2018 was definitely the most exciting year of my life (so far). I finally went on a big solo backpacking trip after quitting my London job and travelled around Asia for nine months. I experienced so many things, met so many people and saw so many beautiful places it’s hard to tell you about all of it. But we all like to summarise at the end of every year so I have browsed through my travel diaries and put together the best memories I made during my 2018 backpacking journey!

This year I went to Asia for the very first time. I visited Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Bali.

This post is for all of you who always ask me about my best travel experiences in Asia. Here are my favourite moments of my 2018 solo trip (in no particular order):

1. Befriending Elephants (Thailand)

Everyone who has ever been close to an elephant will understand the amazing feeling of connecting with these lovely giants. They are kind, playful and utterly harmless! Which is why you should only visit ethical elephant sanctuaries where they are treated right – and of course never ride them. Read more details about my elephant experience plus how to avoid unethical elephant tourism in this article. 😉

2. Early Morning Walk at Fushimi Inari-taisha (Japan)

There is something about the thousands of famous orange torii gates that immediately wowed me! Getting up early to arrive just after sunrise was totally worth it and I enjoyed a fairly relaxed and peaceful walk through a seemingly endless line of gates – a place that’s normally super crowded. Very cool experience!

3. Trekking to Inle Lake (Myanmar)

I wasn’t even planning to go on the three-day trek from Kalaw to Inle but it ended up being one of the best experiences in Southeast Asia! Stunning green landscapes, a fun group of people, having your phone off for three days – then finally being taken across Inle Lake by boat after walking around 60km. Watch a little video from this awesome trip here or read everything about it in this blog post.

4. Tasting Vietnam

Local food is a big part of every travelling experience and Vietnamese food was my favourite! I would happily go back for a taste of proper Vietnamese Bun cha, Bun bo Nam Bo, Banh mi or anything else, really. And it wasn’t just the food itself; it was the little plastic chairs on the street that made it my favourite eating experience.

5. Releasing Baby Turtles (Bali, Indonesia)

I have always loved turtles but never ever thought I would have the chance to one day release a baby turtle into the sea! Unfortunately only one in 1000 baby turtles survives the journey out into the ocean but you never know, your turtle might just be the lucky one…

6. Hiking the Great Wall (China)

The Great Wall, one of the new seven wonders of the world! Do I need to say more? In fact, I have already written a whole article about my trip to the Great Wall – read how I completely avoided the crowds and accidentally got on the Wall for free!

7. Chatting with Monks (Laos)

You see Buddhist monks pretty much everywhere in Southeast Asia but in Laos they were the most approachable. Buddhist monks are highly respected in Buddhist societies but they are still people; they had no problem starting a conversation on a bus or stopping me to practise their English when I was visiting a temple.

8. Having Fun at Universal Studios (Japan)

I became a little kid again when I found out there was a Harry Potter world at the Universal Studios in Osaka. Did I drink butterbeer, go on the Harry Potter ride twice, eat a Minion-shaped pizza and ride scary roller coasters all day? Totally. Read my tips for visiting the USJ.

9. Trying out Thanaka (Myanmar)

It’s very common for Burmese people to put thanaka powder on their faces. This natural cosmetic product (comes from wood) is used as sun protection, skin treatment, simply for beauty and it even has a cooling function. I wanted to try it to fit in – and it did actually feel nice and cool on my face 🙂

10. Infinity Pool with the View of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Is there a better place to stay in Kuala Lumpur?! There are actually several hotels with rooftop infinity pools in the Malaysian capital but you don’t have to be a millionaire to have a view like this! I stayed in an affordable Airbnb 😉

 

11. The Train Street in Hanoi (Vietnam)

What’s the Train street, you ask? It’s simply a street which has railway tracks running through the middle and there are no cars. For most of the day, residents of this street lead a normal life and their kids are playing on the tracks… then several times a day an actual train comes. The train is almost as wide as the street itself which means it runs only a few feet away from the houses. To stand by the wall and have the train passing you less than a meter away was strange and exciting at the same time!

