11 months in Asia – what you need to know

Favorite countries:

1.Thailand – After three months and close personal friendships with locals, it was an experience unto itself
2.Nepal – One word: Himalayas
3.Laos – Chilled back lifestyle and locals with plenty off-the-tourist-trail activities

Most challenging countries:
1.India – Nothing works as you’d expect, and the masses of people everywhere will redefine concepts of privacy and personal space
2.Vietnam – It’s hard to put a finger on it but many interactions with locals here left us feeling discouraged
3.Singapore – Boring and expensive (yes, we drank some haterade today)

Best food:
1.Vietnam – Pho, bahn mi, coffee and a bunch of other ridiculous dishes I forget the names of
2.Thailand – No brainer
3.India – Goodness in curry, spiced form. Be sure to eat the food on the trains!

Outstanding nature treks:
1.Annapurna Range, Nepal – Gorgeous walks between stone age villages with the Himalayas as the backdrop – nothing comes close
2.Garmuk Glacier, Gangorti, India – Walking with devoted pilgrims in a beautiful glacial valley, surrounded by Himalayan peaks to the source of the Ganges
3.Tiger Leaping Gorge, China – You feel like an ant walking through the grand canyon in this place of ridiculous scale

Top near-death experiences:
1.Almost falling into the raging river at Tiger Leaping Gorge (TD)
2.Electrocution and falling 3 meters from the rafters to ground at Pun Pun (TD)
3.Barely missing a head on collision with a taxi on a motorbike in Goa (Kim and TD)

Favorite spots:
1.Gili Islands, Indonesia – Paradise defined. It felt like our own personal island where days could very easily slip away into weeks (which they did)
2.Yangshuo, China – Karst, Karst, Karst formations with countless activities in a very happening tourist town
3.Gangotri, India – Nestled into the Himalayas, full of devoted Hindus and curious backpackers, this primitive and unique place hangs on to the side of a gorge with rope bridges connecting various parts of town

Best beer:
1.Beer Lao – National beverage, and worthy of the title
2.Sorry Asia, your beer sucks

Our most memorable experiences:
1.Spending two months on Pun Pun Organic Farm
2.Trekking through remote Akha villages in Northern Laos
3.Biking through rice paddies in Guangxi province

Famous touristy sites that are worth the money:
1.Angkor Wat, Cambodia
2.Taj Majal, India
3.Halong Bay, Vietnam

Must-have skills prior to an Asia trip:
1.Bargaining
2.Motorbike skills
3.Strong and adventurous stomach

Best shopping:
1.Bangkok, Thailand – For absolutely EVERYTHING
2.Kathmandu, Nepal – Get completely outfitted in“North Fake” trekking gear before hitting the mountains
3.Hoi An, Vietnam – Custom made clothes in a day and tailors here can copy any design

Things we learned:
1.You don’t have to buy anything before you arrive. Everything is for sale and much cheaper than you would get at home. In fact, come here naked with a bunch of cash
2.If there is a line for food, get in it. The best food can be found in mall food courts and dodgy street stalls
3.Never trust a tuk-tuk/auto-rickshaw/taxi driver