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Is it possible to go to Singapore from India by road?Cross country motorcycle riding becomes just a dream to many motorcyclists. Similar to a novel on the shelf that’s there for so long and is waiting for a reader to read.. This enthusiasm and craze are the 2 qualities that make a rider differ from the normal us. But what’s stopping most of the rider?If you are reading this, it means that you have planned to successfully kick start your cross country road trip or to be precise, your first cross country bike trip. You can plan your next enthralling journey from India to Thailand via Myanmar further till Singapore.India to Myanmar | Thailand | Singapore journey by road/bike trip is around 7000 km but the total journey will be around 9000 km. Truly exciting and thrillful ride with rugged challenging and scenic breathtaking views.There may be many Singapore or Thailand tours from India via flight, but why to fly when you know how to ride! Thailand from India till Singapore road trip/bike ride via Myanmar is wholesome of crossing different countries, exploring unique culture, meeting like-minded people on the way. The best of all is knowing that you are doing something different that only a few have ever done.Cross country ride is growing now, riders are taking one step ahead of exploring not just India but around the world on their mettle pedals. The cross country ride will definitely not be an easy way to pass every lane of your journey, in fact, it does not even sound easy. But you get to collect crazy tales from this road adventure and those memories you will cherish forever. The rich culture that you will breeze from India to Thailand via Myanmar and different places, cities that you will cover on road is sure to give you some excellent life-changing experiences.Places to Cover on the Journey from India (Mumbai) to Myanmar | Thailand | Singapore by Road:Excited to know what all the places you will visit? Here is a detail description of the routes, distance as well as the days required to complete the bike trip from India to Thailand & Singapore via Myanmar and Malaysia.ay 1: Mumbai to Indore (Approx 600 km)Day 2: Indore to Jhansi (Approx 550 km)Day 3: Jhansi to Gorakhpur (Approx 600 km)Day 4: Gorakhpur to Siliguri (Approx 650 km)Day 5: Day off (Check your Bike)Day 6: Siliguri to Guwahati (Approx 500 km)Day 7: Guwahati to Kohima (Approx 360 km)Day 8: Kohima to Imphal (Approx 140 km)Day 9: Day off (Bike Servicing Required)Day 10: Imphal to Kale (Myanmar) (Approx 250 km)Day 11: Kale to Monywa (Myanmar) (Approx 250 km)Day 12: Monywa to Mandalay (Approx 140 km)Day 13: Rest day (Check your Bike)Day 14: Mandalay to Bago (Approx 570 km)Day 15: Bago to Hpa-An (Approx 220 km)Day 16: Hpa-An to Tak (Thailand) (Approx 250 km)Day 17: Tak to Bangkok (Thailand) (Approx 440 km)Day 18: Take this day off to explore BangkokDay 19: Bangkok to Hua Hin (Approx 200 km)Day 20: Hua Hin to Phuket (Thailand) (Approx 650 km)Day 21: Take this day off to explore Phuket and check your bike tooDay 22: Phuket to Bukit Kayu Hitam, (Malaysia Approx 500 km)Day 23: Bukit Kayu Hitam to Kuala Lumpur (Approx 380 km)Day 24: Kuala Lumpur to SingaporeLet’s Begin With the Things to Carry:Cross country bike trip requires you to be well prepared not just mentally and physically but far more than that. While you enroute on a journey across India, you do need to carry many important things with you that will be required and if you don’t carry them, you will have to head back home sadly. So let’s see what all must-have-items you need to have for your bike trip/ road trip to Thailand from India via Myanmar further to Singapore.1: Basic ThingsLicense: Always need to carry this so as to show it on every authorized checkpoint. Keep it handy so you can easily hand it over to the officials whenever they ask you.Travel Insurance papers: Travel insurance paper will surely help you in any unforeseen situation that may occur during your bike ride. Also, insurance papers are required to be shown after you cross a few places from India to Myanmar by road and from Myanmar to Thailand, this document may be required for verification.Medicines: If you are on any kind of medication, make sure that you have a good stock of medicines with you, from basic medicines to any chronic issue. Keep a good stock of medicine with you. Also before the start of the journey, you can go for a vaccination to protect yourself from any disease.Motorcycle Documents: If it is your own vehicle don’t forget to carry the details of it, few photocopies of your documents and originals of your vehicle papers including every legal registration papers related to your vehicle. If you have rented the motorcycle, ensure you carry the proof of rental agreements made. This will declare that you owe the vehicle legally. Keep a few copies plus the originals handy with you.Snacks and Water: Long Riding doesn’t mean to take a break after short intervals. You need to take breaks only when there is an emergency, petrol filling. And for resting & having food. Water and snacks have to be stocked up well. So if you are hungry a 2 min halt in between will be easier to fill your needs.Note: While riding from India to Thailand via Myanmar and then till Singapore, energy to ride and to feel the fit is required throughout the journey. We suggest you carry Protein Bars as well as electrolyte drinks to keep you completely hydrated which is essential. We recommend you to carry packs of Gluten Free Protein Bar.Guidebook of the Country: Entirely depending on Google Maps isn’t always possible. Especially in areas where you don’t get a good internet connection. You may have to communicate with the locals; if their language differs it’s impossible to explain to them where you are heading too. This can become a great rock stone on your ways. So make sure you have a guidebook of the country you are visiting to and through. So you can converse with the locals really well and know about the places that you have planned to visit.Camera and Other Stuff: While crossing different cities, countries, you explore places, meet people, and see special things. This all combines to shaping a bag full of memories. Every place is unique in its own way. The best way you can cherish is by capturing every moment and thus cameras will do the job. With all electronic gadgets, you must carry at least 2 chargers for each. Pack light, don’t take heavy clothes. Shopping can be done anywhere, keep things that are genuinely needed, don’t overstuff your bag. Don’t forget to take rain gears, sunglasses; earplugs, sleeping bag. A backpack may be painful for a long ride to take a luggage bag as an alternate.2: Important Documents To Carry Without FailPassport is definitely a must-have in your bag with minimum 6 months of validity from the date of your arrival to the location.With that, you need to have a Visa application form filled completely.Keep a few passport size photos with you and it should be the latest ones with a white background.Your Original credit card along with few photocopies of it & last 6-month credit card details.As you are heading to a different country you need to have their currency with you. So you are required to carry a currency exchange slips of at least 30k.Your 6 months bank statement with original bank seal and a minimum balance of up to 20,000/person.While crossing the border when heading to Myanmar, you can carry Myanmar kyat with you. Also, there are various ATMs available on the way, so simply carry your Visa, Mastercard debit card. Indian Currency is also valid in Myanmar so INR will also work.3: Must Carry Safety GearRider’s Jacket: The most talked about safe riding accessories is “Rider jacket”. This, not just makes one look classy and cool, but it comes with featuring safety in style. Be it a cold breeze, scorching sun heat or heavy rain showers. Riding jacket can serve all the purpose. Also, this protects the rider’s arm as well as the body. The pocket-friendly jacket can make you keep different kinds of stuff easily like money, phones, earplugs, maps, and other things as well.Helmet: Without a helmet, a rider is sure to feel incomplete to set out for the journey. Buying a helmet that covers full face is appropriate for long rides, it can act as a shield during different seasons. Different shades that are bright in color with neon appearance can work well especially for night riding purpose.Boots: Another most important accessory that a rider has to carry for cross riding trip is Boots. Casual sandals or shoes won’t be comfortable at all. Especially on rugged and paved roads, you will feel inconvenience in your riding. Before commencing a journey make sure you buy a good quality pair of boots. You are sure to experience easiness in your journey if you have a comfortable foot while riding.Armor: In order to protect yourself from any kind of injury, you can buy good quality riding armor. You can pick your hands on the carbon fiber material suit that are most appropriate ones while riding. The rider gets easily adjusted with the temperature, get safer from any kind of crash with the riding armor.Gloves: To protect the rider’s palm and to get the perfect grip on the accelerator, especially on long rides, gloves can be beneficial.Details To Remember:Indians do need permits for Nagaland and this can be obtained from the Nagaland House.Before you enter Myanmar, you must ensure that you have already applied for a tourist visa on arrival, as it is mandatory from the Myanmar embassy in India. This can be done by directly downloading the online form. To ease your work, there’s a step by step guide provided by the Visa authorities of Myanmar that you can simply refer to, follow the link for further information: Tourist Visa & Business VisaAll the mandatory permission that is required for a rider to ride through Myanmar, takes about 4 weeks at least to obtain. So make sure that you assign and submit the required documents on time and apply for the Visa for India to Myanmar by road as early as possible. Ensure that you have a strict plan of action and also you are following it. Only then you will be able to enjoy your journey and ride through amazing roads & breathtaking scenic experiences with no fear of the documents or legal consideration.For entering Thailand on your own motorcycle, you need to have “Carnet de Passage”, the most essential document. We’ve discussed in depth about Carnet de Passage in the further article.Carnet de Passage will not work for Myanmar, so for that, you need to get a CarNet. To exit and reenter in India, one needs to have a Carnet, while you are traveling from India to Myanmar & Thailand road. CarNet for Bike costs around 50k, whereas 100k for a car to enter Myanmar. To get a Carnet, here’s the link that can help you for the same: :: ATA Carnet ::Also, ensure that you do proper stamping in all country while entering as well as while you leave. Otherwise, you will face problems in getting back your bank guarantee released for Carnet de Passage.Carnet De Passage:What is Carnet de Passage?It is required in 71 countries, which are the parties to the Customs Convention on ATA Carnet. An internationally recognized Customs document allowing the holder (vehicle owner) to import the vehicle duty-free into countries for a temporary basis, For this you normally require to deposit against