5 Places in Southeast Asia That Blew My Mind

Man, I never thought I’d be the guy writing about travel spots. But here I am, still buzzing from these places I stumbled upon in Southeast Asia. You know how sometimes you end up somewhere by accident and it just… clicks? That’s what happened with these spots.

Luang Namtha, Laos

I rolled into Luang Namtha with a killer hangover and a vague plan to stay a couple days. Ended up there for two weeks. This place is wild, man. Like, literally wild.

I met this local guy, Seng, at a run-down cafe. He offered to take me trekking. Now, usually I’m not one for organized tours, but something about Seng’s toothless grin made me say yes.

We spent three days in the jungle. I ate things I couldn’t identify, slept in a village where the kids thought my body hair was hilarious, and nearly shit myself when we came across a snake bigger than my arm.

But you know what? It was fucking awesome. There’s something about being that deep in nature that just… I don’t know, man. It changes you.

Belitung Island, Indonesia

Belitung was a happy accident. Missed my ferry to Bali and ended up here instead. Best mistake of my life.

This place is like Bali before it got swamped with tourists and yoga retreats. Pristine beaches, crystal clear water, and these massive rocks that look like they fell from the sky.

I spent my days alternating between stuffing my face with fresh seafood and attempting to surf. Keyword: attempting. Pretty sure I swallowed half the ocean and my board spent more time in the air than I did.

Met this old fisherman who invited me out on his boat. We didn’t speak the same language, but we didn’t need to. Just two dudes, a boat, and the open sea. Sometimes that’s all you need, you know?

Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Mae Hong Son wasn’t even on my radar until I met this girl in Chiang Mai. She told me about this loop you can do on a motorbike. I’d never ridden one before, but hey, how hard could it be?

Turns out, pretty fucking hard when you’re on mountain roads. Nearly drove off a cliff twice. But man, the views. Misty mountains, hidden waterfalls, temples that looked like they were floating in the clouds.

Stayed in this tiny village where this old lady took pity on me and my pathetic attempts at cooking. She spent three days trying to teach me how to make proper Thai food. I’m still shit at it, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

Hsipaw, Myanmar

Hsipaw wasn’t even supposed to be a stop. The bus I was on broke down there. But you know what they say about silver linings and all that jazz.

This place is like stepping back in time, but in a good way. Spent my days wandering around, getting lost in tea plantations, and trying to communicate with locals using mostly hand gestures and bad drawings.

The highlight? This crazy train ride over the Goteik Viaduct. It’s this ancient bridge that looks like it could collapse any second. Scariest and most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done. Felt like Indiana Jones, minus the cool hat and whip skills.

Bacuit Archipelago, Philippines

I ended up in the Bacuit Archipelago after a series of bad decisions involving too much rum and a girl whose name I can’t remember. But sometimes bad decisions lead to the best places.

This place is unreal. Like, I’m pretty sure I died and went to screensaver heaven. Limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, beaches where the only footprints were mine.

Tried my hand at freediving. Turns out, I’m about as graceful underwater as a drunk elephant. But floating there, surrounded by fish and coral and this incredible blue… man, it makes you feel small in the best way possible.

Look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you how to travel. That’s not my style. But these places? They reminded me why I started traveling in the first place. It’s not about ticking boxes or getting the perfect Instagram shot. It’s about those moments that make you go “holy shit, is this real?”

So maybe ditch the guidebook. Take that weird bus going to a place you can’t pronounce. Say yes to the adventures that scare you a little. You might end up lost, confused, and way out of your comfort zone. But you might also find yourself in places that’ll stick with you long after the tan fades and the bug bites heal.

Just don’t forget to call your mom once in a while. She worries, you know?