What 9 Months Backpacking Asia Really Looks Like: A Visual Recap - Part 1

As you can imagine, doing a single post covering 9 months would be excruciatingly long (I would know because it took me an excruciatingly long time to write and recover all these photos and videos). So I'm breaking it into two parts and covering each place at a high-level, as I'll be diving into each country in future posts! Subscribe to my blog below to be notified when Part 2 is published! Also I'm using em-dashes because it looks much cleaner than the infinite commas I usually use — inspired by (but NOT taken from) Chat GPT!

9 months, 14 countries, and zero regrets! OK, so I lied...I definitely regret overpacking and also not applying earlier for my Vietnam visa, but that's it! For everything else (like missing a flight and fracturing my toe in a bathroom), well, there's really nothing I could've foreseeably done to avoid some of my travel mishaps.

That's showbiz, baby!

What I don't regret is my decision to save up and quit my job to do this! (Read more about how that went in my past post: I Quit...For Real This Time). Maybe I could've planned ahead more, but the general consensus for a backpacking trip is to not plan ahead to leave as much room as possible for spontaneity - risky, but most often #worthit. Plus flights within Asia are pretty affordable even 1-2 weeks out (I'm talking an average of ~$50-100 without checking a bag)!

Honestly, it feels like a miracle that nothing worse happened like losing my passport or bank card (but actually, an ATM did swallow my debit card, so I was without it for 6 days). And truthfully, I'm grateful to have made it home alive, not because I thought Asia would be particularly dangerous, but just because bad stuff happens to people all the time, and unfortunately, that's something I think about no matter where I am *yikes*!

ANYWAY, ready or not, here I come with a high-level recap of the 17 territories (14 countries) and 57 cities that had me offline for most of my nine months away! Leave a comment at the end to let me know which destination you're most excited to learn more about!

Click on a country to jump ahead.

Part 1 (this post) covers: Finland, Qatar, India (for Diwali), Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines

Part 2 will cover: Australia, Singapore, India (for Holi), Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, and the U.A.E.

Let's Dive In!

The fateful day was October 22, 2024 when I caught the first leg of my Norse Atlantic flight from JFK bound for London around 6PM. During this London layover, my second flight to Helsinki was delayed, but luckily, I could pass the time in a lovely lounge, thanks to my two free lounge passes per year with Trusted Housesitters' premium membership! I had planned to use Trusted Housesitters to alleviate the cost of housing while traveling - exchanging house/pet-sitting responsibilities for free places to stay! Learn more and sign up if it sounds up your alley!

During this layover is also where I shed my first tears — where everything finally sank in. I could hear my stepmom and Nana reassuring me "If you ever want to come back, home is right here!"

"COME HOME EARLY?!" I thought smugly, that'll never happen! I was even more determined now to carry out my journey as planned, no matter how tough it got. How hard could it be anyway?

FINLAND

8 days

Finland was actually a planned trip with three friends and a decent stop along the way to Asia. Decent, but not the most convenient because I had to carry a whole extra suitcase just to hold my winter clothes for Finland. Obviously, I wouldn't have entertained Finland if I had to take the extra bag around Asia with me. My next stop after Finland was Kolkata, India to visit my friend, where I was able to leave my winter bag while I continued exploring Asia.

But, back to Finland, I spent eight days in Helsinki and Rovaniemi where we visited the Santa Claus Village, I experienced my first ice bath by dipping into an icy cold lake at a Finnish sauna, and gazed at the Northern Lights for TWO nights in a row! Oh, and I ate a lot of reindeer. I was also in love with the fact that our Airbnb had a sauna, as saunas in homes and apartments are super common! Finland was just so pleasant!

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QATAR

1 day

From Finland, I set off to Kolkata with a 19-hour overnight layover in Doha via Qatar Airways' stopover program! If you've never heard of a stopover program, it's this: for long layovers (usually over 12 hrs or so), the airline covers the cost of your hotel stay, and in my case, transport to and from the airport, as well as provide a food voucher. This was an excellent opportunity to get a taste of Doha on a budget!

Since I arrived late at night, I went straight to bed, and did all my exploring the next day. Since I was limited on time, I planned to taxi/Uber around vs using public transit, but while out and about, came across a random man on the street who offered to be my driver for the day. For ~$70, not only did I hit most of my itinerary, but I had my own personal photographer (although that wasn't his strong suit). And yes, he could've been a trafficker, but hey, I'm alive ain't I?!

