the world in half a nutshell

[denBen]

Hi there

I'm going to make a trip from Belgium to Thaïland and back.
Wanted to share my planning (which will fit into one post... really)

First thing I needed to consider is going above or below the Himalayas...
Since China isn't open to the public (not in a legal and affordable way, anyway; or in other words: an I'll-be-getting-there-and-back kind of way)
So I'll be digging my way under the biggest mountain in the world.

In short, this means: Belgium, all those little European countries i'll be checking ou this summer, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, India (again), Myanmar, Thaïland
and back again.
At first my intention was to go the the west coast, but since Vietnam isn't really to happy with foreigners, I cancelled that.
(I might still be visiting some of the near countries too, I'm not really that much of a planner)

Let's say about 9000 km's single.
For those not skilled in rocket science: that's 18000 km's all the way.

I'll be driving something not to expensive whith a small cylinder content, to limit the fuel consumption as well as have a thumper I can drag out of most muddy scenarios. Dunno which one yet... i'll see about that, let's say half a day before I leave.
Hoping to make my own side panniers, so I'll be getting what I want and how I like it. (not that I'm a critic in any kind of way )

assuming that everything will be going well, I'll be needing about a month and a half to get there (about the same to get back, I guess) so I'll be expecting to spend two months on my single ticket.
I 'm planning a sabbat for half a year, just to be on the safe side.

that's about my planning so far.

things that still need doing:
- visiting the embassies here, trying to get a planning on what paperwork to get done on what date
- getting to the tropical institute here to see what shots I should be having (needles, aren't they just adorable?)
- getting a list of things to take (I 'll also probably be needing to get those things... euh.. and pack them too... probably)
- getting an estimated price on the thing and the whole of the thing
- Get on the road!

PS. I leave on Oct 2009 or Oct 2010, so I'll be having the good season there.


PPS. is there a rehab for that frontpage of yours?
those photos are not good for me... not good at all.

[pirate pete]

Hey dude,I'm from Hungary,but I'm livin' in Sydney.
I'm planing to ride back to Hungary from Aussie in 2009.
I read your plan,but to be honest,I don't think that you can go trough the border of Mianmar(Burma) and Thailand,because there is no border as I know. Because of the political situation in Burma,the border had been closed for sometime,and that area is pretty much run by warlords,drogdealers and shit like that.If you can manage to enter burma which I'm not sure of,to get out of there thats a big risk.On my trip,I'm planing to put my bike on a cargoship from thailand or malaysia,and ship it to india.
I just tought I give you a hint,before you've been killed or something like that.Good luck.
Pete