finalised but I can change dates and times at no cost.

As far as budget is concerned I have anticipated about average $500 AUD per day including accommodation.

[Chinaman]

(Ozzie @ Jul. 26 2009,18:04) As far as budget is concerned I have anticipated about average $500 AUD per day including accommodation.

That's almost 300 Euro per day - times 60 days = 18,000 Euro - wow, even if that should include the airticket it sounds like a generous budget for a 2 month-trip.

Something you might want to consider but unfortunately the time of the year is not ideal, would be a cruise for a week or 2. Great way to travel to different places and relax at the same time. In particular some runs in the Mediterranean cover Italy, Egypt, Israel, Greece and Turkey within 2 weeks and you only have to unpack your suitcases once. Might also meet a wealthy hot widow or bored-with-her-husband wife for some fun :-)

But in October the seas get too rough ...

I guess we are definitely all waiting for a comprehensive trip report :-)

[El_hefe]

Assuming you left off the US 'cos you've been here, or it's too similiar to Aus? Let me suggest New York City and/or San Francisco if you've never been to them, top notch destinations.

SF actually has a great free concert series in Golden Gate Park the first weekend in October for 3 days as well, that is their best month weatherwise too.

[Ozzie]

(El_hefe @ Jul. 27 2009,09:15) Assuming you left off the US 'cos you've been here, or it's too similiar to Aus?  Let me suggest New York City and/or San Francisco if you've never been to them, top notch destinations.

SF actually has a great free concert series in Golden Gate Park the first weekend in October for 3 days as well, that is their best month weatherwise too.

Yes I left off the US because I have been there many times for both work and holiday and been to nearly every state. Boston is about the only place in the US I have not been to which I would still like to see.

I was actually in San Francisco just over 18 months ago for work and before that on holiday a few years previous. Also spent some time in NY back about 6 years ago.

[Guest]

Yes I left off the US because I have been there many times for both work and holiday and been to nearly every state. Boston is about the only place in the US I have not been to which I would still like to see.

You realise there are 50 States? I thought I travelled a lot in my 39 years living and working in the U.S. but lucky if I have been in 30 of the nifty fifty. So tell me how was Idaho, Nebraska and Montanna. Are they worth going too?

[Ozzie]

(Ginger @ Jul. 27 2009,09:37) You realise there are 50 States? I thought I travelled a lot in my 39 years living and working in the U.S. but lucky if I have been in 30 of the nifty fifty. So tell me how was Idaho, Nebraska and Montanna. Are they worth going too?

Thanks for the geography lesson. If you bothered to read the whole thread you would have seen I have been to about 40 of those 50 states.