Over the years I’ve realized that I like to spend a lot of time exploring each country. I’ve been living in China for almost two years and I just feel like I’ve finally seen everything I want to see. That said, there’s so many countries I feel like I didn’t spend enough time in. It’s impossible to see everything a country has to offer when you only have a week or two to travel!
Hot pot with both spicy and non-spicy broth
5. Sichuan and Chongqing
My biggest regret in all of my travels is not paying $200 USD to hold a panda in Chengdu, Sichuan. To be honest, this is my primary reason for wanting to return. Pandas are my absolute favorite animal, and it’s my dream to hold one. I’m also obsessed with red pandas too, which I’m pretty sure are my spirit animal.
Aside from the pandas, I have plenty of other reasons for wanting to return to Sichuan. Firstly, the food is amazing! If you like spicy food, Sichuan is the place to go. From mapuo dofu (spicy soft tofu) to hot pot, Sichuan cuisine is by far my favorite Chinese food.
Chongqing, originally part of Sichuan, is a mega-city about two hours away from the capital Chengdu. While I spent four days there in the summer of 2012, I’d love to come back with a bit more money and do a river cruise along the Yangtzee river.
Street pho!
4. Vietnam
I did not spend enough time in Vietnam when I visited last winter. While I was able to explore Hanoi, Kayak Ha Long Bay, sail the Mekong Delta, and wander Ho Chi Minh, I didn’t see any of central Vietnam or the beaches!
I would love to return to Vietnam and visit Hoi An, spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City, rent a motorbike, and lay out on a tropical beach somewhere.
I also really need to delve deeper into Vietnamese cuisine. I didn’t get to try enough food while I was there! Unfortunately, I didn’t come across Jodi Ettenburg’s blog Legal Nomads until after I visited Vietnam. Jodi is an expert on Vietnamese cuisine and even led food tours at the time I visited.
Jodi please come back to Vietnam so I can visit you and you can teach me the wonders of Vietnamese cuisine.
Gorging myself on Korean BBQ
3. South Korea
South Korea was the very first place I ever visited in Asia! I stopped by Seoul for a week before starting my study abroad adventure in China almost three years ago. I stayed with my Korean friend, who introduced me to the magical world of Korean food. If you’ve ever tried Korean BBQ, you’ll know that’s reason enough to return.
While I was lucky enough to explore most of what Seoul has to offer, I would love to visit my many Korean friends, and take a trip down to Busan on Korea’s southern coast. I’ve heard it’s beautiful and more relaxed than the hectic city of Seoul.
I would also like to spend time in Seoul when it’s not absolutely freezing cold. There are so many new neighborhoods I want to explore, like Hongdae and Dongdaemun. If you’re looking at planning a trip, here are some awesome places to stay in Seoul!
Masjid Jamek mosque
2. Malaysia
Last winter I spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur, which I absolutely loved. While I saw most of what there is to see in KL, I did miss a few things, most notably the Masjid Jamek Mosque, because it was closed on the day I went. While it was interesting to experience the Chinese New Year in Malaysia, which has a large ethnically Chinese population, a lot of restaurants and attractions were closed, making it difficult to find food, which is what Malaysia is known for!!
I also took a day trip down to Melaka, which was definitely not enough time to explore such a historic and culturally vibrant city. I felt rushed through China Town and I didn’t even get to see the Dutch section.
I also need to spend time exploring the rest of the country, visiting Borneo and the beaches.
Currently I’m attending the University of Nottingham, which has campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia. Because of this, I’ve met so many Malaysian exchange students. Maybe I’ll visit them all next year when they’re back in Malaysia!
Matsu Temple near Tainan, Taiwan
1. Taiwan
I am absolutely in love with Taiwan, and it’s possibly my favorite country in the world. It combines everything I love about China with funky Japanese pop culture and an island lifestyle. Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world for travelers and women. The food is absolutely amazing, the temples are incredible and I could spend hours wandering through Taipei’s night markets.
While I spent just over two weeks backpacking this tiny island, I didn’t even get to see half the things this country has to offer. From surfing on the east coast, to hiking and river tracing in the north, and amazing traditional food in the south, Taiwan has so much to offer!
If I could choose anywhere in the world to live next year it would definitely be Taipei, Taiwan. The only issue is that it’s hard to find a job that isn’t teaching English (which I think I’ve outgrown now that I’m getting my master’s degree). If anyone knows of any jobs in International Communications or International Education in Taiwan, let me know! I feel like I would make an awesome study abroad resident director. Maybe I could lead food tours in my spare time!
For now I’ll just have to live vicariously through Waegook Tom.
Ribs broken rice in Vietnam
Things I realized after writing this post:
- I am extremely obsessed with food
- I should probably just never leave the continent of Asia because there’s way too much to see here
- Why am I going to grad school in China when I could be working in hostel bars, backpacking around Asia?
