Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, & Vietnam is where we are going to spend the winter of 2014-15.  We fly out on Thursday, 13 November 2014 from Cleveland to Bangkok, Thailand and fly home on Sunday, 15 March 2015 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Cleveland.  Many people ask why did you pick this area?  Here are some of the reasons:
  • TIME DURATION: We wanted to visit somewhere that we can spend the entire winter in and not get bored. -- This area provides 4 countries allowing for 1 month in each country.
  • SAFETY: We had considered Costa Rica, but I didn't feel that we could spend 4 months there and continue finding new places to see without leaving.  Costa Rica is a safe place, but it is surrounding by countries notorious for drugs and I wouldn't have felt comfortable traveling through this area alone without tour guides. -- This entire area of Southeast Asia is very safe to travel around alone.
  • COST: We really want to see Europe, but I feel we should wait until the dollar gets stronger against the Euro.  Four months in Europe right now would cost us a lot of money. -- This area of Southeast Asia is very inexpensive.  I am predicting we will spend at most $2000 per month.  This would be for everything including lodging, food, tours, & transportation.
  • CULTURE: I have traveled to Japan and loved every minute of it.  I love Asian culture and food, and the people are some of the kindest I have come across.
  • OUR AGE:  I know that we have many years of traveling ahead of us.  I feel that we should visit these more "challenging" counties while we are younger and able to adapt easier.