I have spent the last 4 years travelling around Asia, including Burma, Cambodia, Laos, China and Vietnam and apart from the odd dispute or minor incident have had trouble free travels and a wonderful experience in every country. I am now planning my first lengthy bike trip from the UK to Cape Town. I have just been looking at the British Foreign Office website and it has informed me that I should probably stay at home and barricade myself into the cellar with a shot gun and a few years emergency rations. This being the first time I have ever bothered to check the site, I was suprised to find that almost every country I had planned to visit was on the 'don't ever go here you mad bastard' list. I would like to know from someone with experience of this trip, if this advice should be taken with a pinch of salt or not. Is it a question of relying on fellow travellers, word of mouth and common sense as to where to go...or, is it a question of following the travel suggestions of the foreign office closely, regularly contacting police for route suggestions and tips on where to stay or should I hide in my cellar?!!! The route has obviously been done before on more than several hundred occasions so 'Is it REALLY' that dangerous? Comments from anyone with personal experience would be greatly welcomed.

Cheers

Ed