When Ashlee boarded her Bamboo Airways flight, she wasn’t just lifting off a runway—she was taking flight into a new version of herself. With nerves, excitement and a heart full of curiosity, she left everything familiar behind to explore the vibrant, raw beauty of Southeast Asia in this backpacking travel diary.
First Taste of the Unknown
The moment she landed, everything felt different—new languages, new scents, new street-side chaos. She was wide-eyed and overwhelmed, yet somehow completely ready. Even little airport corners felt like sanctuaries before long bus rides and unfamiliar hostel beds. Soon after, she was riding a scooter past emerald rice fields and misty mountains, pausing just to breathe in the view and remind herself that this was real.
Life Among Rice Fields and Temples
Ashlee began to meet travelers from around the globe—instant friendships formed over scooter rides, temple visits and jungle treks. Together, they watched sun spill over rice terraces, visited peaceful Buddhist temples, wandered through jungles, and met kind-hearted locals who lived simply, yet fully. Every day brought a mix of wonder, culture shock and freedom.
Pai – Where Time Slows in Northern Thailand
Her journey led her to Pai, a backpacker paradise tucked into Thailand’s northern mountains. Known for its nature trails, hippie cafés, night markets and soul-soothing sunsets, Pai instantly felt like a home away from home. She stayed for two weeks—long enough to build friendships that felt like family, sip countless Thai teas and explore mountains veiled in morning mist.
Jungle Trekking in Laos – A Raw Encounter With Nature
Next came Laos, where Ashlee set off on a two-day trek through the Namt Ha National Protected Area near Luang Namtha. For about $120 USD, she joined a guided overnight adventure: one day hiking through thick jungle and the next kayaking down the river.
The guide led them through markets to gather fresh vegetables before entering the wild. Lunch was cooked in bamboo pots over open fire, eaten with bamboo spoons crafted by hand. They camped at a remote village homestead—no electricity, no Wi-Fi, just river baths, handmade homes, sleepy dogs and star-filled sky. Dinner was cooked over flames, laughter echoed in the dark and time felt beautifully slow.
Cruising Through Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng
Further south, she drifted along the Mekong River—water she had only ever seen in geography books. A sunset cruise made the river glow, and a trip to Kuang Si Waterfall left her speechless with its turquoise cascades. In Vang Vieng, hot air balloons floated above limestone peaks, painting the sky with quiet magic.
Island Escapes in Southern Thailand
Reuniting with her family in Phuket brought comfort before she continued solo toward Thailand’s islands—Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao. The Full Moon Party lit up the beach, but it was the peaceful mornings and salty air that made island life feel like a dream.
Koh Tao, known as Thailand’s scuba diving haven, challenged her the most. She earned her Open Water diving license, despite never imagining herself underwater with tanks and coral reefs. Yet in the silence of the ocean, she discovered a version of herself she didn’t know existed—braver, calmer, alive.
Bali and The Final Chapter
Her journey ended in Indonesia—Bali and the tiny dreamy island of Gili Trawangan. A month filled with diving, beach sunsets, scooter roads lined with palm trees and nights under fairy lights. It was the perfect finish to six months of adventure, sweat, laughter and transformation.
A Message to Future Travelers
“If you’ve ever felt the urge to throw a backpack on and explore Asia—do it,” Ashlee says. Because travel is not just about places. It’s about the people you meet on dusty roads, the quiet moments on mountain tops, the tears, the freedom and the way the world gently teaches you who you are.
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