Accom.

Fellow travellers have asked where I was staying …. hence here is a list with a brief comment on each, especially if recommended.  I tried to get this to be below the Itinerary page but there is a glitch in wordpress template so as of Chiang Rai it is out in the open ….

JAPAN

1. Tokyo – Ace Inn Shinjuku; Capsule type hostel, well run, good value, not very sociable but everything works well.  You have to deal with Shinjuku station rather often but hey so do 2 million people a day.  Was here at the beginning and end of this leg.
2. Kyoto – A-yado Gion; Traditional Hostel, close to the Temples but also in the red light district, but its all very safe and orderly, nothing to worry about.  Book early as lots of people like the place.  Very helpful staff. Cheap.
3. Hiroshima – Capsule Hotel … well I never had the details as I was booked in by the kind people above – Quite an experience.  Men only and there is a spar etc.  An experience to be had once, well two nights for me.  At 2300 Yen it was cheap.
4. Kanazawa – Guesthouse Namaste; Very highly recommended, wonderful ambiance (Tatami Mats, Screens, Modern Kitchen, Great Owner).  Cheap too and easy to get to from the station.
5. Narita Airport –    Narita Airport Hostel, Basic but very cheap, convenient if owner can pick up and take to airport as did with me.

TAIWAN

Stayed at the empty wonderful flat of my friend Sheila.

HONG KONG

1. Kowloon – Budget Hostel in Mongkok – Sincere House.  3 Nights, Cheap, small, ok but go for the below.
2. Kowloon – Hostel Hostel in Mongkok – Sincere House.  3 Nights, slightly better than the above.  Cheap and convenient for HK, 200HK$ per night for a single.

THAILAND

1. HI-Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand; Traditional Hostel …. a little way out but has everything.  Close to the skytrain which then costs and stops at midnight.  Cheap and lots of people travelling through.  I stayed here on the return journey as well.
2. Nocky House, Chiang Mai.  www.nockyhouse.com .  Noot the owner is very helpful,  its been a great place to meet people, little advance booking and people stay a long time for good reason.  Noise travels a bit as the walls are thin and mosquitos …. but fun and cheap.  Thanks.
3. Lotus Guesthouse, Chiang Rai.  http://www.lotus-guest-house.com/ although the picture on the website is deceiving.  Very very cheap – 80bht (£1.50) for a single room.  Rooms clean but delapadated. Outside loo but again clean.  Hot shower.  Was here at New Year and still quiet.  No idea who is the owner or who to pay.
4. Laughing Gecko, Ao Nang, Near Krabi.  Very friendly place, dorm was great at 180Bht and if sharing the bungalos work well at 400Bht.  Lovely food, friendly, Nui Patricia and family are great.  www.laughinggeckothailand.com
5. Klong Jark Bungalows, Ko Lanta.  South of the island, the best beach.  Quiet but choice of restaurants.  Bit more expensive than rest of Thailand but still good.  I had the one simple bungalow at 300bht, most are up to 900.  Sue very friendly and efficient.  Nice place to chill, enjoy beach and play volleyball.

LAOS

1. Luang Prebang: Soutikone Guesthouse – nothing much to recommend it, they seem to be of the same price.  A place to plan ahead although think that many places are much the same.  Hot water but very dubious plumbing.  70,000 Kip per night.
2. Pakbang (mid slow boat trip on Mekong): Venseng Guesthouse.  Not 100% sure of the spelling but near the end of the main street opposite the biggest of the bar/restaurants.  Very nice manager and rooms clean and big, seems to be the going rate at 200 Bht a night a room.
3. Vien Vieng. Nanthaphone Guesthouse on the corner at the end of the river road bit of town.  Very nice owner, wife, night watchman (who sleeps in the hall).  40,000kip, Hired us the motorcycles.  Plumbing is good, big bed or should I say board in typical Loas style.  I sleep in my sleeping bag on the duvet folded up 3 x.  Various nearby, Sasong opposite a bit cheaper and has WiFi.
4. Vientiane. Nothing much to report as it was such a brief stay and the guest house really not one I would recommend.

MALAYSIA

1. Kula Lumpur. With my friends Sophie and Dave, plus the two cute cats.
2. Kutching. Lodge 121, highly recommended, nice environment, about £5 in the dorm but they moved me down to a private room as place was nearly empty.  Not far to walk into town although maybe the furthest out of the guesthouses.

AUSTRALIA

1. The Gold Coast / Surfers Paradise:  My first experience of an Aussie Hostel, dependant on the shuttle and busses.  Sorta average but friendly.
2. Brisbane: The wonderful hospitality of Kathy

I booked the next three via Tribal as a package with the trips and bus, this is the way to go but I suggest one books with a Peter Pan agent if you can as people I met who had an even better deal.  I would like to highlight that those running the hostels, not the pricing, seems to be the thing that makes the difference.

1. Noosa  / Surfers Beach:  The Dophins,   Nice although felt to be little security.  Supermarkets a little away, local shop very expensive.
2. Airie Beach:  Beaches.  Very efficient operation.  Nice people again on the desk – if you are doing the Fraser Island one day trip you might though get off the bus at Rainbow Beach and save yourself two 1.5 hour trips (two hostels there not sure what they are like).
3. Port Douglas: Parrotfish.  Clean, tidy, well organised, again wonderful people on the desk who do their best to get you a good deal
4. Cairnes: Caravella Hostel.  Highly recommended, clean (dorm and kitchen), quiet, wonderful people on the desk, easy walk into town, only $15 a night in a dorm by far the cheapest so far, Extras such as laundry and net feel expensive.   Not a party place like many.  Simple free backpackers meal at The Woolshed.
5. Sydney: Backpackers HQ.  In the slightly clubby/seedy part of town (used to this after Asia) and Sydney prices.   Security is good, friendly and helpful on the desk, feel old here though …. lots of similar choices.

NEW ZEALAND

1. Christchurch: Around the world backackers.  This is a very welcoming pleasant hotel which I recommend with some reservations.  The Wednesday BBQ was very pleasant, but the beds squeak and there is nothing other than them in the dorms!
2. Tepak0 Lake: Tailor Made Backpackers…. The best hostel yet.  Dorm great.  Not on the lake front but really nice.
3. Wanaka: Mattahorn South …. not a bad choice but there are lots of others too.
4. Arrowtown: at friends …. wonderful.
5. Queenstown:  Bumbles Hostel …. very pleasant location, clean, met a wide variety of travelers here.
6. Franz Joseph – YHA.  Well organised, wider age range than most other hostels but not quite as sociable immediately.
7. Nelson – The Customhouse.  Free WiFi!!! was ok, big old house and a little way out of town but ok.
8. Wellington – YHA.  Very big, rather inpersonal but very convenient. 
9. Rotorua – Blaneys Rock – A good hostel right in the centre of town and quiet despite being over a pub.
10. Auckland – At Kiri and Alex’s … a nice spare room.
11. Paihai (Bay of Islands) - Bay Adventurers – Dorm great but first night spoiled by very noisy Kiwi Experience kids next door.  Seemed friendly and had a hot tub!