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Home » Blog » Back to Southeast Asia. Time for a Burst of Love?
Inle Lake, by Hai Thinh

Back to Southeast Asia. Time for a Burst of Love?

//  by Simon//  14 Comments

Time runs quickly, and in only a few days I’ll be heading back to Southeast Asia for a (relatively) extended period.

Inle Lake, by Hai Thinh

I limited my stay at 45 days since the flight was cheaper but honestly, I could have decided to spend a longer time. The truth is that I didn’t feel like it. It’s not my first journey to Southeast Asia, and while I certainly liked  the few countries I visited, I never really felt the ‘WoW!’ factor. I am curious, though, so this time I’ll explore new areas and who knows? Maybe I’ll have a burst of love.

Exploring Southeastern Asia. Time for a burst of love?

Whenever possible, I try to avoid too much planning. I like to feel free to spend more time in a place that I truly like, or to explore an area I hadn’t considered because I found good advice on the road. Compared to my wild journey to South Africa, where I decided my itinerary almost day by day, this trip has already a more definite form.

Where will I go and what will I be up to?

Siladen… Here I come back again!

Siladen-Sunset

A small island in Northern Sulawesi, a wedding on the beach and most likely a wonderful sunset with the Manado Tua volcano as a backdrop.

One of my best friends is getting married in this little piece of paradise and we are a small group of intimates gathering to celebrate what will no doubt be an unforgettable day.

The rest of the time I’ll be very busy chilling out, scuba diving in the stunning Bunaken Marine Park and getting pampered with massages and excellent food.

Strolling around in ever-changing Singapore

Last time I was in Singapore it was under construction, and I can’t wait to see the new Marina Bay area. I am particularly attracted by the Vertical Gardens – the solar-powered Supertrees at the Gardens by the Bay – which will be inaugurated at the end of June. I’m also keen to explore new areas, even though I’ll decide which ones once I’ll be there.

supertrees-vertical-garden-singapore
Supertrees, the Vertical Garden in Singapore. Photo Courtesy Gardens at the Bay

The real highlight of my journey to Singapore, however, is that I’ll meet and hug my friend Charles Yap, who just moved back to his hometown from London. I didn’t have the chance to share the farewell parties in London, but I’ll celebrate with him an unforgettable ‘welcome back’. I also hope to meet a few other people I’ve been virtually in touch with for a long time, like Rose John and Tan Geng Hui.

Exploring Myanmar

Nyaung U

When I first thought at a possible itinerary, I was uncertain between getting to see more of Indonesia or exploring one or more countries between Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam or Myanmar, and finally decided for the latter.  The reason is simple and rather obvious: of all countries, Burma is the one likely to change more quickly in the near future so now is the right time to go. And reading the stories by my good friend Nellie Huang, who recently went in this wonderful country,  definitely convinced me that this is the wild journey I want to make.

Myanmar has so many landmarks and must-see that it’s hard not to do a classic itinerary. Still, I’ll try to get as much as possible the chance to discover a few off-beaten places and, above all, to get in touch with people so that I can have at least a taste of their every day life.

Malaysia, should I go?

Welcome, Rainy Week...

Before ending my journey in Southeast Asia and  heading again to Singapore to catch my flight back to Italy I might spend the last few days in Malaysia, although this is still a question mark. Why am I feeling hesitant? It’s not entirely clear to me, although I suspect it’s related to expectations, my little interest towards Asian megalopolis and my lack of feeling – at least until now – with the tropical environment. I feel better in the desert and the mountains.

I know it’s unfair, but Malaysia is one of the few countries I can’t really focus on, I’m unable to find a place or an area feeding my dreams. The only reason why I could spend a few days  there is to eventually meet in real life Umei Teh (and maybe tasting the huge and delicious Sabah crabs she wrote about) and David Hogan Jr. Well, friendship is always a good reason. And after touring Myanmar, I don’t exclude that I might need a few days of rest in some nice secluded beach.

 

# # # # #

Stay tuned to read the upcoming stories of my new wild adventure in Southeast Asia. If you’d like, you can also follow me on Twitter, where I’ll post with the hashtag #1Step2Asia

Any advice and idea on things to do and see, places not to miss, best accommodation and so on would be great!

