Michiel van Dijk: Travels in Asia
Travels in Asia, Nov94-Apr95

During the group-travels (1987-1992) the urge to travel on my own had become bigger and bigger. The mood was apparently right already, the time was made right by quitting my job. I started off in Nepal together with Jos, a study-friend. After a month he returned home and I went to Thailand. On the way I had a 2 days-1 night stopover in Dacca, Bangladesh. In Thailand, which was meant as an easy start, I found a perfect relax-island (Koh Chang) and spent 2 months mainly in the East- and Northeast to avoid the most touristed sites. The culture, people, food and islands are Thailand's best features. In Laos I had some great experiences travelling to Luang Prabang by truck and Phongsali (in the North) by boat, which made the country my favourite straight away. After 3 weeks I returned to Thailand, flew to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) and travelled here for 1 month. A different culture and special people in this region. I finished this half-year travel in Thailand again before going back home.
Travels in Asia, Oct95-Apr96

After the great experiences in the first half-year travel in Asia I decided to work for only half a year before returning there again. This time I wanted to explore the border-areas of Thailand, Laos, China and Myanmar. The Philippines were on my schedule around Easter-time. The start was again in Thailand: the less visited Nan-province, bordering Laos. After 3 weeks I crossed the border to Laos and visited the North (Luang Namtha, Muang Sing) before going into China. I traveled through Yunnan (mainly Xishuangbanna), Baoshan and Tengchong provinces altogether for almost 2 months. In Jinghong I met Anna (my girlfriend) and this would change the rest of my travels. We decided to each go our own way. She went for the famous boat trip over the Yangtze-river and to Hong Kong; I tried to cross to Myanmar over land, which was possible for $75, but I preferred to go back to Thailand via Laos. Here I had one more great experience: the trip to and the market of Xiengkoc. After arranging a Philippine visa in Bangkok I flew to Manila and travelled on the main island Luzon for 3 weeks, while I had planned to hop around several islands for 3 months! I followed my heart, flew back to Bangkok and on to Singapore to spend the remaining 2 months with Anna in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Photos:

Nepal: Nov94 - Dec94
Thailand: Dec94 - Apr95, Oct95 - Nov95, Feb96, Apr96
Laos: Feb95, Nov95 - Dec95, Jan96
Myanmar: Mar95 - Apr95
China: Dec95 - Jan96
Philippines: Feb96
Malaysia: Mar96 - Apr96

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