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[Barrett]

Its always a little dodgy, always unsure, but so so worth the effort and the stories you can tell for the rest of your life.

Where is the edge this year in SE Asia? What's the destination that the true backpacker's are going to explore, soak up, and truth be told, eventually make safe for package tourists to invade a few years from now?

Is it Papau New Guinea for diving, whilst avoiding pirates?

How about going to the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in Norther Burma?

Is it lounging on the beaches of Aceh, now that the civil war is calmed down and those tsunami-survivors really, really need that backpacker buck?

Would be great to hear where you think the edge is this year, and why you want to go there.

[whereshegoes]

You know what Barrett? That is a really good point. I have never really thought about it that way but the backpackers really do pave the way for the tourists. Yay for brave backpackers!

[technotrekker]

Indonesia's full of beautiful frontiers for the ambitious traveller. I won't pick a particular place though, although a lot of people have mentioned Maluku as a dream destination...

[Barrett]

Wow, your travelpod map is remarkably similar to mine. And that is Mt. Bromo behind you in your photo right? I agree with you that Indonesia has a lot of frontiers to be explored.

Great diving east of Lombok that few people ever take advantage of.

[technotrekker]

Wow, your travelpod map is remarkably similar to mine. And that is Mt. Bromo behind you in your photo right? I agree with you that Indonesia has a lot of frontiers to be explored.

Great diving east of Lombok that few people ever take advantage of.

Nice, yep it is re Bromo. Pretty funky place indeed and yes, the coral around Komodo, Sumbawa, Alor etc is certainly Barrier Reef standard. Shame they've cleaned the big fish out...

[Barrett]

Well we are a third of the way through the year of 2006 and it would be good to know where in SE Asia people are going for a new experience! Has anyone hit some unlikely places so far and were they good or bad?

[uncle_davros]

I know it is not SEA, but tomorrow, we cross to Bangladesh. When we were trying to get our visa the other day, there were no other Westies. Everyone who I know who has been there, state that they never see any other Westies. So, it should be a little bit of fun

[Barrett]

Davros,
What's the word on Bangladesh? Very many other travellers there? Do they have a travel infrastructure you can use without too much trouble?
Are there any sights that are must sees? Is it a safe country? How is the cost? I haven't met too many folk who have ever been there.

[uncle_davros]

Mate

We went for the cricket so our costs are so different. We also splashed out on better hotels as we were with a friend who was here on holidays. When we came back to Dhaka, we had a room that cost around $7US p/n. Food was bland and not as good as India. There are not many things to see. The British Raj did not seem to get in here. The people will crowd around and follow you. Can be overwhelming sometimes.

As I wrote in my last story, I don't think I would ever return, but stranger things have happened in life

[Jessica_CDN]

Well Barrett,

This cutting-edge traveller will be hitting up Latin American countries in time for their elections this year....big year for several countries. I'll also be going to Haiti at the end of the year to check out the progress or lack of such.

Good amount of time spent in Venezuela and Cuba trying to meet the fathers of the "campesino" revolution. haha.

J

[uncle_davros]

And in the time we were in Bangers, we saw one traveller. I am not including the people who went to the cricket, as they were on a group tour.

[peacefrog]

How about going to the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in Norther Burma?

Trying to get and travel into Burma overland, but it does not seem feasible (actually you can enter but then you have to fly over a "forbidden area").

Any recent info on the subject?

[uncle_davros]

Impossible to travel overland to Myanmar. There are no roads in the interior of the country. There are roads in from various countries, but they stop, then you have to fly

[peacefrog]

Impossible to travel overland to Myanmar. There are no roads in the interior of the country. There are roads in from various countries, but they stop, then you have to fly

Yep, thanks uncle davros. got same info from LP TT, but I keep asking, just in case... and hope the first to go will post here!

Flights from Bkk by airasia are ok, but do not qualify for "The edge for 2006"

[uncle_davros]

True about the flights thing. Its kind of a bugbear of mine when people say, I am going overland to get to Asia, and they take the Trans Siberian, because they don't think there is any other way, and the amount of people I have told that they can't get into Myanmar, yet they disbelieve me. On my last trip, I met a Dutch girl, who didn't believe me. She went on and on, and then I walked away. I wonder if she is still trying to get in !!!

Otherwise, it is my favourite country in South East Asia

[peacefrog]

Otherwise, it is my favourite country in South East Asia

All who've been say the same, so I just have to go and see by myself.
Been reading your entries in Myanmar, I guess I'll be doing roughly the same loop, as I'll have only 2 weeks there. I won't take the domestic flights, though!!!

[uncle_davros]

We were in a rush, hence the internal flight. Normally, I wouldn't do that sort of thing. People are so innocent. I spoke to a person recently in Bangkok, and he said the people are the same. Loved Bagan. I prefer these temples to Angkor. Big call, I know, but others have said the same

Go, you will not regret it