A First Backpacking Experience in South East Asia (2004)
A First Backpacking Experience in South East Asia (2004)
I have just finished school and completed my community service. The whole world is open to me and I can finally fulfill my dream of discovering the world. With my first savings, I want to go on a long-distance trip and get to know new cultures. I have not yet experienced any other culture apart from the Western one.
Asia really appeals to me because it is so big and full of different countries with long histories. I ask around and find out that Vietnam is an insider tip. Until now, the country is not known for its tourist attractions, but for its tragic history of war with the USA.
This makes this insider tip all the more appealing to me. I would like to get to know places that are not already overrun by tourists.
A friend gives me another tip. He knows an organization that offers trips for small groups of young people. The trip includes a guide who takes care of transport and documents and gives me tips on what to do in each place. I can then decide for myself what I want to do at each stage of the trip. In addition to Vietnam, the trip also includes other countries of the former Indochina: Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
A juvenile Backpacking Trip through South East Asia (2004)
I am sitting in Chian Khong at this moment as I write these lines. Today we have a very nice guesthouse with a view of the Mekongβ¦
Today it rains for the first time, despite the rainy season according to the calendar. It’s-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
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πΉπ Hard Escalation in the Thai Night Train
At the end of our stay in Bangkok we make our way to the train station. Thailand does not have a large rail network, so the-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
πΉπ Bamboo Rafts & Elephants: The Exciting North of Thailand
It was an exciting stay in Bangkok – my first ever stay in Asia. And the trip on the night train to Chiang Mai was tough, too.-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
πΉπ Warm Colors of Chiang Mai: Golden Pagodas and Orange Monks
It was an exciting stay in Bangkok – my first ever stay in Asia. And the trip on the night train to Chiang Mai was tough, too.-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
πΉπ Border Crossing in the Golden Triangle
Now I got an interesting foretaste of Asia and got spicy curry in Bangkok, lots of whisky on the night train, terrible life-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π±π¦ Jungle Life on the Mighty Mekong River
I leave Thailand in a small shack with rain dripping through the roof. Ian had already taken care of our visas in Chiang Mai. Leaving-->-->-->-->…
π±π¦ Luang Prabang, Laos’ Treasure
My group and I spent a few days travelling on the mighty Mekong in a dragon boat. A rain front caught up with us at nightfall,-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π±π¦ Meeting the Tiger at Kuang Si Waterfall
The tuk-tuks leave the city of Luang Prabang, where I learned a lot about the soul of the country. With Glen and the girls, I-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π±π¦ The Wonder World of Buddhas in Vientiane
The days in Luang Prabang were very nice. We quickly leave the formalities behind us. The view from the turboprop is very-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π±π¦ Overland through Laos to the Vietnamese Border
After our stay in Vientiane we head south towards the Vietnamese border. Our long journey in the rented minibus takes us along-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ Viet Nam’s magical Halong Bay
I’m traveling through Indochina. I’ve already seen Thailand and Laos. Now I’ve crossed the border into Vietnam. The landscape-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ Hanoi – The overwhelming Impressions of Viet Nam’s Heart
After a relaxing stay in the famous Halong Bay, we turn around to reach Hanoi, which we passed earlier. We make two stops along-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ Viet Nam’s small, impressive imperial City of Hue
The capital, Hanoi, was extremely impressive. After the long train ride from there to Hue, my bones ached. We took tuk-tuks to-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ Vietnam’s enchanting Hinterland – of Dragon Boats, Monks and Ducks
The small, ancient royal city of Hue is very impressive. But we haven’t seen much of Vietnam itself yet. Now it’s time for-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ The magical Night of Lanterns in Hoi An
Our stay in the small imperial city of Hue and our lovely trip into the Vietnamese hinterland are over. We leave the hotel at-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ The busy Ho Chi Minh City and the Echo of Saigon
We leave beautiful Hoi An and head for ΔΓ NαΊ΅ng, where we take a small plane to Ho Chi Minh City β the former, promising Saigon.-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π»π³ The Legacy of the Viet Cong in Cu Chi
The vast city of Saigon is more than impressive. However, this city and this part of the country fought on the American side-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π°π The most beautiful and terrifying Phnom Penh
This is my first backpacking trip, albeit in a small group. I’m still young and have no idea about all the trips I’ll take-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π°π My Experience with the Horror of the Cambodian Rice Fields
Not many things come to mind when thinking about the country of Cambodia, but the country is known for two things: the-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π°π I dive into the World of the lost Temples of the Jungle of Angkor
It was a special visit to the beautiful, yet terrifying, city of Phnom Penh, as well as to the memorial site of the horrific-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
π°π The Children of Siem Reap
It was a special visit to the beautiful, yet terrifying, city of Phnom Penh, as well as to the memorial site of the horrific-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->…