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Keep in mind that generally for flights with layovers, the airline checks your bag to the final destination (although sometimes you need to collect and re-check you bag, so LISTEN to announcements). But, in case they don't, keep important items and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag or ask to have it checked only to your stopover (in my case, Doha) and then re-check it when you return to the airport. The latter is what I did.

INDIA

3 weeks

From Doha, I reunited with my friend for three weeks in Kolkata. With her, I took part in Kali Puja (the holiday Bengalis celebrate during Diwali season), and received the most immersive local experience I could ever imagine! I published a YouTube video on my "Diwali" experience, so check that out, and SUBSCRIBE to my channel where I will be sharing my FULL travel vlogs on everything I'm discussing in this post and more!

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Leaving Kolkata was bittersweet. I bawled in the car on the way to the airport. Leaving my friend again (even though I'd see her in a few months) combined with the realization that I am finally embarking solo was overwhelming to say the least. But, I quickly recovered once I landed in Kuala Lumpur!

MALAYSIA

2 weeks

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is where I realized I am a city girl through and through. I could marvel at the Petronas Towers all day, no matter how many pictures I'd seen online (they DO NOT do the towers justice)! During my eight days in KL, I crossed paths with another Black female travel vlogger (and now friend), Sabine aka Sabe_Travels! Check her out, especially if you speak French!

Eight days was perfect for visiting the famous Batu Caves, the stunning Federal Territory Mosque (among several other mosques), temples, museums, cafes, rooftop bars, parks, and more at a leisurely pace.

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Now here is where my first backpacking blooper comes in: booking a flight too far ahead of time. I had concrete plans to meet my cousin in Phuket in early December, so before leaving the U.S., I booked my flight to Phuket from Singapore, confident that I would make it there after Kuala Lumpur. But upon further research, there was more I wanted to see in Malaysia outside of KL, and Singapore seemed to be a popular hub in Asia, so I figured I could always reach it another time (spoiler: I did). Unfortunately, I couldn't get refunded my $100 for that flight.

From KL, I bussed two hours north to a serene town called Ipoh where I spent two days among more stunning temples and incredible natural scenery, like Tasik Cermin where I took a boat ride through a cave to this beautiful clearing (first photo).

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At Perak Cave Temple, I met two Malaysian women who invited me to join in on their Tik Tok video, offered me a ride with them to dinner (I know, stranger danger!), AND treated me to said dinner AND breakfast the next day. The best part: they didn't kidnap me! Trust, the only tears I shed were from this unsolicited kindness they showed. We were all taken aback by it.

In general, the Malaysians I met all tended to be very open and friendly! Many of my Grab drivers would start conversations with me and give me recommendations. There are also a lot of English speakers, as well, which eased my transition.

Another two-hour bus ride brought me to Penang. Penang was nice; many people rave about it, but I thought it was OK. I really enjoyed my day at the Botanical Garden, the funicular ride up to amazing views on Penang Hill, and absorbing the local heritage while strolling the mural-covered streets of Georgetown, even touring a few heritage mansions such as Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and Pinang Peranakan Mansion (where you can also rent traditional Baba Nyonya costume)!

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THAILAND

4 weeks

Three days later, I flew from Penang to Phuket, where I reunited with my cousin for a week of pure vacation (and an unexpected four-hour hike, whoops!). We hung out near Patong Beach for the first half (super busy and touristy), and stayed near the quieter Rawai Beach for the second half. We did the popular Phi Phi Island tour, some temples, and an elephant sanctuary (which unfortunately may not have been ethical like we thought, but you live and learn). I also held a giant spider on our hike.

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Again, I shed tears when she left. Seriously, there's something about realizing how many people you care about who care about you, and taking for granted your proximity to them until you're off solo traveling!

I stayed another week in Phuket solo to take it in at a slower pace, and funny enough, I immediately started meeting people in my hotel/hostel, which BTW, was pretty dope from its selection of rooms with private pools to shared dorms, all with access to the beach, a common pool, and best of all, daily wellness events and entertainment, like fitness classes, a cooking class, an ice bath, sound bathing, a tea ceremony, and more!

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Finally, you'll not want to miss Siam Niramit Phuket, a spectacular show covering Thailand's history and culture, as well as Old Town for shops and souvenirs, especially during the Sunday night market.

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From Phuket, I flew to Chiang Rai, where I reunited with Sabe, and we booked a tour that included the famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), Black House, Long Neck Village, a gorgeous tea farm, and the Golden Triangle — two rivers where the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos intersect! It was also in Chiang Rai that I found a remote and peaceful Buddhist monastery and an actual monk guided me through a one-on-one meditation!

