Traveling Around Southeast Asia

I’ve been out here for about two and a half years now. I’ve been to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, China, and even Poland (Not Southeast Asia but still an interesting place…). The experience has been eye opening, to say the least. I’ve now settled between Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China—splitting my time between the three kind of equally. I’e learned a lot of things while traveling, dispelled a lot of personally held beliefs about Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, and have learned a lot about the culture. Southeast Asia isn’t a monolith, you’ll find religious monarchies, communist states, pseudo democracies, and everything in between.

The myths

My first realization was just how overblown and overhyped countries like Thailand were by the western boomers that called it their second home, or prison, depending who you’re asking. My first time in Thailand was in about 2022 in Chiang Mai. My first night out I went to Loi Kroh road and hit up a girly bar. Most of the girls there were old (late 20s mid 30s), out of shape, and not very attractive. They were very pushy, had a penchant for overcharging on certain services, and preferred the older white dudes over anyone else (easier marks). I would go on to notice other things about Thailands tourism ecosystem that would just turn me off, from its temples to the streamlined “backpacker” experience facilitated by mom and pop tourist agencies.

Temples feel off…

The more typical tourist destinations weren’t any better. Everything felt fake, the temples marketed to tourist felt like they were built a couple decades ago and not the centuries old relics of some romantic past. It felt like Thailand constructed an entire history to market to ignorant European and Chinese tourists. That’s who you see at these tourist spots, Chinese and Euros. A trip to Wat Rong Khun, the Giant Buddha, or the Blue Temple is a real eye opener. Compare this to legit temples found in India, China, or even Cambodia and the uncanny valley feeling is clearly apparent.

You’re not really a backpacker

The final myth I got confronted was the digital nomad, backpacker appeal that Thailand was mostly known for, at least for Aussie, US, and UK boomers. It was a magical place for a young man to disappear to when life got him down. A place for second chances and to enjoy the good life on some sort of social benefit. It’s not. The same manufactured feel of Thailands history is felt in this little niche of it’s tourism industry. Thailand sells the experience of being a backpacker—from overpriced hostels to the motor bikes sold and rented in front of them.

Everything also feels way too safe. Everyone speaks english, there’s signs pointing you to the most visited destinations, there’s literally thousands of other “backpackers“ and “nomads“ around, hardly any natives. Thailand still has areas untouched by tourism and sleazy backpackers, but it takes real gumption to go to these places. Most “backpackers“ from Europe are extremely timid. They want the experience, but want a sterilized version of it. As long as they can get drunk and high, they really don’t care.

Harsh truths

Most backpackers, digital nomads, and non business owners in Thailand are drug addicts or extremely foolish. They spend most of their money on vices, “life experiences“, work in under valued positions (Being an English teacher for like 900 USD a month is mad work). The first harsh truth that I learned was to stay away from them, all of them. The only people that were worth getting to know were locals, monks, and actual expats. Guys that owned businesses in Hong Kong, China, Cambodia, or Malaysia where they are the sole owner, unlike Thailand (only way for a foreigner to own a business, which is a bad move in most cases).

Visas, short sightedness, foolishness

Thailand is also extremely foolish and short sighted. Stay long enough and you’ll realize how quickly they make changes without thinking them through, especially with visas. Malaysia offers a 90 day stay for US citizens, no need to extend, no need to jump through hoops, just show up and fill out a digital arrival card about three days before you show up. Cambodia has a visa that can be extended almost indefinitely. Most of Southeast Asia has very flexible longterm visa options, then there’s Thailand. They have, for a long time, have tried to attract high net worth individuals, while at the same time making it extremely difficult for those individuals to stay compared to their neighbors.

Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and better options in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a booming spot for business, leisure, debauchery, religious experiences, and losing, finding, or building yourself up. I’ve never understood how these boomers or backpackers just stay in Thailand and never move on. Laos had cheaper food, better local bars, and local girls. Cambodia has much better visa and business options for entrepreneurs and guys looking to run a business solo (simple incorporation, easy work permit, easy business visa process, pretty cheap to get). Singapore and Malaysia offer a tale of cities experience where you can be in one of the most advanced business hubs in Southeast Asia to one of the most diverse and laid back—all within a sort boat ride away. Southeast Asia has great options, if you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone and get lost a little.

I eventually settled on Hong Kong as the place for my business, easy incorporation, can run a business remotely, can be 100% foreign owned, and Hong Kong is an awesome environment to grow. I bounce between Malaysia and China, with small trips to Hong Kong for business or banking purposes. Small stuff, QC a warehouse, sign some bureaucratic paperwork, etc, etc. If I would have stayed in Thailand, or obsessed over it, then I would mostly have turned out to be an underpaid English teacher with a drinking problem that thought owning a business, that I only have a minority control over (really stupid, don’t do this), is a good idea.

If you’re in Southeast Asia, then take time to travel a bit, go to Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, etc. Put yourself in an environment where you can grow and truly prosper.