import charges for such vehicles. This is like a promise that you make to the official regarding your vehicle. Assuring that you will take back your vehicle out from the country that you have visited.Who Provides Carnet de Passage In India?This is not issued by the government department in India but by the Automobile Association of the country, or its affiliate members associations. The Federation of Automobile Associations of India is the authorized member who holds the authority to provide Carnet de Passage. As there are different regions in India, there are different member bodies accordingly. You can approach the associations based on the location where you stay.The Automobile Association of Southern IndiaYou will also be able to issue Carnet through FICCI which is India’s only National Issuing & Guaranteeing Association. You cannot get Carnet from the government thus you have to be dependent on these authorized agencies.If you have any queries about how to apply for it, you can refer to the following link that provides a step by step guide in depth: Carnet de passages - IndiaFor this, you’ll need to submit the bank guarantee, for this process the amount charged will be around around 200% to 300% of the market value of your vehicle (refundable security deposit).The fee that you will pay will depend on the value of the vehicle. Fees for a motorbike normally is around 10k to 15k Once your vehicle returns back to India, the bank guarantee gets released by returning back ‘Carnet de Passage’ to the Automobile Association.International Driving Permit:International Driving Permit (IDP) is proven to be the most valuable and even an essential document. It gives motorcyclist the identity of being a legally recognized driver in the country that they are traveling into.This permit is used in many countries including Thailand and Myanmar and through this, you will feel the convenience of renting any vehicle even in your country.For a holiday in Thailand, you will require driver’s license ID of Thai, however, it is possible to drive with your Indian license, but it is highly advisable for a rider to maintain an IDP so as to avoid any legal complications on your journey.India to Myanmar by road highway doesn’t need IDP. But it is advisable, for safety you should carry your International Driver’s Permit because any hassle can arise all of a sudden from the political and official groups of Myanmar.The International permit won’t be considered valid until you have your Indian driving license, so make sure everything is properly assorted at a particular place.To issue an International Driver’s Permit from India, refer to this link: International driving license permitEscort Vehicle and Hotel Booking:These two points have to be considered well in advance.Escort Vehicle , as well as hotel pre-booking, are the two most essential things that you have to pay attention to without fail, escort vehicle is necessary and hotels booking in advance will help you ride according to the plan so you can take appropriate halts.These two things you must plan out before setting on your ride, so the whole journey will be hassle-free.The Escort vehicle is mandatory to travel in Myanmar & now it is mandatory for Thailand too. Basically leading your vehicle throughout your ride.Points to Remember: The tour from Myanmar and Thailand has to be escorted by a local and licensed guide only as well as hotel pre-booking for Myanmar is mandatory.Accommodation must be a local hotel, guest houses, and rooms, you are not allowed to do any camping on road.You can’t make decisions for these two factors, on the spot, it has to be pre-planned.Start Your Ride with these Go-to TipsBefore starting your ride, it is important to be prepared not just physically but mentally as well. Cross Country Riding comes with multiple challenges, the roads may not be easy to conquer, the routes may be tricky, the journey may be challenging. But besides all these hurdles you have to keep in mind that no matter what, you will keep riding and with riding, you will ensure that safety on roads as well as your own safety is given due importance.Unlike Rides that you take within the country, India to Thailand via Myanmar further till Singapore, this journey crosses different countries, the language, currency, people, and things will differ a lot. So for this, you have to be prepared well in advance, in short, you must be highly motivated and excited throughout the ride.The network can create barriers, so locals may guide you with the routes, you can carry a travel book to ensure communication is easy with them.Currency exchange must be given top importance, learn the basics of their currency so it can be easier for you to make a petty transaction without any inconvenience.Deciding to launch the plan is easy but taking care of the logistics is the real challenge. Make a good plan for the budget and cross country motorcycle trip cost. This can help you in saving and spending right.Remind yourself every time to Keep the fun consistent throughout the journey, meet new people, communicate, explore, enjoy the roads, live the moment. Accept the hurdles with positivity. Keep a constant touch with your family, Make sure they are updated about your trip. Take breaks if you need one.Eat light everyday before hitting the road, so as to avoid laziness.Assure that the route you pick on your bike ride covers the most scenic view and beautiful surroundings. If your goal is to explore more and more with experiencing the beauty of different countries, pick the route that can serve you both.Start Your Ride with These Safety Tips:Sufficient Cash: You must have enough cash with you handy on a road trip and those shouldn’t just be Indian rupees but other currencies as well that will be required on the trip: Myanmar kyat, Thai Baht, Malaysian Ringgit & Singapore dollar.The Route Map: Depending on the Internet completely for your road trip from India to Thailand till Singapore will be the biggest mistake. So for a safer side, you can carry a route map with you. Also, you can highlight a few places on the map where you can stop by. Resting is essential, you may require days to rest and days to explore the place, so accordingly, you can highlight the places where you can stay for a day or two.Don’t Over Explore: Riders are an enthusiast as well as courageous, this is why you’ve made a really great decision of riding all the way from India to a different country. This same sporting behavior will create a sense of excitement to explore more and more, cover deserted roads, or pass by isolated areas to reach early or to explore more. This decision may sound exciting but can be highly risky. You are already unaware of the roads, conditions, people as well as the uncertain challenges. So make sure you stick to the plan, riding safe and sticking with the group is a must on a bike trip.Mobile Numbers: What if your phone battery dies and you don’t have any scope to refill the battery? Here’s when the phone booth on the road may save your day. Jot down all the necessary phone numbers in a diary that you can maintain for this trip. So in an emergency, you can use the payphone that will be there in the town. Even the locals are friendly they can help you in such situations. Don’t forget to write down the contact details of the travel agency and authority, as you might need to call them any time during the journey.Reminder to the Authorities: Make few calls to the authorities of Myanmar well in advance, as a reminder to them about your planned road trips to Singapore by Myanmar & Thailand.Carry Spare Tools: A mechanic may guide you with the detail list of spare tool that will be essential on a long road trip. Also test your bike initially, give your motorcycle for servicing, with this you may be able to eliminate the issues with your bike that may arise on the journey. Though challenges with your motorcycle may be common solely when the roads aren’t normal and very rough. But motorcycle serving will be useful in any way.Stay Updated with the Political Mess: At times due to the strike and other political matters, the security gets double. This may affect your journey and the planned days for the trip may vary as well. So, ensure that you are aware of the political scenarios of Myanmar as well as Thailand before setting on India to Thailand by road.Day to Day Itinerary from India to Myanmar | Thailand | SingaporeOn your journey, from India to Thailand via Myanmar further till Singapore, you are sure to encounter some breathtaking landscape and the mixture of different culture. Now without any further ado, let’s begin with the day to day itinerary BforBiker believes could be best to follow for this journey.Day 1: Mumbai to IndoreRoute: Mumbai > Nashik > DhuleDistance: Approx 600 kmTime Required: 10-12 hours(Depends upon your average riding speed and amount of stop you are planning to take in between)The first day begins with a target to Reach Indore from Mumbai via Nashik and Dhule on a bike ride that takes around 12 hours to reach. As the journey is a stretch of minimum 10 hours, you can take fewer breaks here, make sure to eat light before heading, on your first day. There are total 2 roads from Dhule that will take you to Indore. It is appropriate if you stick with the NH52 highway. The roads from this route are mostly good.There are 4 lanes at almost all the places so you can ride at your convenience. You will find construction work on a fewer road via this route, but it won’t create problems for your riding. Average speed that you can easily maintain on this day is around 80-90 km/h. As it is your first day of riding, you will be fueled up with energy and enthusiasm, so this day won’t create many problems.Day 2: Indore to JhansiDistance: Approx 550 kmTime Required: 10 hoursThe road condition on the route from Indore to Jhansi is pretty good too. You will be riding sometime on 4 lanes or 2 lanes as well as single lanes here. Mostly single lanes and 2 lanes are common throughout the route. But overall the roads don’t give much of discomforts. While you are about to reach, around 160 km before Jhansi is a 4 lane good road, so 160 km of the ride can be covered really fast at the end of the day. An average speed of around 60-70 km/h can be easily maintained on this day.Point to Remember: Start your journey early in the morning, as night riding near Jhansi is highly problematic due to some safety and security concerns. On the way, you will have to cross a few railway crossings too. During the evening hours, heavy traffic may be found on those crossings. So accordingly plan your ride and try to cross mostly before evening so as to avoid heavy loaded traffics that will disbalance your ride schedule.Day 3: Jhansi to GorakhpurRoute: Go via Kanpur > Lucknow > Faizabad roadDistance: Approx 600 kmTime Required: 10-12 hoursStart your ride early in Morning, the roads are above average. Mostly 4 lanes around 80% of the ride but not in a perfect condition though. Just after you enter Uttar Pradesh you may see slight discomfort in your riding due to the poor road condition for around 100 km. Beware of the animals that may come across your way especially cows on the highways. The 3rd day rides from Jhansi to Gorakhpur via Kanpur, Lucknow, Faizabad road is a bit of a challenge solely because of the road condition and the sudden complications.Two major concerns