P.N.G. is truly one of the last frontiers, jealras - it can be kinda scary. Not that that should stop you going but you do need to exercise care. Most people pay exorbitant $$ to get there and be shielded from all that. They use a tour operator like this:

http://www.pngtours.com/

These guys have a monopoly. They charge OUTRAGEAOUS prices. There is another way.

http://www.niuginiadventuretours.com/
http://www.png-tourism.com/
http://wildpng.com/
etc etc
http://www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg/

I coiuld go on and on. Trobriand Islands very high score. Everything, really. Dress down.

Thailand is easy. You have to work out your trip backwards from P.N.G.

Better go here to check on flights first of all:
http://www.skyscanner.com.au/

P.N.G. only has one international gateway - monopoly again - flights are expensive from Asia. You MAY need to enter thru Australia - just beacuse of cost. Cairns is the closest.

Wow, that's a lot of great information; thanks so much Dogster! I have my homework cut out for me and will start researching the links! Thanks again!

Good luck pal. You have an amazing time ahead of you.

Don't forget to use the word 'niugini' when searching.

A few incomplete notes from my trips - many pics:
http://dogster5.wordpress.com/p-n-g-home/

I see it reads "He’d still be going there now if they hadn’t tried to kill him"; what happened?

I recomend you Borneo. First of all Sandakan with the orangutan rezervation Sepilok and Labuk bay for the proboscis sanctuary (if you like nature and monkeys). Then a trip to Mt.Kinabalu National park. You have more than that to view and to do depending of your time. You can spend a day in Brunei too.
In Thailand , Bangkok,of course then ,Phuket and few days in the North (Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai).
From Bangkok you can go to Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) in Cambodia.
3 days will be enough.
I was'n in Indonesia but if i'll go there I'll see Bali then I'll go in a 2-3 days trip to Komodo Island.
www.eugenbudei.blogspot.com

If you are looking for a few days of major relaxation away from the noise and hustle-bustle of Bangkok, head off to Ko Bulon Leh. A few years ago, I needed to escape from the madness of Seoul, so made my way to Bulon Leh where I had planned on staying for three days...left after a full week. Met a woman there from Scandinavia who went for a week and was in her third month.

From Bangkok, head to Hat Yai and from there take a minibus to Pak Bara. Hop aboard a long tail boat onto the Andaman Sea and after close to two hours...Ko Bulon Leh. Take some books, take a snorkel, and take a friend.

http://www.bulone-resort.net/en/bulone-resort

Remember to return home!

Seoulbro

Thanks for all the replies! I've been looking on Air China and found this deal which to me sounds great:

March 6, 2012: San Fran - Beijing
March 9, 2012: Beijing - Hong Kong
Then travel via train into China, then to northern Vietnam, down through Vietnam, into Cambodia, down through Thailand into Malaysia, then into Indonesia. This is all via bus, train, etc.
April 14th, 2012: Jakarta (Indonesia) - Los Angeles

Total cost for 2 people incl. tax: $2638.68

Any areas south of Thailand I should worry about when making my way to Indonesia?

Thanks again!

You are planning on moving fast through SE Asia. You have just over a month from Hong Kong through southern China, through VN, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, then a flight (I assume) to Indonesia. Are you planning on stopping to see anything? You might want to throw in a few flights in order to have time to spend a few days in some interesting places.

I'm not sure what you are worried about south of Thailand. Malaysia has good trains and luxury buses.

Jakarta is not the best tourist destination, Are you planning to go elsewhere in Indonesia? Central Java? Bali?

Jakarta is the only stop for Air China, and Air China is by far the least expensive I have found. My research continues

I might just simplify it a bit...

3/6/12: San Fran - Beijing
3/11/12: Beijing - Ho Chi Minh City
Travel into Cambodia, Thailand, down to Malaysia
4/15/12: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - Los Angeles

$1905.22 (for 2 people incl. taxes)

That's a great price and a more manageable amount of ground to cover.