Backpacking destination suggestions? (+ Indonesia opinions)

Hi guys!

I have a month to go travelling this summer. My gf has 2 months and we want to coordinate so that I join her for the second month (June). She wants to go to SE Asia, but I spent 4 months around Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, 2 years ago, so we are trying to think of where else we could go. Incidently, we'd take suggestions for basically anywhere in the world (we've both been around South America before).

....So, I would really appreciate ideas for where we might go! We would both like somewhere fun and relaxed (Cambodia-esque), but with some interesting culture and sun. I know that's a bit greedy, but hey!

Budget would probably be up to £20 a day. More at a stretch.

And finally....would an obvious option be Indonesia? I really know nothing about what the place is like to backpack around - could anyone relate their opinions?

So this is a free reign question - where is the most awesome place to go backpacking you can think of!!

Thanks in advance
Beggsy

I didn't backpack but I have travelled from Medan to Lake Toba and worked my way through Sumatra and Java to Bali. Not hard to do. There are buses and later trains. Not too many other tourists about but some generally interesting places, including the site at Yogyakarta. Your biggest costs will be travelling.

As to June, anywhere in Asia you might pick up a lot of rain at that time of year. Better to go late in the year and you can be sunbathing instead of freezing.

I would do Indonesia and the Philippines. Hardly any tourists ( in Philippines) and totally different to mainland SE Asia. And seeing as you are an experienced traveller you will have no problems with the lack of tourist infrastructure and you will see amazing places that no other westerners ever go to. June in Philippines is the end of their summer, but seeing as it is a tropical climate it will be 30 degrees all year round and at any time in the year it can rain so don't let that put you off. I was there last summer (March & April) and it rained a lot but I was also there last October, middle of the rainiest part of the year and the weather was beautiful.

Thanks bwiian. You're right, I'm not too bothered by cutting into rainy season - I've not found it as bad as people make out generally.

Do you think 4 weeks is too little to see both Indonesia and the Philippines? I don't intend on visiting all 17,000 islands but maybe it's still spreading it a bit thinly? Cheers.

hey best for backpacking is offcourse Thailand.
khaosarn road is backpackers paradise place there.
Thailand is the cheapest and the best since the tourism industry is developed.
You could also try Vietnam which is coming up.
Cheers

Valdamir, thanks but it's not really what I'm looking for. I've been to both places before and am looking for something new. Koh San is about as far from paradise as I can imagine!

Quoting Beggsy

She wants to go to SE Asia, but I spent 4 months around Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, 2 years ago, so we are trying to think of where else we could go.

If you didn't go to the Borneo side of Malaysia in your last trip there, then it's definitely a must-go if you are heading to that part of the world this time.

Quoting Beggsy

Thanks bwiian. You're right, I'm not too bothered by cutting into rainy season - I've not found it as bad as people make out generally.

Do you think 4 weeks is too little to see both Indonesia and the Philippines? I don't intend on visiting all 17,000 islands but maybe it's still spreading it a bit thinly? Cheers.

Yes I suppose 4 weeks is a bit too little to do a lot of both Indonesia and the Philippines, but you could pick just a couple of places in both countries. But I would stick to certain areas, for example in Philippines you could go to the Western Visayas and just see 2 places near to each other, like Iloilo and Guimaras, or Cebu City and then head to the beaches near Cebu. 2 weeks in Indonesia and then 2 weeks in Philippines is very do-able as long as you don't try to cram too much in. I haven't yet been to Indonesia yet so I can't recommend any areas but it is certainly either top or very near the top of places I need to visit!

Hi,
Indonesia, indonesia for sure- fabulous place, been 8 times and returning next May 2010 for maybe 6 months. I did a 5.5 month trip in 2006, love the place the people everything.
Pamela