Last year I spent a semester studying abroad in Hong Kong, during which I was lucky enough to travel to several countries in South-East Asia. Travelling SE Asia was an unforgettable experience, and in this blog post I want to share some of my favourite destinations as well as some general SE Asia travel tips.
Angkor Wat – Cambodia
This ancient Buddhist temple complex is must-see, with it’s history going back as far as the 12th century when the Khmer Empire ruled. Angkor Wat is the largest and most famous complex in the Angkor region, but there are over 72 temples to be seen if you have the time to explore. If you’re an early riser (4am early), you can visit Angkor Wat for sunrise which promises some stunning views.
Phuket – Thailand
Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in SE Asia, and for good reason. Phuket, located in the south of the country, offers in my opinion the best combination of everything fun about Thailand. The city of Phuket is busy and full of energy, but there’s also numerous secluded beaches hidden away further away from the main city which are the perfect spot to chill for the day. I’d personally recommend Freedom Beach; it’s quieter than most beaches and located not too far from the city. Phuket is also one of the places in Thailand that has elephant sanctuaries; you shouldn’t miss the chance to see these beautiful animals up close.
Ubud rice paddles – Bali
The areas surrounding Ubud in the uplands of Bali are home to acres of terraced rice fields, a sight best seen in person. Taking a day to walk around the fields is highly recommended, with many of the paddles free to enter. I’d recommend going to the paddles early to avoid the masses before heading back into the town of Ubud to see the temples or grab some food and drink.
General tips
A quick internet search will return you hundreds of SE Asia travel tips, but here’s a few extra that might still be helpful for prospective travellers.
Lub D – Fantastic chain of hostels located in Siem Riep, Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok and Makati. If you’re travelling to any of these places, I genuinely can’t recommend Lub D enough. It’s about 10-15 euro per night per person and the hostels all have top class facilities, great food and are clean.
Be independent – In order to get the most out of certain destinations I think it’s important to be independent and make your own way around instead of relying on pre-booked tours and guides. Not only will this be cheaper, but some locations such as Bali are very Instagram orientated, meaning you pay a lot to wait around for a long time just to get a photo at a nice location. The overall experience can be a bit underwhelming and for this reason I’d suggest you do as many things as possible on your own accord.
Squatter toilets – Just to be aware of it. A lot of places you visit, particularly further away from main cities, might only have squatter toilets. Bringing your own toilet paper also isn’t the worst idea.