Have you remembered everything?

Not if you haven’t packed mosquito repellant.

No matter where you are going, mosquitoes are there! They are found on every continent, except Antarctica.

In many tropical places, they are year round pests. Yet there are some things you can do to protect yourself and have a safe and comfortable trip (airline seats excluded).

Some useful traveler’s tips are:

If there is a vaccination for a mosquito borne disease, like malaria, consult your doctor about getting one. Some malaria parasites are resistant to vaccines so be sure to get medical advice.

Pack plenty of a really good mosquito repellant. You have no way of knowing if you can buy kind you like at your destination. And, in some less developed areas, you may not be able to buy any at all.

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A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Please send a note and a link if publishing on Web to parryl@yahoo.com

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An Adventurous Route for Backpacking South East Asia By Parry Loeffler

The South East Asian region of world - especially Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - has become increasingly popular as a destination for those travelers seeking a more adventurous holiday than can be had merely sipping fruity, ice-cold drinks at your typical beach resort. However, an adventurous trip to these developing countries raises many questions and one of first is what route to take, which I will try to answer in this article.

Most people with enough time would like to get a taste for all four that I’ve mentioned earlier, so I’ll concentrate on a route that includes all of them. It would take about three months if you spent a few days at each stop. Keep in mind that there certainly are options available that would allow you to skip countries or even shorten trip to fit into a more constrained timeline, but this should give you a good starting point for further research.

As far as getting around, travel by public bus, train, and boat is readily available and often full of adventure after all, traveling with a busload of chickens or occasional box of frogs just adds to fun, right? However, those looking for a little more comfort will usually be able to find more upscale options.

Many people that intend on doing a circuit though South East Asia will fly into Bangkok since it is a major hub. Bangkok is also rich with markets, temples, and plenty of fabulous food. Around Bangkok, there are several options for some side trips which allow you to get your feet wet. Kanchanaburi is a few hours away and is location of infamous bridge over River Kwai and Death Railway, Erewan National Park, and Three Pagodas Pass near Myanmar border. If you are not going to southern islands, but wouldn’t mind checking out beach scene, you could also take a few days and visit Ko Samet or Ko Chang (less expensive) to get a taste of island life. Both are only a few hours from Bangkok by bus.

Once you’ve had your fill of Bangkok area, work your way north to Chiang Mai. I like train and it can be taken overnight, for those low on time, or during day for those that wish to see some of beautiful countryside. Chiang Mai is much less hectic than Bangkok, has some opportunities for great sight seeing, and also has a great cooking school! If you want to check out some smaller towns in Thailand, you can do that from Chiang Mai with a little add-on side trip. It’s a loop that goes by public bus to wonderful village of Pai which is set up in misty valleys that are laden with lush rice paddies, and then continues by bus or boat to Mae Hong Son, then by bus back to Chiang Mai.

In any case, from Chiang Mai, continue your journey north to Chiang Rai and onwards to Chiang Khong, which is jumping point into your second country, Laos. You cross Mekong River with a short boat ride and enter Laos on opposite bank at Huay Xai. From there you immediately continue on to Luang Prabang by slow boat or fast boat (latter not recommended, unless you enjoy wearing a crash helmet), making an optional overnight stay in rustic village of Pacbeng.

After spending a few days in Luang Prabang you could do a side trip up north, exploring small northern villages of Laos for a few days, or just head down to chilled-out town of Vang Vieng by bus or air. The road route to Vang Vieng is sometimes target of bandits, so be sure to check what recent activity has been like, and then make your decision - but safety record of air travel may not be much more inspiring!