Hi TwoBob

I would like to keep to overland travel as much as possible but this might be one part of the trip we're probably going to have to be sealed into a can of other people's farts and flung into the sky!

Other than that I read a book called Escaping the Winter by Anne Mustoe (which isn't that great and seemingly aimed at people with plenty money) which suggested some cargo ship companies that have a few places for passengers. It would be a fantastic way to enter India but I'll have to see about the restrictions.

I'd like to see Burma, there's quite a lot of mystery about the country but, as you say, Bloody Burma!

I believe you can do Burma (or at least parts of it) as a backpacker. But going overland between India & Thailand is another thing. Especially with your own vehicle — sure you´re free to try, but I REALLY would not count on succeeding! If you´re first time in the region, might be easier to simply forget it, and think of other options; probably saves you a lot of headache.

It seems it might be possible to ride all the way from Laos (not Thailand — look at the map, and you´ll see why!) to India... but it means a long trip thru China, and likely to cost so much with the guides & paperwork, that it´s out of reach for most travelers. I believe that on this forum, there has been a figure of +6000 euros (per head!) for going that route in the other direction in 2007. And Tibet is a sensitive region, so might not be possible every time (plus you´d be crossing the Himalayas as well as the Tibetan plateau, so don´t take the weather challenges lightly!)

Bay of Bengal: NO ferries between India & SE Asia since decades. Possibly some big cargo ship, with a very limited # of cabins, going between Chennai & Singapore(?), but appeared random and all but cheap. It is possible to freight relatively cheaply, by sea or by air, between several cities/ports in the region, and because of the reasons mentioned above, that´s how vehicles usually travel between India & SE Asia.

Browse the forum, and you will find plenty of discussions about exactly these same topics.

Thanks for the info. There's quite a lot of info about overland travel from Malaysia to India, some of it conflicting, some good news and some bad news but I think, for the most part, it's going to be quite a costly and lengthy task to get through Burma.

We're currently looking for a route by sea from Malaysia to northern India. If anyone has info on this it would be most welcome.

thanks again.

I flew into Rangoon from Bangkok, about the only way to get in, for three weeks backpacking last year which I normally wouldn't do but it is a great place to visit and would recommend it.

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Is travel within Burma not quite restricted by the government?

Yes, you can only stay in licenced guest houses and go where they want you to, but there is enough of that to make it worth while and there was not the oppresive atmosphere that some places with questionable governments have.

This is my plan , please don't laugh.
Have Indian visa pre-arranged, turn up at yuppie yacht ports in Thailand and offer deck hand duties for passage for me & the bike to the Andamans. Then ferry to India. this maybe in reverse ?
I said don't laugh.

You can get a lot of information about living and motorcycling in China at mychinamoto.com. Just a little food for thought....Why choose Beijing and Shanghai? They are about the worst that China has to offer when it comes to quality of life and motorcycling. Why not pick Kunming in Yunnan and Chengdu in Sichuan? Those are two of the best locations for motorcycling and outdoor lifestyle...you can learn Mandarin anywhere.

I live next to Hong Kong, stop in for a when you get down this way.

Cheers!
ChinaV

Hi chinav Thank you for the info , I hope more people from China will post here it will help clear the way, to allow the adventurers amongst us to forge friendships in your country.