15

Wow, quite a lot of feedback -- thanks, everyone!

I live in California -- and my folks want me to accompany them to China in early-to-mid November. Truth be told, China is not my favorite place to go... but family is family, and thus, to make lemonade out of lemons, I thought I would tack on a few 'neighboring' countries and make the trip more rewarding.

My initial thought was LA - China - then on to Maldives (3-4 days) --> Sri Lanka (2-3 weeks) --> Indonesia (1 month) --> then back to LA.

OTOH, there's really nothing stopping me from going to south and southeast Asia first, then continue on to China to meet up with my folks afterwards. Doing it this way, I will visit Maldives in early Sept., Sri Lanka the rest of September, and Indonesia in October -- before heading to China (same timeframe as above).

Perhaps Plan B is better, weatherwise?

16

In my opinion, I’d go with your first plan…China first and then the rest ending in Indonesia.

Weather should not be a factor.

Why?

My answer is based on the assumption that this is your first trip to Asia/SE Asia. Assuming that is correct, starting off in China will only make the rest of your journey throughout Asia and SE Asia that much more meaningful and understandable keeping in mind that your first stated priority is history, culture and architecture.

Chinese culture and its art is an unmistakable part of most all culture (and history) in Asia and SE Asia. This of course was all because of the vast China trade dating back to the ancient T’ang Dynasty, 7th to early 10th century AD. The more one understands Chinese history, art, culture, architecture, Buddhism, etc, etc, the more one gets to understand the history, culture, architecture and religions of other parts of Asia and SE Asia.

Given your first comments about your priorities…history, culture, architecture…I’m a bit surprised to read now that “China is not my favorite place to go.” Frankly, IMHO, it should be the first place to go for any westerner who has never ventured from the West.

Taking another assumption…that being you’ve been to China before, then ignore my last three paragraphs, and either Plan A, or Plan B should be just fine.

17

Ben are you a diver (I assume so if you are heading to the Maldives)? One thing to keep in mind with the Maldives is they will be coming out of their rainy season into early September, while December it is peak season in terms of visibility and liveaboard availability.

I personally love Indonesia in December/January. I'm going to be in Ubud for Christmas and you can do whatever activities you want to do during the day and then kick back with a cocktail under cover late in the afternoon and watch the rain thunder down. And despite some rather general earlier comments about bad sea visibility, December/Jan is peak visibility for amazing places like Raja Ampat in West Papua. And you might still be able to see the oceanic sunfish around Bali.

I'd stick with the timings of your original plan. No doubt it will rain while you are there, but use your mornings well and you will be able to see everything you want to. You may get rained on, but unless you're made of sugar it shouldn't be too much of a problem ;)

18

February us usually the wettest month in Bali.

I have been to Bali many times in the wet season and enjoyed myself.

Due to the long school holiday in Australia (December to February), Bali will be full of Australian tourists. Accomodation will be difficult to find, especially between Christmas and New Year.

There is usually an electronic music concert on the beach at Seminyak for NYE.

19

Thanks again for your insights! OK, China, then Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

20

Have a great trip Ben, and sorry about the needless "noise" earlier in this string.

Cheers!

21

Note that there was a terrible HURRICANE in Indonesia during the last wet season that ruined many tourist vacations. It lasted several days with very damaging winds, rain, flooding, and rough surf.
Curious that nobody else brought up the subject, and that I have to do so in order for you to have a complete picture of the weather and what can happen.
Poster MadeIndra didn't tell you that, by his own admission, the weather was so bad on Bali that the strong winds blew off his roof, and he never did find it.

22

There are no such things as hurricanes south of the equator, or in this hemisphere Steve.

That storm, which was a tropical depression, was a very rare event…first one I’ve experienced in 15 years of 24/7 living here and the first one that most locals that I talked with could recall in their long lifetimes.

As it was, it did not produce sustained winds that would rate higher than a tropical storm, and those were mostly along the coast line.

The roof you mentioned was the rickety roof on our car park. No trees were blown over in our village, and no damage of consequence. Heck, an elephant passing gas could have taken our car park roof away.

The incidence of such storms is so low that no reasonable thinking person would ever worry about them.

Do yourself a favor and read post #16. Do yourself another favor and follow the excellent advice to be found there.

23

And nobody on this thread has discussed, as I have, each of the many activities that are most definitely affected by the adverse weather conditions. I mention specific activities and state facts, and you and others with an agenda don't discuss those activities. You just ignore them.
But some travelers will read this and benefit from what I've said in planning the time period for their trip.

24

Actually Answerman, I did address one of the specific activties you identified. You said:

"Rough surf, bad visibility for snorkling and diving"

Which I disagreed with based on several years of diving in Indonesia in December/January. I didn't comment on anything else because I haven't done much walking or temple visits while there.

I think you could take from this that whatever experience you have had when visiting Indonesia, others have had different experiences and have chosen to share them to help the OP make an informed decision. No one here has an agenda, we are just sharing information in the spirit in which the Thorn Tree was established and, quite frankly, I don't like the abusive tone of your posts.