Backpacking In Southeast Asia - the end
The old capital
Back over the border into Thailand, we stopped at Ayutthaya, a capital of the Siamese Kingdom. Despite the city being razed to the ground centuries ago, dozens of ancient temples are still neatly arranged here. I hired a bike for an active approach to sight-seeing.
The ruins have no longer their colour, so they have lost what would have been a dazzling display of brightly coloured temples. It is still remarkable to pass by so many large monuments, amongst Buddha statues standing proudly, as if travelling back in time to an ancient world.
Animal cruelty
The one upsetting feature in the city was the zoo containing large animals in tiny cages. It is a prison. I had heard it was cruel, and some odd curiosity led me to witness the horror of it. It is free, meaning I didn’t contribute towards the animals’ horrible treatment by coming here.
It was tough to see these great animals reduced to this. The tigers clearly psychologically damaged by their treatment, panting and pacing up and down their cage. The elephants chained to the railings. They looked as sad as could be expected, given the sorry state they were kept in.
The infamous ‘Tiger Temple’ in Thailand was shut down in recent years, after revelations about malpractice there. Across Southeast Asia, tourists can get up close to wildlife. I plead with anyone who wants to do that to find organisations that promote ethical practices. There are countless animal refuges doing good work that need support.
A chance encounter
On leaving this abomination, while cycling back to the hostel, I had a chance encounter that lifted my spirits at the time I needed it. I happened to spot a friend from the Netherlands – a fellow Spanish student from my time in Salamanca – cycling around Ayutthaya with his new wife. At 6’9”, it is hard to miss Maarten. Still, it was an almighty coincidence, as neither of us knew the other was in the country. We enjoyed Thai food and beers together that evening in Ayutthaya.
Coming to the end
The final stop was revisiting Bangkok, before I flew out on my second working holiday visa to Australia. I experienced both the good and bad of the lively city this time. I had more great food when exploring different districts. I also had a run-in with bedbugs at a hostel. Bed begs aren’t uncommon when backpacking, given the turnover of guests. It was made worse by the hotel staff who lacked any desire to help. This was one small negative experience that paled in significance to the positives over the trip.
My time in Southeast Asia had been full of so many enjoyable moments, as well as uplifting and insightful experiences. I felt very grateful to have been able to travel here. The substantial length of this trip was only possible because I have worked in countries with comparatively higher wages and their currencies go much further in Southeast Asia.
Tourism in Southeast Asia
The large tourism industry does mean there are tourist ‘traps’ – as they’re known – designed to allure tourists with money to spend. A tourist from an affluent country may be targeted for buying goods and services that you wouldn’t be approached for if you were a local. You may even be given a higher ‘tourist’ price, rather than the actual price, in some locations. I also felt, in places, there was a resentment towards tourists – which I associate with the behaviour of some tourists.
I think the benefits I have as tourist here far outweigh any negatives. The higher prices I might pay are a direct consequence of so many of us being able to visit and spend more freely. So, it’s hard for me to begrudge the efforts of people who are trying to earn extra money.
It is a privilege to be able to travel, more so when I consider all these countries have to offer: the friendly people, fine foods, culture, architecture, history, wildlife and nature.
Final thoughts
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos have often been toured together (alongside Malaysia and Myanmar) as a common route for backpacker. As a consequence, they can be grouped as one region, Southeast Asia. The geographical closeness and similar landscapes can mask the uniqueness of each country.
Each country differs widely, not just in language and currency. There are stark contrasts in culture, customs, history, cuisine, terrain, as well as the reasons to visit as a traveller. The diversity of attractions are the reasons why this area of the world is so fascinating, and why visiting these four countries intrigued and delighted me.
