Curious Travels

Flights and Visas

The day of my departure to Tokyo, Japan is quickly approaching, and over the past month, I’ve been preparing myself for a longer journey across Asia. Unlike a short vacation, long-term travel takes a lot more planning — not just booking flights and packing bags, but making sure everything is in place for months to years on the road. From sorting out visas and getting the right vaccinations to deciding what to pack, these early steps set the foundation for the adventures ahead.

The first step in getting ready for my long trip through Asia has been figuring out the visa situation. Before anything else, I made a list of the countries I plan to visit: Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

Once I had the list, I compared the visa requirements for Canadians. Most of these countries are surprisingly easy — Canadians can either enter visa-free or get a visa on arrival for short stays. The only country that stands out with a more involved process is China, which requires a pre-approved visa for tourism.

So, that’s where I started. I’ve been gathering the necessary documents — things like my travel itinerary, flight details, proof of accommodation, and photos — all part of the checklist for the Chinese visa application. It feels good to begin with something concrete, and sorting out the visas is giving me a clearer picture of how my route will unfold.

Health Preparations and Immunizations

The next stage of preparation involved several visits to the doctor and immunization clinics. Having traveled through parts of Asia before, I’m already aware of some of the illnesses present in the region. For long-term journeys like the one I’m about to embark on — especially since I plan to spend time in rural provinces and countryside areas — getting properly immunized is an important step.

The Government of Canada’s travel advisory website provides a detailed list of diseases and health risks for each country. I highly recommend going through this list for every destination and assessing your personal risk. Another great option is visiting a travel immunization clinic, where you can speak directly with a healthcare professional about recommended vaccines.

The consultation fees are usually under 100 CAD, and in my experience, they’re well worth it for peace of mind and proper guidance. Since I had already visited an immunization clinic before my earlier trip to the Philippines, I was mostly up to date. This time, in preparation for this longer journey, I visited my family doctor and asked for a prescription for a food poisoning vaccine to round out my protection.

Food poisoning is often taken lightly, but it shouldn’t be. During my time in the rural mountain provinces of the Philippines, I experienced a severe case that left me in and out of consciousness for a couple of days. The culprit was an improperly prepared etag sandwich — etag being a traditional salt-cured and air-dried pork from the Cordillera mountain region. It was a harsh reminder that authentic local foods can pose real risks if not handled properly. That experience made me more cautious and more prepared for future travels.

Packing Light for Freedom

When it comes to packing, I’m a firm believer in keeping things as light as possible. For this trip, I’m bringing just one hiking backpack and one gym bag — the same setup I used while traveling across Vietnam. I generally keep the gym bag at the hostel I’m staying in and use the hiking backpack as a day pack for whatever adventure I get up to. I find this system works out nicely — it keeps me organized and ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Many first-time travelers feel anxious about forgetting something, but over time I’ve learned that almost everything you could ever need can be bought anywhere in the world. There’s no need to overpack for “what if” situations. Traveling light gives you the freedom to move — no heavy suitcases to drag through train stations or hoist onto buses.

I also recommend packing several extra medium-sized plastic bags. These become surprisingly handy for rotating clothes between a clean bag and a dirty bag. Every traveler has to manage their laundry at some point, and keeping dirty clothes sealed away from clean ones makes life on the road much easier (and cleaner).

In Asia, especially, packing light opens up even more possibilities. Being able to fit everything onto a motorcycle changes the entire travel experience. You can explore remote areas, hop on local buses without worry, and travel with a kind of freedom that just isn’t possible when weighed down by luggage.

Wrapping Up

The preparation phase before long-term travel is quite involved, with many moving parts to think about — flights, visas, health precautions, and packing. I’ll spend the next blog post diving deeper into the essential list of items I pack, partly because I’m still in the middle of it myself. Right now, my backpack is laid out on the floor, and every time I think of something useful, I just drop it into the bag. A few days before my departure, I’ll go through everything carefully, make adjustments, and add the final items.

I’ll also dedicate another post entirely to budgeting and financial preparation, since that’s another big part of getting ready — and one I’m still working through.

The journey hasn’t even begun yet, but already, the excitement is building.