 

View Full Size Travel Map at Travellerspoint

 

 

 

Simon

Travel addict and passionate about photography, Simon Falvo started Wild About Travel back in 2009. Leveraging her strong PR background, she developed an extensive knowledge of Digital Communications and Social Media Marketing. Besides travel writing Simon holds workshops and trainings, she collaborated with tourism boards for digital marketing campaigns and participated as a speaker at several events.

Category: UncategorizedTag: adventure, travel musings

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole @ Green Global Travel

    at

    Great itinerary. I would have recommended to explore a bit of Malaysia before you went. How’d you go?

    Reply
    • Simon Falvo

      at

      Indeed, I eventually stopped a few days in Kuala Lumpur before traveling to Burma and then spend a few days on the Perhenthian islands on the way back!

      Reply
  2. Lauren

    at

    Awesome itinerary! I’m missing southeast Asia a lot right now so I’m incredibly jealous! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Juno

    at

    I’m so happy you are exploring my part of the world! 🙂 Enjoy the hot and sweaty weather! 😀 Oh the food…..

    Reply
  4. Samuel Jeffery

    at

    I think it’s fabulous you’re keen on visiting Myanmar. It’s the one country I haven’t been to in SE Asia that I truly want to visit more than any other.

    Reply
  5. Linda

    at

    What absolutely stunning photos. Asia remains all “foreign” to me as yet (there IS a plan!)so for now I am looking forward to some vicarious travel with you! Enjoy….and enjoy for me too, please!

    Reply
  6. Jennifer

    at

    Wow, Simon! Have a great trip to Southeast Asia. I will certainly be following along! I have not traveled at all yet in that part of the world, but we are definitely curious about it.

    Reply
  7. Barbara Weibel

    at

    Hi Simon: If you do go to Malaysia, I think you’d like Penang. I’m in Asia now but looks like we’ll miss each other – again. I head for Bangkok next week, then Cambodia, but then back to the States for a month. One of these days….

    Reply
    • Simon

      at

      Penang… Yes, David Hogan Jr. suggested it too. Not sure though. Apart from the fact that I understood it’s the monsoon coast, I’d rather go and rest a few days in a small island around the Perhenthian. We’ll see.

      What a pity that we’re missing each other again! I would like so much to meet you. Had even been thinking at possibly join you in Nepal from Burma. Well… It’ll happen. I know.

      Reply
  8. Traveling Ted

    at

    Have a great trip. Malaysia would be the first country I would head to. I really want to check out Borneo and would also love to meet Ciki.

    Reply
    • Simon

      at

      That’s interesting, Ted. The beauty of life is also seeing how people are different. I think that you like the jungle, while to me it’s one of the habitats where I feel less comfortable. I have been and will surely go back. But it’s hardly a first choice coming out spontaneously.

      Reply
  9. Simon

    at

    Batu Caves… Yes, I’ve read about it and could be a good idea if I eventually go to Malaysia.

    Can’t wait to meet you in Singapore. See you soon!

    Reply
  10. Rosemarie

    at

    What a lovely itinerary. I think, if you’re coming all this way, you might as well visit Malaysia. Its a 7 hour train journey from Singapore to KL. One unique place to check out if you have time in the city is Batu Caves. Its a Hindu place of worship where its temple is situated high up in the lime stone caves. You have to climb up 272 steps to get there. Its quite unique. Look forward to meeting you in Singapore!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sunday Happiness & Celebes Sea Reflecting into Bubbles says:
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    […] a little girl playing with soap bubbles and the reflection of the Celebes sea. We’re in Siladen, a small island close to Manado, in North Sulawesi. A couple of resorts, a little village with 300 […]

    Reply

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simon-falvo

Hi, I’m Simon!

A solo and independent traveler for over 20 years, and a 50+ girl young at heart.

I worked for over a decade in Investment Banking, then a few years in one of the largest international PR groups. In 2009, after a burn-out, I left the corporate world and started a new adventure.

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