asia trip 2023
In 2023 I visited the following Asian countries: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia.
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Betel Box Backpackers, Singapore Hostel Review
I stayed 10 nights total at Betel Box Backpackers in Singapore. It’s one of the cheapest hostels in Singapore so it’s pretty popular, but it’s located outside of the main…
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UNPLAN Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan (Hostel Review)
I stayed 2 nights at UNPLAN Shinjuku, in the Shinjuku area in Tokyo, Japan. I booked it because Shinjuku is supposed to be on of the best places for tourists…
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Toco Tokyo Heritage Hostel (Review)
I stayed 4 nights at Toco Tokyo Heritage Hostel, located in Taito City in Tokyo, Japan. I booked it specifically because it’s in a refurbished Edo era building, and I…
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Matsue Urban Hotel Cubic Room Review
I stayed 4 nights at Matsue Urban Hotel Cubic Room, a capsule hotel in Matsue, Japan. Matsue is a small town to the north of Hiroshima and is popular as…
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Trust Hotel, Hiroshima, Japan (Review)
I stayed 3 nights at Trust Hotel, a capsule hotel in Hiroshima, Japan. It’s only about 10 minutes walking from the train station, which is also the city transit hub…
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From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Phnom Penh by Bus (Personal Experience)
Traveling around the Banana Pancake trail by ground transport is super easy, cheap, and (mostly) fun! While flying is faster, taking buses, trains, and tuk tuks everywhere definitely gives you…
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What’s the Banana Pancake Trail, Anyway?
The “Banana Pancake Trail” is a popular backpacking route in Southeast Asia. The trail gets its name from the banana pancake breakfast offered in guesthouses and cafes catering to Western…
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Hanoi’s French Quarter Walking Tour Review
There are tons of tours and walking groups in Hanoi, and sometimes it can be difficult to find one that’s actually GOOD. That’s why it’s so important to read reviews…
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Kuching: Borneo’s City of Cats (2024 Travel Guide)
Kuching is the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. Its name means “cat” in Malay, and so Kuching is the city of cats! There’s cat statues all over the city,…
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Visiting All the Traveler’s Factory Locations in Japan
Japan’s Traveler’s Company is the group behind the Midori notebook and the Traveler’s Notebook system that swept the journaling world a few years ago. If you’re interested in notebooks, planners,…
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How to Use a Squat Toilet: Answers to Questions You Never Wanted to Ask
Travel around Asia for any amount of time and eventually you’ll run into the squat toilet. I’ve seen (and used!) squat toilets in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam…
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The Best (and Worst!) Japanese Ice Cream
After spending several months traveling around Japan, I’d gotten into the habit of trying ice cream from convenience stores and supermarkets. It’s nice to have a little treat at the…
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3 Days on the Kinabatangan River, Borneo (Tour Review)
One of the most-recommended things to do on Borneo is the Kinabatangan River Cruise. The reason for that: it’s one of the best ways to see wild animals! Unlike some…
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Brunei Travel Guide 2024
If you’re visiting Borneo and have a few extra days (and some extra cash), then you might want to visit Brunei! I spent (roughly) two days in Brunei in August…
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10 Fun Things to Do in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is a historic city in Laos that’s a popular stop on the backpacker trail, partly because it’s the ending point for the slow boat trip down the Mekong…
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A month in South Korea | May 2023 Travel Budget Breakdown
In May 2023, I spent a month backpacking through South Korea. I came over to Busan from Fukuoka via the JR Beetle, an international ferry! Then I visited Jeju Island,…
