One of the biggest benefits of living in Australia is the cheap and quick access it provides to Asia. After six months down under, we hopped a short flight to Indonesia before continuing on to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. We won’t bother giving a comprehensive rundown here -- Asia is massive and we barely scratched the surface -- but we will highlight our favorite spots and give some quick tips.
General Tips for Southeast Asia:
Buy SIM cards in each country -- they’re cheap and prevent you walking around with a 30 lb backpack on looking for your accommodation.
Have an idea of what you should pay for cabs. We can’t tell you the number of times we got ripped off from shear ignorance.
Get vaccinated, but not too vaccinated (Malaria pills are probably unnecessary)
Always rent scooters - it’s the best way to get around cheaply and on your own schedule
Use Hostelworld to book accommodation, and for the love of god, don’t stay in hotels
Bali (Indonesia)
From Australia, flights to Bali are relatively affordable and quick (only two and a half hours), which make the popular Indonesian island a solid first stop in Asia. Contrary to popular belief, though, Bali is not all the beautiful and untouched beaches that many people envision. Kuta, the much talked about party area, is an absolute pit; when we went surfing, we caught more trash than waves (and yes we suck, but there was trash everywhere). In fact, our favorite part of Bali wasn’t even Bali, but the small surrounding islands. Nusa Penida and Gili Trawangan are must-visits just a short ferry off the Bali coast. Scuba or snorkel with turtles on Gili T and swim with manta rays on Nusa Penida. If you are going to stick to Bali, check out Canggu, or for a high-end ex-pat vibe, head to Seminyak. If pressed for time, though, skip Seminyak, which could really be anywhere sunny with beaches. Instead, devote more time to Ubud, the spiritual center of Bali. We loved renting scooters and zipping through rice paddies on our way to the myriad temples scattered throughout the countryside.
Thailand
It seems unjust to devote so little space to Thailand, the Southeast Asian country we spent the most time in. From the islands and limestone cliffs of the South to the jungle and mountains of the North and the craziness of Bangkok, it’s a country that is easily worthy of the five weeks we spent there. It’s also the most tourist friendly Asian nation we visited, with English spoken widely, a general friendliness to foreigners and ease of transportation.
Your first stop in Thailand will likely be Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city. Many travellers don’t enjoy Bangkok’s hustle and bustle, but we found it enchanting. The expansive city features skyscrapers, amazing food and incredible buddhist temples. Try to visit on a weekend so that you can go to the Chattuchak Market, easily the most impressive outdoor market we’ve ever visited. And of course, visit the famous Khao San Road before heading either south for island hopping or north to the Chiang Mai area.
We started in Phuket (avoid Patong Beach at all costs) before ferrying over to Koh Phi Phi, an absolute backpacker paradise. During the day, make some friends, buy some beers, and rent a longtail boat to take you out for snorkeling and sunbathing. If the beach parties of Phi Phi don’t tire you out, then the full moon party on Koh Phangan definitely will. That being said, we found it overrated and enjoyed getting our scuba certification on nearby Koh Tao much more. Railay Beach is a great post-full moon party stop -- chill out in its many hippie bars or try your hand at rock climbing.
he north can be boiled down to Chiang Mai, Pai and if time permits, Chiang Rai. We loved Chiang Mai, with its temples, cooking classes and backpacker-friendly nightlife. Stamps Backpackers is the best hostel we stayed in, but books up fast so grab it early on Hostelworld. From Chiang Mai, consider taking a scooter through the 762 turns that constitute the ride from Chiang Mai to Pai. CHECK THE WEATHER before you go because we had a nightmare of a time in the pouring rain, crashing several times and generally hating our lives. Pai is one of the most talked about places on the Southeast Asia circuit, but we found it a little dull, though we also went during our last two weeks when we were most definitely ready to head home. Check it out for a few days, but be careful of the Pai trap. It’s so chill some people never leave. Our last stop was in Chiang Rai, a place we visited almost solely to see its famous White Temple. The temple is beyond gorgeous and makes Chiang Rai a worthy destination on its own.
Cambodia
Cambodia, though often overlooked on the Southeast Asia circuit, is worth a visit on your way to Vietnam. Angkor Wat is the main attraction (grab a tuk-tuk and go on your own), while Phnom Penh and its infamous S-21/Killing Fields are must-sees and provide a sobering look at the devastating effects of the Khmer Rouge regime. In the south, Koh Rong is a less-developed and more laid-back version of Koh Phi Phi, perfect for R&R.
Vietnam
As one of the most popular destinations in Asia, Vietnam is worth visiting for at least a month. Start either up north in Hanoi or down south in Ho Chi Minh City and take in a country that ranges from big cities to farming villages and impassable jungle. Although riding the country on a used Honda Win motorcycle is incredibly popular, we saw too many horrific injuries to endorse that particular path. That being said, rent a scooter for the Hai Van pass (Hoi An to Hue) and Phong Nha national park, probably our top destination in Vietnam. Make sure to visit the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City to understand the country’s defining event, and of course, everyone has to visit Ha Long Bay, as well. It’s the countryside, though, and particularly less touristy destinations like Phong Nha and Dalat, where Vietnam really shines so devote the majority of your time outside of big cities. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and missed out on Sa Pa in the far north, which we heard nothing but the best things about.
