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Indonesia
When to go to Indonesia:
Best: April - June, Sept & Oct.
Worst: Dec and Jan [wet]; July, Aug [crowded, expensive & poss smoke/
haze problem.
Why go to Indonesia:
The world's largest archipelago [13.677
islands], Indonesia has a huge variety of ace landscapes and cultures,
calm, friendly people, wonderful food, diverse wildlife, and plenty
of activities.
Downside : In recent years, air pollution 'Haze' has been serious in
summertime. Political instablity may also be a problem, though not so
much in Bali. Moving from one island to another is time consuming and
expensive. Because of its popularity, some places such as Kuta in Bali
are too touristic, and the local people can be mercenary.
Where to go:
1. Bali. Despite
high tourism, Bali maintains a rich and colourful Hindu heritage : Ubud,
a relaxed and charming rural town with beatiful rice terraces, fantastic
festivals and exellent arts and crafts.[1 day +], Candi Dasa, one of
the best beaches [1 day +], Kuta, great restaurants and night life.
2. Java : Yogyakarta, an attractive market town, good for local
culture and batik [1 day], Pranmbanan, the 8th largest Hindu temple
complex [1 day], Borobudur, one of the finest Buddhist monuments in
S.E Asia [1 day].
3. Sulawesi [Tana Toraja], for more unique ethnic life styles
and customs.2 days +
4. Irian Jaya [Balim Valley], strangest of all Indonesia's provinces,
where the Dani people still retain an ancient culture and men wear penis
gourds. 3 days +
5. Kalimantan [Borneo], for wildlife : Banjarmasin, for floating
markets and Dayak people [1 day], Pangkalanbun, a base for Tnjung puting
National Park [2 days +].
For visa info: http://www.indonesianembassy.org.uk/
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China
When to go to China:
Best : April, May, Sept,
Oct.
Worst : Dec, Jan [Cold] ;
July, Aug [hot and crowded]
Why go to China:
Big, big, big. Big population,
big history, big distances and big clusters of unique sights. The food
is fantastic if you've got the sass to eat native, it's cheap, the shopping
is excellent, oh and China's the Centre of the Earth. Big nerve. Downside
: Big distances mean big expenditure of time and money for domestic
China travel. Generally the Han people are not over friendly, though
other ethnic groups on the borders of China are much better. Petty crime
is on a steep rise. Cuisine hygiene is mean. i.e. hepatitis A is freely
available; take your own chopsticks and get a jab. Human rights abuse
is also freely available to minorities, most notably Tibetans.
Where to go:
1. *Beijing [Peking]
for the Forbidden Palace, The Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the
Great Wall, Tiannamen Square and lots more.
2. *Yangsho [south],
for amazing hills and tranquility. Sensational 6 hour Li River trip
from Guilin.
3.*Tibet [esp.Lhasa] but beware altitude problems. Cold too.
4. *Yunnan Province [sub-tropical, near Burma/Laos]- for colourful
ethnic minorities. Kunming [Stone Forest+], Dali, Lijiang
5. Wuhan, for Yangtze River ferries.
6. Suzhou, for canals, gardens.
7. Turfan, Kashgar [far north-west] for Muslim minorities, desert
scenery and Silk Road relics. Extremely hot and distant.
8. Xian, for terracotta army, hot springs.
9. Hong Kong - yes, Shanghai - no.
For visa info: http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org/eng/index.html
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Papua
New Guinea
When to go to Papua New Guinea:
[For the Highlands and Sepik River]
: Best : May-October [but still wet!]
Worst : Dec-April [wetter]
Length of stay : Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 9 days, e.g.
Port Moresby- Tari,
Why go to Papua New Guinea:
A colourful, diverse and fascinating
country with over 700 languages [including the hilarious lingua franca,
Pidgin], totally wacky traditional outfits [esp. wigmen in Highlands]
, bizarre customs, amazing bird life, great diving and a pretty rainforest/
mountain/ coastal environment. Downside : Rascals, the PNG term for
gang members, are unsophisticated but violent and pervasive. Papua New
Guinea is expensive, usually wet and humid, and has a malaria problem.
