We are back for another Follow Me and I’ll Show You _______ post. This time, we will show you the amazing culture and diverse landscape of countries in Southeast Asia, starting from Laos, followed by Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and ending in Cambodia. From an ancient Hindu temple of Angkor to the modern architectural wonder of Singapore, come follow me as I traverse through the land, and you will see why Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse regions in the world.
- Vientiane - Laos
- Vang Vieng - Laos
- Jakarta - Indonesia
- Yogyakarta - Indonesia
- Karimunjawa - Indonesia
- Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
- Penang - Malaysia
- Koh Phangan - Thailand
- Khaosok National Park - Thailand
- Koh Lipe - Thailand
- Bagan - Myanmar
- Siem Reap - Cambodia
- Phnom Penh - Cambodia
- Southeast Asia Travel Videos
- Further Reading for Backpacking in Southeast Asia
Vientiane - Laos
After I got back from a 3-month trip in Europe, I decided to rest for a few weeks before my wanderlust crept up on me again, and there I was on a plane heading towards Laos.
Vientiane is possibly one of the quietest and most laid-back capital cities in Southeast Asia, hands down. The traffic is not as bad as in other countries, and the people were very welcoming. The laid-back vibe is also due to the city's location on the banks of the Mekong River.
Vang Vieng - Laos
After a day in Vientiane, I took a 7-hour minivan ride to the remote village of Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng used to be known as the hippie drug-ridden party town, but due to the government crackdown, the city is returning to its roots of being an eco-adventure spot.
Vang Vieng is surrounded by beautiful limestone mountains and a river perfect for tubing and kayaking. The climate is also a little cooler, which has helped turn this place into a hub for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Vang Vieng is best seen from the river on a kayak, so I decided to gear up and kayak the 8km stretch. It was well worth the sweat. The stunning limestone mountains and the locals living their lives along the river made it quite an interesting sight to see.
Jakarta - Indonesia
After my micro trip in Laos, I decided to tag along with my friend from Finland and visit Jakarta. On our first day, we met this local guy who offered to show us around the Old Harbour (Pelabuhan Sunda Kelapa). We were a little reluctant, but it turned out to be one of the best things I did in Jakarta. In this day and age, you would think that the guy would ask us for a tip at the end, but to my surprise, he didn't! It was just a random act of kindness!
Yogyakarta - Indonesia
After Jakarta, we took a morning train to Yogyakarta and explored the city on a motorbike. This was the second time I'd been to Borobudur, and I still found it fascinating. What fascinated me the most was how the locals kept asking to take a photo together with us non-stop! It was so funny and entertaining at the same time.
Karimunjawa - Indonesia
We decided to get off the beaten path a little and hopped on a ferry to one of the hidden gems in Indonesia, Karimujawa. This has got to be my favorite place in Indonesia.
The island is small, quiet, and with no tourists in sight, so we were able to experience the traditional Indonesian way of life in its entirety. If you are looking to get away from the usual backpacker crowds, don't go to Bali; come here instead.
Singapore
After Indonesia, we hopped on a plane to Singapore and went straight to Chinatown to devour all the street food they had. We know our priorities!
After a day of non-stop eating, I decided to go for a walk at night to shed off some fat. There was no better place to walk at night than at Gardens by the Bay during the Light and Sound show.
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
After Singapore, we continued our journey to Malaysia and explored Kuala Lumpur, one of the most multicultural capital cities in Southeast Asia. I was surprised by the city's greenery as I walked through the Perdana Botanical Garden to reach this monument.
We spent the first day walking around the city center and tracking down all the mosques and temples in the Old Town area. You know you are in a truly multicultural city when you see a mosque, a Buddhist temple, and a Hindu temple, all in one area.
Did you know that only 60% of the population is truly Malaysian? The others are either Chinese or Indians. That is a pretty low ratio of Malaysians, considering that the country is called Malaysia.
The next day, we went to the Batu Cave to check out the Hindu temple built inside a limestone cavern. It was definitely the highlight of the trip. Unfortunately, there were too many people, and I don't have a photo to prove it.
Penang - Malaysia
After 3 days in Kuala Lumpur, it was time to move on. Penang was the next destination and the best one of all because of all the street food you can eat here. No wonder why they called this place the "Food Paradise!"
The first day I arrived, I went out and hunted down all the cool street art in Georgetown, and ended my day watching the sunset from the Chew Jetty, a traditional village built on stilts off the coast of Penang.
Unfortunately, my friend and I had to part ways in Penang, so I spent my time alone walking around the city. I ended up finding these rocks on the coast where locals like to come to fish, and spent an hour in solitude watching the locals do their magic.
The next day, a few people from the hostel whom I had met a day earlier and I went to the Kek Lok Si temple, a large complex of Chinese temples built on a mountain. The temple is well-known for its 30-meter-tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
We went in the morning and were able to have the whole place to ourselves before the tourist buses arrived in the afternoon. We spent half a day there, just walking around and getting into all the temples we could.
