Asia - North-East Asia
Messages: 57,160 - Threads: 7,898
Monsoon in July
G'day folks
Myself and a mate are thinking about a visit to Korea in July. We're both used to the Bangkok type monsoon of 30-minute short sharp rainfalls, then it being dry again 30 minutes later. Is this what a Koren monsoon experience is like, or is it different?
In short, we want to know whether travelling around South Korea in early July will be marred by the monsoon (and whether we should plan a different date).
Thanks in advance.
Steve
MYANMAR - MRAUK U
Due to lack of South East Asia Section - Will post this here
Myanmar - Mrauk U Is it still off limits?
We will be returning to Burma in late Jan 13 for our 3rd visit and plan to visit Mrauk U this time around. Has anyone travelled to Mrauk U recently? Has the situation improved?
A friend of mine was there in late November and travelled independantly without a permit. Although package toursts required a permit.
Before the site went down, i had read that Sittwe was ok to visit but Mrauk U was under curfew.
This may be a question for you Montyman.
Any updates appreciated.
Cheers,
Marie
how much money will i need for this travel route?
okay i will be doing an overland tour in africa, so my first flight will be from africa, cape town ( i am excluding this in the cost, because i know how much this will be)
i will be travelling around south east asia, so vietnam, where i will then overland through china, where i will go to hong kong, shanghai, bangkok, x'an, and chengdu. then i will be flying over to kathmandu and doing the everest base camp trek, then i will be overlanding to india, and travelling for a small amount of time in india... roughly my trip (not including africa) will last around three to four months, (spending a month in south east asia, a month in china, and then a month and a bit for nepal and india).... i worked it out that altogether i will need around £6000 as all these places are very cheap! i will be budget travelling, and i will be travelling with someone, so with there being two of us, it will ...
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Jan 8, 2013 10:45 AM
greenstardreamer
last reply
Jan 14, 2013 7:45 PM
Godjira
5 replies
375 views
location:
Japan
Visas for foreigners born in Japan?
I think my brain may be broken, or the search function on thorntree is. Either way, I've poked around here and on Japan's immigration websites and so far, no answers.
Anyway, on a nice humid sticky August day many many many moons ago, I was born in Japan to American parents. They made whatever reports were required to by Japanese and American law at the time and I lived there until just before I turned 3. I'm likely headed back for a short trip in April, and the gears are turning in my head and I'm considering looking for work there. (Say, six months? Unless things go really well and I decide to stick around...) Does Japan have a residency/visa scheme for someone born there but not currently living there and with no ancestors from Japan? I think I could get a few part-time contracts teaching to live off of, but I would need to get permission to work first.
Right, I'm off ...
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Jan 8, 2013 10:08 AM
lmccreary
last reply
Jan 19, 2013 12:33 AM
eurovinh
1 replies
234 views
location:
Japan
Trekking Kumamoto or Yakushima
Hello -
I am booking a trip to Japan in late March/ early April. I plan to spend 2 weeks doing the usual Tokyo/Kyoto traveling about, but I'd like to spend an additional week in the south trekking. As the forum isn't searchable right now, I haven't really found any good information on traveling in Kumamoto or Yakushima. Does anyone have advice or perhaps a good tour company through which to do a trek? I was looking into Walk Japan but that seems very expensive. I'm a solo female in my late thirties and would love to trek with people around my age. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Laura
Jan 8, 2013 8:01 AM
MAKEtheMOSTofNOW
last reply
Jan 11, 2013 8:25 PM
JPDeM
12 replies
553 views
location:
China
visa free Shanghai
I quess many have done it, if it is possible. Is it easy to get the permit from the "frontier inspection officer":
I'll have onward international flight tickets to Indonesia and transiting 17 hrs at Shanghai Pudong airport.
Has anybody been in a similar situation and tried this visa free chance to visit China? Couldn't find in Forum search!
Here's the abstract from visaforchina.org
(5) No visa is required for citizens of the following 30 countries, who transit through China via Shanghai within 48 hours, no matter what type of passports they may hold: Republic of Korea, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Schengen states -- Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Estonia, Pol...
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Jan 8, 2013 7:30 AM
dawutthegiant
last reply
Mar 7, 2013 7:26 PM
dawutthegiant
9 replies
466 views
location:
China
Urumqi-Bangkok, Manila-Urumqi in July (Guangzhou Airport)
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to visit some friends in SE Asia and the Philippines in July. I will be leaving from Urumqi, doing either URC-CGO-CAN-BKK all in one day, or URC-CAN in the evening, then CAN-BKK the next day. (CGO-Zhengzhou, CAN-Guangzhou). On the return, it will be MNL-CAN in the evening, then CAN-URC the next day.
My main question is I saw this on sleepinginairports.com, “If you fly with China Southern and have a layover greater than 6-8 hours, they will give you a complimentary hotel room with transfers and food packs. Find the CZ Transfer Desk near Domestic Luggage Collection (next to International Arrivals).” I'm using China Southern for both routes, so I'd like to verify this if possible. Could I use it on both routes within a month?
Other than that, any useful tips/info on what to expect flying out of China by that route (on the URC-CGO-CAN-BKK option, you stay ...
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Jan 8, 2013 6:09 AM
jace1985
last reply
Jan 8, 2013 6:09 AM
jace1985
0 replies
212 views
location:
China
Travel buddies wanted for China asap!
