Curry Bak kut teh Indonesian basil
Get a SPA Set off fireworks Take a sauna
Coco Pineapple Mango Mango (coconut, pineapple, mango)
Sabah Pattaya Sun blazing hot
Cantaloupe hops Beautiful scenery
Night market Seafood stalls Pool parties”
The song “Curry Curry” seems to describe everyone’s image of Southeast Asia: convenient flights and resort hotels, beach, ocean, bikini, golden temples and green jungles, spicy food and SPA massage.
However, in the eyes of experienced players, Southeast Asia is not the same as lying down and eating, nor is it content to be ordinary. Every country, even every city, has its own unique attractions. Whether it’s natural scenery or human history, Southeast Asia is like a spice that can stimulate your nerves. Now, please follow our introduction and explore the niche Southeast Asian destinations that will WOW you!
The volcano with the highest ranking in the hearts of Indonesians, it is also the most mysterious and the most violent volcano in Indonesia. It is located in eastern Java, called Bromo, and it is an active volcano with a crater that is always spewing smoke and steam and erupts from time to time.
The volcano is not too high, only 2392 meters, easy to reach, you can take a car to the foot of the mountain and climb the stairs to the viewing platform at the crater, there are thousands of tourists visiting here every day.
Actually, besides Bromo Volcano, there are many other volcanoes in this area, but Bromo is the only active volcano. To get to Mount Bromo, you first have to cross the giant Tengger caldera. The caldera is 10 kilometers in diameter, with steep mountain walls that stand straight up from the vast lava sand plains. This desolate area gives a sense of the end of the world, or of being on the surface of the moon. Especially at sunrise.
The bottom of the caldera is covered in volcanic ash, where there is no vegetation, black ash forms sand dunes, called “sand sea” by the locals.
China National Geographic once published a special edition on Myanmar, and the sentence “How much smoke and clouds are there in the Buddhist pagodas” is the most accurate interpretation of Bagan. Known as the “City of Ten Thousand Pagodas”, Bagan was the capital of the first unified dynasty in Burmese history, the “Bagan Dynasty”, and is located on the plains along the Irrawaddy River, the scenery is very grand, we will start to explore the Bagan pagodas. Bagan is a famous historical city in Myanmar, a Buddhist cultural relic, and a sacred place for Burmese religion. Bagan, along with Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia, is considered one of the greatest and most precious Buddhist wonders in Southeast Asia.
“Wherever your finger points, there is a pagoda.” The once glorious Bagan dynasty built millions of temples and pagodas, and even after a thousand years of wind and rain, there are still over 2,000 pagodas left in an area of 40 square kilometers, each with its own story.
Bagan at sunrise, thousands of pagodas are shrouded in morning mist, and when the first rays of light break the peace, hot air balloons float slowly over Bagan, a scene that is enough to make one gasp in admiration.
It can hold two Boeing 747s, an 80-story skyscraper, 150 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, and even has its own climate system and two caves with primitive forests inside! Son Doong Cave was discovered in 1991 by local hunters, and it was only in 2009 that it was systematically surveyed. 9,000 meters long, 150 meters wide, 200 meters high, all these amazing records also make Son Doong Cave surpass Deer Cave in Malaysia to become the largest cave in the world.
In April 2015, the “Good Morning America” crew recorded a historic live show of cave exploration here, which also showcased the magical appearance of this closest cave to the earth to the world. Due to the limited number of people each year by the management agency, the high cost of exploration and the unknown risks, the number of people who have entered Son Doong Cave is much less than those who have been to space! If you are a real outdoor adventure enthusiast, then Son Doong Cave must be at the top of your dream list.
For first-time divers, dancing with whale sharks off the coast of Sumilon Island is definitely one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Whale sharks are the largest sharks in the world, and the longest can reach a full 12 meters, nearly the length of a badminton court. The patterns on their bodies are as beautiful as stars, the sunlight shines through in shallow waters, and the stars on their bodies seem to be shining, gentle and dreamy.
This “giant of the sea”, when it opens its huge mouth and looks up to drink water, makes one feel awe, but when you see its soft belly, dragging its tail fin to swim past, you feel very cute, no wonder it is also called “tofu shark”, although it is a shark, but very gentle.
Whale sharks like to be close to people, and play with people, but because of a lot of human hunting, it has been listed as an endangered species, so we should also do our part to protect them.
Borneo – the third largest island in the world, on par with the Amazon, the most pristine and wild place in Malaysia. Wildlife here thrives, hidden in this Noah’s Ark-like paradise.
Sandakan – mountains, rainforests, rivers, oceans, the world’s most famous national park for exploring the Rafflesia, geological wonders of rocks, as if a microcosm of the Borneo rainforest. Contains the Asian version of “Serengeti”: clouded leopards, orangutans, bears, wild elephants, flying lemurs… many endangered species, lurking in the 666 square kilometer forest reserve!