can give you problems while riding are animals on the way creating traffic and drivers & bikers coming from the wrong side of the road that may affect your riding skills. So take extra precautions for the same especially on the 3rd day of riding. Major Traffic can be found in Kanpur and Lucknow city, so try not to enter the city. The best part is Lucknow to Gorakhpur is of 4 lane good roads, so you will feel comfort in riding through this patch. The Average speed of 70-80 km/h can be easily maintained on this day.Day 4: Gorakhpur to SiliguriDistance: Approx: 650 kmTime Required: 12-14 hoursThe start of the journey on this day (Day 4) is surely going to be easy for you because of the pretty decent road condition and some scenic views to look at. You will find 4 lane good roads at most of the places. The ride from Gorakhpur to Siliguri is of around 12-14 hours, you can take fewer breaks in between due to the riding hours being a little long. Don’t overfill your stomach, you can consume food that gives you enough energy to continue riding sportingly.Of course, there’s no escape to bad roads in India, so you might have to cross bad stretches too in between. Especially bad roads are found while you enter Bengal but not exceeding to more than 20 km. Overall the roads are preferable, giving the biker a glitch-free riding experience. The Average speed of 60-70 km/h can be easily maintained on this day.Day 5: A Day OffYou must take this day off at Siliguri. There are a few things that you need to do on a regular basis throughout your journey. First thing: Get your bike checked. Second thing: Take proper power naps & rest. Due to the rough patch, potholes and poor physical condition of the roads, the bike may get few issues. If you continue to ride your bike without servicing, your bike may stop to work smoothly.In order to avoid hassle free riding, take a halt for the day. You can explore Siliguri for the time being, till your bikes get a proper check and are washed. Enjoy the picturesque tea gardens, visit the market, shop some stuff, eat the local cuisine and sleep enough. But don’t forget, you have to ride the next day.Day 6: Siliguri to GuwahatiDistance: Approx 500 kmTime Required: 10-12 hoursThe first half of the ride will mostly have single lane road. Hills and railway crossing are sure to slower your riding. Also, you will be crossing the famous coronation bridge, you can click a few pictures on the bridge, as it is worth stopping for. The beautiful serene surrounding the bridge is a picture perfect spot. After the bridge is crossed, you will experience bad roads and if it rains you will have to face Slushes too. After around 30 km from the bridge, the roads will become watery smooth.There are lots of bridges on these roads, so your riding can get better here. The railway parallel to the road will add a lot of fun to your bike trip. There may be some construction work in progress for a few bridges on the route but there’s nothing much to worry about. The best part is, you don’t get to experience much traffic here and 95% of the roads are extremely smooth to ride on.After the 1st half of the journey is completed, 2 lane and 4 lane roads can be found. The second half is mostly 4 lane roads with few bad stretches in between but still good. Remember, the sun sets soon before 6 pm at this part of India so you have to plan your ride accordingly. Around 1.5 km long is the Brahmaputra River Bridge that you will cross while you enter Guwahati. Permissible speed on this road is around 45 km/h which is simply too low then what you will be riding on. Easily an Average speed of 60-80 km/h can be maintained on this road. Also, beware of cops with speed gun. 🙂Day 7: Guwahati to KohimaDistance: Approx 360 kmTime Required: 9-10 hoursOn this day you will have to face struggle while riding due to the challenging road condition that will test your riding skills. Especially your off-roading skills will be seen. Remember: One has to make ILP (Inner Line Permit) to enter Nagaland. Ensure that you take NH37 which will go till Nagaon which is a pretty good 4 lane road for around 150 km. After the 150 km patch gets covered up, it’s all single lane till Kohima.Welcome-to-NagalandOn this route, you will cross some small hills, forests, and multiple villages. The thing that can excite you is the river crossing which is simply eye-soothing to watch but a bit challenging to cross. Around 50 km before Dimapur, the road condition will be bad but later on, it will be worst. 🙂 The roads post-Dimapur will test your off-roading skills. Challenges like Bad road, Slush, rain, water & mud can be found, a common reason for the bike to skid.Note: Dimapur to Kohima 4 lane highway is under construction but we are not really sure when it will be open.Day 8: Kohima to ImphalDistance: Approx 140 kmTime Required: 4-5 hoursDay 8 from Kohima to Imphal, your riding will hardly be for around 5 hours. The reason is that of the challenging and tough roads that you will cross. This day brings another challenging ride experience. You get to discover Single lane bad roads with Hill, slush, and rain that can test your skills yet again. Roads are far better than last day ride but they are still going to give you discomfort. When you enter Manipur the roads get better with 4 lane highway which is preferable for riding smooth and are simply good.Overall it is still a Tough ride day with 80% rough and off-roading journey. Note: Off-road or adventure bike is highly suggested on this road only then you can face hard stone barriers on your way (not easy but manageable). The Average speed for the day will be very low of around 30-40 km/h. Tiredness and laziness will affect your riding skills once you reach Imphal. So this day you won’t be covering many hours of riding.Day 9: Another Day OffTake this day off. You may be wondering why am I asking you take breaks and day off soon after day 5? Siliguri to Imphal will be a rugged, uneven and bumpy ride altogether. And if it rains, the challenge to ride will get even worst. Bike service and cleanup are highly advisable, as your next day will be in a different country. This sounds super cool, and it, in fact, is.Make sure everything is working systematically. Your motorcycle must be ready to conquer the international roads smoothly. Ensure your bike parts are proper, your motorcycle is in a good working condition and everything is perfect before you kick start to enter the new country. India to Myanmar by road covers all the above destinations and routes. Be ready for the next day as you are soon to enter another country. This is sure to be added to the memory list of your best international road trips so far.Day 10: Imphal to Kale (Myanmar):Distance: Approx: 250kmTime Required: 5-6 hoursHighlights Of This Day: The best part of today’s ride is you are going to enter Myanmar a whole different country. Also, Myanmar is a right-hand drive country. As discussed above, you have to take care of Carnet which is flat 50,000 for 2 wheelers. Escorts and pre-hotel booking and the predefined route are also needed. This is a law which is must to follow. India Myanmar road trip is sure to be a journey like never before on your motorcycle.This day brings different kind of vibes & experiences/challenges that you will monitor throughout your journey. Strict Army patrolling can be seen on the road before the border. Talking about the road condition, they are mostly bad in shape & single lane in the start of your ride till the border. Be prepared to face Rain, wet roads and slush on the route. You will be crossing lots of Narrow and dusty bad shaped bridges. Escort and hotel pre-booking is must so book in advance. Your escort will pick you up after you cross the friendship bridge at Moreh border.Iron-bridges-near-moreh-borderThen the necessary Immigration formalities start to take place at Tamu. Here the visa stamping process is done as well. The Carnet stamping takes place few Km ahead of Tamu. You will pass from single lane road after the border is crossed till Kale. The road quality is average, little bad due to slush and too many iron bridges to cross from. Without needing to take a flight you’ve reached another country by crossing the iron bridges which is simply overwhelming.Important: You can only enter Myanmar before 10 pm and the whole formality process takes around 1 hour to complete. So make sure you reach the border before 9 pm and in fact, it is even better if you reach here during day time.Before you enter Myanmar, ensure you have applied for a visa on arrival by downloading the online form. This will make your ride comfortable and stress-free, you won’t have to panic for anything as you have prepared yourself for every piece of document well in advance. A step by step guideline has been provided by the Myanmar Visa authorities: Myanmarvisacorp. Check this out and fill the required details. The visa process may take time so plan accordingly.Day 11: Kale to Monywa (Myanmar)Distance: Approx: 250 kmTime Required: 6-7 hoursFrom Kale to Monywa, a journey of approx 7 hours, is a single lane road with gravel roads to ride on. Usually, this route has less traffic with some rough bridges that need to be crossed. Few of the iron bridges are well maintained but others have a missing plank and other risky issues. You will have to show your off-roading skills here as well due to the slush on the route especially when it rains.Rain can be one barrier to your riding and due to which you will face slippery roads throughout your journey. So you need to maintain your riding speed accordingly and ride really slow during rain showers. Probably a little challenging ride that will happen this day. Adventurous road trips are what the biker loves the most, Riding on plain simple roads and smooth highways are just too monotonous. Especially when you urge to make your riding experience like never before, sporty and thrillful rides make a lot of learning.Day 12: Monywa to Mandalay (Myanmar)Distance: Approx: 140 kmTime Required: 3 hoursMonywa to Mandalay is a journey of 3 hours; this short journey covers a lot of challenging roads yet again. You are sure to cross few Iron Bridges, Some Hills, hard mud and even ride on the single lane road. Usually, we get to see rain showers most of the time here, so if it rains, slush and slippery roads are one major challenge that will create stumbling blocks in your journey. Few kilometers before Mandaya, the roads will slightly get better, far better than the riding you had experience in the initial hours. The best part of this 3 hours journey is the scenic & panoramic sights to see around.The beautiful surrounding around while you ride will surely make riding experience pleasing enough. The natural beauty covers up the challenging part. Average speed that you will maintain on this day is around 50 km/h. If you start this day riding early in the morning, you will reach Mandalay in the afternoon for sure. So once you reach the desired destination for the day, take some rest. A power nap can make wonders for your future ride, go around have a look at the pretty city, take a shower and brace yourself for the next day.Day 13: Rest dayWell, the ride so far for a stretch of about 1 week was really hectic. Too many iron bridges to cross, challenging hills to cover and tough riding on single lane road with heavy traffic. Therefore, resting is a must. You