Travelling opens your eyes to some of the real problems people face, and gives you the opportunity to come up with solutions to tackle those, rather than some of the more trivial ideas closer to home. You can't fail to come away from travelling inspired with a fresh perspective and new ideas.

Choosing where to go

Start in Beijing. Take the train to Tibet. Go down to Nepal. Travel overland to India. Make way down to Mumbai. Fly to South East Asia and travel through northern Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

So in other words, where you want to go depends on your time, budget and preference.

Organizing flights

You can either book your flights individually, which gives you the maximum flexibility, or book them from a travel agent. One advantage is that they let you change the dates of your flights for free. Location changes aren't free, so make sure you get that right the first time.

One good tip is to start and end your journey in a less affluent country, as ticket prices are usually much cheaper.

Some of them limit the amount of miles you can fly, others the actual number of flights. You have to spend a minimum of 1 week in each place, and most tickets expire after a year. 

Packing

Pack as lightly as possible as you'll need to carry everything you take with you on your back. This is especially important from a security point of view too, as the more you take, the more you'll have to keep an eye on.

Budget & Accommodation

Accommodation is easy, especially when you travel through some of the cheaper places in Asia. Budgeted Hotels are also a great way of meeting people and getting advice on where to go. You'll always find interesting people. Eating out every night at local restaurants. It's always a good idea to have a buffer in the bank though, for the peace of mind.

Activities and Planning

• Don't, whatever you do, choose a package
• Be flexible and adapt
• Use guide books
• Jot down all the great advice