5 things I learned after living in South East Asia
From 2016 to 2019, I lived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and worked in Singapore.
Traveling is life. But not in the cliche type of way. I don’t travel to check off countries from the list. I travel to learn. I go to places time and time again because I fall in love with the people and the culture. From 2016-2019, I had two flexible employers that let me be “remote”. So I took advantage of the “work-from-afar” and explored South East Asia. The only country I didn’t get to was Laos, and why I couldn’t get to Laos deserves another post. While living and working in South East Asia, here are some random things I learned.
1. Being a famous celebrity must be tiring. In the 3 years of living, I must have taken more than 2 million selfies with strangers. In Vietnam, it was a constant part of my daily life no matter what I was doing or where I was. I would be stopped and I would be forced into various selfies with a group of friends. I even started having a standard-issue awkward “leave me please” smile to accompany the budding nightmare. Then I would wonder “what will you do with my picture after this?”. I imagine the answer is what we all do when we force celebrities to take selfies with us, to show friends that we saw “so-and-so” until the next time and the next time. If not then what else? I never got used to it and I can only imagine that celebrities don’t either.
2. Every dark-skinned girl should go to Cambodia. Cambodia is part of the triple-threat countries backpackers usually visit when they travel to south east Asia (together with Vietnam and Thailand). Nestled between Vietnam and Thailand, it’s a Buddhist kingdom with a dark shade on its history and bright-eyed people. Never have I ever been treated with such love as the times I was in Cambodia. I fell in love with the country and I went as many times as I could. Either that or I was Cambodian in my past life and somehow, they could all tell. My theory is that in Cambodia, there must be a black lady buddha that brings good luck. Once I was called a ghost by a little girl who never left my side. She wasn’t sure if I was real but she wanted to be close by just in case. Visit and remember to turn into rural Cambodia and see how great it feels to be black when everyone else is not.
3. Mangosteen. It’s also known as the queen of fruit and has all the characteristics of a queen. Expensive wherever it is found (compared to most other fruits). Rarely available or in season (it’s hard to find outside of the first months of summer or rainy season i.e. May/June). Violet color that stains your hands with you peel. Hard on the outside but super soft on the inside. Pearl white insides that burst with flavor when you eat it. And an unimaginable taste. You can’t believe it tastes as good as it tastes and you can’t imagine what it tastes like until you try it. It’s not in Europe and I’ve never seen it in the USA. It could probably be grown in sub-Saharan Africa due to tropical weather in most countries but I never knew about it until I lived in Vietnam. And it’s unforgettable. If you ever come across it, TRY IT. I’m sure you’ll buy more than 1 kg to take home. You can thank me later.
4. Taiwan should be on your list. Most travelers flutter through south east Asia but leave out Taiwan because it’s more developed and doesn’t quite qualify as backpacker friendly. But Taiwan is a bustling island with nature-looking inhabitants that just want to drink bubble tea at midnight in night markets. The Taroko national park has a climbing path that evolves into waterfall after waterfall the further up you climb. It appears endless – stream after stream with clear blue waters but then you arrive to what looks like the beginning of a waterfall with a huge jump for the brave at heart. Purely ethereal. Taiwan is unspoiled by mass tourism, but dismissed by backpackers and underestimated by honeymooners – Untapped, it offers what every adventurer dreams of: national parks & trails, culture, food, transport and flavor.
5. Indonesia is more than Bali. Everyone who travels to Indonesia, goes to Bali and Bali IS breathtaking. But Indonesia is a country of islands that stretch from right next to Malaysia all the way to the tips of Australia. One fellow traveler once told me that a 3-month trip wouldn’t be enough time to see the jewels of Indonesia. I’ve been to Indonesia three times, to three different places and I know I haven’t really been to Indonesia – just parts of it. If you go to Indonesia and only stop at Bali, counting it off your list is like saying you’ve visited the USA and only went to Orlando, Florida. Next time you go, book a flight to Aceh, Sumatra, walk the streets of the quiet town with explosive markets, and maybe eat the juiciest lamb burger you’ve ever had.
Travel Often Despite Everything.