can explore Mandalay the royal capital of Myanmar. This place has its own charm. Enjoy the sightseeing, visit Buddhist Pagodas, Monasteries, and Temples.Ensure that you do a thorough bike checkup before you set out on the ride for next day. Don’t forget to add memories in your list with this road trip to Singapore via Thailand from India by bike. Enjoy and cherish the moment as much as you can. This ride is not like any ride that you’ve had experienced before. So save the memories and now that you’ve covered India to Myanmar so far, you are likely to focus more on India to Thailand by road journey from the next day.Day 14: Mandalay to Bago (Myanmar)Distance: 570 kmTime Required: 11-12 hoursRoads from the route to Bago from Mandalay are single lane but they are still good to ride through. Of course, if it rains your riding speed will fluctuate and reduce but that doesn’t really matter much. We highly suggest you start this 14th day of riding early in the morning so you can avoid night riding.Usually riding from the route at night can be challenging as well as risky. There are not many lights that can give you good vision on the roads, especially if its a remote area. Plus rain showers will create too much of fuss, post evening. The average speed of about 60-70 km/h can be maintained well on this day. Too many glorious & magnificent palaces, Kanbawzathadi golden palace, pagodas will come across your eyesight while you reach Bago.Day 15: Bago to Hpa-An (Myanmar)Distance: Approx 220 kmTime Required: 4-5 hoursNow the ride from Bago to Hpa-An is a good short one with Single lane roads. Hpa-An is a beautiful warm city with eye soothing waterfall sights to pass by on the way. Bago itself is a pretty city that attracts a lot of tourists. In short, your overall ride will be really wonderful as you will cover scenic views, beautiful places & pagodas to stop by and visit. The average speed that you can maintain on this day is around 60-70 km/h.Note: It is highly recommended to halt at Hpa-An as the next day you will be entering Thailand & Mago till Tak, which is going to be a long ride. Especially when you have to cross a border that will take too much of your time due to legal formalities.Day 16: Hpa-An to Tak (Thailand)Distance: Approx 250 kmTime Required: 6-7 hoursHighlights: This day focuses on India to Thailand road trip. Remember that Thailand is a left-hand drive like India and Carnet de Passage is a must to enter Thailand with a motorbike or car. Make it possible to reach Thailand during weekdays as almost everything is shut down during weekends. Plan your ride according to these barriers so you don’t have to regret later.The feeling of crossing borders, visiting pagodas and riding on to various scenic & narrow routes and finally reaching from India to Thailand today is wholesome of mixed feelings that you will get. Bid farewell to your Escorts as they will leave you at the border and welcome the Thai Escort who will meet you right there. Myanmar and Thai border are connected with a Bridge which is simply nice to cross.thai-Myanmar-friendship-bridgeThailand is a left-hand drive country, so you will have to cross the lane here. Finish up with your Carnet and Immigration process to enter Thailand. The moment you enter Thailand you will feel a bit of relief as the roads are really good with 4 lanes. Totally clean, brilliant. You are sure to experience a blasting ride once you reach Thailand. The average speed of 70-80 km/h can be maintained well.Day 17: Tak to Bangkok (Thailand)Distance: Approx 440 kmTime Required: 6-7 hoursThis has to be in the list of your one of the best road trips. Tak to Bangkok by bike gives you the vibes like never before. Start your engine and pass through broad roads & beautiful views surrounding your way. A smooth and leisure ride is what you will experience here in Thailand. The average speed of 80-90 km/h can be easily maintained.Day 18: Day Off to ExploreFinally, you’ve made it from India to Bangkok (Thailand) by road. Today you are free to enjoy this busy beautiful city. Check out what this city has to offer to its tourist. Of course, you’ll be left with too many places to visit. Do taste the Bangkok street food, No doubt Mumbai’s street food is what you may be craving for, but Bangkok won’t let you down at all. With its flavourful sweet and spicy delights to offer and some amazing local cuisine to try out, you will be overfilled with happiness and satisfaction at the end of the day.India to Bangkok distance by road is around 5200 km. Look at these 4 digit numbers, they are sure to give you goosebumps, aren’t they? The India to Bangkok road trip journey may have taught you a lot of things till now. The further roads may teach you and show you more amazing things that you can take back with you as a lesson, memory or as experience.Day 19: Bangkok to Hua Hin (Thailand)Distance: Approx 200 kmTime Required: 3 hoursHit the pedal, accelerate and begin your next day journey to Hua Hin. Enjoy the countryside fresh air, take some pictures on the route and add some amazing memories that you will cherish life long. The roads from these routes are pretty nice and an average speed of around 80-90 km/h can be easily maintained.Day 20: Hua Hin to Phuket (Thailand)Distance: Approx 650 kmTime Required: 9-10 hoursThe ride from Hua Hin to Phuket is a comfortable one with roads being really nice to ride on. The average speed of about 70-80 km/h can be easily maintained this day. Enjoy the coastal road ride throughout the journey. It gives you really beautiful vibes with lots of nice beaches to stop by in between. Click some pictures on the beach, enjoy the weather, take a short break, inhale fresh air and continue riding till you reach Phuket.Phuket-coastal-beachDay 21: Take This Day Off to Explore PhuketPhuket has a lot to offer to the tourist, while you explore Phuket make sure you do a complete bike check at first place. Ensure that you don’t get stuck with any kind of bike issues for your next day ride. This exotic Island holds memorable things that you can do for the day. Do visit Phang Nga Bay that has emerald-green waters. Also, monasteries, Wat Chalong temple and other Islands & beaches are some of the places where you can relax and chill.Day 22: Phuket to Bukit Kayu Hitam ( Malaysia)Distance: Approx 500 kmTime Required: 7-8 hoursAlways dreamt of going Malaysia? Especially on your bike? Well yes! Today is the day when you will enter Malaysia and one of your biggest dreams will come true. Excited? So keep riding! As the roads are really very good, broad ones, you will have a glitch-free riding throughout. The journey is of around 8 hours from Phuket to Bukit Kayu Hitam (Malaysia) and will be covered without any complication. You will experience hassle free riding throughout the day and an average speed of 80-90 km/h can be easily maintained. Malaysia is a Left-hand Drive Country too like India.Day 23: Bukit Kayu Hitam to Kuala Lumpur ( Malaysia)Distance: Approx 380 kmTime Required: 5-6 hoursBukit Kayu Hitam is the main border town of the Malaysia-Thailand border. The roads throughout the journey will be amazing and an average speed of 80-90 km/h can be easily maintained on this day. This day you will be reaching Kuala Lumpur the capital of Malaysia renowned for its natural as well as man-made landmarks.Colourful-China-town-Kuala-LumpurOnce you reach Kuala Lumpur, take this day off. Don’t ride much and explore this multicultural place. You will never run short of tourist spots here. There are so many things that you can do and places where you can party, relax as well as chill. Kuala Lumpur offers rich architectural importance. The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are surely on the wish list of many. Colorful China town a paradise for the bargain hunter. Some caves, theme parks, monasteries, and amazing cuisine to end your day with.Day 24: Kuala Lumpur to SingaporeDistance: Approx 360 kmTime Required: 4-5 hoursWelcome-to-SingaporeToday is the day when you’ll reach the Final destination Singapore. Roads are way too nice for a rider to feel comfort in riding. An average speed of around 80-90 km/h can be easily maintained on this day too.Now I ask you to Compare your “India to Singapore by road” v/s “Flight from India to Singapore”. Is the whole feeling similar? Of course not! Altogether different vibes, feelings, happiness and a sense of achievement that you have made it to the final destination. Well, for a biker, the destination doesn’t really matter but the journey does. From crossing different countries, dealing with legal formalities to facing tough roads and exploring various places. Everything is just a feeling, for which words fall short to explain how mesmerizing the journey will be. But it will be worth it! This tour from India to Thailand via Myanmar further till Singapore will leave you astonished for sure, go ahead, plan out this trip so great that it comes under the list of your best international road trips.singaporeIndia to Singapore bike trip via Thailand & Myanmar dream journey will takes approx 25 days if you follow the above itinerary planned by BforBiker. The 25 days of the journey is a complete pack of adventure, excitement, fun, challenges and a lot of learning.Shipping The Bike:Before ending the journey, there is one last important thing to remember, the shipping part. You came all the way riding from India via Myanmar & Thailand to Singapore but while heading back you will have to ship your motorcycle from Singapore back to India. Contact Shipping companies who can import your motorcycle back to your country as it is very necessary. Follow appropriate import procedures, find out the estimated cost associated with shipping and plan accordingly. The cost of transporting the motorcycle differs based on the distance and the need to ensure safety with the transport. The best way to send your bike is via air.Estimated Cost And Time Required for your India to Myanmar | Thailand | Singapore Road Trip:NOTE: The Cost mentioned below may vary in response to different conditions. The Currency discussed in the article is INR.Here is a rough estimate of the cost associated with India to Thailand via Myanmar further till Singapore road trip:Visa: Applying for Online Visa application form for Myanmar. To know more about Visa costs, visit: Tourist Visa & Business VisaCarNet: Around 50k for Myanmar and Carnet de Passage (200% to 300% of your Vehicle value) as a Security for Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.Fuel: While considering a Royal Enfield Bike with the Average of 25 km/h – 35 km/h. Around 9000 km will be the approx total ride from India to Singapore via Myanmar & Thailand by road. So it will cost around 30k on the upper side and 25k on the lower side.Hotel: Assuming 2 people are sharing a single room. Average daily cost per person in a normal AC hotel: 2000 per day which for 25 days will be around 50k.Food: If we consider spending 1500 per day on food, it will be 37,500 for 25 days.Bike Maintenance: 3 servicing is suggested for this ride which can cost you around 3k per servicing, considering a Royal Enfield Bike. So the total of around 9k will be spent on bike servicing.Escort Vehicle in Myanmar: Approx 60k to 70k. This cost can be divided equally for all riders.Escort Vehicle in Thailand: Approx 120k to 140k. This cost can be divided equally for all riders.Shipping: Bike Transportation from Singapore to India cost approx 60k -70k. It’s highly advisable not to ride back as riding on the same road is never exciting 🙂Flight back to India: You flying back to India from Singapore: approx 20k for a direct flight to India.Total Cost: Around 190k – 200k excluding Carnet, Escort Vehicle, Visa and your flight back from Singapore to India.Carnet: 50k Flat for Myanmar and 200% to 300% Carnet de Passage of your Vehicle Value for Other Countries.Eg: Royal Enfield Classic 500cc: 2-year-old.Approx Cost: 125k after 2 yearCarnet de Passage will be in between 250k – 375kEscort Vehicle cost will depend on the number of riders in your group.Eg: If you are a group of 4 riders thenEscort Vehicle Cost for Myanmar per person: 70k/4 = 17.5kEscort Vehicle Cost for Thailand per person: 140k/4 = 35k.

