Solo Asian Backpacker

Hey I just booked a trip to Thailand this morning and my whole group bailed on me. I've never backpacked alone and I'm a little scared. Do you really recommend it? I don't know what to do at this point.

Yes, go for it. I mostly travel alone. I think it is a good thing to develop self deficiency, so you can enjoy your own company, as well as enjoying the company of others when it is available. Travel buddies bailing is a common problem travellers have. Dont put off travel because of it. It could happen that your friends will never be ready to travel. A lot of people think about travelling and even plan it, but dont get around to doing it. Reply to this

I have met quite a few Asian backpackers. There are others who are of Asian decent who come from someplace else. There seem to be quite a few Japanese and South Korean backpackers.
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Hey! Found this thread after typing in "asian backpackers" after having absolutely hit my limit here in Thailand.

I really admire your great attitude, Angela~ I've been travelling now for 11 months and I'm starting to lose my patience with the 5-6 people every day that either shout "JAPAN JAPAN!" at me as I walk down the street, or just assume I'm Japanese and feel like they need to shout out every word they ever learned in the language. Of course, it's far more in certain parts of the world... but I've been in Thailand for almost a month now, and I can't seem to get it through peoples' heads that I didn't come here to find my "roots" (for God's sake- I'm not even Thai!)... but came to trek, zipline, work on my tan and party like everyone else.

I get a million people a week asking me why I don't speak Chinese, even though I tell them I was born and raised in the states... and then half that at some point in the conversation pulling at the ends of their eyes to give me a visual of apparently what I look like.

I'm losing my head. I love travelling alone and I never have trouble meeting great people--- but I'm not sure I can handle this much longer. I was born and raised in the states to parents that speak fluent English (along with a myriad of other languages), and although I'm 100% Chinese by blood- I don't consider myself to have anything to do with China or Chinese people at all.

Does it ever get tiring to you guys to have to explain this all to other people? Does it ever get to you when they ask you to make them chow mein or translate things in Korean? I've got another 10 months before I go home, and every day I deal with another nincompoop that thinks pulling at the ends of his eyes is in any way acceptable, is another day I get closer to smashing someone's face open. Reply to this

Oh my finally a post for a solo traveler.

Well, I'm Asian and the thing that makes it worse is that I'm Malay. Not Malaysia of course, but a Malay from Singapore.

Like any other typical Malay parents, mine was quite skeptical about me traveling alone in the first place, however I managed to talk some sense and they decided to let me go since I'm like hey, 23? I just need my own private space and venture out to many places as I could.

The thing about most Malays in Singapore: They like to brag on how they've visited this place and this place etc, yet when I found out, they visit the so called touristy areas. For e.g., when they talk about Bali etc, they keep bragging how Kuta is cool, party all day all night, all week. Gosh, I mean for the sake of travelling, they're wasting their money on something which is not necessary. I don't see the issue of partying but not to an extent of partying for 7 days straight. Hahaha. Besides, a 3D2N trip is not considered as a holiday to me. I rather work for 2 years, save up and pack up to venture the outside world.

I don't have anything against the Malays though and in fact I'm proud to be one. Just the mentality that the past generation have, it's just plain stupidity. LOL.

My first solo travel/holiday was in Bali & Lombok(yes, I went to the Gili Islands - Gili Trawangan). Yes of course, quite lost here and there but initially I managed to overcome it since the language there is almost similar to my mother tongue.

Then came Vietnam. I love Vietnam so much that I almost wanted to go MIA from Singapore, I don't really care if the revoke my citizenship. Vietnam is so laidback, friendliest people on Earth, dirt cheap beer, awesome food.

My next trip is going to be India, Sri Lanka and Nepal from November 2010 till February 2011. I guess it's a good time once I'm done serving the nation(Army) -_- Reply to this

Hey hahaha thanks for the reply angela.

Well, I guess seeing from other travelers willing to quit their jobs after saving up for their trip, I think that drives me to travel more, although I'll stick to Asia first and who knows I'll be able to get around the world with a better paying job. LOL.

It's not that traveling is a 'status' that makes you look cool etc, it's the experience and perspective of life that you see it at a different angle. Needless to say, life is only once and short, therefore make full use of it.

And I'll be heading down to Vietnam again next month, although this time round with friends. I hate traveling in groups but I was left with no choice and all of us will be ending our national service together. So I take it as a bonding session although there's aldy one guy who irritate the shit out of me. LOL.

To all travelers out there, happy traveling! ^_^ Reply to this

I dunno, I'm Asian (Thai) and was born and raised in the States.

While I've certainly met some ignorant folks abroad...that's all it amounts to in my mind. I've also met some incredibly wonderful people.

The racism and prejudice I've experienced in the States is far worse in my personal view - for the simple reason that these racists are my fellow countrymen.

Also, I'm much more self-conscious of my gender than my race.
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You avoid hostels because you prefer to meet locals? What does one thing have got to do with one another? Unless you mean you couchsurf most of the time. Reply to this

If you ask me, if you stay INSIDE the hostels the whole time, then you won't meet locals. Once you step outside, then it's a whole different story. Then it's up to you if you want to go meet the locals or not. Nothing to do with staying in hostels, I mean, where else are you gonna stay... Reply to this

I tend to stay in upper-budget hotels/bed and breakfast type places or lower mid-range versions. I have stayed in some excellent hostels (China and Syria are two examples) which have been far more appealing than any similar priced counterpart. The big difference for me is that hostels primarily are geared to foreign travellers, whereas budget hotels are usually geared for local travellers; this mix of guests gives each place a difference ambience. Most of the locals I have met when staying in hostels are people who run the hostel (so the same experience as Kim's trip to Australia). I have stayed in budget hotels filled with other foreign travellers, so this does not apply in all circumstances.

As an example, I remember in Kampala, Uganda staying in a hostel and every single guest I met were travellers from overseas places such as Northern America and Europe, even the bar was staffed by expatriates. I did meet some Ugandans, but they were definitely in the minority. However when I moved into a budget hotel a couple of nights later, almost all the other guests were from within Uganda or a neighbouring African country. For me, it makes a big difference to the dynamic and vibe of the place. This is just a personal choice, and it won't suit all people. Hostels certainly do have benefits, which I have experienced previously, but it is not my preferred option.

I have not used Couchsurfing to stay at people's places before, as I have limited myself to just meeting people in public situations. However, I'll be trying the sleep over option on my visit to the Middle East later this year. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Reply to this

The clientele might be foreign but the locals are everywhere outside of the hostels/hotels/friend houses. Meeting locals is as easy as striking up a conversation with anyone on the street, living their lives. Reply to this