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From Chiang Rai, we bussed just three hours to Chiang Mai for two more days of temple-hopping with a private driver, and then bussed 9-11 hours overnight to Bangkok where we spent Christmas together! In Bangkok, I also reunited with my friend, Gill, whom I first met when I hired him as my photographer in Mexico City a few years ago! Small world, right? He did the honor of shooting me again in Thai costume.

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He even brought me out for Emo Night (YESSS) along the chaotic party strip, Khao San Road. So crazy that I, in fact, ate TWO bugs while Gill ate a whole bowl....

For New Years, I had already planned to party on Thailand's famous Full Moon Party island, Koh Phangan! Be warned, you should book your accommodations AS FAR IN ADVANCE as possible! The worst parts were my crappy hostel conditions (which I booked six months prior) and the AWFUL two-hour ferry ride to get to the island through a storm...like I seriously thought we would capsize, I had no phone service and forgot to text my parents where I was going, and the smells and sounds of vomit pierced the air so badly, that I eventually joined Team Seasick.

Despite all of that, Koh Phangan was a BLAST!

Funny enough, I only partied for two of the seven nights, so most nights, I had the hostel room to myself while everyone else was out partying.

A couple of other memorable experiences I didn't expect on this party island:

1. Joining a FREE intense four-day meditation program founded by a Buddhist monk (RIP to him just a few weeks before I arrived). Every day, we walked back and forth in silence, barefoot, on concrete, for FOUR HOURS straight. Check it out.

2. Taking up private Muay Thai lessons for a week with an eccentric local trainer; this felt straight out of a movie. Walking into the rugged outdoor gym finding him passed out on his couch on his back every other morning...I knew right then that he was the real deal!

How's THAT for mind, body, and fun?!

LAOS / THAILAND

2 weeks

During the New Years party, I met a Turkish pair who adopted me, inviting me to tag along for another destination that was on my list, Laos! With them and a Thai friend they met prior (I'll call her Ms. Thailand because she gives pageant queen energy, in a good way), we did a sketchy land border crossing through the south of Laos and explored waterfalls there before venturing up to the more tourist-friendly Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. Here's where you'll get the famous motorcycle on the mountain shot, as well as more temples, rivers, and waterfalls.

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Honestly, Laos would have been an entirely different experience had I gone alone. I probably wouldn't have made it up the mountain or done any drinking at all due to my fear of methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. Also getting around on mopeds was so much more fun than taking a tour or hiring a car! Unfortunately, I was denied a moped rental in the past due to my lack of experience, which further killed my confidence about renting one elsewhere. It looked easy enough, but I was scared to take the chance alone.

Following this, we spent a few more days in Bangkok and on another island, Koh Chang, a few hours from Bangkok guided by Ms. Thailand. Koh Chang was so beautiful and less crowded than Phuket, which I absolutely loved! Plus, we got TRUE beachfront villas for only $62 / night!

Then I spent another week in Bangkok with Ms. Thailand, who was eager to house me and introduce me to experiences I would have never thought to try, like:

1. Dressing up together in Thai costume to see a temple (plus many other temples)

2. Having dinner with her family at a local spot in her family's home town

3. Attending a dinner cruise/drag show with amazing nighttime city views of Bangkok

4. Seeing the cutest viral hippo sensation, Moodeng, at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo

5. Maeklong Railway Market, where you get insanely close to a passing train (WAY closer than the viral one in Hanoi, Vietnam)

VIETNAM

2 weeks

Again, leaving my new friend was tough, but after waiting five days for my visa to get approved, I booked a flight to Hanoi (Americans need a visa for Vietnam so don't forget to do that!). Unfortunately because of the timing, the flight was pricier than I'd hoped since I was arriving even closer to Lunar New Year than I'd planned.

Let me warn you that there are many reasons you may NOT want to celebrate Lunar New Year in Vietnam, called Tết, unless you are doing so with a Vietnamese family. One reason is that many businesses shut down for many days so families can return home for the holidays. The other being that traveling through Vietnam is expensive and hectic, airports, bus stations, you name it!

I started in Hanoi, and it is everything you may have seen online: the crazy non-stop traffic where you need to play Frogger to cross the street, the exciting Hanoi Train Street, day trips to the magical lush Halong Bay and Ninh Binh (I only did the latter), and the colorful incense village — you can book a tour, but my friend and I took an easy public train and bus for way cheaper!

