deciding where to go

we started with four must-see destinations
and found inexpensive and creative ways
to plan our journey around them

we planned three months ahead
to allow for some flexibility along the way
prioritise and compromise

we started our journey in the Philippines
this is where Duke is originally from
he hadn't been back for awhile and the
Dinagyang festival would be in full swing on Iloilo

so, we looked for a cheap flight from Australia
around the time we wanted to leave and we locked it in

Japan was our second destination
perhaps our favourite country
this would be our second visit to Japan together
but as anyone who has been there knows
once is not enough
and Hokkaido was still on our must see list
timing was perfect to see the Sapporo Snow Festival

the Vodka Train or Trans-Mongolian journey
from Beijing to Saint Petersburg
was high on our list
we had always wanted to see Mongolia and sleep in a ger (yurt) tent

our fourth chosen destination was really an event
the World Sacred Music Festival in Fes, Morocco
the festival was not until May, but we kept it on the agenda
and lucky for us, we found a super cheap flight
fitting in perfectly with our plans from Rome to Fes