Take Me Away!

If you know me personally, you would know of my neurotic dream of travelling, specifically through backpacking. Ever since the end of clerkship, that was what I wanted to do but then I have no funds and my dear old overprotective dad wouldn't allow me to go on that trip, hence the lack of funds. Internship is a different story because I have to study ASAP for the board exams. Sadface.

Now that I have means to save up for this, I got this habit of reading about the countries I want to visit. Since I'm a noob at this, I will take baby steps by deciding to head out to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in one go. You might say that I'm a little too weird by not taking baby steps in my home country. I have thought of that as well but I think this will be my big leap from "parasitic extended adolescent" to a "working extended adolescent". Hahaha. Baby steps to backpacking but a big leap from being parasitic to independence. Seems legit. If you still don't get it, just read on Erik Erikson's developmental tasks so you'll know that I mean. 

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit proud of myself now that I've figured out the Bangkok - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City route overland by bus. But I'm still thinking of including Hanoi, Vietnam (for Ha Long Bay), and Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos so that I can close the Indochina loop in one go. Medyo malupit pang research ang gagawin ko if I'll include Laos.

Photos from Conde Nast Traveller

And then again shet lang ang biyahe by train and bus, okay. Here's what I found out:

1. Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi - ~30hrs by train

2. Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Laos - >24hrs by bus

3. Luang Prabang to Vientiane - >10hrs by bus but the road is located in between steep cliffs plus the kaskasero drivers. I don't want to die! Lels.

Flying is the best option since I'm pressed for time but it'll leave a huge dent in my pocket. I could just set another journey naman starting at Bangkok - Vientiane - Luang Prabang - Hanoi.

Whatevs. Ipon muna ako. I have to make this happen because this is one thing that I want to do before starting residency training next year.