PS: You hear sirens long before the train comes so it was super safe to take this photo 😉

12. Seeing That Skyline from Victoria Peak (Hong Kong)

Even if you haven’t been to Hong Kong, you know which skyline I’m talking about. No view of Hong Kong is as spectacular as the one from Victoria Peak – and seeing that with my own eyes was awesome! Plus if you walk all the way around the peak, you will have a 360° view of Hong Kong, seeing even more than these famous skyscrapers 😉

13. The Perfectly Imperfect Sunrise at Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Angkor Wat is one of the world’s most popular tourist spots for sunrise. It seems that everyone wants to see the beautiful orange skies behind this temple, famously reflected in one of the ponds. Well, turns out it doesn’t look like this all year round. I was in Cambodia during rainy season and it was cloudy both mornings I came to Angkor for sunrise. But hey, it’s still Angkor Wat which looks spectacular no matter what. Read my 3-day Angkor itinerary here!

14. Driving Around the Ghost Capital of Myanmar

Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) must be the most bizarre capital city ever! It was artificially built in 2005 and all government and ministry offices were moved here from Yangon, the former capital. Nothing much interesting can be found here and Yangon still remains the biggest and busiest city. For this reason no tourists usually come to Naypyidaw but we decided to stop here for a day and see the weirdness for ourselves. The city is huge for no reason so you can drive for ages feeling like you’re in the countryside! Read more about my experience from this place here.

15. Sunrise Trekking to Mt Batur (Bali, Indonesia)

One of Bali’s two active volcanoes must be on your list when visiting the Island of the Gods! Hiking up Mt Batur in the dark is not exactly fun, especially because the trek is very popular and full of people BUT seeing the sun rising from the clouds behind lake Batur and Mt Abang is a view I will never forget.

16. Exploring Avatar Mountains (China)

China has many natural wonders and this was one of the most magical places I have ever seen! Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is where James Cameron got his inspiration for the Hallelujah mountains in Avatar. It’s hard to describe how breathtaking these mountains are in real life. If you are planning to visit Zhangjiajie, here’s everything you need to know 😉

17. Cycling Around Ninh Binh (Vietnam)

I don’t drive a motorbike but whenever there was a chance to rent a bicycle on my travels, I’d take it! And the charming sleepy town of Ninh Binh with its stunning karst landscapes was a great place to explore on a bicycle. My favourite place in Ninh Binh was the Hang Mua viewpoint 🙂

18. Gamcheon Culture Village (South Korea)

I totally have a thing for colourful places and I don’t know if there is a more colourful city than Busan. The Gamcheon Culture Village is a really fun hillside neighbourhood full of quirky street art, statues and exhibitions – you can find many places like this all over South Korea but Gamcheon is the most popular. And they have the Little Prince statue or a staircase of books! What’s not to love?!

19. Discovering the Secret Pool at Kuang Si (Laos)

Kuang Si is the most beautiful set of waterfalls in Asia in my opinion. The cascading turquoise falls will take your breath away, but what left me even more speechless was the (not so) secret pool with a view of all the waterfalls below. Read my guide to the Kuang Si Falls here.

20. Getting Lost in the Jungle (Malaysia)

Jungles are way out of my comfort zone! That time my mum flew to Asia to see me, we were casually hiking around Cameron Highlands… until my (usually super reliable) Maps.Me somehow led us to the jungle. But hey, it was an adventure! One tiny snake is as dangerous as it got.

21. Cooking Class (Myanmar)

When I think about it, a lot of my Myanmar trip was rather spontaneous. Like the time we were having amazing dinner in a Nyaung Shwe restaurant and decided to sign up for their cooking class advertised on the wall. We spent the following morning with the most lovely teacher preparing pumpkin and tofu curries and a number of salads. Everything you see in the picture below was delicious – and surprisingly 100% vegan (I’m not vegan but it was yummy!!).

22. The Doi Inthanon Fairytale (Thailand)

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and also a place I set as my laptop wallpaper at the beginning of 2017 when I decided I would go on a big backpacking trip one year later – which is exactly what happened. Coming here felt like stepping into a fairytale, but for me it was even more than that. It meant I had kept the promise to myself and was living my dream!

23. “Swimming” with Dolphins (Bali, Indonesia)

While in Bali, we made a little trip to Lovina in the less touristy North. Lovina is famous for its dolphins so we went on a boat and ended up seeing not a few but literally hundreds of dolphins out on the sea! They were everywhere, elegantly cruising next us, jumping up and down in the water and swimming under the boat. We were also snorkeling next to the boat but I actually think we saw a lot more just from the boat.

