Funky Guides > Quotes

“Hpa-An A small and fairly average town in Southeastern Myanmar but it is a base for exploring some of the fantastic surrounding areas. There are lots of curious caves to discover with the giant Saddar cave and its reclining Buddha and the Bat Cave the best ones. The Bat Cave is best visited at sunset when a ridiculous number of bats (hundreds of thousands) fly out of it only to return the following morning. You can also rent a bike or motorbike and explore the tranquil Burmese countryside. Another option is to climb to the top of Mount Zwegabin which is home to a monastery where the resident monks will let you sleep.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Chiang Mai, Thailand If Bangkok, is Thailand's economic and political heart, then Chiang Mai is certainly the cultural one. It is the home of a host of ancient Thai practices and given that it's a big backpacker hotspot, it's very easy for you to observe or even take part in them. Some experiences are more authentic than others but this is the sort of town you could hang around for weeks, spend very little yet learn a great deal about Thai cooking, Thai massage (the traditional version) and traditional Buddhist practices such as meditation. There are also lots of interesting ethnic groups and tribes in the area and for once Thailand might just leave you enlightened and uplifted as opposed to hungover and sunburnt.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Yogyakarta, Indonesia (Java Island) Known as Jogja to locals and a small but steady flow of backpackers that fill up the budget accommodation in alleyways close to the town's main train station. The town itself has always had a reputation for attracting arts dealers from across Asia and is home to many impressive galleries and several significant palaces and monuments that show off different aspects of Islamic and Javanese culture and history. It is also very close to two of Indonesia's most important and impressive religious sites. Firstly the magnificent Borobodur, the worlds largest Buddhist monument outshines even Angkor Wat in terms of its size and grandeur. At sunrise especially it is a truly awe-inspiring sight. The other one is the Hindu temples at Prambanan which are equally important and it is easy to visit both Borobodur and Pramabanan on the same day although prepare for some fairly hefty entry fees of around US$20 at each site.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“East Timor in total contrast is much more interesting but desperately poor and has suffered a brutal history under Portuguese and Indonesian rule. It only finally gained independence in 2002 after a bloody civil war and UN peacekeepers were withdrawn a couple of years ago indicating that it is becoming safer. Still hardly any travellers come here, put off primarily by its dangerous reputation. Efforts are being made to build a tourism industry and if you come you will be greeted with an enormous amount of curiosity by locals. It's a fabulous destination for skuba diving with some stunning coral reefs and with great mountain and jungles treks it's certainly a destination for adventure travellers.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Halong Bay Halong Bay is the most beautiful place in Vietnam and a true natural wonder which hasn't yet been spoiled by mass tourism and hordes of tourists. It's best explored on a boat trip around the area which will take up at least a full day if you want to see the best of it. You can explore caves, swim in tiny creaks and enjoy the sun setting over these stunning limestone islets.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Bagan, Myanmar On the banks of the Ayeyarwady River in Central Myanmar lies the truly extraordinary area of Bagan. It is home to the largest collection of Buddhist pagodas, temples and ruins anywhere in the world. Some of the structures are almost 1000 years. Although none are as impressive as those at Angkor, the sheer number is what is remarkable. The town itself is a fairly laid back affair. If you're an early riser you might just catch some of the rituals that the monks and monkettes (yes there are female monks, shaved head and all) go through each morning or even a novice monk initiation ceremony.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“The”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Tana Toraja, Indonesia (Sulawesi Island) The island of Sulawesi doesn't get many visitors with most travellers in Indonesia opting for Java, Bali or Lombok. Those who do come will be richly rewarded with rock bottom prices and fascinating local traditions. Tana Toraja translates to 'The Land of Heavenly Kings' and its inhabitants are a predominantly Christian ethnic group known as the Torajans. Of their many rituals it is the spectacular death ceremonies that really stand out. The funeral is treated as the most important ceremony in the life of a Torajan as it is believed they continue to look over and protect their families after death. As such it can take many months of planning and involves the purchases of buffalos and pigs which are sacrificed at the main event. The funeral season takes place during July and August but it's a fascinating destination year round and Rantepao, the cultural centre is a good starting point.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015

“Typically the most popular time to visit mainland Southeast Asia (north of Malaysia) is November to February when there is lots of sunshine but temperatures are more bearable and there is little rain. March to May is really hot and the rain starts July time but again there are significant variations in different parts of the region.”
― Funky Guides, Backpackers Guide to Southeast Asia 2014-2015