Nepal · 2022
Nepal for first-timers: 9 lessons from my first two weeks
Practical lessons from a first trip to Nepal: Kathmandu, dal bhat, cancelled Lukla flights, buses that leave when full, landslide traffic and a guided walk in Chitwan.
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Backpacker articles and destination guides
First-hand notes from Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Vietnam and Japan, plus the travel rule I follow everywhere.
Nepal · 2022 and 2024
Langtang Valley: two trips, one 4,500 m summit and what I would do differently
A practical guide to Langtang from a backpacker who first had to turn back and later reached 4,500 m: getting there from Kathmandu, how long it takes, the best season and tips.
ReadIndonesia · Bali
Bali arrival guide: what I learned in my first days on the island
Practical Bali tips for first-time backpackers: buying the visa before immigration, taxi touts, checking hostels for bed bugs, offerings on the road, scooters and respecting sacred waterfalls.
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Passport, phone and money: the only three things you always need
The travel rule I follow after years of backpacking: when you do not know what to bring, take your passport, phone and money. Why each one matters and how to protect them.
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Backpacking Thailand: from Bangkok to Ko Phangan in two days
How I got from Bangkok airport to Ko Phangan in two days: SIM card, Khao San Road, a night bus and ferry to Koh Tao, island tips and why I stayed three weeks.
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Hitchhiking Malaysia: Penang, Cameron Highlands and a visa surprise
A hitchhiking route through Malaysia: Penang, Cameron Highlands tea and strawberries, Kuala Lumpur, and the lesson about checking visa rules before every flight.
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Northern Vietnam by motorbike: Sapa, Ha Giang and tea in the mountains
Lessons from riding northern Vietnam: night bus to Sapa, renting a reliable motorbike, homestays without a shared language, tea picking and landslide roads.
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Japan on a budget: Nara, Mount Fuji, a lost wallet and a monk
Notes from my time in Japan: Osaka street food, Nara deer, climbing Mount Fuji, how a lost wallet came back, a night at a temple and snow monkeys in Nagano.
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