24. Experiencing Hanami (Japan)

Hanami translates as “flower viewing”, which is what the Japanese do in spring when their well-known cherry trees are in blossom. They celebrate the season by having picnics under the beautiful trees. So naturally I had to do the same when I came to Japan in the middle of the sakura season. Of course I had seen cherry trees before, but the countless cherry trees in Japan (sakura) left me speechless. They are everywhere so the blossoms turn even a concrete jungle like Tokyo into a beautiful meadow.

(The cherry tree blossom only lasts about two weeks. This article contains some information to help you plan your Japan trip if you want to see the sakura beauty for yourself.)

25. Climbing Mt Laozhai (China)

When I climbed the Laozhai mountain in Xingping, I discovered a breathtaking view of the Yangshuo county – a view unknown to most Chinese who don’t usually climb mountains if there is no cable car. But that’s not why I will always remember this place. Shortly after me a Chinese girl reached the top. She looked at the view from the official viewing platform and said it was nice but there should be an even better view she had seen in pictures. So we climbed a little higher over some rocks and there it was: this stunning view I didn’t know existed. And that’s how I met my friend Chen. Not only did she hike to the top, she was also travelling alone and she spoke English – all very uncharacteristic for a Chinese person. (We later explored Zhangjiajie together! 🙂 )

26. The Buggy Adventure (Laos)

Vang Vieng is a place offering many outdoor activities so when my friend suggested we could rent an ATV buggy, of course I was in! It turned to be the perfect option for driving around the beautiful countryside. It had been raining a lot and scooters or bicycles would just not tackle all the mud as well as our buggy did 😀

27. Those Lazy Days in Koh Rong Sanloem (Cambodia)

I didn’t spend a lot of time on the beach during my travels, which made those rare beach moments rather special. The island of Koh Rong Sanloem was probably the closest to paradise I have ever been and I loved my time there! I met great people and only have good memories of this little island. I also rediscovered my love for swings, which are all over the island 😀

28. The Accidental Photoshoot (Vietnam)

One morning in Hanoi we were strolling through the botanical gardens, amused by all the photoshoots around us… until we accidentally ended up in one. A local family was taking photos with their cute daughters in pink dresses when they spotted us – and what could make their pictures better than a group of foreign girls, right?

29. Riding the Yangon Circular Train (Myanmar)

A train circling around Myanmar’s biggest city may sound like a boring experience but it turned out to be the best way to observe local life. It’s hard to describe the charm of this train, you just need to experience it because there is so much going on! A lady next to me even shared her lunch with me and another one put fresh flowers in my hair. Just because. I have written about this train experience for Written From Travel. Read it here.

30. Celebrating Singapore’s Birthday (Singapore)

As much as I loved travelling solo, it was a nice change when I met up with my mum in Singapore and had a travel buddy for a while. Without knowing, we booked our Singapore trip right for the country’s 53th birthday! So in addition to the usual sightseeing, we were entertained by fireworks and locals who were all dressed in red and white. You can find more about Singapore here!

31. Learning to Surf (Bali, Indonesia)

Surfing is something I’ve been considering trying out for quite a while but always assumed I would completely suck at it. To my surprise it wasn’t a complete disaster and I feel proud for finally giving it a go. I only went surfing three times in Bali but it was good fun and I really want to give it another shot someday!

32. The National Anthem Experience (Thailand)

I still remember the first time I heard the Thai national anthem. I was in the middle of the biggest bus station I have ever seen (Mo Chit in Bangkok), trying to find my check-in counter when the anthem started playing from loudspeakers. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stood still until the music was over. This happens in many public places in Thailand every day at 8am and 6pm. I have experienced this a few more times after that and it amazes me every time! (If you’re curious, it looks like this.)

33. Kayaking in Halong Bay (Vietnam)

Going on a Halong Bay cruise is a must in Vietnam. The thousands of limestone islands emerging from turquoise waters really are worth seeing. Even better if you can kayak and swim amongst them 😉 Read my tips for visiting Halong Bay on a budget here!

