I’m currently in Bangkok and I’ll be heading to Chiang Mai in a few days. I’m on my eighth month of backpacking in Asia. So far, I’ve travelled to a number of countries without having a definite duration on how many days I'd stay in one place. Even if at times I’m spending more because I haven’t carefully planned what I’m going to do, I’m just glad that the freedom of decision-making is within my grasp most of the time.
One day I’m in Cambodia, the next day I’d travel to Thailand. I’d drop by a few days in Singapore, and then take a bus to Malaysia. The spontaneity of it all and how easy it is to go from country to country drives me high.
Singapore airport sky train
Of course, money plays a big role because transportation plays a big chunk in this scene. But somehow, it’s not as expensive compared to flying out from my country.
Back in the Philippines, I had a challenge getting out of the country at the immigration counter. It’s something a lot of Filipinos are worried about because immigration officers have to make sure that those who are leaving the country for the holidays have plans of returning to their home country.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
photo source: christianhaugen
Anyway, because of the frequent and spontaneous decisions of flying, I thought about buying an airline ticket to India. I wonder how crazy it would be to purchase a flight and book one of Cosmos' unique Goa holidays. Actually, it doesn’t matter whether I’ll be in Goa or Agra or whichever part of India so long as I’d step foot on this visa-required country.
You see, the reason I’ve been travelling in Southeast Asia is because I don’t have to apply for a visa. My country is part of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and we are allowed to visit other associate countries without all the hassle. I know it’s going to be a matter of time before I’ll overcome this and become more open-minded to seeing other places that require visas. For now, I’m just enjoying the backpacking adventure.
sights in India
photo source: learnscope
Although I haven’t fully explored other locations in this side of Asia, I just feel like conquering new places and setting new goals; India is somewhat next on the list. That is, once I find better deals online; and after I've visited the Middle East. I’m glad the world is big no matter how small it is. There’s so much more to explore and so many things to see.
———————–
Before I do too much daydreaming about India or any other country in my room, I better start working on my online tasks. I’m still in Bangkok and I’m trying to triple my efforts of writing more stories and do other freelance assignments. Good luck to me. At least I found a cheap hostel that serves fast Wi-Fi access inside the room. It’s not the best, but it’s good enough.
single room in Bangkok, near Khao San Road
180 Baht per night with fast WiFi – what this digital nomad needs
Please don't forget to confirm your subscription by checking your Inbox.
soloflightEd.com is a travel blog by Edcel Suyo. He enjoys performing headstands and crazy stunts during his trips in the Philippines and the rest of Asia. He just started his backpacking trip across Southeast Asia in order to live as a digital nomad. Read more about the beginning of his delusions of grandeur here.
For updates, Like his page on Facebook or Follow him on Twitter.
For questions, advertising, and other concerns, shoot an email to edblogs@yahoo.com.
ihcahieh October 8, 2012 at 8:41 am
South America sana, Ed. Mura daw sa mga visa-free countries dun e, except Brazil. Kaya lang pamatay yung initial airfare to get there. Maybe someone can sponsor you!
Sky|Boundfortwo.com October 8, 2012 at 9:40 am
Ed sama kami sa India, hehehe. My colleagues always mention about Goa which seems to be a famous holiday vacation spot in India, but we want to go there for another thing. They said that city had a fusion of Portuguese and Indian culture which makes the food something different from the rest of India.
soloflightEd October 8, 2012 at 10:20 am
@ihcahieh: yep, mas mura dun but the air travel expense. haha. sponsor? sana nga. hehe.
@sky: haha, sure sure. when will that happen noh? I'd like to go there for the culture too!
janet October 8, 2012 at 11:52 am
wow! you sure got time on your hands soloflighted!
goodluck on your adventures! 
grace pasion October 8, 2012 at 1:39 pm
sure love backpacking, especially crossing the boarders. there's this feeling of excitement that i cannot explain. I hope to visit India someday, while i still can (i mean physically can). Looking forward on your next blog of adventure, hope you can also feature flea markets of the places that you visit…
soloflightEd October 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@janet: haha, yep. this is what makes this lifestyle great! thanks janet!
@grace pasion: thanks grace! reminds me how many articles i need to finish. haha.
Cez Prieto October 8, 2012 at 4:00 pm
God bless Ed! Continue to inspire travelers to go beyond the dreaming stage on towards implementing it and making decisions.