After four days of eating in Penang, it was time for me to leave the city. Seriously, the food here is so diverse and so cheap that I got excited every time I had to eat something. Penang will forever be my food paradise.
Koh Phangan - Thailand
After Malaysia, I decided to go to Koh Phangan, Thailand to meet up with the Germans I had met at the hostel the day before. When I arrived, the Fullmoon party was in full swing, and I was curious to see what people were raving about.
I still don't know why everyone endorsed the Full Moon Party so much. I think it is one of the shittiest events Thailand has to offer. Nothing about the party attracts me. The people were all drunk and acting stupid. Everything was so expensive to the point that you feel ripped off every time you want to take a "songthaew" (shared taxi) somewhere. It feels nothing like Thailand.
So, my friends and I decided to have our own little party in the quiet corner of the island while everyone was screaming and drinking on a beach, dancing to trashy EDM music with over 6,000 other people.
That said, the nature and what the island has to offer apart from the party were enough of a reason for me to enjoy the visit. But if you are not so much into a party scene, then stay away from Koh Phangan. There are better islands out there with way fewer people and much, much quieter.
Khaosok National Park - Thailand
After Koh Phangan, I met up with another friend from France, and we went off the grid into the wilderness of Khao Sok National Park in the south of Thailand.
Khaosok National Park is definitely my favorite place to be in Thailand. I have had my fair share of adventures in the park before, but I had never gone as deep into the park as I did this time. Since we were deeper into the park than most people, we were able to witness wildlife flourishing in front of our eyes. We saw water buffaloes, wild boars, and several birds and monkeys in the forest.
We stayed at the Klong Yee raft house, located in the remote corner of the park. It was so remote that we had the whole floating bungalows to ourselves for 4 days. During sunrise, all we had to do was kick the door open, and we had the best seat in the national park for the sunrise.
After spending the first day going on safaris on a longtail boat around the park, we decided to hike to the lookout point. Never have I seen anything like this before.
The national park is an artificial dam created 40-something years ago, and I was fascinated to see the flooded landscape from above.
The following day, we joined the park rangers and trekked up the waterfall trail into the forest infested with leeches to have lunch.
It was quite an experience to be able to interact with nature in such close proximity. I was probably a little too close to nature, though, walking barefoot and all.
This was possibly one of the best lunch spots in the park. The rangers and the guide were hilarious as they drove each other crazy.
After four days off the grid without telling anyone, people were starting to worry about me, so it was time for me to move on to our next destination, Koh Lipe.
Koh Lipe - Thailand
I visited the island 4 years ago when it was relatively unknown and was surprised to see how it had developed over the years, both in a good and bad way.
The increase in tourism has allowed the island to develop its infrastructure and has helped improve the lives of the locals in so many ways. However, that also attracts more tourists, making everything expensive, and making places unbearably crowded.
At least, the snorkeling was still one of the best in Thailand, and enough of a good reason for anyone to come here.
Bagan - Myanmar
We took a flight from Bangkok to Mandalay, and we went straight to Bagan via a public bus. To my surprise, when we entered Bagan, we did not have to pay the $25 USD entrance fee like I did when I flew into Bagan last time. The fee was probably only imposed on tourists, and we were on a very local-looking bus, so that explains why we did not have to pay.
Once again, I was back in Myanmar for the second time. This time, I was with my friend, and my goal for this trip was simple: to go to Bagan, find the right sunrise temple this time, and watch the sunrise. The last time I was here, I got the temples' names mixed up, and I went to the wrong one. Not this time!
Fortunately, we went to the right one this time. We were at the right season for the hot air balloons to take to the air as well. The sunrise here is possibly one of the best sunrises you can experience in Southeast Asia or even in the world.
One thing I learned about traveling in Myanmar is not to bother wearing closed shoes because you will have to take them off every time you enter a sacred site like this temple.
We woke up around 4 AM that day, rented a bike, and started exploring the dusty roads of Old Bagan in search of a remote pagoda where we could climb to the top, sit, and relax.
Even though the Sunrise Pagoda was crowded most of the time, I found that if you waited a bit after the sunrise, the crowd would let up, and you would be able to have the place to yourself.
There were over 2000 temples and pagodas all over Bagan, and the best way to get to many of these remote temples is to ride a bike by yourself. That was how I explored Bagan last time, and it's how I explored it again this time.
I really love Bagan. Even though it was my second time, I still feel excited every time I discover a temple I have not seen before, like this one.
The number of temples and the variety of architectural styles you find in Bagan are just mind-blowing. For example, this unique temple was built entirely out of teak wood, whereas the others were built with red stones.
My friend and I got lost in the maze of dusty roads and empty fields.
We were trying to find a good place to sit and watch the sunset. Eventually, we found one where we climbed to the top and sat in peace... until around twenty people decided to ruin it.
Gotta go. The mothership is calling. Goodbye, Earthlings.