34. Bioluminescent Plankton (Cambodia)

I’ve heard stories about the bioluminescent plankton but never saw it for myself before I came to Koh Rong Sanloem. All we had to do was walk out into the sea (it was very shallow) on a cloudy night and kick the water – and there it was! Of course I don’t have a picture of the tiny lights in the water but it looked very cool, you’ll just have to trust me on that 😉

35. The 4am Rickshaw Ride (Myanmar)

The one downside to travelling in Myanmar is the fact that all long distance buses seem to arrive at your destination at 4am. Bagan was no exception. When we disembarked at the bus station, we were surrounded by taxi and tuk tuk drivers offering ridiculous rates for a 2km journey to our hotel. The cheapest way to get there turned out to be a rickshaw. We were a bit doubtful as we watched the old man pedal on the bicycle, carrying two girls and two big backpacks while we were lighting up the road with our phone flashlights hoping cars wouldn’t hit us… But somehow we made it safely and to this day I laugh when I remember this ride.

36. The Worst Hike, the Best View (Laos)

I love good views and when I saw the sceneries in Vang Vieng, I just knew I had to climb at least one mountain. The hike I picked was awful – steep, the rocks were slippery, I almost passed out halfway through (and I’m used to hiking!) and I was covered in sweat head to toe when I finally made it to the top… but this breathtaking view was worth it all!

37. Not Getting Lost in the Tokyo Train System (Japan)

Seriously, this is a big deal. I have been to many cities in my life and navigated various subway systems, but I swear there is nothing crazier than the train network in Tokyo! (See the map in this post.) If you don’t get lost here, you won’t get lost anywhere.

38. The Marriage Market in Shanghai (China)

One of the most bizarre things I’ve seen in my life. We walked into a park in Shanghai and suddenly there were opened umbrellas everywhere. I would never know what it was but my friend told me it was the marriage market! Each umbrella had a sheet of paper with some Chinese text, apparently describing an appearance, age, job, income and more – this is how people in China advertise their single family members (who often have no idea about it)! Needless to say, marriage is a big deal in the Chinese society…

39. Learning About The Sad History of Cambodia

This isn’t exactly a happy memory but it’s an important one. The Khmer Rouge genocide is not talked about much but it’s just as horrendous as the Holocaust. About 2 million innocent people died under the Pol Pot’s regime in Cambodia. This was happening between 1975 and 1979, not that long ago. The Killing Fields and S21 (Tuol Sleng) genocide museum in Phnom Penh are the best places to learn about this dark chapter of Cambodian history. (But if this is the first time you are hearing about this genocide, please Google it right now…)

40. Getting Off The Beaten Path in Sapa (Vietnam)

Sapa is a beautiful part of northern Vietnam, which is becoming increasingly more popular with tourists. While it’s easy to hike around the gorgeous terraced rice fields by yourself, the trouble is you are immediately followed by local women trying to give you a tour (and ask for money). So my favourite memory from Sapa is the afternoon I somehow escaped the crowds and followed a hidden route on Maps.Me. The route actually looked like an easy 30min walk and ended up being a 1,5h climb over hills… but that was the beauty of it 😀

41. Monkeys!

I know, I know, monkeys can be cheeky and dangerous… but I do love them! We simply don’t have monkeys roaming free in Europe so whenever there were some monkeys (Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Malaysia, Bali…), it made me very happy. They are just super fun to watch 😀

42. Travel Romance(s)

No, I didn’t want to include this on the list. But I’m writing about my best experiences from my travels and to be honest, some of my favourite memories do revolve around romance. What can I say – you meet a lot of like-minded people when travelling so occasionally there’s bound to be someone with whom you hit it off a bit more… right? 🙂

Honestly, I could go on. I was experiencing new things and places every day during my 9-month trip and made countless memories! These are my 42 most memorable experiences, but there were also thousands of other little moments. All the bus rides, everyday exchanges with locals, waiting at airports, counting foreign currency, navigating unfamiliar cities… they may all seem mundane and unimportant but I believe that ultimately, they are a huge part of travelling and shape your personality in the long run.

And finally, solo travelling isn’t about being alone all the time. I’m very grateful for all the amazing people I met along the way – people I would have never met if I hadn’t embarked on this crazy adventure! Thanks for being part of my journey 🙂

What was your best experience of 2018? Let me know in the comments!

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