You have to fly just about everywhere. It is not easy for individual
travellers and especially difficult for single women.
Where to go:
1. Tari [Highlands] to see
Huli wigmen and beautiful countryside
2. Goroka or Mt Hagen [Highlands] for walking, people watching
and the fantastic annual shows [G - mid Sept, H - late Aug]
3. Sepik River cruising, stilt villages etc. see below
4. Madang, pretty coastal town with superb diving, also snorkelling
and windsurfing.
5. Trobriand Island cruising the yam cults and free lovers. Annual
yam festival in June [ish].
6. Port Moresby? No thank you! Fly in, fly out, asap.
For visa info: http://www.pngembassy.org/
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India
When to go to India:
For primary tourism e.g.
south & central India, esp. Rajasthan, Best : Nov-March [tho' Delhi
can be chilly] Worst : June-Sept [heat, humidity, rains]
Why go to India:
A garble of different
cultures under one flag, all of them unearthly, and some, like Rajastan,
positively barmy. It's pretty safe, has incredible monuments, curious
religions and relaxed, friendly people. Though rather too many of them..
India downside : Very crowded. Dusty polluted cities. Limited [and questionable
hygiene] food choice. Big distances between sights. Tottering infrastructure.
Where to go:
* Don't miss
1. *Rajasthan : Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bundi, Jaisalmer
2. *Agra, Fatehpur Sikri
3. *Madurai [TN] temples
4. *Khajuraho[MP. ooh, naughty carvings], Gwalior[MP], Orcha[MP]
5. Beaches at Goa[Kar], Kovalam[Ker], Varkala[Ker], Gokarna[Kar]
6. Ellora caves & Ajanta caves near Aurangabad [M]
7. The Ganges at Varanasi [alias Benares.UP] for religous fervour
8. Delhi/Mumbai[Bombay] are ok but the real action is elsewhere
9. Kashmir is still out of play
10. If you want Rajasthan with less tourists, try Gujarat
For more info: http://www.india-tourism.de/english/
For visa info: http://www.indiacgny.org/
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Morocco
When to go to Morocco:
Best : Sep-Oct, March-May.
Worst : July, Aug [hot inland, though it can be the most pleasant time
on coast]. Ramadan can be an awkward time to travel [about Nov 16- Dec
14, 2001]
Why go to Morocco:
The traveller's mecca in 60s-70s, Morocco is still a fascinating mix
of Islamic, Arab, African, and Berber cultures with a topping of France.
Throw in some pleasant cities, eye-boggling landscapes, colourful people,
excellent beaches, good trekking, plenty of interesting shopping and
Morocco has something for everyone.
Downside : Although local people are friendly, it sometimes seems that
every male over 7 years old wants to be either your guide or take you
to his brother's shop. Speaking French is not essential in Morrocco,
but extremely useful.
Where to go:
1. Marrakesh hosts Djemaa el Fna, the wackiest square in Morocco,
where assorted weirdos put on performances and in the evening food stalls
serve excellent local cuisine. The souk [market] is the best place to
find good quality crafts.
2. Fès is the oldest imperial city in Morocco and has the largest
medina [old city] and souks in the world.
3. Dunes. Drive past Erfoud [to Merzouga] or Zagora [to M'Hamid]
to get to the dunes at the edge of the Sahara desert, and stay 2/3 days.
4. Drive the lovely Ziz Valley from Erfoud, and along the Dràa
Valley from Zagora. Also driving between Errachidia and Ouarzazate [Kasbah
Route] with snow-capped mountains, valleys, oases, villages and kasbahs
is magnificent. Visit Todra and Dadès gorges.
