We leave May 14 for a month in Asia -- Bhutan and Laos and June 1 - 13 in Burma. Our guide in Burma hopes that we can still go and will keep us apprised. We will rely on his advice, but unless the recovery from the disastrous cyclone improves greatly, we don't want to go there as "rich tourists" and use their already scarce resources. If we don't go, where to spend 2 weeks? We have alredy visited all the neighborung countries -- Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, etc. There are 4 of us -- myself, my husband and our son and daughter-in-law. We are all avid snorkelers and divers. Has anyone been to Borneo, Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Sulawesi? Obviously, this has caught us by surprise and I haven't been able to do my usual reseach. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks, Brenda M

Brenda,

I wouldn't go to Burma/Myanmar. The relief workers alone are having trouble getting emergency visas from the government to get in there and help those in desperate need. This is so not the time to play there. With up to 100,000 dead and over 1 million displaced, that part of the world needs help just surviving. This is bigger than the Tsunami of 2004 that hit Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc. I just wrote about this on my blog as I have a real interest in Burma and its people. What is happening is an utter travesty...

I don't know the other areas you have mentioned, though have heard good things about Borneo from people who have been there. Kudos to you for traveling to places most wouldn't consider tourist destinations. I really hope your trip is wonderful and you find an alternative to Burma that suits you.

I agree with your decision also. This is an extreme tragedy.

I haven't traveled in SE Asia so I can't draw from personal experience. My initial ideas were for the countries you have already visited, Vietnam and Malaysia. I have a good friend who has kayaked Sulawesi and Indonesia and loved it. I have a personal link to some of their photos that I could send to give you an idea of what it is like in that area of Indonesia.

Also, what about the Philippines?

I would go to the Mergui Archipelago. you can reach the islands from Phuket.

This is a little off topic but here is an interesting article from the LA Times on the relief efforts of the travel companies that visit Myanmar.

Travel companies in Myanmar provide cyclone relief (registration may be required)

Brenda, you are very lucky not to have been in Burma. As others hae said, you will have to cancel that part of your trip. Their military government is just stopping every attempt at aid and they have confiscated what aid was sent there.

I don't know where else you can get into at such short notice. Most of these countries will require Visas and I don't know how you can get one that quickly.

Maybe see if you can extend the time where you are going.Maybe you could try Bali.

Hi Brenda,
You say you have already visited Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, etc.
Many of the Thai islands have excelling snorkling and diving. Have you visited the entire country and do not want to go back?
Also, the northern region of Thailand has sort of a Burmese feel to it, besides being a beautiful region.
From Laos, - which is on your itinerary, - it is easy to get to northern Thailand and roam that region all the way to Mae Hong Son.
I thought Borneo and Sabah were different names for the same place. -- my ignorance. That part is very beautiful and has good food (always my priority. )
Brunei, Sulawesi are resorts that offer a great deal of comfort but not enough interest otherwise for me. Maybe they are very nice, but I don't travel just to vegetate on a premium beach mat, just as you don't want to play rich tourists in Burma.
You also say you have visited Malaysia. Have you also covered it well and not want to go back? Have you visited the Cameron highlands? Interesting architecture but probably no diving and snorkling. And don't get carried off by a tiger like Jim Thompson.
There are also very interesting train travel possibilities in the area you are interested in.
You are right not to go to Burma. What goes on there breaks my heart. I feel so sorry for the Burmese people. They so deserve a break.

Thanks everyone. We leave this morning, but not scheduled for Burma until June 1. It is still up in the air. We have had our visas for months. Whole trip is in the north, far from the Delta. Our hosts still want us. To me, it will depend partly on prevalence of disease. I didn't say in original query that we are meeting our son and daughter-in-law, who have spent the last months in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. SteveS, Mergui Archipelago belongs to Burma, but can be reached via Thai dive boats. I don't think the islands were in the cyclone's path, but I haven't been able to find out for sure.

Brenda, have a safe trip. I'd love to hear about your trip when you return.

Marta,
I have written a letter about our time in Myanmar. It is fairly long -- 5 or 6 paragraphs. Should I just post it here or send it in as a trip report? I plan to write a full trip report, including Bhutan & Laos, when I have time. But I wanted to get this on line now. Myanmar is a wonderful country and I urge people to go.

Hi Brenda, I've got your message. I'm checking something first and I'll get back as soon as I finish.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip.

Hi Brenda, Kim and I talked about this and we think it would be better as a Postcard. These are short reports similar to trip report. Can you use the trip report form and just put it on one page. Kim will keep a look out for it and publish it as a postcard.

Thanks!

Marta

Hi Marta & Kim,
I couldn't find anything about Postcards per se, so it just went out as a trip report. Heaven only knows if I did it right. Could you please let me know if you get it and it is OK?

Thanks Brenda, I'll read it in the next day or two but it's definitely in the correct place. Do you have a picture we can include with the article.

Hi Kim, We have a couple of pix picked out (of our 900+0 but Widows Vista wants to send them at 270kb (640x480 pixels). What now? Brenda

E-mail them to me; I'll take care of them. Thanks!

Though I am late...!
India during the summers offer a great deal of diverse sight seeing & adventure activities up in the Himalayas. Representing a fascinating part of the Himalayas, our foothills have seen a sea-change in development, without loosing the cultural identity and the people have abiding respect for the rich traditions. The rugged ‘uncultivable’ hill slopes have been transformed into money-spinning orchards, roads have penetrated into the mountains in all directions and opening nature’s hidden splendors to the world.
The activities one can indulge in are trekking, hiking, river rafting over the River Ganges, Horse Riding on the mountain trails etc.
We also have some most beautiful hotels, which are generally old British Houses with old world charm & ambience. These locate in delightful places which afford great views of the verdant mountains! However, these travels are comparatively, a little tougher, for the distances covered in the hills take a longer time, though the traffic is just a trickle. The best months to travel for these destinations is from 20 March to 15 June. Also the month of October, just after the monsoons, has turned all mountains infectiously Green!
Happy Travels!!