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[tamaraborowsky]

I've been reading a lot about SEA travel and I've come up with a list of places I'd like to see in the 1 month I will be travelling back home from Australia next year. However, not knowing a lot about Asia, I'm a bit confused about how to plan my itinerary, especially transportation wise. Since I'll only have 1 month to do all those places and not wanting to be on a plane/train/bus the whole time, I'd like some advice from people who've done this tour. Here is my list.
I'd be flying from either Perth or Darwin to :
1.Bali (indonesia)
2. Singapore
3. Kuala lumpur (malaysia)
4.Phuket/Koh phi phi ...Bangkok/Kanchanaburi(train) Thailand
5. Ho chi minh city (Saigon)Vietnam/ HaLong Bay
6.Hong Kong/Shanghai/Beijing/Shanhaiguan(great wall) (china)
7.Tokyo(japan)
I'm interested in seeing the main attractions in each place, especially nature and cultural areas.

I'd like to fly to St-Peterburg at the end and stay there a couple of days, then fly to Brussels to see a friend a few days and last to Italy for a couple of weeks to see another friend.

What do you think of my itinerary? Is there any place you'd replace or skip. How do you suggest I go from one place to another not to waste time in transport but also to enjoy the scenery?(ex.train rides?)
Also, do you know any good/cheap hostel or guesthouse in any of those places and how about things to see and do? I know it's a lot of questions but any advice will help.
Thank you!!