To undertake a trip like ours we had to do something more inventive than scribbling our itinerary down on the back of a fag packet. In fact, we still haven't put pen to paper but have certainly planned the backside out of it.
The other issue raising its ugly head was funding, especially as we were giving up our jobs. First thing we needed was a reference point to begin calculating costs - a trip to Waterstones and the purchase of a couple of Lonely Planet guides did the trick. That and the obligatory Internet search.
We also bought a large map of the area we planned to visit. Opening that out on the tables in the front room of the York Hotel showed us the enormity of both the area we'd be travelling and our expectations.
So, the embryonic plan was to arrive in Bangkok, touching base with my sister and celebrate her birthday on 4th March.
We would then head north towards Chang Mai getting close to the border with Laos. The next stage involves taking a boat along the Meekong River to the Lao city of Luang Prabang. From there we have our first real challenge - how to get to Hanoi?
In the event we do make it to the capital of Vietnam a visit to Halong Bay has got to be on the cards. From there the plan is to travel by rail and stop off at Danang, Hoi An, Nha Trang (Vietnam's most famous seaside town) and Ho Chi Min City - Saigon to us oldies!
It could well be another train journey to Cambodia and Phnom Penh, followed by a must see trip to Angkor Wat before heading back into Thailand to wash our undies and socks at my sisters - I'm sure she won't mind!
Another train journey will see us heading towards Singapore. We plan a stop-off at the Royal Resort of Hua Hin where we'll meet up with an old army pal before continuing on towards Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Singapore will be an emotion filled visit as I'm paying homage to my great uncle Bernard who was captured by the Japanese there. The troop ship he was travelling on was torpedoed.
Bali is the next port of call where we are planning on meeting up with an old work colleague from my days with Orange. He lives in Perth so the next plan is to head off there with him and stop at his house. We probably wouldn't get another chance to do this in our lives so what the hell - let's go for it!
However plans wax and wane on the journey there is one definite, we have to be in Bangkok before15th May - our flight is booked to come back that day.
Having been in the forces I do realise some plans go "tits up" in the execution, many ill fated Battalion operations and excercises are testament to that. Still, you have to start somewhere and our plan and timeline gives us 80 days to cram in all those locations. But, who knows - maybe events will push us in different directions here and there - we are in no rush to actually get anywhere, especially as we've worked the finances out. We can backpack on a pension!
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