Here are some tips that will be useful to budget and business travellers. Some of these tips are more DIY/backpackers, some others more business-oriented. Since I have been on both sides, I thought I'd straddle the fence... I'll keep adding as they come to mind (old age, you see...). In between I'll try to reorganize this answer by country/airport.Home: HKGInternet.Wherever there is a Cathay Pacific lounge, the WiFi password is cathay1234. Find the lounge, sit nearby and enjoy.Bonus Track. Generally speaking, passwords for the wifi network of airline lounges are usually posted in plain sight on the reception counter. If the airline you're flying with has a lounge, go there, present your boarding pass, and while the attendant is busy trying to find you, grab the password. It may be a small piece of paper, or a sign board. Accept gracefully that you are not allowed in, leave and start browsing.​​And because in Korea they always refuse to do things like the rest of the world, even when they receive directives from HQ, of course the network name and password are different at ICN.EDIT Cathay Incheon finally fell in line. Network name and password are the same now.Immigration.If you are a South Korean or Singaporean citizen (and, since recently, German & Australian), Hong Kong has a reciprocal eChannel agreement. Other visitors who might qualify can also access HK's eChannel. See e-Channel Services for Visitors.Power [not to the people, stoopid. The 220V kind].If you're not from the UK, HK, Singapore, chances are that you have the wrong kind of plug:​​Caveat emptor. But besides this little problem, this is one of the points where HKIA shines. According to Hong Kong International Airport, there are 1,300-odd charging points around the airport. And that's just the approved ones. Usually around seats in front of the boarding gates. Like this one:​​There are plenty more for the cleaning teams on the huge pillars that hold the structures together. Plus the advertising poles have free juice too:​​All you need is an adapter. If you travel a lot, an adapter is anyway required. Mine is a SKROSS - Travel Adapters, USB Chargers, Cables, BatteriesWorld Adapter EVO USB - -.Second Home: BKK/DMK (Bangkok)In Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK), King Power has a lounge. Invitations can be obtained from their hotel, Pullman King Power, if you stay there (plus it is a nice hotel).​​Also, staying at KP Pullman, at least on the executive floor, gets you a 500 THB voucher per night spent there. These can be redeemed at the downtown Duty-Free shop next door. I save these and use them in batches of 4,000-6,000 THB.​​Note that this voucher was valid until November 31, mwahaha. The new ones are blue.If you are a Gold member or equivalent of your airline of choice, when flying to Bangkok, ask a flight attendant for a Fast Track card, even if you are flying economy. She might say Oh I don't mind but immigration will reject you because you are not flying business. No ma'am, the access to this restricted immigration channel is for first, business class travellers, diplos, APEC card holders, and so-called elite status frequent flyers.Bonus track. When giving the immigration grouch your passport and immigration form, do not give this card, or even show it. Many times they won't ask for it. Keep it for when leaving Bangkok. Very useful, as departure security is a mess.​​Some countries you might visit after Thailand require an ID photo, like Laos. And finding a photo booth in Suvarnabhumi is a nightmare on its own. Here are the two best solutions.Airside, there are photo booths before immigration. They are atttached to the exchange bureaus. That's because Thailand immigration requires ID photos for their visa on arrival procedure (countries like China, India, etc). If you are planning to go to Laos, or apply for a Myanmar/Cambodia/Vietnam visa downtown, take two minutes to get some photos taken.Arrival lobby. There's, as far as I know, no photo booth anywhere. But. If you need photos urgently, go to the (tourist) police station, I think near gate 4, they charge 200 baht, the gun-carrying bandits, for four crappy ID photos. Keep in mind that Laos will charge you 1 USD extra if you don't have a photo. That's 36 baht. If you're on a budget, just pay the extra buck at the Lao immigration point.​A photo booth attached to an exchange bureau.If you are flying to Koh Samui on a budget, do not fly Bangkok Airways. They have a quasi monopoly on this route (they own the airport), and thus charge whatever they want, which is plenty. Fly AirAsia to Surat Thani, with a ferry transfer to Samui. Conversely, if you are in a hurry, do not fly AirAsia to Surat, it takes half a day, as opposed to 45mn with BA.In Suvarnabhumi, there are plenty of lie-flat seats on level 3 (one level down from the main shopping area), but you'll have to roam about to find them (it's a frigging huge airport) and snag one that's empty.Luggage lockers: I never had the need, except maybe once, for a 24-hour trip to Udon, but considering the mess the arrival hall is, I suspect there aren't any. What I did instead was leave the excess luggage at my Bangkok hotel, and I picked that up when I came back. I had a few hours transit time.What I could have done though is leave my excess luggage at Phaya Thai station. Near the AirportRail station, at the interconnection with the BTS, there's a bunch of lockers.Wifi: There’s a bunch of networks, but some require registration/identification. Here’s what you can do.If you’re near the Thai Airways lounge, here’s the password.If you find yourself near a King Power shop (including downtown), they usually have a strong network. Here’s the password.If you’re near the Cathay lounge, you know what to do.Well I found some for you, and with an Internet corner as a bonus. They're on concourse G, Just before gate G1, a little further down from the Cathay Pacific Lounge. Here's what they look like:​​​Pretty good spot too.If you need to repack / pack better something fragile while at DMK (Don Mueang "International Joke of an" Airport), the best and cheapest solution is the post office, near AirAsia's check-in counters. You buy a box bigger than your stuff, and the employee will very kindly pack it in bubble-wrap for you. All this for a couple USD... I had a bottle of wine to check in, it was packed in a box, and the counter girl looked at it, shook her head, and told me to repack it better. Post office did the trick.Wifi: I don’t remember using wifi in Don Mueang, except near the King Power shops, airside, in the international departure area. As mentioned below, I have a good SIM card, which provides plenty of data for little money. Unless I need speed for a big download, or Starcraft 2, my AIS SIM card is usually enough.​​Piece of crap airport. I don't understand how it could go to seed like that.While at Koh Samui airport, if you are departing from a non-A/C lounge (there's only one A/C lounge), go to the duty-free shop. Browse around, then walk further down. There's the A/C lounge...​​Nice boarding lounges, but when it's really hot or raining...​Do like the gentleman there, walk over to the DF shop. The A/C lounge is right behind.​​If you do fly Bangkok Airways (fly, fly fly with me....) make sure you get the AIS free SIM card voucher. It comes preloaded with a little credit. Redeem it at the AIS shop in Central Festival Chaweng (if in Samui) or at Suvarnabhumi airport. Then get a recharge for 300 THB (at AIS or 7/11) and dial *777*702#. You'll get 1.5 GB data valid 10 days. Enjoy, kap.A point of note. Extension of the validity is based (stupidly, if you ask me) on the occurence of a recharge, not its value. An AIS employee told me once, while I wanted to put in 500 THB, to do it at the machine, 20 baht by 20 baht. Every time you do a recharge, you add one month of validity, regardless of the amount. So from then on, I did… Every time I get some 20-baht bills, I set them aside for a recharge session. I think my card, as of August 2018, is valid until January 2020 or something…Sidebar, GuvnorOn the subject of adult beverages, one of my favorite subjects, import taxes on foreign booze in Thailand reach 500% now, and getting hammered is either expensive, or even more detrimental to health (local rotgut like Sang Som, Mekhong et altri are really bad for you. Do not touch that stuff!). If you're going to USM to party (c'mon, don't be shy, you don't go to Samui to visit temples, although there are a few nice ones), load up on booze at the arrival duty-free shop, which is just behind the immigration counters, before luggage pickup. Grab first your luggage and go back to the DF shop. Take your time. Buy everything you'll need. Put it back in your luggage. Customs are way too lazy to check luggage. Walk out. You'll thank me later.​​The arrival shop; if you're shocked by the prices, wait until you see what duty-paid prices look like...Former Home: SELAt Incheon airport (ICN), if you arrive at/leave from the remote terminal, stupidly baptised "concourse", when boarding the train, stay on the side of the train where you boarded: the doors at arrival open on that side too. And the trains are full, which means bottlenecks at the escalators. Then delays upstairs when you have three immigration counters for 300+ foreigners ahead of you.​That's the kind of bottlenecks I'm talking about. Two planes' worth of fuhreenahs clogging the pipes. That day it took me 45 minutes to get my passport stamped...EDIT [2018/7/9]: ICN has opened early 2018 a swanky new terminal, T2, which houses SkyTeam™ airlines (KAL, AF, KLM, Delta). The airport line has been extended to reach T2. Shuttles and airport buses serve this terminal too. Note that while physically T1 and T2 are not far, the shuttle trip takes a long time, 15–20 minutes, as it has to go a long way around the airport compound.I’ve visited T2 twice, on a temporary pass, to have a look at the duty-free shops. I haven’t used the facilities as a traveler so can’t comment yet. The terminal did feel a little empty, as it hasn’t reached full capacity yet.T1, main terminal and the “concourse” (grrrr) have been rearranged, with Asiana taking over the east side, previously occupied by Korean Air (it feels a little like a kid sitting shotgun after his big brother left), and Cathay moving to the main terminal.As mentioned https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-airport-tips/answer/Didier-Szende/comment/22893577 by Josephine Stefani (陳圻), HK Passport holders can register for the automated clearance in Incheon. And Koreans can register for eChannel in HKG, for course. A few other countries have passed since mutual agreements, like Germany and the US.Again, if you are at the "concourse" (grrrr), there are very nice easy chairs where you can lie down, between the Cathay Pacific and Asiana business lounges.