In the monotonous Sabah itinerary, this is the right way to open Borneo. Break into the “Asian Amazon” and have a real jungle adventure!
Although Luang Prabang has four major waterfalls, Kuang Si Falls ranks first in various recommendations. If you have time, don’t miss it. Kuang Si Falls is a magnificent, layered waterfall when viewed from afar, but it’s most famous for its rope swing, with tree trunks jutting out of the water by the pool, making natural platforms from which to jump. A leap from the big tree down into the crystal clear water is a joyous experience.
Even if you don’t like jumping, playing in the clear, fresh water, swimming is very pleasant and refreshing. In addition, the water is rich in minerals, and there are little fish that eat dead skin, which is very good for the skin. Soak in the pool, it’s like getting a natural SPA, very interesting. The stunning scenery and fun activities make this a great place to escape the heat.
Angkor Wat, is the exotic land recorded by Zhou Daguan; with the demise of the Zhenla Dynasty, the Sangha Buddha’s residence was also asleep in the sealed historical river for a thousand years. Angkor Wat, is the eternal beauty written by Jiang Xun; sunrise and sunset, full moon and waning moon, flowers blooming and falling, life and death, chanting the scriptures in the midst of extinction. Angkor Wat, is unspoken love in the years of youth; Tony Leung confesses his secret to a tree hole, sealing it with grass, shy to speak. Angkor Wat, is the gateway to time and space in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; Lara Croft comes to the distant east, looking for the key in the ancient temple that has been almost swallowed by the jungle.
Angkor Wat, also known as Angkor Temple, is located in Cambodia, known as the national treasure of Cambodia, is the largest temple in the world, and also the earliest Khmer architecture in the world. In 1992, UNESCO listed Angkor as a World Heritage Site.
After that, Angkor Wat, as the most important part of Angkor, has become a shining tourist attraction in Cambodia. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is known as one of the four ancient wonders of the East along with China’s Great Wall, India’s Taj Mahal and Indonesia’s Borobudur.
Most beaches in the world are pale yellow or white, only a few rare beaches are pink. In the South Indian Ocean, nature’s craftsmanship has carved Komodo Island into a pink pearl, creating a heart-wrenching pink beach.
Komodo Island retains its most pristine beauty, under the equatorial sun, the sea water from far to near is dyed in ink black, peacock blue, emerald green in turn, white waves crashing on the shore, receding to reveal a pink, delicate beach. There is no large number of tourists invading, just quietly waiting, only to excite your beating heart.
Immerse yourself in the world-renowned Gardens by the Bay horticultural masterpiece, and be amazed and enchanted by the dazzling coastal scenery! Gardens by the Bay is also an ideal picnic spot, with verdant lawns and tropical palm trees. Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade, and enjoy breathtaking views of Singapore’s beautiful cityscape.
Don’t miss the unique Supertrees. As a vertical garden from 9 to 16 stories high, they not only collect rainwater, generate solar energy, but also serve as ventilation ducts for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. If you are brave enough, you can experience the 128-meter-long OCBC Skyway, walk suspended between two Supertrees, and enjoy panoramic views of the Gardens. As night falls, the dazzling and colorful light show (Garden Rhapsody) will begin, the giant trees in the forest will perform a dazzling and colorful light show every night.
A person who can focus on one thing for a lifetime is undoubtedly a craftsman. Located in Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun, has a more familiar name: the White Temple. This artistic palace, presided over by Thai Chinese master Chalermchai Kositpipat since 1997, has gone through 22 years since it was started.
Thailand is not short of temples, but anyone who experiences the White Temple will involuntarily “WOW” out a gasp of admiration. The ups and downs of his youth gave Mr. Xu more thinking about life. He returned to his hometown with all his savings and built the thing in his dreams, and he will continue to improve it for the rest of his life. All this is to realize his pursuit of art and pass on his craftsmanship to future generations.
White as the base, silver mirror trim, every detail of the building is meticulously crafted, like a magnificent palace from another world, perhaps only a dream from Buddha can conceive such a masterpiece. Surprisingly, the exquisite murals inside the hall can find modern elements such as Doraemon, Avatar, keeping up with the times, but also containing the Buddhist principle of the cycle of life and death. The White Temple is such an artistic treasure that belongs to Thailand.
Semporna, located on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, is a county of Tawau Division, Sabah. In the Bajau and Malay languages, Semporna literally means ‘perfect’. The vast beauty of the sea and sky merging into one makes one feel like they have come to a city in the sky. The rich underwater world is known by many divers as “an underwater aquarium”.
