Stretching from the Ural Mountains of Russia to the islands of Indonesia, Asia is a continent that is diverse as it is large. For first time travelers, Southeast Asia presents an intoxicating mix of friendly people, delicious food and amazing sights and scenery. (North Asia) China, South Korea and Japan are heavy-hitters culturally and are perfect for people looking to step-way outside of their comfort zone. South Asia is a chaotic jumble of cultures, languages and cuisines and offers an amazing, eye-opening experience to visitors.
Travelling in Asia is generally safe although the language barrier can be quite extreme in countries such as Japan and Russia whereas English is widely spoken in Southeast Asia and India.
Favorite Destinations
- India – An incredibly diverse country, India is perfect for people who want to see a lot on a tight budget. Monuments such as the Taj Mahal draw people to the country but the rich colors, never-ending chaos and warm smiles make people fall in love. Check out my blog posts to read more about travel through India!
- Philippines – Thailand may be known as the “land of smiles” but the Philippines can certainly be runner-up in this competition. Filipinos are some of the friendliest people I have ever met and generally are able to speak English well. Made up of thousands of islands, the Philippines are the perfect destination for beach lovers. Boracay, Cebu and Palawan are prime locations with beautiful beaches and Manila is a cool city with interesting World War Two ruins.
- Uzbekistan – This is a country that has deservedly made her way onto many tourists’ radar. As part of the ancient Silk Road, cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara boast stunning Islamic architecture and the walled city of Khiva feels like an Indiana Jones movie set! Getting a visa can be tricky but it is definitely worth it.
- Iran – Another stunner that has seen an increase in tourism. Eshefan and Shiraz are home to beautiful mosques, bazaars and caravanserais and Tehran is a modern cosmopolitan city. Sadly, women are still forced to wear head scarves but the dress code is relatively relaxed.