Hey all!
I'm 27 years old from the UK and am currently in the middle of a 12 month backpacking trip.
So far Ive been to South America, NZ and Oz and will shortly be heading to China.
It would be great to meet some fellow backpackers who would also like some company travelling around parts of the country
I'm starting in Hong Kong this week and would like to spend the following 5+ weeks visiting Yangshou, Chengdu, Xian, and Beijing and hopefully a few more places.
Get in touch soon as, look forward to hearing from you!
Jason
Visas for South East Asia
Hi,
I can't find a forum for South East Asia so I have decided to post here.
I will be starting a round the world trip in March and will be spending 3 months in South America, before heading to Australia and then South East Asia. A friend has told me that I might not be able to get visas for South East Asia in advance as they are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue in some countries and I wondered whether anyone knows anything about this?
What would be my best method for obtaining visas? I'm British and will be going to Indonesia first followed by Malaysia, Singapore Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and possibly Myanmar and Hong Kong.
I know for some of those countries I can get a visa on arrival, but not sure bout all of them!
Thanks.
Jan 8, 2013 3:10 AM
yearofthesnake
last reply
May 2, 2013 10:07 PM
Cragonator
15 replies
793 views
location:
China
Jinghong-Chiang Saen ferry/freighter
Hi everyone
I am commencing planning my 2014 bike ride from China to Thailand, and wondering if anyone has reliable news about the Jinghong-Chiang Saen ferry. I understand that it stopped running following a number of incidents on the Mekong in 2010 and 2011, but I am unsure if it has recommenced or if other arrangements are in place.
In particular, I have heard of people using the ubiquitous Chinese freighters that ply this route, but I am unsure of the reliability and cost, and unsure of any new administrative issues (if any).
Any information greatfully received.
Thanks you in advance
YoS
Itinerary to Japan, Korea 16 Mar - 14 Apr 2013 advice needed!
Hi there,
I intend to visit Japan and Korea 16 Mar 2013 - 14 Apr 2013.
I intend to purchase a 14 days JR pass from Australia where I come from.
Please find below my tentative itinerary on my Japan leg
Date Destination Based in Route and Transport Region
Saturday, 16 March 2013 Arrive Tokyo Tokyo Subway Tokyo and around
Sunday, 17 March 2013 Tokyo,Nikko Tokyo Train, Bus Tokyo and around
Monday, 18 March 2013 Kamakura, Yokohama, Hakone Tokyo Train, Bus Tokyo and around
Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Tokyo, Mt Fuji Tokyo Train Tokyo and around
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 Takayama via Nagoya Takayama Train via Nagoya Japan Alps
Thursday, 21 March 2013 Kanazawa ...
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Jan 8, 2013 1:27 AM
BomChaCha
last reply
Jan 11, 2013 8:54 AM
montyman
7 replies
520 views
location:
China
visa on arrival from Mohan, Yunnan into Laos？
hello everybody. is there still possible to get a visa on arrival into Laos when get to the border at Mohan？ anyone done it recently？ because there is a Laos consulate in Jinghong now . perhapsone should get the visa in advance but need 3 days.
thank
Jan 8, 2013 12:21 AM
cosimocub
last reply
Jan 8, 2013 10:22 PM
bai3feng1
6 replies
615 views
location:
China
yunnan province, dali to yuangyuang & jianshui? spring festival suggestions
Hello
I'm 23 years old, working in Shanghai. Please could you offer up a penny for my thoughts on getting away from the city over Spring festival
I have time off from the 4th to the 16th of Feb. I want to go somewhere beautiful in central or South of Shanghai as I plan to live in Beijing in 2014, so will visit the North and surrounding areas then. I have seen Hangzhou, Suzhou, Hefei and Jiaxing.
For the holiday break I'm thinking of traveling to Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Yuangyuang and Jianshui and Shang Ri La) Does anyone have a suggested route me to take over 5 nights, for someone who speaks no Chinese? Eh, and any guesthouses I can stay in?
I also have two long weekends off, one in month and one in March. For those 3 nights, I'm thinking of going to Fuzhou for Mt Yuyi and Xian respectively. I'm thinking of flying to Fuzhou, as I hear it's fairly cheap and taking the tra...
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Jan 7, 2013 8:46 PM
jamesdueeast
last reply
Jan 8, 2013 5:45 AM
jamesdueeast
7 replies
390 views
Chinese visa entries valid until when?
My previous posts in the "Chinese visa 2012" topic may not be visible (at the time of writing the TT forum is in shutdown of many archives), but I mentioned earlier that I got a double-entry 90-day (each entry?) Chinese visa in 2012, with the "Entry Before" date of FEB 2013.
I first arrived in China at the end of November 2012. I've been here just over a month. I want to stay in China until my first 90 days are up, then travel to Hong Kong and from there onwards to another country (e.g. Philippines, Indonesia or Japan),
I will have only used one of my entries on my Chinese visa. I'd like to save the last just in case I need to come back into the country for onward travel purposes (e.g. a ferry from Shanghai to Japan or something like that).
How long will the second entry left remaining on my visa be valid for? Is there a specific date I have to use it by? Does it relate ...
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Jan 7, 2013 4:45 PM
cagary
last reply
Jan 15, 2013 2:18 PM
mandja
9 replies
446 views
location:
China
When did China first open up to indepentent travelers?
I think it was around 1985?
Thanks!
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