- How am I going to pay off my grad school debt and travel to all of these awesome places?
- My life is in shambles.
Where would you like to re-visit? Let me know your favorite places and help inspire my next trip!
I’d just like to visit any of these places! I felt the same way about South America, I could spend a lifetime there and still not see all there is to offer. But I do plan on visiting Asia in the near future finally!
I really want to go to South America and see Europe again as an adult, but there’s so many places in Asia left to see! How do you fit everything into one lifetime (and budget!)
Great post. I guess that happens to everyone, its not possible to see and do everything when visiting a country for a short time.
This really makes me think of Places I need to re-visit for so many different reasons.
It’s such a huge pull between exploring countries I need to see more of and traveling to new places!
Haven’t been to most of these places, but I definitely need to re-visit Vietnam. Left it with too much still to see… As for the others, they’re on the ever-growing list. Love your 5 insights at the end of the post. “Life in shambles” could the title of my autobiography :)
There’s so much to see (and eat) in Vietnam, I could spend months there! As for the “shambles”, I think that’s probably most of us in this world.
Vietnam, Malaysia & Taiwan are all places I too would love to revisit.
Great to know! I guess we love the same places :)
I wholeheartedly concur with Chongqing!
I thought you would! I’ll be sure to return when you’re there and we can go out for hot pot
Great choices! I’ve never been to any of these, but would love to visit!
ps I’m also obsessed with food :)
You should definitely check them out Marissa! You know food is an obsession when your biggest reason for wanting to return to a place is to eat the food again hahaha
I’ve never been to Asia, and you make me see why you’re wanting to go to these countries! I’d love to visit Cambodia, Thailand, or really anywhere in SE Asia. Plus everywhere else, of course. :) And the FOOD! Oh goodness, I need that food!
I’m going to Cambodia and Thailand this winter. So excited!!
I loved this post especially when you said ‘I am absolutely in love with Taiwan, and it’s possibly my favorite country in the world!!’ I absolutely love Taiwan too and have been living here for 15 years now!! Taiwan is pretty amazing!
I want to live there so bad! Are you teaching English or doing something else? I’d love to live there but I’m kind of over teaching English as my primary job, and there aren’t a lot of other options in Taiwan.
Thanks for the tag, Richelle! I loved reading about your top 5, especially the places in China you want to revisit. Not surprisingly, we had a few of the same countries, just in different orders :) I just published my post about the tag today. Check it out: http://slowtraintoutsunomiya.blogspot.jp/2014/10/friday-five-places-i-need-to-revisit.html
Awesome! If you ever decide to re-visit China let me know!
Thanks for the tag, Richelle!
As a current resident of Sichuan province, I can also confirm that Sichuan food is delicious…in case anyone was doubting. ;)
It’s by far my favorite Chinese food! So jealous you’re in Sichuan
I agree with Taiwan. I don’t want to leave. It’s a beautiful country. :)
I really want to move there next year, but it’s so hard to find a job other than teaching English!
Oh my gosh, I have so many places I want to revisit (errr nearly everywhere!). it’s going to take a lot of thinking to narrow down to 5! :-)
Hahaha I had a hard time too! That’s why I narrowed it down to just Asia, otherwise I’d have to put every country I’ve ever visited in Europe on there.
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I definitely recommend exploring more than Seoul next time you’re in South Korea. Climb Korea’s tallest mountain in Jeju-do, check out the Boseong tea plantation, head to Hwacheon for the annual trout festival, or attend the Daecheon beach mud festival (a fan-favorite with local expats and the first event I ever attended in Korea) :)
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I really want to go back and spend more time outside of Seoul. I’ve been to Seoul twice but nowhere else!
You’re welcome…and getting out of Seoul during your next trip is a necessity :)
Hello Richelle,
If you back to Vietnam, you drop in Hue city, I invite you taste some dishes Hue cuisine. :)
I’d love to go back to Hue! I did a cooking class there and it was incredible.
Hi there Richelle. I’m from Hanoi, Vietnam and I can tell that Pho Bo (Noodles with Beef) you tried is not really good. Add me on whatsapp and ring me when you come back to Hanoi or anywhere in Vietnam so that we can hang out and try exotic food. I’m a food lover too by the way. Cheers ^^
Oh wow good to know! I’m always interested in finding the best food, so I’d love to try a better version. I’ll definitely add you next time I’m in Vietnam!
Hi Richelle. Did you enjoy Bun Bo Hue? If you have a chance to return to VietNam I will take you to the best restaurants
I actually did and I loved it! I went back to Vietnam about a year ago, and I took a cooking class, had a food tour and stuffed my face with bun bo hue multiple times! When I eventually head back to Vietnam I’d love to meet up!
Hi Richelle. Just found your blog on internet and very interesting to read through your post. It is very nice to know that you love our country and sharing all interesting experience you had in Vietnam. Thank you and wish you all the best!
I love food in Vietnam, it’s delicious and cheap!