Going to australia

TomTom

I going to be going to australia in november for a year. Is there any countries that you would recommend visiting on the way?
There is a group of us going and we are going to visit a few places along the way there and back (going around the world).

Any other tips or sujjestions for the trip?

SoundWave

singapore is very nice, have been there twice and enjoyed it muchly.. didnt find it too expensive, was very clean and most peeps were very friendly.

memphis

Haven't been in that neck of the woods myself now personally, but my cousin spent 12 months in Aussie, and came home through Thailand, she said its a lovely place to visit.

Can't give ya anymore details about it, only that she said I should take a visit there if I ever plan to head to Aussie.

TomTom

We are kinda planning on hitting vietnam, thiland on the way over. On the way back we hope to hit tahiti and brazil. I figure it's my last chance to do this (round the world trip) and I want to go to the best places.

loismustdie

you could stop off in singapore so if you're doing that don't hold hands with a girl in public or don't have chewing gum on you because both of these are highly illegal

ozpass

I spent a couple of weeks in Singapore after getting deported from India. It's very clean and sanitized and character-less. They've basically knocked down all the (IMO interesting) harbour shanty towns and replaced them with concrete buildings.

The thing about holding hands / jaywalking / chewing gum is rarely enforced. They don't sell chewing gum in any of the shops though so I made a few trips over to Johor Baru in Malaysia and came back loaded with 'Chiclets' chewie which I proceeded to sell for ten times its value in my Hostel.

daithi01

I went on a similar trip about 5 yrs ago and went via Thailand(Koh Samui-island off southern thailand was brilliant,Bankok-Iwouldnt spend more than a couple of days in as there is so many nicer places to see)
Bali-Didnt like it at all as the first town near the airport(?Denpasar)you were constantly hounded by hawkers on the street trying to sell you something or other and it didnt seem to matter whether you were interested or not)The key to dealing with them is not to make eye contact with them at all.
Australia-Should never have left it
New Zealand-South Island is a must
L.a -didnt like
Las Vegas-Gamblers paradise
San Franciso-Beautiful
Hope you have a wonderful time
P.s The trip up the east coast of oz(sydney to cairns) has so many highlights i'd be here forever writing them

HarryD

Maybe some of the following:

Singapore - Nice but v.humid/sticky.. Great Airport (for sleeping)
Malaysia - A bit conservative, but cool jungles..
Thailand - Alot more liberal.. Bangkok is a cool city, although full of pollution. Islands down south also great..
Cambodia - Very poor country, no proper public transport, but worth a visit for the experience. 7hrs on the back of a pick-up jeep with 18 others hanging on, was one to remember. Don't miss Angkor Wat !
Laos - Also very poor, but nice and cultural..

New Zealand - North Island-> Crap, South Island-> beautiful..

Australia was the highlight of em all..
Spend as much time there as poss..
West coast, and east coast are great..
R