Why I Love Southeast Asia More Than Anywhere Else in the World

Travel is like a drug — once you get hooked, it’s hard to stop. And for me, Southeast Asia is my favorite fix. There’s just something about this region — the vibe, the energy, the food, the chaos, the calm — that keeps pulling me back.

I've been lucky enough to explore Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore multiple times. Some places I’ve visited nearly ten times, and you know what? I’d still go again tomorrow. There’s just that chemistry — can’t explain it, but I feel connected.

Why These Countries?

Affordability: Everything from food, accommodation, and transport is budget-friendly. You don’t need to break the bank to have a good time here.

Culture & Lifestyle: Each country has a unique story. Take Vietnam — their history of resilience (colonialism, war, rebuilding) is truly inspiring. It shows in the spirit of their people, who are among the most hardworking I’ve met.

Food & People: From street food in Bangkok, HCMC, or Medan, to chatting with locals or backpackers from Europe — there’s always something to learn and love.

Solo Travel Freedom: I enjoy traveling alone sometimes. It gives me flexibility, “me time,” and the chance to meet interesting people — many of whom are young backpackers from Europe and America, just traveling the world before uni or work.

When I ask them, “How do you afford this?” — they just say, “We save up, we just wanna live the dream before adulthood hits.” Respect. Also explains why they love Southeast Asia — cheap beer, cheap hostels, rich experiences.

Countries I Haven’t Been To (Yet!)

I haven’t set foot in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, or Brunei yet. It’s not that I’m not interested — it’s just not on top of my priority list for now. But that could change. I have friends in the Philippines, and one day, I’ll go visit them. Trust me, I’m open to suggestions and discussions — so if you’ve got tips, share them!

Travel Dreams: Europe & Central Asia by Train

I’ve also dreamt of doing the epic train journey from KL to Europe. Imagine this:

KL → Thailand → China → Central Asia → Russia → Sweden/UK.

Stop at every country along the way.

Travel slow, soak in cultures, history, food, and people.

But yeah… let’s be real. It takes time and money. Even with a strong will, our currency is weak, and travel outside Asia ain’t cheap.

(Still... Damn you, PM! We need more money to travel! 😆 Just kidding... maybe.)

What’s Next?

This year, I’ve got HCMC (Vietnam), Krabi (Thailand), Medan (Indonesia), Singapore, and Malaysia already lined up. Here are some links I’ve used:

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Tripadvisor – HCMC

🇹🇭 Krabi: Top 25 Things To Do

🇮🇩 Medan: Best Things in Medan

🇲🇾 Malaysia: Top Attractions

🇸🇬 Singapore: VisitSingapore

Maybe next time, I’ll finally try Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, or even Ukraine and Russia. It’ll take a good 1–2 weeks or more, and careful planning. Who’s in?

Final Thoughts

Travel opens your mind, heals your soul, and reminds you how big (and small) the world really is. So whether you're solo or in a group, just go. Even if it's one country at a time. You’ll never regret experiences.

As the saying goes —
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

Wsalam & Adios! 🌏✈️