Highlights from Six Months in Asia

Postcards from Asia, Part 26

Dear friends,

It’s been six months since I headed to Asia for the first time after my tech job ended. I’d dreamed about this trip for years, and East and Southeast Asia surprised me in the best ways. Here are the highlights:

Jeju Island, South Korea

Regions I Visited

East Asia: South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong

Southeast Asia: Indonesia (North Sulawesi, Southwest Papua, Central Java), Malaysia, Singapore

Where I Would Live Longer

Malaysia and Taiwan

Places that Hold My Heart

Rural Japan; Raja Ampat Regency, Indonesia; Penang, Malaysia

Gam Island, Raja Ampat Regency, Indonesia

Favorite Cities

1. Taipei, Taiwan

2. Tokyo, Japan

3. Singapore, Singapore

4. Seoul, South Korea

5. Busan, South Korea

6. Hong Kong, Hong Kong

7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8. Nagoya, Japan

9. Osaka, Japan

10. Jakarta, Indonesia

Favorite Smaller Cities and Villages

1. Gyeongju, South Korea

2. Hadano, Japan

3. Hiroshima, Japan

4. Kyoto, Japan

5. Penang, Malaysia

6. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

7. Melaka, Malaysia

Favorite Islands

1. Okinawa, Japan

2. Papua, Indonesia

3. Sulawesi, Indonesia

4. Jeju Island, South Korea

5. Miyjeami Island, Japan

Diving in Okinawa, Japan. Photo by Deep Emotion Marine

Favorite Cultural Sites and Museums

1. Gyeongju-si, South Korea

2. Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

3. Ghibli Park, Nagoya, Japan

4. Borobudur Temple in Java, Indonesia

5. Prambanan Temple in Java, Indonesia

Favorite Hikes

1. Bulguksa Temple to Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju National Park, South Korea

2. Daisho-in Course to Mount Misen on Miyajima Island, Japan

3. Dragon’s Back, Big Wave Bay, and Shek O’ Beach in Hong Kong

4. Fushimi Inari Taisha and the Kyoto Trail in Kyoto, Japan

5. Penang Hill Heritage Trail in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Best Nature Excursions

1. Jungmun Daepo Columnar Joints in Jeju Island, South Korea

2. Bongawan River Cruise: Fireflies and Proboscis Monkeys

3. Muck diving in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

4. Tangkoko National Park in Bitung, Indonesia

5. Diving with Deep Emotion Marine in Okinawa, Japan

Jungmun Daepo Columnar Joints in Jeju Island, South Korea

Favorite Tours and Experiences

1. Kabuki performance at Kabukiza Theater, in Tokyo, Japan

2. Geiko and maiko performance at the Gion Kagai Art Museum in Kyoto, Japan

3. Haenyeo dive show in Jeju Island, South Korea

4. East Coast Tour on Jeju Island, South Korea

5. Martial arts with the monks at Golgulsa Temple in South Korea

6. Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan

7. Celebrating Chinese New Year in Taiwan

8. Autumn Foliage Season in Japan and South Korea

9. Visiting Tai-O Fishing Village in Hong Kong

10. Yogyakarta Walking Tour

Templestay at Golgulsa Temple in South Korea

Country-Specific Favorites

• Most Welcoming: Indonesia

• Places I felt safest: South Korea, Japan, Malaysia

• Most Livable/ Good Quality of Life: Malaysia, Taiwan

• Cleanest: South Korea and Japan

• Best Nature: Indonesia and Malaysia

• Best Diving: Raja Ampat Regency, Indonesia; Okinawa, Japan

• Most Unique: Japan

• Most Diverse: Malaysia and Indonesia

• Best Public Transport: Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea

• Most Walkable: Singapore and Taiwan

• Where I Most Want to Return: Japan and Indonesia

• Best Food: Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan

  Favorite Food Experiences

  • Best Bakeries: Taiwan

  • Best Night Markets: Hong Kong, Taiwan

  • Best Ramen Stalls: Japan

  • Best Cafes: South Korea

  • Best Diners: Hong Kong

  • Best Convenience Stores: Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan

  • Best Coffee: Indonesia and South Korea

  • Best Seafood: Japan and South Korea

  • Best Street Food: Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong

Hong Kong with high school friend Kim and his family

My itinerary

• Dallas, Texas

• Seoul, South Korea

• Gyeongju, South Korea

• Busan, South Korea

• Jeju Island, South Korea

• Osaka, Japan

• Nara, Japan

• Himeji, Japan

• Hiroshima, Japan

• Miyjeami Island, Japan

• Kyoto, Japan

• Nagoya, Japan

• Tokyo, Japan

• Yokohama, Japan

• Hadano, Japan

• Tokyo, Japan

• Okinawa, Japan

• Hong Kong, Hong Kong

• Taipei and Northern Taiwan

• Kota Kinabulu, Borneo, East Malaysia

• Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

• Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia

• Gam Island, Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia

• Jakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

• Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• George Town, Penang, Malaysia

• Ipoh, Malaysia

• Melaka, Malaysia

• Singapore, Singapore

Would I do this again?

In a heartbeat. I’m dreaming of visiting the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. I’d love to see more dive sites in Indonesia and Malaysia. Asia impressed me at every turn; I will be back.

Until next week,

Ash

Miyjeami Island, Japan