Walking through the cavern of time.
After two days of exploring both the Old and the New Bagan, we left Myanmar and headed to Cambodia, starting at Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat.
Siem Reap - Cambodia
Ahh, Angkor Wat, my first foray into the world of traveling solo. It has been almost 3 years since I started traveling the world solo, and it all began here. I was feeling extremely nostalgic as I walked through the corridors, wondering what my life would be like if I had not taken the leap of faith.
My life would not be as cool as it is now, that is for sure. A life with no regrets! :)
I got a tuk tuk for the day and went temple hopping in Siem Reap. It was the only way to enjoy the scenery at my own pace.
One of my favorite temples, other than Angkor Wat, is the Bayon temple. There is something about the face sculptures that makes it mystical, like something out of a fantasy Hollywood movie.
No, I was not peeing here. I was trying to look cool, but somehow, it looked like I was peeing.
Since I have already seen Angkor Wat during sunrise the last time I was here, I decided to come up with my own itinerary. In order to avoid the crowd, I told my tuk tuk driver to do the usual temple circuit but in reversed order so I wouldn't have to deal with all the tourists.
It worked! I went to the temple listed last in the circuit trip first and saw that no one was there. Consequently, I visited Angkor Wat last. I arrived at Angkor Wat around 2 PM, which happened to be the hottest time of the day. As a result, there were not as many people around compared to the morning.
On this trip, I was able to squeeze in another temple that I missed last time due to time constraints. The temple is called Beng Melea.
So, what is so special about Beng Melea? Not much, but due to its remote location, the number of people here was considerably fewer, and the temples were mostly left untouched.
The nature that has overtaken Beng Melea is also much more intact than the others. If you have time, do get a private taxi and pay Beng Melea a visit. You will not regret it.
Phnom Penh - Cambodia
Finally, we have come to our last destination on this trip. We ended our trip in Phnom Penh, where my friend and I spent our days going to the museums (S21 and the Killing Field) and hanging out at the Royal Palace before we went our separate ways.
If you are a history buff, Phnom Penh is a city that must not be missed. I was fascinated by the history I learned from the National Museum and terrified by the knowledge I gained from the Genocide Museum (S-21) and the Killing Fields. Cambodia has been through dark times, and you will appreciate the country even more, knowing what lies behind the city's foundation.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Want to take your photography game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and photography gear:
Further Reading for Backpacking in Southeast Asia
Looking for more information for your trip to Southeast Asia? Here is a selection of articles that might help you with your trip planning:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Southeast Asia? Here is the ultimate 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Vietnam is a great place to start your journey to Southeast Asia. If you are looking for more details about Vietnam, check out my complete Vietnam itinerary here: 2 Weeks Itinerary for Vietnam.
- Cambodia is home to one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, the Angkor Wat. If you are wondering what it's like there, here is my experience traveling around Angkor Wat and Siem Reap.
- Want to travel to Siem Reap and see the Angkor Wat with your own eyes? Here is a complete travel guide and 3-day itinerary for Siem Reap.
- Bagan is one of my favorite places in the world. With over 2000 pagodas waiting for you to explore, you will need a travel guide. Here's a complete travel guide to Bagan temples and more.
- Bangkok is a city that you will likely pass through quite often, and it might get a bit overwhelming to plan something. Here is my One Day in Bangkok Itinerary.
- Khao Sok National Park is, hands down, one of my favorite places in Thailand, and it would be a shame if you missed it on this trip. Here is a guide on how to travel to Khao Sok National Park.
- Looking to go snorkeling in Thailand? Koh Lipe is one of the best places out there, and I have a travel guide for you: The Snorkeling Guide To Koh Lipe.
- Malaysia is a country often overlooked by most travelers, and that is a mistake you shouldn't make. Here is a complete 10-day itinerary for Malaysia.
- The Philippines is an archipelago full of volcanoes and remote beaches waiting for you to explore. Here is a 3-week itinerary for the Philippines.
- Want to visit the Philippines and not sure where to start? Here are the 8 Most Beautiful Places in the Philippines to Visit.
- Indonesia is not a country you can simply travel to once and say you've seen it all. It's a country so diverse, it requires at least one month to really get the feel of it. Here is a complete one-month itinerary for Indonesia.
- Borneo is another place in Malaysia that is often overlooked but is the perfect place for us to visit and go off the main Southeast Asia path that most backpackers take. If you are going that way, be sure to check out our 2 weeks itinerary for Borneo and Brunei.
- You can also watch my travel video about Southeast Asia here: Watch the "Asia Alive" travel video.
- You can see all of my Southeast Asia-related articles on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
Hi mate, love the photos, but as a Malaysian, the "60% of populations are truly Malaysians" is wrong. Malaysia is a combination of Malaya and Borneo, the 60% of population are bumiputeras, which are granted special status, but it doesn't make the 40% of Chinese, Indians, and Peranakans any less Malaysians.
Thanks for the clarification!