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I also had way more coffee than I've ever had in my life because I couldn't resist trying every Vietnamese egg coffee and salt coffee I came across. One spot in particular I think was the absolute BEST, Queen Coffee and Tea. It was so good, I tossed the coffee I had already bought so I could come here a second time (because I'm way too caffeine-sensitive to drink two coffees a day)!

From Hanoi, I reluctantly got on a plane to Da Nang, a much more laid-back city than Hanoi with a lovely beach! Near Da Nang are the famous Ba Na Hills park — a mountaintop resort and theme park (you've probably seen the bridge with the giant hands), and just 45 mins away is the beautiful Ancient town of Hoi An.

I booked a Grab Bike (aka a motorbike, half the price of a car), and did a day trip to Hoi An where I did the famous coconut boat ride (and paid $2 more for the spin), bought handmade leather goods, and spent a romantic solo evening on a boat with a paper lantern (make a wish and let it go!).

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Da Nang is where I spent my Tết in Vietnam. I booked a guestroom with a family, hoping to get a true Tết experience with them, but, while they were nice, that didn't happen. Instead I watched a fireworks show near the Dragon Bridge on the eve and visited a beautiful temple on New Year's Day (a common place for the Vietnamese to go to pray for good luck to start off their New Year).

From Da Nang, I took a sleeper bus to the charming countryside of Da Lat where I visited some very unique and impressive sculpture parks and gardens. I also stayed in a hostel for only $6/night!

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And then there's this stunning rainbow slide at Mongo Land! Drone video costs extra (I'm cracking up watching it now)!

But the real highlight in Da Lat was accidentally wandering through a restricted area of a popular Buddhist temple where I met a quirky young Vietnamese woman who, along with other European women, were staying on the monastery in exchange for doing chores. She convinced the nuns to let me stay, too! Even though I'd already paid for my hostel for the night, I couldn't pass up this literal dream come true! Waking up at 3AM never felt so easy as when it was to meditate with the nuns. Can't wait to dive in on this in a future blog post!

To end my time in Vietnam, I bussed a few hours to the capital, Ho Chih Minh City aka Saigon, to catch my flight to the Philippines.

PHILIPPINES

10 days

At this point, it's early February. It's been 3.5 months of traveling, and I'm already feeling burnt out. To alleviate the stress of hostel life and constant sight-seeing, I stayed a full week in Boracay, an island a short, cheap flight from Manila. I booked a private Airbnb and let myself relax...by taking up kite surfing!!

The kite surfing definitely wasn't planned, but there were so many schools offering lessons. I wanted to try just one, and then morning after morning, I'd return for another lesson, hoping to be able to stand up on the board by the end of the week (I did not and, in fact, face-planted in the water quite a few times). I'd like to think that if I ever take it up again, I'll pick up right where I left off, especially after the $600+ I spent (it racks up so sneakily!). BTW lessons cost the same at every school all over the island.

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In the afternoons, I took it easy at beachside cafes and restaurants and watched the sunset on the beach. White Beach gets packed, especially at sunset, but the water is gorgeous, the most beautiful I've seen in Asia, personally. I eventually did a day tour and boat party where a Black American family "adopted" me. I felt an unexpected relief and comfort to be around them after all this time on my own...it's something you take for granted until it's gone.

The beautiful Boracay saga ended with not one, but TWO cancelled flights to Manila. Thank God I booked the flight for two days prior to my next one....

I was able to spend a full day in Manila where I rented a bamboo bike to explore the historic area. I also found out that the oldest Chinatown in the world is in Manila! Anyway, it was at Fort Santiago that I met a Black American soldier who piqued my interest in visiting Taiwan. He gave me tons of recommendations, and I decided right then and there to add Taiwan to my itinerary soon. And THIS, my friends, is why you should leave your options open while backpacking!

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Now, another reason I chose to visit the Philippines at this time was because I'd found a great flight deal for February from Manila to Sydney, Australia. Peak season in Australia is December - February. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I spent more time in Thailand than anticipated, which cut into my time in the Philippines, so I'll definitely need to return for more, sooner than later!

So far, Southeast Asia was affordable, safe, full of gorgeous scenery and rich culture, and I'd met so many people along the way, all of with whom I keep in touch today! I was really feeling like the world was my oyster, that's until... the WORST experience of my entire journey happened next...but I'll save that for Part 2! It's already written, so I'll post it soon! Go ahead and subscribe below to be notified when it comes out!

Which of these Southeast Asian destinations are you most excited to visit or hear more about? Have you done a backpacking journey or want to? Share your thoughts below!