Continuing on my previous blog post, let’s explore more reasons why I love Southeast Asia, and Thailand in particular.

People

One of the things that make Southeast Asia so special is the people. There are so many friendly and nice people, either travellers that are looking for great adventures and want to have a good time or expats where you can make good connections. It’s so easy to meet new people and make new friends! The travellers and expats come from all over the world, which is a great opportunity to get to know so many different cultures and so many different stories which expands your horizon as you never imagined before. I really never saw so many nationalities living happily together in one place - like here.

Convenience

Another reason why I love Southeast Asia is the convenience. The 24/7 culture is something that feels so enriching once you got used to it and a big reason that makes it hard for me to come back to the western world. You can find anything you need at any time of the day or night. Whether you need to repair your motorbike, go shopping, need to go to the dentist, or anything else, all is possible nearly 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It is a great way to save time and get things done quickly. On top of that, I feel like it is very good for the economy because there is less unemployment. Companies can shorten the workers’ working hours while employing more people to take care of all the shifts. The employees will not get burned out and have a better work-life balance, and as we all know, a happy employee is the best employee.

Digital Superior

Southeast Asia - as far as I can tell - is also far more digitally superior to the western world.

• The 5G coverage feels like 100% in every city, while the 4G network also offers up to 300mBit/s everywhere, even out on the ocean. (How much does Germany's 4G offer? Somewhere around 20 mBit/s?).
• QR payment with apps is the default payment method, which means everywhere can be paid cashless. And even if you offer street food, you can offer cashless payment because you don’t need a card terminal - just print your QR code for effortless payment - I love it!
• The Grab app is another example of how Southeast Asia is leading the way in digital innovation. With the Grab app, you can order food, groceries, courier service, or taxi with just a few taps on your phone.

Hygiene

Another thing that I love about Southeast Asia is the bathroom hygiene. The bum gun is found in ALL bathrooms in Southeast Asia. This handheld bidet was very suspicious when I first had to use it, but once you are used to it, there is no more going back to using toilet paper. It is a thousand times more hygienic than using toilet paper, it is cheaper than using toilet paper, and it is so good for the environment. Think about it, how should a piece of paper get rid of all the bacteria? It’s just spreading them all over your behind, while the bum gun gets rid of them in an instant.

Conclusion

Southeast Asia is a region that is full of surprises. It is a place where you can find adventure, culture, and so much natural beauty. It is a place where everybody smiles and everybody lives happily together.

If you haven’t been to Southeast Asia yet, you are missing out! 🌴🌞🌊