​​​If you need to recharge your mobile device, here's where ICN really shines. In the arrival hall, the huge pillars supporting the structure not only have electrical outlets, they even warn you it's 220 volt, and if you need 110 volt, go ask the information counter. There's a pillar, and thus 2 electrical plugs, every 10 meters or so.​Nuff said?Do not ever ever ever ever take taxis at ICN or GMP, unless you speak fluent Korean, and are aware of the many tricks[*] these subhumans will use to cheat you out of your money. While taxis downtown are mostly honest, at least crooks of an acceptable level, their airport cousins are the worst scum of the Earth. If the last man on Earth was a Seoul airport taxi driver, he'd still try to scam other living creatures. They're that bad.[*] These include, but are definitely not limited to:Turning the meter on when they arrive in the taxi queue. I’ve seen meters that seemed to have been on for 10–15 minutes before I boarded. I rectified that situation promptly.Turning the meter on “night shift” during the day. It’s more expensive. This can be combined, of course, with the previous trick.Demanding a fixed (and egregious) amount; and/or, if taking a taxi in Seoul to go to the airport, that the client pays the return trip airport-Seoul.A universal trick, not limited to Korea indeed: taking the unwitting passenger to a trip around the city. Considering that the city is about 75 km wide, there’s a lot of potential right here.Inventing any kind of surcharge, just because.There are many "limousine" buses that serve ICN, including the KAL Limousine lines, which mostly serve international hotels. GMP is now served well by the subway, and you should use that.​​​On the other hand, the train that serves ICN is a joke, and a very good example of government corruption. It was supposed to be a high-speed train (based on the Korean version of the TGV, the so-called KTX), and was used during Korea's application to the World Cup[1]. Needless to say the train line was never intended to be a KTX, was finished years after the World Cup, and is a slow train with many stops in the middle of nowhere. Useless...​KTX vs AREX. Not quite the same...​​[1] I was one of the many translators who translated Korea's (successful) application to the World Cup from Korean to French and English, and I happen to have translated this very paragraph.Alice in Wonderland: TYOUnless you absolutely absolutely have to, do not fly into Narita (NRT). Haneda (HND) has now [again] flights to many international destinations[2]. It is a 20-minute train ride away from downtown (way faster and cheaper than Narita Express), with faster immigration and customs (enjoy while it lasts) and nice connections to domestic flights, if you are flying somewhere else.​’nuff said?[2] A quick look at フライト検索 | 羽田空港国際線旅客ターミナル Haneda flight information shows [with a quick helping of Javascript] that it has the following daily flights:Bangkok: 2 [I Suppose BKK], Beijing: 4, Doha: 1, Dubai: 1, Frankfurt: 1, Guangzhou: 1, Hanoi: 1, Ho Chi Minh City: 1, Hong Kong: 2, Jakarta: 2, Kuala Lumpur [I suppose KUL]: 1, London (LHR): 1, Manila: 2, Munich: 2, Paris (CDG): 1, San Francisco: 2, Seoul (GMP): 7, Seoul (ICN): 1, Shanghai (PVG): 2, Shanghai (SHA): 3, Singapore: 6, Sydney: 1, Taipei (TPE): 1, Taipei (TSA): 3.Note that for some cities with 2+ airports, the airport is not specified (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur). 8 flights a day to Seoul, 7 of which to GMP. You have no reason to fly NRT<->ICN: who wants to ride public transportation for 100+ kilometers when you can cut that distance by half?On the subject of Japan and mobile phones/SIM cards, you can get online a (data) SIM card from b-mobile VISITOR SIM | b-mobile wireless internet, shipped to Haneda's post office, where you can pick it up and start browsing while on the train. Speed is so fast that you can use it to make good voice calls, either with Skype out, or your favorite chat app's voice call function (Line, Kakao Talk, Whatsapp, etc).​​If you live in HK, or drop by HK before going to Japan, you can get a China Unicom SIM card for Japan (or Taiwan, or Korea).SIM Cards for AsiaDo not buy alcohol in Japanese duty free shops. The prices are higher than liquor stores downtown. There are a few places where alcohol is cheaper in duty-free shops, but Japan is not one of them. Hong Kong and Seoul may be cheaper (although with the recent changes at Incheon, the new contracts and hikes in rents and profit-sharing, and thus in margin % for the operators, the prices are going up up up).Another sidebar, GuvnorSpeaking of booze and Japan, places like Sokuhai are the cheapest around. The places are smallish, and are packed with the most common and not so common stuff.​This one's my "local", in Ginza.See お酒のソクハイ, their website.​Cramped shelves...Another option is Liquors Hasegawa, リカーズハセガワ本店 JR東京駅八重洲地下街, in the Tokyo station underground maze.​​There are actually two Liquors Hasegawa shops there. One that’s near the entrance, and is nothing more than a corridor-sized space crammed with spirits.And a much larger shop at the rear of the underground mall.​​The capital city of a country that's a not country: TPELikewise in Taiwan, if you're flying within Asia, Songshan airport has international flights. Songshan is in Taipei city, not an hour's drive out. And again, it has domestic connections. Last time I went to Taipei, I flew Haneda-Songshan. I was checking in at my hotel within 30 minutes of my arrival.​Easy choice...If you have to land in TPE, forget taxis. Take the airport subway. Cheaper and faster than a taxi.JKT, aka CGKIf you are flying into Jakarta, try to split your flight into two: your place to Singapore with whatever airline you want, and Singapore-Jakarta with Garuda. The reason is that most foreigners need[ed] (see below) to queue twice: once to buy a visa, and once to get through immigration. On a foreign airline, you have 300+ foreigners. All queuing twice. On Garuda, you have 3. The rest are Indos who use a different line. When flying Cathay, Hong Kong to Jakarta, it took me 2 hours. When flying (numerous times) Garuda from Singapore, about 5 minutes. Remember that after immigration you still have a 2-hour taxi ride into town.Lately I have little business in Singapore, alas, and more in KL. And it just so happens that Malaysian airlines is doing its utmost to attract customers. A triangle HKG-CGK (via KUL, of course)-KUL-HKG [hence 4 four flights but with a stop in KL on the way back] costs in Economy about half of HKG<>KUL on Cathay. And in Business Class, it costs about a fraction above HKG<>CGK. You have to play your cards right, and try different flights and dates, but it works out quite nicely.Indonesia has suspended in 2016 I think the buy-a-visa process for many countries, hoping to foster tourism. So now you only have to queue once, at the same counters. But if you arrive very early or very late — a few months ago I arrived at 4 am, which I don’t recommend — you have to go all the way down, to the local immigration counters. Which have fortunately segregated counters for foreigners. However, if the Immigration officer asks you the purpose of your visit, state HOLIDAY, or VACATION, or anything but BUSINESS. The visa exemption, see below, is TOURISM PURPOSE ONLY.​​The new visa stamp. No money, no sticker. Weeeeeeeeeeee.Bonus track. If you are an elite member of SkyTeam, whatever airline, after immigration go to the small Garuda arrival lounge, hand over your luggage tag, go inside and have a drink. A Garuda employee will grab your bag for you. [EDIT: that lounge, as of August 2016, has been taken over by Customs. Ouchies.]Taxi!So. Once you’ve arrived at Soekarno Hatta, you’re not quite there yet. The airport is far, and distances in Jakarta are not calculated in kilometers, but in hours. The airport is about 30 km from Monumen Selamat Datang (Grand Indonesia, Plaza Indonesia shopping malls, Grand Hyatt, Kempinski, Pullman, Mandarin hotels). Depending on the day and the time of day, it can take 35 mn (my record so far) to 3 hours (my other record). Arriving on a Friday evening is asking for trouble. Monday morning 8 am, airport to city, nightmare. City to airport? Super fast. Last week, it took my taxi 40 mn…Next, do not book one of the limousine/taxis right after Customs. And do not change money at the money changers right across from them. After Immigration, and before luggage pickup and Customs, withdraw some money from one of the ATMs. You’ll get a better rate from your bank card than the money changers. Then, armed with cash, leave the airport terminal, and look for the Blue Bird taxi stand.Do not take any other taxi than Blue Bird if you value your wallet and the sanctity of your various orifices. The taxi attendants (the guys loafing around at the stands, supposedly there to help you, but in reality to fleece you, have this nasty habit to offer a flat rate, making it sound like it’s compulsory. Last time, they were all asking for 400,000 rupiah for a ride downtown. Maaf ya, asshole, I may be just a hapless-looking bule, but I know how much a ride costs. Even the Korean family behind me smelled a rat. They couldn’t speak English, so they just said nonono and left.That’s the meter just before arriving at my hotel. Add 16,000 rupiah for the tolls.When leaving Jakarta, you can get free WiFi. Except that the SHIA network never worked for me. The Pura Indah Lounge, near the entrance to D1-D7, has a reasonably strong one. [EDIT: last time in late 2016 it worked…]Near gate D3 I found an open network, SuperWiFi-WEB. It held all the way to the plane, which was a nice surprise.Shopping.Indonesia’s Independence day is August 17. Please write it down if you’re into Duty-Free shopping. Lotte DF was offering 17% discount (not a coincidence), on top of which some brands offered an extra discount ranging from 10% to 30%. Lotte DF’s prices in CGK are so-so, but with the 17%+ discount, some of the products I checked out were REALLY worth buying. The rest of the time, well, they’re usually more expensive than KLIA, HKG or ICN.KLIA.I have been coming more to Kuala Lumpur lately, and this airport has a few points in common with Jakarta and Singapore. Yeah, both of them…Like CGK, the airport is very far. As in 1 to 3 hours to downtown by taxi, depending on the weather and traffic. Jakarta is slightly worse, but damn, if you take a taxi at the wrong hour, you’re in for a long crawl in KL too. I usually take a limousine taxi just before exiting into the arrival hall, 76 ringgit. To give you a point of comparison, meter taxi, same timing, same distance, 120+.On the other hand, there is a train that goes to KL Sentral, the train station. Of course once you’re there you still need to find a taxi to your hotel/home, but you’ve made better time than with a cab.Like Singapore, security is casual at the entrance, and thorough at the boarding lounges. This is probably costlier for the airport, but ensures everybody passes through good security controls. And like in Singapore, people arriving in KL and leaving KL cross each