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'Round The World Travel Feel like conquering the world? Give us the run down, your game plan, the strategy...

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Old 03-18-2008, 10:08 AM   #1
ajb3000
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Default In search of the ultimate Adventure (my next trip)

As some of you may know, I graduate this summer and will be starting a round the world trip in June/July. I now have the basic plan sorted of places I want to see, and where I will be heading. It goes as follows.

I will start by Hitchhiking from London to... Iraq! Stopping off in Prague, Ljubljana, Belgrade, possibly Pristina and then Istanbul on the way, visiting friends in those places.

Once in Iraq, I want to spend about a week in the Kurdish region in the north.

Then I want to visit Georgia and Armenia, before going back to Iran to do a road trip round the country with a friend who lives in Tehran.

I'd really like to do a side trip to Dubai and Herat in Afghanistan, but even with an invitation it appears I can only get a single entry Iranian visa, so will probably go straight to Pakistan, then India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, SE Asia and ultimately Australia, hoping to get there 1 year after leaving the UK.

I will then work in Aus/NZ for a year or so and see if I can save up enough to continue the adventure to Africa or South America.
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Where I'm going: Cyprus (June 2013)
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Old 03-18-2008, 10:23 AM   #2
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that sounds like an awesome trip.

Things are heating up in Afghanistan so I caution you there, as well as Iraq, but ultimately folks do what they want, I just wanted to throw that out there. Also dunno what time of the year you wanted to check out Nepal but right now the Dali Lama is about to call it quits if the violence there heightens, if that says anything.

all that set aside, I'll definately be looking forward to hearing updates about your trip - sounds amazing!! continuing the trip to Africa would be SO awesome and I will be forever jealous if that's where you end up.
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Old 03-20-2008, 01:00 PM   #3
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Let me echo that "be safe" wish, Adam. Your itinerary certainly sounds like a "hitting the highlights of the hot spots"...! From everything I've heard from folks over there, I would be very, very careful in Iraq. People do come up missing there. And there really are bad guys over there who have no compunction about kidnapping and killing a foreigner.

As someone who has had a wonderful time traveling in the Muslim world, I understand that there are people who blow its dangers out of proportion. I had a wonderful time in Syria, Jordan, UAE, etc. However, there were no wars going on there. Instead, they are states with a tradition of strong, top down rule. Law and order is respected there because the leadership has little compunction about enforcing order with harshness and -- what may seem to Western eyes -- savagery. People with a casual relationship to international travel don't realize that those authoritarian type governments are often some of the safer places to travel.

Iraq and Afghanistan, in particular, do NOT have authoritarian rule right now...they have very little rule whatsoever going on. And that is a much, much more dangerous situation than traveling through some random dictatorship.

So, I won't say don't do it, Adam. You are an experienced traveler with first hand knowledge of the region. However, be extremely careful. Where you're headed is in fact dangerous irrespective of anybody's wish to blow dangers out of proportion...

God go with you, my friend.

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Old 03-20-2008, 06:31 PM   #4
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As usual, I see you enjoy challenges !

One year isn't sufficient for your plan, in my opinion. The asian part of your trip itself will probably require (or let's say "deserve") a lot of time. India alone could keep you occupied for months, added to the surrounding south asian countries and a few countries in S.E.A., you could be looking at about one year !

Transport are slow and difficult. Some visas aren't available at border points, and the only entrance into Burma is the airport. I believe you can exit from the friendship bridge into Thailand, but I'm not sure.

I fully trust your sense of adventure and resourcefulness, so the above advice are only meant to help prepare your rtw trip.
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Old 03-20-2008, 07:09 PM   #5
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Sounds absolutely amazing. Please post updates.
Where are you going to work in Oz/NZ, if you even know yet?
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Old 03-23-2008, 02:31 PM   #6
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Don't worry guys, I know the risks and have done an incredible amount of research into my destinations, and personally know a guy who went to Kurdish Iraq last summer without any problems. That region doesn't have the same security issues as the rest of the country.

My timescale and itinerary are very adaptable and I'd be very surprised if I stick to either, it's just the general plan which was drawn up based on how much money I have (not a huge amount) and how much I think I can live on in each place, so nothing at all is laid in stone.

As far as working in Oz/NZ is concerned I have absolutely no idea. I'd like to find a nice little town with few other foreigners in Oz, so probably west or maybe south coast. I was thinking I'd fly into Darwin and hitch anti-clockwise until I find some town I like. I've heard stories of friends travelling the gold coast and hardly ever meeting an australian...
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Where I'm going: Cyprus (June 2013)
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Old 03-30-2008, 07:19 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajb3000 View Post
I've heard stories of friends travelling the gold coast and hardly ever meeting an australian...
That's because they're all in England tending bar...!

Seriously, I figured that you'd done a boatload of research (as usual). Just thought I'd speak my piece...

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Old 03-30-2008, 12:49 PM   #8
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r.e. burma im sure (but dont quote me) you can leave via the freindship bridge, im not sure about leaving the country but im sure the rules used to be you can get in via there but only travel onwards by plane with the 7day visa or hang out with the 1 day. it changes, and with the current political climate its good idea to keep an eye on it im hoping to get there this summer too and visit a country that really isnt touched much by tourism.

yoru trip sounds amazing, i too would love a similar itenary but im far too scared by all the western media stories of the middle east to head to some of it just yet.
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Euro trips for gigs and festivals as usual...
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Time to get out of the UK for a while!!
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