Asia

Easy to travel, affordable and rewarding mix of adventure

Travelling in Asia has been a key part of my journey as a backpacker, and the continent still offers experiences I want to save for later.

Asia is recognized as the largest and most populous continent on the planet, consisting of 48 countries that cover roughly one-third of the Earth’s surface area. It is the birthplace of some of the oldest civilizations and is characterized by an impressive variety of cultures. Approximately 2,300 languages are spoken across the continent, which is also the origin of all major world religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

Stretching from Turkey to Japan, Asia contains a very wide range of nations and territories. Many of them have little in common, yet some can also be surprisingly similar.

Religion, natural resources, the quality of the land and historical connections play a major role in shaping how people live.

Women rowing traditional boat through Tam Coc river landscape, Vietnam, Asia travel

Some countries began welcoming international travelers

My first encounter with Asia occurred during my Asian Big Tour in 1999 – 2000, primarily concentrating on the Southeast Asia. At the end of the millennium, Indonesia was experiencing an economic downturn, which resulted in a notable decrease in the number of visitors to the country. The devaluation of the local currency significantly lowered prices, enabling me to travel at a minimal cost.

Although the handover of Hong Kong to China had taken place on July 1^st 1997, the transition was not yet fully realized during my stay. Additionally, Cambodia and Laos were just beginning to open their doors to international tourists, and the local communities were still becoming accustomed to seeing foreigners.

At the turn of the new century, it was considered one of the best times to visit the region. It offered a great chance to explore its major highlights and renowned places to visit.

Learning to communicate

Years after completing the Asian Big Tour, I returned to other countries in Asia on shorter trips. My goal was to organize my trips through the Caucasus, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Central Asian countries in the best possible way. I also wanted to choose the right times to visit places that are often affected by conflict or war.

Communicating in local languages is inherently complex, and the process of learning any of them is a very demanding task.

Spanish is widely utilized throughout most of the Americas, in addition to English, while French and English are prevalent across much of Africa. However, in Asia, establishing effective communication with local populations can be particularly challenging. To facilitate my interactions in Central Asia, specifically within the former Soviet Union, I decided to learn Russian. It helped me a lot in many countries where people still speak it.

There are still several Asian countries that I aspire to visit, and it is likely that some will have to wait until I have traveled to all other countries worldwide.

I plan to save some of the most exciting Asia travel adventures, highlights, and things to do for my ultimate trip.