other in the corridors of the terminals. Not the best design, but hey, whatever works.The terminals are interconnected by a train, like in Singapore. Depending on where you’re going/coming from you might have to take the train. Budget a little time for this.Like in Jakarta, the number of places where you can sit down if you don’t have access to a lounge is limited. They’re usually upstairs. Wifi works well, though, and unlike Singapore, you don’t need a phone number.Cathay Pacific and Malaysian Airlines have great lounges. Not sure about others.Shopping.The duty free shops are run by Eraman. The selection is okay — there’s actually LOTS of alcohol, for a Muslim country that taxes alcohol and tobacco with a sin tax. Plenty of chocolates too. The prices are usually not bad.SingaporeIf you are from Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Malaysia, or the PRC), Singapore has a reciprocal eIACS agreement allowing a faster immigration clearance using the automated gates (conditions apply). Besides, almost all long-term pass holders, permanent residents, and Singapore citizens are also eligible for the eIACS. See here for more details: enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System.Upon departure or arrival, proceed to the automated immigration gates simply scan your passport, enter into the gate, scan your thumbprint, get out of the gate, have your boarding pass checked (for departure), and you’re all set.Terima kasih to Eric Valega Prawirodidjojo for his contributionFukuokaOf all places, why FUK [Yeah, I know, I couldn’t resist mentioning its IATA code]? Because I can!InternetThe airport has a strong network throughout the airport, fukuoka-ap_Free-Wi-Fi. So strong that even the “Fukuoka Lounge” (used by many airlines) doesn’t have a separate network. Funny enough it requires a login through Google/FB/etc for mobiles but not for laptops.Connection to the cityFUK is not very far from downtown, but Japan prices being what they are, avoid taxis. Fukuoka has a nice subway and bus system, but the International Terminal is kind of isolated, like Haneda ten years back. You have to get to the Domestic terminal in order to catch the subway. Get out at Gate 4 and turn left.See the blue bus through the window? That’s the one!That’s the bus stop. The bus will take you all the way around the airport:Remember to board the bus at the rear — and exit at the front. That’s how they do it there.Get off the bus and walk straight. You’ll arrive at the Subway entrance/exit 1A — remember that number when you retrace your steps.The subway network in Fukuoka is not exactly terrifying — like it can be in Tokyo. They have a stored value card — Nimoca — but Suica, Pasmo and friends work too.Shopping.Nothing to buy there really. As far as I can see, the prices at the Duty-Free shops are more expensive than downtown, and the product mix targets a very specific clientele: Korean and Chinese females. And most larger shops downtown offer tax-free discounts.There are only a couple of shops selling basic food items and drinks. Do not go to the airport hungry — there’s only so much soft ice-cream you can eat (one of the shops serves udon and ramen, of dubious quality). Although the 510 Yen ice-cream was criminally good.

Who do you turn to for some of the best information about international education? There are thousands of people posting stories, opinions, and interviews on this topic. I spend a lot of time searching for sources I can trust and Karin Fisher has earned her spot. Her stories for The Chronicle of Higher Education have educated me about many issues and topics I knew little about. Perhaps more importantly, she taught me to question and rethink some of my views on issues that I often address here and in conversations with many people around the globe. I think anyone who reads her interview, no matter if she is a university president or someone just starting out in the field, will come away well informed and better prepared to approach some of the thorniest issues in education.*********************************************************************I always ask my interviewees to talk a bit about their own path through education. You attended Smith and then went out into the journalistic world. Did your interest in journalism start prior to Smith? How did Smith prepare you for the real world of journalism?I had a classic liberal-arts education – I studied government, basically political philosophy. I think there’s real-world value in that kind of education. It helped me hone skills in writing, argumentation, analysis, the synthesis a lot of complex information – what I do day in and day out as a journalist. But I also was editor of Smith’s newspaper and had a number of jobs and internships at papers and magazines throughout college. I knew when I came to college that I either would be a reporter or a doctor. To my mother’s disappointment, I chose the former.A lot of students don’t look closely enough at women’s colleges. Why should they? Did you have a mentor there? Smith has certainly increased its percentage of international students somewhat recently. Were there international students you got to know and did this help spur your interest in this area?While international enrollments at women’s colleges have certainly soared in recent years, there actually were quite a few students from abroad at Smith during my time there, and I got to know and become friends with a number of them. It would be disingenuous of me to pretend that meeting those students set me on my current career path, but I’ve always been incredibly interested in learning about, studying in, and exploring other cultures, which dates back to my time at Smith.I think conventional wisdom is that women’s colleges appeal to students and parents from more conservative cultures, but I’d argue that one of their real strengths is their size. Smith has just 2,500 students, about 330 from overseas. That means the international-student office can get to know each and every foreign student. They’re also focused on the challenges particular to undergraduates. Not all students need this, but the environment may benefit those who do.While you have worked at a number of places prior to The Chronicle I would like to focus on your position there since what you do ties directly to many of the issues I write about here. Can you give an overview of what you cover and how you decide which things to cover since international education in all its forms is a nearly overwhelming large landscape?The international beat encompasses all aspects of global higher education, including study abroad, the internationalization of American college campuses, U.S. programs and campuses abroad, and the business of international education. I also write about developments in education overseas that would be interesting to a largely American audience. In practice, however, the topic that I devote more time to than any other is global student mobility. Foreign students are frequently the most visible aspect of internationalization – and today they mean so very much to colleges’ bottom line.In terms of story choice, there’s certainly no science to it. One guiding principle is that the piece should be broadly interesting to people across higher education, not just those directly engaged in, say, international admissions. My goal always is to write something that a college president will put down and call up the head of the international office to say, “Did you see this article? What are we doing about this issue?”Are there particular media, educational organizations and other sources that you most often turn to find out about what stories are most pressing and current?I keep an eye on publications both here in the U.S. and in key countries, like China and India, and am also in regular contact with associations that advocate for and study international education, like NAFSA and the Institute of International Education. I follow listserves, am active on Twitter, etc. There’s also a small but growing group of researchers at universities around the world doing work in this field, and I love to geek out and discuss their findings. In general, though, my most valuable sources are those on the ground, doing the work. I talk to people constantly, whether at conferences or a quick note or phone call to check in. That helps me spot trends. I have a story list a mile long.If you had to pick 3 or 4 stories that you are proudest of could you list them and talk briefly about why you think they are important? (If you could give links that would be great too.)The piece I’m proudest of is a feature about the freshman year of three Chinese students at Michigan State University. I followed the students through their entire first year – I went to East Lansing eight times, for about a week at a time – and wrote about the experience through their eyes. What I was really trying to do was to portray them as people, not as part of some big, faceless trend.I also feel good about an investigation we did of sham universities in the U.S. that operate as visa mills; it was, in many ways, an expose of the loopholes in the American visa system. The other article I’d mention is one of the first pieces to seriously look at admissions fraud in China. I’ve lost count of the number of conference sessions I’ve seen named after the piece, which – I hope – means it had some impact. (Some of these pieces are behind a paywall, unfortunately, but email me and I can send a temporary link.)Since you have been covering the international landscape there have been a number of dramatic changes. What are a few that you think readers should be paying attention to now?It feels like for the past several years the debate over ethics in international recruitment, particularly about whether to pay agents, has sucked up much of the oxygen. I don’t want to say the issue’s 100-percent reconciled, but I feel like we’re finally at a place where the focus is shifting to what happens once foreign students actually get to campus and how to best serve them. That will need to be a campus conversation, not just something for the international office to grapple with. Some institutions may end up taking a hard look at the numbers and make-up of their international-student population and sort of right-size. And I think some colleges will ask whether it makes sense for them to recruit abroad. I think we’ve taken for granted that all institutions ought to, but is it?I also hope we’ll see more serious discussion about what it really means to be a global institution, beyond just recruiting foreign students. Half the colleges in America include international education in their mission statement. But having a few students from overseas or international night in the dining hall doesn’t make an institution global. If colleges really believe in this mission, what are they doing about it?One of the changes that you and I have talked about has been the huge increase in the number of international students coming to the US (and other places too) from China. You have covered one university’s Chinese student population that topped 1000 entering freshmen last year alone. In talking with some of these students did you come away with some impressions about how well they are doing academically and socially that did not make it into your story? Do you think some of the reports about by non-Chinese