If you could go anywhere, where would you choose?
Let the Backpacker Diaries South East Asia pages take you on a series of vicarious adventures: from the vibrant tangle of waterways, expressways, streets and sois of Bangkok to the remote jungles of Borneo; staying in isolated longhouses with Iban tribesmen whilst following in the footsteps of head-hunters; spotting wild orang-utans on a Kinabatangan River safari; or just kicking back on a pristine white sand beach somewhere.
The driver of the ‘flying coffin’ was called Marc. His T-shirt read: ‘I live with fear every day but sometimes she lets me race.’ He drove the boat like it was a jet-ski and as we leaned into yet another of the river’s snaking hairpin bends, I began to think that this might turn out to be the most dangerous part of the trip. A thought all the more poignant, considering that we were heading for the infamous headhunters' trail of Borneo.
Dive with me into the clash of cultures along the trails and waterways of inland Borneo... Read the rest
BANGKOK: DIVERSE DINING EXPERIENCES IN THAILAND'S CAPITAL
He was dressed only in bright orange and yellow condoms and so was she. My quest for good food in Bangkok had taken me from the sublime to the ridiculous; or had it? This Thai restaurant experience was not as raunchy or absurd as it may appear; beyond the condom clad mannequins was a uniquely philanthropic dining experience that we’ll find out about in a moment... Amidst the vibrant tangle of waterways, expressways, streets and sois, where in Bangkok do you go for good food?
A tongue in cheek, seven stop guide to dining experiences which range from the unforgettable to the altruistic... Read the rest
SABAH: MOUNTAIN HIGH TO OCEAN DEEP IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO
Shrouded beneath the lush tangle of one of the world’s largest rainforests, much of Sabah’s rugged landscape remains inaccessible. But scattered across this forbidding expanse are a dozen beacons of excitement, shimmering like glow-worms on a dark night to entice intrepid travellers. Here’s a selection of Sabah’s brightest attractions.
Wild orang-utans, desolate mountain peaks, coral reefs and jungle trails; something for everyone in Sabah Read the rest
KRABI, THAILAND: CLIMBERS PLAYGROUND IN A BEACH PARADISE
Dangling precariously from a narrow cleft in a limestone overhang may not be everyone’s idea of a holiday. But hey, this is Thailand so there’s a picture-perfect beach right there too! In Krabi Province, adrenaline junkies cut their drug with high-grade tropical paradise and get baked under the dreamy-eyed gaze of sun-worshipers of a less energetic persuasion.
All the sun, sea and sand you could want alongside unrivalled activity opportunities Read the rest
Headhunters, Sabah and Krabi images © Jon Bigg; all rights reserved.
Other images sourced from Wikimedia and reproduced under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence.
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