5. High Atlas, [1-2 days]. Driving Ouarzazate-Marrakech through
Atlas mountains is highly recomended, the views are spectacular.
For visa info: http://www.usembassy.ye/
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Peru
When to go to Peru:
Best : May, June, Sept,
Oct OK : April, July, Aug [winter], Nov .
Worst : Dec-March [rain] Length of stay : Minimum worthwhile stay, not
incl. flights : 8 days [Lima-Cuzco-Machu Pichu], but beware of flight
delays. Recommended : 2 weeks - 6 weeks
Why go to Peru:
It's supremely, exquisitely,
varied, bizarre, colourful and beautiful. Culture overload world champion.
Where to go:
1] **Machu Pichu. Greatest
archeological site on the planet? Go by train, or train and walk 22kms.
From Jan.2001 you must walk with an official guide or group. Currently
Machu Pichu is in great danger of sliding down the mountain, so get
there asap!
2] **Cuzco. Prettiest town on the planet, with lower walls built by
the Inca [Inka?] and upper parts pure Spanish colonial.
3] *Puno/Lake Titicaca/Altiplano. Floating village of Uros - weirdest
location on the planet?
4] Arequipa. Lovely colonial city & good staging point to avoid altitude
sickness. Colca Canyon for spectacular views and to see condors passing.
5] Nazca Desert and those monster drawings visible only by plane.
6] Lima. OK for a couple of days, museums and stuff, but do it in transit
to Cuzco et alia.
7] Ollaytaytambo for Inca monuments and peace and quiet
8] Amazon. Fly to Iquitos and get boats to jungle camps from there.
A bit grubby, but better than miserable Manaus. Beware that wildlife
views are not as common as you might imagine.
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Thailand
When to go to Thailand:
Best : Nov-Feb
Worst : Apr-May [heat] long
rains at : east beaches Nov-early Dec, west beaches May-Oct. As usual
avoid Dec & Aug [crowds]
Length of stay : Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 5 days [1-2days
Bangkok, 1 day trip to Ayutthaya, a couple of days in Chiang Mai/beach].
Recommended : 10 days -6 weeks
Why go to Thailand:
'The Land of Smiles' offers a massive
variety of assets at a minimal price: incredible cuisine/ sights/ monuments/
ethnic diversity/ shopping/ weather/ beaches and on and on.. Downside
: Bangkok is infamous for traffic chaos and getting a reputation for
petty thievery too. Thailand has one of the world's highest murder rates,
though acts of violence are not usually aimed at visitors. Common sense
precautions should keep you out of trouble. Avoid unmarked taxis.
Where to go:
1. Bangkok, noisy,
chaotic city with great sights, canals, fabulous foods, shopping and
night life. Good base for travel to other Asian destinations. 2.
Ayutthaya,[1 day] atmospheric ruins, once the Orient's most magnificent
capital.
3. Sukhotai [1 day ], an historic park with the ancient ruined
capital surrounded by lakes and woods.
4. Chiang Mai [2 days ], a lively city with beautiful temples
and shrines, famous for night markets and the best place to buy souvenirs.
5. For beaches - Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Pi Pi, Pangkor Laut.
For visa info: http://www.thaiembdc.org/
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Nepal
When to go to Nepal:
Best : Oct, Nov, Feb,
March.
Worst : mid June - mid Sept [rains]
Length of stay : Min. worthwhile
stay, not incl. flights : 4 days [Khatmandu Valley only], but beware
of flight delays on return. Recommended : 9 days- 3 weeks
Why go to Nepal:
It's relaxed, comfortable, full of
weird folk and amazing buildings. Great shopping. Terrific walking/hiking.
A sort of compressed India, but doable in a week, if you must.
Downside : A bit grubby, including
the food! [that explains the lowish health rating] Chilly at night in
winter. There are currently some political troubles.]