And on some islands in Semporna, there is a group of people who live in stilt houses on the sea, they can dive into the deep sea 20 meters without any equipment to fish, the only means of transportation is hand-made wooden boats. They continue the lifestyle of their ancestors hundreds of years ago. They have no nationality, are not allowed to go ashore, and spend their lives drifting on the sea. This is the last marine nomadic people in the world – the Bajau people.
During the French colonial period, French royalty could not stand the summer heat, so they built a summer retreat on a plateau over 1,400 meters above sea level and named it “Ba Na Hills”, which has now become a landmark of Da Nang.
The bridge built on Ba Na Hills is called the Golden Bridge. The bridge is about 1,400 meters above sea level. The bridge is about 150 meters long, if you are not close, it is difficult to see the whole picture, if you look at it from a little further away, you can find the bridge hidden in the clouds, the people on the bridge are like immortals walking in the clouds, the clouds are misty, the immortal energy is floating.
Ba Na Hills also has the longest cross-mountain cable car in the world! The cross-mountain cable car connecting the foot of the mountain, the mid-mountain and the top of the mountain was built by the French, with a total length of over 5 kilometers, the longest single-track cable car with the largest drop in the Guinness World Records. The whole experience takes 28 minutes!
Take the cable car up the mountain, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of Ba Na Hills: rolling hills, lush forests, beautiful waterfalls… you can also experience the temperature of the four seasons in half an hour. If you don’t want to travel far, Ba Na Hills can let you pretend to be in Europe!
Every year on the 15th of the 12th lunar month, it is the traditional Thai festival of “Loy Krathong”. On this night of full moon, people set their krathongs adrift on the river, the water surface is filled with flickering candlelight, romantic and heartwarming. Loy Krathong, Loi means float, Krathong means water lantern, in northern Thai dialect called Yee Peng.
Loy Krathong has a history of hundreds of years, originating in Sukhothai, people set krathongs adrift to express their gratitude to the river gods, and to pray for protection. During the Loy Krathong Festival, celebrations are held throughout Thailand, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Sukhothai are the main venues, Sukhothai is the birthplace of Loy Krathong, with a different charm.
After nightfall, torches are lit in the Sukhothai Historical Park, and the surrounding pools are filled with krathongs, which are made of banana leaves in the shape of bowls or small boats, carrying lit candles. The twinkling candlelight floats on the water surface, like stars, very beautiful.
A krathong represents a wish, thousands of krathongs floating on the water, the scene is very spectacular. Thailand’s Loy Krathong Festival is the most romantic festival of all festivals in the world, it can be said that this day is Thailand’s Valentine’s Day, a day for lovers to tell each other their heart’s desires. The Loy Krathong activities in Chiang Mai are the most grand and moving, lovers get together to make wishes and release lanterns, sky lanterns glow, river lanterns sway, the warm light reflects the sweet smiles of the people.
The Mergui Archipelago is one of the last places on earth that is about to disappear. It is the largest archipelago along the coast of the Indochinese Peninsula, with over 800 islands, covering an area of about 3,500 square kilometers and home to over 2,000 Moken people. The Mergui Archipelago is one of the last pristine archipelagos in the world, a virgin land in Southeast Asia that is rarely visited by humans, and has been named one of the best niche destinations by National Geographic, only 1% of the world knows its existence.
According to the British newspaper “The Daily Mail”, the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar is known as the “Lost World” because of its thousands of undeveloped white beaches, lush virgin jungles and mysterious Moken indigenous “Sea Gypsies”. In this peaceful land, 30 hotels and resorts will be built, and it is expected to become the next beach resort in Asia, comparable to Phuket, Thailand.
Mount Mayon (Mt.Mayon), in Bikol means “beautiful”. The volcano is 2,463 meters high, with a base diameter of 20 kilometers, and a slope of 35-45 degrees at the top. This perfect volcanic cone stands on the Pacific coast, overlooking the surrounding farmland and towns. Among the large and small volcanoes in the world, Mount Mayon’s perfectness is second to none, even exceeding Mount Fuji in Japan.
Mount Mayon is an active volcano, and it has been spewing smoke and dust. According to historical records, this active volcano has erupted 49 times in total. Early morning is the best time to admire Mount Mayon, and by the afternoon, the summit is often shrouded in mist. However, when it comes to evening, the setting sun shines on the clouds at the summit, which will be the most perfect volcanic sunset on the planet.
Lush jungles, bustling cities, relaxing beaches, treacherous volcanoes, ancient temples, modern buildings, creative dishes… Southeast Asia never stops exuding its approachable exotic charm. It’s a travel destination that’s so close to us, there’s so much you can do and see here.
You can hike in the depths of Borneo’s jungle or lounge on the stunning beaches of Bali, sample delicious food along the way in Singapore or party all night in the intoxicating clubs of Bangkok, you can also explore the ancient temples of Angkor or volunteer in Hanoi among the locals. Let’s rediscover Southeast Asia and explore more unknown places!
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