climbing in Asia??? mostly the pacific rim??

Post by **dah-le** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:01 pm

Yeah thats sorta what I'm thinking too, but I'm also hoping to somehow wedge some mountain biking and general tourism in as well.
I'm guessing that your packs are going to be enourmous...and heavy. Which will stink if you're flying and they ding you for the over 50lbs thing. I know I'd rather spend the cash other ways. I'm very interested to see how things go thats for certain! I'm planning to start my trek more locally (North America) to start....but we'll see.
Oh, and to add yet another related thing, have you heard anything about bolt conditions in the seaside stuff? I'd heard some somewhat scary things about bolts pulling, rusting & the like. I expect that there's been a fair bit done, but I doubt everything has been replaced (as recommended) with Titanium equipment.
-Dale

Post by **neuroshock** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:12 pm

http://www.hongkongclimbing.com/guides/contents.html

Post by **gbarnett** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:48 pm

I remember seeing a cool picture of Lynn Hill climbing nice looking cliffs around some bay in vietnam. Can't remember what it was called, but it did look cool.

Post by **travelinyouth** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:16 pm

I am hoping my pack isn't anything like enormous! My climbing gear is going to take up most of the room, as for the rest I really don't need much! Oh and those cliffs lynn hill is on is in HaLong Bay, vietnam; super sick stuff!

Post by **travelinyouth** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:25 pm

Thanks Neuroshok That site looks sweet!

Post by **merrick** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:28 pm

http://www.toddskinner.com/Gallery_Nam/index.htm
http://www.railay.com/railay/climbing/c ... ntro.shtml

The real question is how do you get from southern Thailand to Northern vietnam the both quickly and cheaply. train and bus service are intermitant. cutting through laos or cambodia would be fun and adventerous but certainly not fast (pick up truck rides on bad dirt roads with big border crossing hassles), a boat would be fun but slow and possibly not cheap and airfare fast but also not cheap....

not that I am trying to figure out the logistics for a trip like that or anything....

Post by **merrick** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:30 pm

Speaking of asia, has anyone here climbed in Hampi or Badimi in India? I am going to south india for work next month and want to spend a week climbing. I remember a purdue kid posting a trip report about hampi on climbKY board a few years back. Anybody got some beta?

Post by **travelinyouth** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:13 am

so Senor Cover Boy, you have something in the works for South East Asia?? Hmm..?? I went ahead and bought a oneway ticket already! I just wanted to make sure there was no way to get out of it!!! ha ha Jan. 15th NON Refundable!!

Post by **merrick** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:29 pm

yea I have some potential plans but nothing certain yet. should have it all sussed soon.

I do have tickets for 3 trips to the red and one trip to India already for the fall so I am pretty psyched!!!!!! and throw in heading back up to Rumney again this weekend and I am mega-psyched!!!!

Post by **merrick** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:10 pm

I am definatlely trying to figure out some logistics for asia. It is certainly cheap once you get over there. even though the exchange rate doesn't translate directly into buying power if gives a sense of what to expect.

Asian exchange rate:

US Dollars= 1 | Thai Bhat = 37.643
US Dollars= 1 | Vietnam Dong = 16,002

US Dollars= 1 | Indian Rupee = 46.435

To understand the buying power you need to look at a common item bought and sold in both countries. Ecomomists often use the big mac as a guide to purchasing-power parities. however even this only gives a rough sense, seeing that the average person in India only makes $500 dollars a year and 44% earn only $1 a day, big macs are sort of luxery items.

US Big Mac 3.06 | Thai Big Mac in dollars 1.48
no data for vietnam(no mcdonalds)

US Big Mac 3.06 | India in dollars 1.26