Where to go:
1. Khatmandu Valley has 3
must-see towns, all within an hour's taxi/bus/rental bike ride. Katmandu
[needs 3 days +], Baktapur [2 days], Patan [1 day +]
2. Pokhara is a relaxing
mountain/lake town, great for views, relaxing, short and long hikes.
4 hours from Khatmandu by good bus. 2 days +
3. Chitwan nature reserve. For Rhino and tiger hunting by elephant,
though tigers are rarely seen. 2/3 days.
Best Oct - Feb.
Possible activities : Trekking : Mostly from Pokkara. Wildlife : Mostly
at Chitwan, see above. White water rafting : Best Oct, Feb, March Mountain
Biking : best Oct-March, 2 days + Motor Biking : trail bike hire available
in Khatmandu
For more info: http://www.south-asia.com/USA/
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Yemen
When to go to Yemen:
Best : March-May, Sept,
Oct
Worst : Nov-Jan [cold & dusty] Avoid Ramadan, [ about Nov 16- Dec 14,
2001]
Length of stay : Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights: 5 days Recommended
: 7-10 days
Why go to Yemen:
It's an amazing, nearly
medieval arab society, complete with armed men, veiled women, arid landscapes
and extraordinary fortified mud houses. Play the game and Yemen people
are friendly and hospitable, but don't tread on their toes.. Yemen
Downside : Occasional polite kidnapping, very limited food and booze
options, and you can't usually photograph Yemen women.
Where to go:
1. Sana'a alone
is worth a trip to [north] Yemen
2. Take a taxi [north] out to villages like Wadi Dhar [& Palace],
Thulla, Shibam, Huth, At-Tawila. Longer trips are rough but rewarding,
like Sa'da and especially Suq al Inan.
3. Wadi Hadramaut 'Manhattan in the Desert' in South Yemen, if
you can afford the time & plane fare. Nearby Aden is a tatty mess.
4. Ma'rib [Sheba] is hardly worth the trip...
Possible activities : Trekking :
Lots of walks around. e.g. Beni Husheich, Wadi Mahdi. Drugs : Chewing
coca-like qat with the locals will give you an interesting buzz.
For visa info: http://www.usembassy.ye/
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Egypt
When to go to Egypt:
Best : Oct - May for main
sights, and Apr-Nov for dive places
Worst : Christmas and Easter school holidays [hugely overpriced and
overcrowded] June-Sept [heat], Ramadan [about Nov 16- Dec 14, 2001]
Length of stay : Min. worthwhile stay, not incl. flights : 4 days [Cairo
only] Recommended : 2 weeks - 5 weeks for an all-Egypt encounter.
Why go to Egypt:
Marvellous sights, marvellous
people, marvellous shopping, marvellous weather, inshallah. Downside
: Hustlers/touts are a tiresome part of the Egypt experience, along
with hideous buildings, garbage growing like weeds, and flies. Taxi
meters don't work so expect endless arguments, or negotiate beforehand.
Where to go:
*Must see
1. *Cairo - Sphinx, Pyramids [n.b. only open 8am-4pm!], Egyptian
Museum
2. *Luxor for the temples and tombs tho' the town is being ruined
by titanic tourist cruise boat overload [60 behemoths, diesel engines
full blast 24hrs a day were parked by the once lovely corniche in April
2000]. If you care for the environment, or for your health, avoid these
noisy, poisonous monsters. Stay on west bank if possible.
3. *Khan-el-Khalili souk. A must haggle situation!
4. Temple of Ramases II at Abu Simbel, with rebuilt 180 mile
road just opened.
5. Sharm el Sheikh and neo-hippy Dahab, Sinai, for scuba diving,
and Dahab also for just chilling.
6. Aswan for boating on the Nile and laid backism, tho' suffering
a similar problem to Luxor. If you have the time, go to Dahab instead
7. Siwa for desert/oasis lifestyles, tho' it's a long trip
For visa info:
http://www.sis.gov.eg/
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