Kulapitot October 8, 2012 at 10:18 pm
sir eds pansin ko lng di ka chossy kahit saan pede ka matulog .. nwei sana matuloy india trip mo
ipagpapray ko yun at least sa photos mo lang makakapunta din ako
melvin October 8, 2012 at 10:34 pm
sayang yung flights ng airasia before to new delhi via kl,they stopped it.yun sana way ko para makapunta ng agra.cheapest way sana yun
bertN October 8, 2012 at 10:57 pm
I do not understand why our Pinoy immigration officers are concern whether our departing kababayans are going to return to Pinas or not. Why should they care? Their concern should be whether incoming visitors are going to overstay in our country. Hindi ba?
soloflightEd October 9, 2012 at 4:40 am
@Cez Prieto: thanks cez! thanks for dropping by!
@Kulapitot: haha, actually, I'm bit choosy sa lugar, kelangan may WiFi and dapat mura! haha. but i get what you mean. while my body can still take it.
thanks!
@melvin: thought about it, even with Singapore since I visited the place frequently the past months. Maybe next time na.
@bertN: that's also my thought on the matter. It should be the other way around, but I guess there're a lot of factors they consider. I just don't like the stories I hear about other travellers who go out for holidays and how a few did not get past getting out of the country.
Micamyx|Senyorita October 9, 2012 at 6:02 am
I support you with India! Yay goodluck Ed! May balak akong mag-Chiang Mai ulit soon if things don't go my way sa November for the lantern festival. Parang kelan lang nung umalis ka ng Pinas tapos ngayon 8 months na
)
Riz October 9, 2012 at 8:28 am
Wow ang galing 8 months kana nagbbackpack sa SEA. Sama aq sa India ED!! haha! I heard great things about GOA.
soloflightEd October 9, 2012 at 2:41 pm
@Micamyx: onga no? ambilis ng 8 months. kelan lang when i asked flip for tips about this backpacking adventure (he was on his 6th month na nun).
@Riz: yep, I think India's a great place to travel, it's also cheap daw.
Richie October 10, 2012 at 1:47 pm
it can get crazy! mabaho, masikip, maalikabok, maingay! haha but those things will not stop you from loving india. it's really a whole new world out there.
My jaw dropped when I saw Taj Mahal! and that's just one of the million reasons why you should go to india.
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com October 11, 2012 at 1:47 am
Go to India! Am going next year for 3 weeks, thanks to Air Asia's super cheap seat sale. So excited!
rdsean October 11, 2012 at 5:19 am
wow.. pangarap ko rin ang india.. di ko pa alam kung kelan pero gusto ko yan..
soloflightEd October 11, 2012 at 9:16 pm
@Richie: yep, i think those are the things that will make me fall in love with India.
@Aleah: congrats on that Aleah! ayos!
@rdsean: it will come true in time.
Nurse-issistic travels October 13, 2012 at 6:13 am
goodluck with india bro. I might ask you for the name of that hostel in thailand…:)
Wends of Journeys and Travels October 18, 2012 at 1:13 am
sabay tayo mag-India bai. It is my dream to go there too after I have seen and read through Plif and others.
soloflightEd October 18, 2012 at 4:10 am
@Nurse-issistic travels: Thanks Ayn! sure, it's Nat 2 Guesthouse. basic lang sya, cheaper than most hostels in KSR. when you face Burger King, there's an alley on the right. the first alley, just go inside and you'll see more options
@Wends: thanks wends, haha. dami ngang inspirational reads about india from Flip
ian | going places October 29, 2012 at 3:55 pm
India why not? I'm also fascinated with that country even I heard a lot no-so-good things about roaming there. There is a direct New Delhi flight from Manila via PAL since last year…
myla November 27, 2012 at 10:55 am
Hi Ed, Ive been to India, if you get a chance to go there, I would like to you to visit North India that includes New delhi and from there you can go to agra, rajhastan, varanasi. But even in delhi alone you will be amazed with their tourist places. only downside is most of the people doesnt speak english, good for me i learned some broken hindi words that really helped me a lot to wade through the crowd. Increadible India as they say. Its truly incredible…
karen December 29, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Go for India and Middle East! I think you'll like it here in Dubai since it is something new, something different from what we're used to in the Southeast – scenery, food, culture, crazy locals. Although, crowd-wise, you will feel that you haven't left Philippines at all since there are a lot of Kabayans here; no problems getting lost in translation.
And India, well, IT IS a beautiful country. Just don't let the smell, crowd, and traffic get to you.
Looking forward to more stories of your backpacking adventures!!