Jewels of Southeast Asia, here we come!

[WeLoveABD]

See you in Greece--and what interesting times to be there! We got our documents with the air info etc today, but no package with the day by day books yet...I got a nice map of Athens at Barnes & Nobel today, starting to gear up!

 

[deckes]

abbyjt - We are going to have so much to talk about on the Southeast Asia trip. On top of South Africa, I just noticed that you said you went on the China trip - we are going on July 6. Trying to do a big trip each year before the kids go off to college - unfortunately Egypt did not work out for us last year. Do you remember where you hired the guide from for China and where exactly they took you? We are going to try and do the summer palace the day before the tour starts but have been a little nervous about going on our own.

 

[abbyjt]

We used TheChinaGuide.com. It is an American owned company. We arranged and paid in advance to go to the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Pearl Market/Toy Market and the guide took us to a tea house to do a tea ceremony. Lunch at a restaurant was also included. I don't remember the cost, but it was reasonable. The guide's name was Rita. She picked us up at the hotel at 8am with a driver and off we went. She was terrific. We told her we wanted to be back at the hotel by 4:30pm to be ready for the first night of the ABD itinerary. We didn't spend too much time at the Pearl Market. You could really spend a lot of money there very easily. We bought our younger daughter a traditional dress and some little trinkets. I bought a bunch of stuff in the tea house. I'm glad we did the tea ceremony, because our Disney group was quite large and the tea ceremony with abd was not as intimate and was much shorter. It is definitely worth it to hire the guide to take you touring. We only came in the afternoon before the ABD was to begin. Glad to answer any other questions.

 

[deckes]

I really cannot thank you enough!!! I was so prepared for South Africa due to your tips and now will be prepared for China. Thanks for taking the time to do these posts! Hope you have a great time in Greece!

 

[smep013]

We are so excited for this trip. I wish it was sooner, but I'm also glad we have time to save some money to pay for it! We are on the 7/8 trip... just me and my husband.

 

[lrweaver]

My daughter and I are booked on the July 8, 2013 Southeast Asia trip.

 

[sjlsk8r]

Welcome! I think we are gathering a pretty extensive group on this board that will all be the July 8 trip.

 

[figmentfan2009]

We just signed up last night for the July 22 trip (dh, me, dd and ds... all adults) with 2 pre and 2 post days.

I'm SO excited about this trip! I say that about everyone of them... but I am.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We just signed up last night for the July 22 trip (dh, me, dd and ds... all adults) with 2 pre and 2 post days.

I'm SO excited about this trip! I say that about everyone of them... but I am.

What are you doing on the 2 pre and 2 post days? Are you arranging this on your own or through ABD?

My son and I will be on the June 10th ABD with my Dad.

 

[deckes]

Just called on 6/24 trip. 23 people on tour which is a nice number. Kids' ages are (2) 11 year olds, 12, 14, (2) 15 year olds & 16 so no really young ones. They advised me that we have to bring a pair of shoes that we would want to throw away after picking rice or else you have to put them in a plastic bag to get back through customs.

 

[sayhello]

Just called on 6/24 trip. 23 people on tour which is a nice number. Kids' ages are (2) 11 year olds, 12, 14, (2) 15 year olds & 16 so no really young ones. They advised me that we have to bring a pair of shoes that we would want to throw away after picking rice or else you have to put them in a plastic bag to get back through customs.

Ewwww! I can't imagine wanting to keep them under those conditions!

Sayhello

 

[abbyjt]

I'm waiting, no phone call for us yet. Did they get any more specific than that? We all have water sandals that would be dry pretty quickly. Will they be too disgusting to want to keep? I swam with them in Greece. Of course, if flip flops can be worn, we can just get some $2.00 ones, but I doubt walking in the rice paddies can be done in flip flops.
We did get a call a month or so ago asking if anyone of us was over 250 lbs for the horseback riding. (we're not)

 

[Cousin Orville]

Thanks for posting this. Hadn't heard that about the shoes. I believe they're limiting the adventures to around 25 people due to limited rooms. Last time I checked ours had 20.

We got our Vietnamese Visas. I think we're all set. Picked up the lonely planet guide to see what we might want to do in and around Saigon before the ABD starts other than recuperating from the jet lag and flight.

Does anyone know if there are any required vaccinations for any of the countries?

 

[sayhello]

I can hardly wait to read you guys' reports about this trip. It just sounds fascinating!

Sayhello

 

[MinionOfMaleficent]

I could be wrong, but I think the reason why you would want to throw your shoes away before going through US Customs is because they ask you if you've visited a farm on your vacation. If you say yes, they just take you to the side and spray some stuff on your shoes and run your bags through an extra scanner. It's to make sure you aren't bringing any foreign seeds or bugs back in with you. It does take a little longer but it's not a huge amount of time. I don't think you'd get that nasty visiting the rice paddies - I'm sure if you don't want to get muddy they won't make you!

Okay, back to lurking now

 

[tufbuf]

I would recommend boots. You really do not want to wade on farm water in Asia. Parasites are another concern. We studied these in college and when I read about it, hubby and I kinda squirmed at the idea of wading. One thing I wouldn't do unless I am sure the water will not touch my skin. Just my .02. So yes, I agree to using boots to throw away after wading through the rice paddies.

 

[deckes]

I also believe the shoe issue has to do with bringing back something from the water, soil, etc. I am going to find out about vaccinations next week when I visit my dr. Going to NYC in a couple of weeks to get visas. Hard to believe it is almost only 3 months left until we go.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Had heard from someone who spoke to an ABD guide who said Iger himself got involved with the itinerary of this ABD. Early on Thailand was considered, but Iger wanted it to be more exotic. Who knows if that's true, but I thought it was interesting. Thailand would also be fun, but I'm very glad they went the way they did.

 

[deckes]

Just got our Visas from the NYC Consulate. Super easy to go there & give paperwork to & then they fed exed passports back to us. Talked to travel doctor yesterday. They are suggesting Hep A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus, malaria pills & possibly Japanese encephalitis if we are going near any kind of farm. Going to check with Disney on that one. Not sure how rural we will be in rice paddies.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Just got our Visas from the NYC Consulate. Super easy to go there & give paperwork to & then they fed exed passports back to us. Talked to travel doctor yesterday. They are suggesting Hep A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus, malaria pills & possibly Japanese encephalitis if we are going near any kind of farm. Going to check with Disney on that one. Not sure how rural we will be in rice paddies.

Let us know what ABD is recommending.

I would think they would have given out recommendations already if there was any real concern.