We spent a whole year in Asia, mostly south east but also Indonesia and the Philippines. So we thought after the South American awards last year we should also give awards for the things we liked the most in Asia.
We started in Hong Kong which we count as a country here. Then we went through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and finally, Brunei Darussalam.
best food award
This was quite a debate. Thai food just won, Vietnamese getting a very close second place. It's fresh, tasty, healthy, often cheap and almost impossible to cook bad. If you can handle the spices, that is.
most exotic culture award
Definitely China. Basically no English anywhere. Cantonese (or Mandarin, sounds the same to us) is extremely hard to pronounce and let's not even start about the writing... The people are as different to us as it gets. But it is safe for tourists, and magically, things always work out somehow in the end.
best diving awards
Indonesia is a diver's dream. There's everything from the smallest to the biggest. Everything! And often it's very affordable.
best accomodation award
Often it's not dirt cheap but the quality was always good. Even the cheapest rooms have flat TV and hot water. Consistency won for Vietnam. It's always good.
best historical site award
Angkor Wat and the surrounding ruins in Cambodia. It's such a big area, you can spend weeks here if you're into this sort of thing. The work and money that went into the restauration is incredible. Also incredible is the bribes you need to pay to become a guide at this UNESCO world heritage site...
most relaxed award
In Laos you can just be, without being shouted at or without any big rip-offs. Outside Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng, that is. Sit down, grab a Beer Lao and just stare at all the green around you.
best airport award
Singapore's airport is just worldclass! You could be happy to spend a few days just exploring the parks, restaurants and cinemas here. Or you might never want to leave.
most adventurous travelling award
You get nowhere easily in the Philippines. 5 hours on the roof of a jeepney because there's no more space inside or being soaked in seawater for 9 hours on a bangka, every trip is exhausting. But more often than not, it is worth all the hassle.
friendliest people award
Cambodians love to joke, always smile and are extremly friendly. Never ever did we get a bad tempered answer just because we didn't feel like buying something. We always felt welcome in Cambodia. And all this after the hardship they had to go through in the past years, it's very moving. Just thinking of Cambodia and its people still brings a smile on our face.
best people watching award
Life happens on the street in Vietnam. We spent hours and hours drinking coffee and watching the life go by. And just to see for the first time children crossing the streets in Vietnamese traffic is stunning.
best beds award
There are some terrible beds out there, believe me. Cambodia though had some of the best and also best priced beds we've come across.
easiest travelling award
In Thailand you can get a ticket to anywhere and everywhere. Choose any agancy, tell them where you're heading and you get there. If it takes 3 buses and 3 boats through 3 countries you'll get it, on one ticket. Makes you lazy.
best big city award
We normally don't feel comfortable in big cities but Hong Kong was different. We spent a week here without getting bored! (For us, that IS long in a city!)
It's easy to get around and very safe. It's chaotic in a nice way. Old and new often only one street apart. Good shopping too. Beaches, viewpoints, markets. What else do you need?
cheapest diving award
On Ko Tao we dived for 17€ per person. In Indonesia we paid at least 20. So, 17 wins.
least dangerous traffic award
Brunei Darussalam has clearly the most polite drivers. They stop even when you are not planning to cross the road. You could walk around blindfolded and not get a scratch. And that is worth an award in Asia.
best coffee award
Vietnam's very strong and very sweet coffee is just the best. Enjoy it hot or cold. After about three of them you can't sleep for two days. And still you want more of it.
most breathtaking landscape award
The views you get around Yangshuo and Xingping are the best we've ever seen. The river that runs through hundreds of high peaks is lined with bamboo and water buffalos. If you climb up a hill, you'll be alone. It's truly breathtaking.
most budget friendly award
Apart from Luang Prabang, Laos is very reasonable priced. A motorbike for 4€ a day and a whole ensuite bungalow for 3€ a night you get in busy places. Now imagine how little you pay far off the tourist trail.
best capital award
Hanoi is so busy and often hot that you forget everything else and just concentrate on the streets ahead of you. It's beautifully chaotic, but also colourful and full of flowers and trees. Amazing food everywhere, coffee shops and stylish boutiques, Hanoi is our all time favourite.
best national park award
The Komodo national park in Indonesia is stunning over and under water. For the small amount you pay they seem to do really well. The guides are friendly and full of information and are your only insurance when you encounter the dragons. Also the amount of fish around Komodo is incredible. Everything from sharks to manta rays frequent the reefs here. Also recommended: watching the sunset from the deck of a boat after a great day of diving.
pity award
Malaysia was several times so close to win but there was always something wrong. It's hard understand what Malaysia is, or wants to be. It's a big collection of good and not so good. But they have orangutans and that's great. It's still worth a short visit.
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