We've safely arrived in China. After the frenzy of final preparations, I'm sharing our finalized itinerary and the key expenses we covered before takeoff.
Our plan is set but flexible. We have key dates, like meeting friends in Bangkok for year-end festivities and a professional commitment in India during March (more on that soon). Otherwise, we're going with the flow—guided by flight deals, land borders, and weather.
We landed in China on October 23 for nearly a month—our standard tourist visa allows 30 days. Starting here made sense weather-wise; Yunnan's mountains turn harsh from November. We'll touch major cities as needed but prioritize serene villages and countryside. A lifelong dream: Tibet. We're heading to Deqen's Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, right at Tibet's edge.
Exit strategy TBD: fly to Malaysia or cross into Laos via Vietnam? Stay tuned!
Thailand in early December, easing into Bangkok pre-Christmas to greet our friends. A 15-day group adventure awaits.
Thailand's 30-day visa means a land border hop to Siem Reap and Angkor's temples in Cambodia early 2020.
Fly from Cambodia to Indonesia's Bali for a month, possibly nearby islands—details pending.
Plane to India mid-trip, our fourth visit, timed for Holi and a passion project.
End date open, but school resumes April 27, 2020—exactly six months post-departure.
(Ignoring appliance replacements for our tenants.)
Some costs are sunk, others smart long-term buys. Here's the breakdown:
Husband's new Osprey backpack—his 10-year-old one wrecked his back: €160. Worth every penny for years of use.
Clothes: No fall/winter buys needed. Summer gear extends its life. Added lightweight down jackets for me and the girls via Vinted (quality Jott and Waxx for kids—resellable): €100 total. New versatile sneakers for girls, also Vinted: €30. Purchases we'd have made anyway.
Steripen Ultra UV water purifier to cut bottled water use: €110.
Vaccines: Rabies, Hep A, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis—7 shots total, not social-security covered: €1,200. Our mutual insurer covered it fully (not always the case!).
Visas: China's pre-trip must-do, plus fees/agency/emergency processing/Paris fingerprint trips for four passports: €1,400!!! Offset by cheap China flights (€1,000 for four). Cambodia/India visas cheaper.
Chapka repatriation health insurance for six months (Visa covers only first 90 days): €1,400 for four. Started Day 1 for seamless claims—no pre-sub gaps. Peace of mind on the other side of the world.
Homeschooling boosts: CP textbooks (Kimamila French, Picbille math)—ours, fun, tear-out pages. Graphiletter writing: €5. Math colorings/crosswords. For CM1: Boscher "All the Program" + ORTH textbook: under €20 total. Targeted, not heavy.
Mail forwarding: €30.50.
Next: Chengdu, China—giant city vibes with hidden gems amid skyscrapers.