students making thoughtless or downright racist or xenophobic comments is on the upsurge now that there are so many of these students on campuses in the US? If so, do you think most schools take these racial incidents as seriously as they should? Do you have any plans to follow up with any of the students you interviewed for your story about the large increase in Chinese students?This question gets at the heart of one of the biggest international-education challenges. I fear that the surge in international applicants – particularly from China and particularly at the undergraduate level – happened before many colleges were able to truly think through how best to serve these students. Growth like that inevitably has consequences, not always intended or anticipated. For example, 1 in 5 foreign students study business, according to Open Doors. Are business professors prepared to teach students with a wholly different educational background? Do business schools even have the seats? Or, to address your example, what are colleges doing to integrate international and domestic students? A lack of cultural awareness doesn’t just fix itself.I think it can be easy to see issues related to students from abroad as the international office’s problem. But it can’t be, nor can the solution simply be more programming for international students. The good news is that colleges already have much of the expertise on hand to tackle some of these issues, they just have to make the connections and tap them. For instance, multicultural affairs offices have the experience and knowledge to deal with racial tensions.Yes, I’ve stayed in touch with some of the students I met in reporting (at Michigan State). The adjustment hasn’t always been easy, but they’re doing well.Recently you wrote a story that demonstrated that the number of applications from Korea, once the top feeder of international undergraduates prior to the rise of China, has dropped. You also write about how the number of graduate applications has dropped too. Are you hearing more about this now and do you think this signals a shift that colleges and universities need to pay attention to in the short and long term?I wasn’t trying to argue that today’s top-sending countries, China especially, are necessarily destined to follow Korea’s path. Still, in the midst of such outsized growth, it can be easy to believe that the China boom we’re in will continue forever. Markets mature. In Korea, the number of college-aged students leveled off and an improving educational system at home meant that families no longer needed to send their sons and daughters abroad. Some of that could happen in China, too. American colleges can’t control demographics or a foreign country’s investment in higher ed. But they can do a lot to shape the experience – academically, culturally, socially – that students have when they come to study here. Some actions may seem small, like adding menu items in the cafeteria that appeal to foreign students’ palates. Other stuff is more major, like providing the right academic support or programs to help students adjust to American life. When they graduate, is the career office prepared to give advice about job-seeking in other countries? All of that contributes to the student experience and can influence future trendlines.In talking with international students (mostly from China) recently I have heard more and more that parents are letting their children pick majors and areas of study that were once pretty much off limits. The idea of a liberal arts education, or developing communication and soft skills and becoming a global citizen seems to a part of some of what is getting emphasized at the key high schools at least. Are you hearing this too?I did a piece a couple of years ago looking at how universities and high schools in Asia were adopting some form of the liberal arts. In Hong Kong, for example, the government mandated adding more general education; the change was fueled by dissatisfaction from the business community, which complained graduates were ill-prepared for the global workplace. I’d be hesitant, though, to say there’s sweeping change. Many of these curricular changes are, as you note, at key high schools or university honors colleges. For the vast majority of parents, the focus is still on getting the degree that will lead to a secure job. Which isn’t so different than in the U.S., if you think about it.Do you think that the number of schools that depend on full paying international students to help keep afloat or at least help provide more resources for other students is growing significantly?It may be overstating things to say that international students singlehandedly kept colleges afloat, but I don’t think it’s coincidence that the big growth in full-pay undergraduates happened during the fiscal downturn. Going forward, I think it’s fair to say that international tuition dollars are now an accepted part of the financing model, at least for certain types of institutions, such as public universities with little state subsidy or small privates that can build a niche abroad.NACAC has given the green light for paid agents to help recruit international student to US schools. This was at times a bitterly contested issue. Now that it is in place do you think that the schools that use them will be in any way shunned by those that are very much against them? How worried should people be that agents will do things they shouldn’t to help attract students to schools? I guess what I am asking is whether you think the reputation of agents as unscrupulous, while not completely untrue, is perhaps a bit overblown? Or could the opposite be true?Again, perhaps I’ll be proven wrong, but my sense is that we’re at a “agree to disagree” stage. Everyone’s pretty much made up their minds about where they stand. One of the positives of the debate, as bitter as it got at times, was that it prompted colleges to scrutinize both what was going on in these overseas markets as well as their own practices. At the same time, I’m not entirely convinced it was the right debate. People can come to the conclusion that commission-based agents are a problem, but they’re certainly not the whole problem. Even if those who opposed agents had gotten their way and the National Association for College Admission Counseling had effectively banned colleges from paying commissions, there still would be fraud and shady stuff going on in international admissions. I hear about it constantly. In some ways, it’s easier to focus on agents, because the colleges who pay them have leverage to influence their behavior. Getting rid of fraud, that’s tougher.Do you have any opinions about whether branch campuses and agreements with educational foundations in other countries will continue to grow significantly or have some of the recent issues (at NYU, Yale, and Wellesley for example) might cause a slow down the effort to globalize education.Ninety-nine percent of colleges will never have an overseas branch campus. Most won’t ever offer a degree or a program abroad. The debates at places like Wellesley and Yale are important ones – colleges should be talking about academic freedom and values when they go abroad – but they won’t fundamentally affect the globalization of American higher education as a whole. Frankly, what I’m more concerned about is what happens at all those other institutions. We know most students won’t study abroad; there may be international students on their campuses, but will they befriend or meet them? How do colleges ensure all students get a meaningful global experience? Are we at risk of creating a generation of global haves and have nots?Do you have any view you want to share about whether you think on-line education and MOOCs in particular (or the Chinese version of MOOCs) will have serious implications for international education and enrollment in the near and long term?I think the jury’s out long term. In the short term, I don’t think they have much impact. International students are coming to the United States because they want a credential, a degree. At the moment, MOOCs don’t offer that.Are there places around the world that are going to play an increasingly important role for colleges in the US?Ah, if I had a crystal ball… Right now, much of the attention, whether for recruiting or overseas partnerships, goes to the obvious players, like China and India. Still, more colleges are turning to places like Brazil, Indonesia, even Myanmar. But nurturing those relationships is an investment, and the returns aren’t realized overnight.What do you like most about your job? Least?Being a reporter gives me entre into worlds I’d never get to know otherwise. I’m incredibly curious about people, places, cultures, and my job feeds that. Like all reporters, I hate deadlines. I’m a procrastinator.Has there been a story or two that got to you emotionally or are you allowed to even talk about this?The story I mentioned about Chinese students did. I spent hours and hours with these young men and women, and I got to know so much about their lives and their struggles and their hopes. I never forgot that I was a reporter, but at the same time, it’s hard to detach.If a student or anyone else asked you what they would have to do to follow your path what advice would you give?Much of how my career unfolded was serendipity. I fell into writing about international education, but I’m lucky I did. I have a lot of passion for the subject.For a reporter, I think it’s important to do. You have to write, you have to get out there and ask people uncomfortable questions, and you have to do it again and again. It’s like exercising a muscle. But I’d argue that the single most important skill is shutting up. There are so many great stories out there, if you take the time to listen.Are you really the best-dressed person among those involved in international education?Well, I probably do have more shoes than most people in the field.Karin’s words should inspire others who wish to pursue a passion for informing others. She, like some others I know, sort of wandered in to the field of international education. (I count myself as one of them.). She, like me, has been changed by the experience. Both of us have discovered that talking with students who have the courage and desire to pursue education in another country is one of the more rewarding things in our professional lives. We also agree on many of the issues that need to be addressed by schools in the US if they are to succeed in preparing these students for future success.The huge influx of international students to the US, at the undergraduate level, is a relatively new phenomenon. I believe the schools need to do more to provide support, training, and orientation for them. If they don’t then I think they face losing these students in the near or long term.I am grateful to Karin for sharing so many great insights about international education and her experience working as a journalist. The Chronicle is lucky to have such a talent dedicated to informing us about many important issues.If anyone is wondering about my last question, I asked it because another expert in the field of international education, Clay Hensley, of The College Board, posted a remark saying she was the best-dressed person in international education and I just wanted to confirm this with the source herself.Karin Fischer