Thailand has to offer a vast diversity of everything and it is hard to get bored. Known for it's perfectly spread transport possibilities, Thailand is the superior of getting around easily and spending very little monetas. The food is fantastic and the Thai people always have a smile on their faces. All in all it is hard to find a better place where you get more for your hard earned money.

Backpacking or luxury holidays? You don't have to decide you can have both, it's Thailand!

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is the colourful centre and starting point of most travellers. Many people say about Bangkok that is too loud, there is a lot of smog, too much people and to much hassle and stress but that is what I love about this city: The atmosphere when it is raining, the temperature changes between outside and inside the malls, the smell of street kitchens and markets, the "mysterious" bars and what you'll find at every corner: a seven/eleven.

Bangkok is made for shopping and entertainment. Beside the big shopping malls there are lots of small markets and street shops. To find flee markets and whole sale opportunities you have to get out of the taxi and walk around the streets and ask people who are street-smart and insiders of the desired items. But you have to be careful because many friendly men are so called "catcher" who get money for bringing you to export centers or taylors. Sometimes you have to get up very early in the morning to catch extreme sale offers but then you are in shopping haven. Looking around the massive conglomeration of everything you can imagine is exhausting and frantically busy.

Indonesia is a mosaic of thousands of islands and different cultures. The official language is "bahasa indonesia" additionally there are more than 700 hundred indigenous languages.

In comparison to Thailand Indonesia has more untouristic places to offer but the transportation system is not as good. Getting around needs a lot of time and organisation. The possibility of waiting for a ferry for days is not very low, so better plan some days in advance and check out timetables at different places. Sometimes if you ask ten various people for the way you get ten different answers. Calculate the average and hope for the best :)

Bali is a wonderful island: The beautiful landscapes, perfect waves and fantastic food. All you need is Bali :) A lot of people have already discovered the advantages of this island paradise and pilger to Kuta beach. Nevertheless, beside the touristic swarm, Bali has still to offer authentic places without party hassle. There are many architectural jewels to find and unique spa opportunities.

Lombok was the place to go when Bali was too crowded. In fact over the years Lombok has developed to Bali from yesterday and Flores will be the future Bali of tomorrow and so on.

Indonesia is huge and there are lots of adventurous options to discover lonely places, where local people are original and still curious about strangers. There are many ships which bring you to the world's end.

Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Truly it is a treasure of friendlyness and mindblowing landscapes. This island is still "under construction" in many ways but many people will discover the various advantages of this place: Whole year travel time, rainforest with unique animals, beautiful beaches, tasty food, ....................... Many people i met in Sri Lanka use the atmosphere to clear their mind and relax from stress. The beaches are known for the good waves for surfers and funky nightlife. A tuk tuk brings you everywhere you want even if the final destination is a 12 hours ride away. Try it!!! Most people take the public busses or private vans. The transortation system is quite good and everybody in Sri Lanka is a tour guide or a near relative of one. Another possibility is riding the train what is a cheap option for backpackers but sometimes a bit annoying especially in third class wagons. Wade Wade Waaaddeeee!

Colombo, a city with potential. In contrast to other parts of Sri Lanka you will find skyscrapers, trendy cafès and modern shopping opportunities in Colombo. When the sun sets most people walk around Galle Face Green and eat something from the noumerous food stalls. At ten o clock in the evening business is over in Sri Lanka. Just a few nightclubs and food stalls are still open. Taxi drivers will charge more at night, especially when they notice that you have no clue where you are at the moment. At daytime the buses are a cheap and comfortabe option to explore the city. There are not many cultural sights in Colombo except from some antique buildings and old hotels.

When you want to go shopping I suggest paradise road, bare foot and the shopping mall otel. The first two have unique interior design stuff and handcrafted art. The third is a big modern shopping mall in Sri Lankan style - very narrow alleys and millions of people:) They all have in common that they are placed in unique buildings.

The shops are not easy to find but they are worth the effort - a lot of clothes are made in Sri Lanka thats why you get fashion, which arrive in Europe not until next year, today.

When planning a trip to Vietnam you have to decide if you want to start in the North or in the South. I started in the North, Hanoi and travelled down to the South to Ho Chi Minh City. In the northern area I visited the Unesco world heritage protected Halong bay and the the mountain village called Sapa. Planning the trip was quite easy and there were several offers to choose from. It's a matter of luck to catch a ship with a nice crew. The ship stopped at several points like a big cave, an island with hilltop trekkin option and another touristic island where you just got ripped off.

The way to Sapa was quite adventurous because the train was cooled down to 0 °C and the toilet was locked the whole ride. Most people were sick when they arrived in Sapa in the mind that they have to return the same way. A small girl in traditional clothes was showing me her hometown and the area around. In the night I had to switch on the heating because it got quite cold.

Back in Hanoi I booked the bus to the South and made several stopps e.g. Hue, Hoian, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Min City. Near Nha Trang I visited a hot spring and took a mud bath with locals.

My favourite place was Hoian because it was a laidback city with lots of opportunities to spend my time. I rented a motorbike (a Minsk) to explore wonderful places and made a stop every 5km to have a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

In general you have a lot of different choices of fancy restaurants and street style food. In the morning I always bought a delicous baguette from old ladies in the streets. The accomodations were very cheap but not so easy to find.

Malaysia is the right choice when you don't have much time to travel. The transportation sytem is very good and there is a lot to see. No matter if you take highspeed trains, rural jungle trains or airplanes everything is quite well organised. You have various opportunities to enjoy Malaysia: When you want to relax I suggest the west coast to Langkawi but when you like more adventure you have to go to Borneo. There you can visit Orangutans or go diving at one of the best places for shark lovers.

Aircondition outside of the cafe, yes you are in Singapore - a flourish business, shopping and entertainment city. In contrast to the futuristic city centre there are areas with idyllic family run business. In addition Singapore is a model city for modern alternative thinking related to energy, water and pollution.