HoneyTrek Travel Newsletter - Vol. 217 - Day #4,688 - November 22, 2024

Reader, want to escape to a faraway tropical land right about now? Southeast Asia is a place that always warms our mind, body, and soul...so we're excited to share our favorite experiences and tips from our three months traveling there this year. Between this trip and our first, back in 2012, we’re proud to say we’ve been to every country in Southeast Asia, with our final one being an unexpected favorite and totally under-the-radar gem (read on).
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We started in Malaysia, which is one of the best intros to Southern Asia’s diverse cultures, religions, foods, architecture, and modern-meets-old-world vibes. Just across the South China Sea is an island shared by three countries and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth! (Don’t miss our scuba diving and orangutan safari videos!). Then we found a glamping camp in Indonesia so incredible, we went to scout and film it for a TV pilot we have brewing!
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Enjoy this virtual escape to Southeast Asia…hope it inspires you to explore one of our absolute favorite parts of the world!
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Malaysia’s Foodie Capital and UNESCO City

Few places exemplify the beauty of multicultural Malaysia more than Penang. As Great Britain’s first colony and port in Southeast Asia, it brought people from around the world to this little island, and together they created one of Asia’s most unique destinations. For 200+ years, Malay, Chinese, Indians, Brits, and more have been harmoniously blending architectural styles, cuisines, and traditions. Today the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that’s just the beginning of Penang’s UNESCO status...25% of the island is a Biosphere Reserve with ancient rainforest! We love that in Penang...19th-century mosques, churches, Hindu Mandir, and Buddhist Temples share the same block…that street food can be Michelin Bib Gourmand…that stilted sea shacks earn the same heritage protection as grand old mansions…and that anything feels possible.

KL Cool Boasting the tallest twin towers and the second-tallest skyscraper in the world, Kuala Lumpur has become an important financial center in Asia and a travel destination in its own right. Too often just a transit hub, dynamic KL is worth at least a few days of your SEA experience. Explore the Capital

Perak State, Who Knew?! Ever heard of Perak? We hadn’t either, so at the risk of giving up a good secret, this Malaysian state is a must with its lush karst topography, cave temples, and wild west vibes! Watch this video for nine reasons to add it to your Southeast Asia trip! Must-See Malaysian State

Southeast Asia's Newest Nation

How did our Timor-Leste trip go from flying first class on Aero Dili to an off-roading adventure with the flight crew? We’ll get to that...but first, what the heck is Timor-Leste? Also known as East Timor, this divided island in Southeast Asia was under Portuguese rule for over 400 years, followed by Indonesian military occupation for the next two decades, and only became a country in 2002. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with a rugged coastline, colonial architecture, abundant marine life, and charming villages. Despite its natural beauty and fascinating culture, Timor-Leste doesn’t see many tourists, much less travel bloggers…so when Aero Dili heard HoneyTrek was coming to town, the flight crew was excited to show us their favorite places on an off-roading adventure we will never forget!

Our Top 10 Dive Destinations

Scuba diving in Timor-Leste was some of the best we've done in our 18 years as divers. This got us thinking...what are our top 10 dive destinations in the world? Spoiler Alert, five of them are in Southeast Asia’s side of the Coral Triangle! Come explore the most biodiverse marine region with over 6,000 species of fish and 76% of the planet’s coral species!

Biodiverse Borneo

The world’s third-largest island, fringed by a coral reef, covered with a 130-million-year-old rainforest, and teeming with endemic species, this is a place of epic proportions. While Borneo is shared with two other countries (Indonesia and Brunei), the Malaysian state of Sabah has the most protected rainforest, the tallest mountain, rich indigenous culture (38 recognized groups making up 59% of the population), and solid tourism infrastructure to access these wilderness wonders…making it the natural choice for a Borneo trip! We gave ourselves 12 days (we could have easily spent a month here) to travel around Sabah and are so excited to share the best of Borneo with you. Read this in-depth article, as we trek with orangutans, scuba dive the Celebes Sea, safari in the footsteps of David Attenborough, and hone in on the best things to do in Sabah.

Orangutan Safari See where luxury meets conservation with our safari at Borneo Rainforest Lodge and our close encounters with the “Man of the Forest,” or as they say in Malay orang hutan. Hang with Your Cousins

Diving Legendary Sipadan Staying on a one-of-a-kind dive rig in the heart of the world’s most biodiverse marine region, this scuba trip should be on every diver’s bucket list. Come Liveaboard

Brunei: The Friendly Sultanate

With an absolute monarchy that recently implemented Sharia law, Brunei doesn't present itself as a fabulous travel destination. Much less, to reach it from Sabah was going to take us over 10 hours by bus with 7 border checkpoints (each one reminding us that smuggling drugs was punishable by death!) But you know us, we love a good overland challenge and believe there is good to be found in every destination, so off we went! See the gallery from our Brunei journey, including the largest stilted settlement in the world, the fascinating museum to the Sultan of Brunei (one of the richest humans), and the friendly locals who made our trip!

Sumba, Indonesia and
Our TV Pilot!

Did you hear…we are working on a pilot for a travel show! We want to get off the beaten track and highlight the beauty, diversity, and human side of regenerative travel. We want to celebrate people who’ve followed their dreams and taken risks to create a destination that offers unforgettable experiences while being stewards of the local environment and community.

When looking for the perfect place for the shoot, we found Ngalung Kalla Retreat on Sumba, Indonesia. See this gallery, and if you can think of any properties we should check out or have pro tips as we pitch the show, drop us a line!

Start Your Holiday Shopping

Gifts for World Travelers Keeping in the tradition of our annual gift guide, we scoured years of packing lists and looked to our circle of globetrotting friends for their tested and approved picks. Here are 34 gifts that won’t just be “stuff” under the tree...but the tools, resources, and ideas to inspire the travelers in your life. Shop Our Gift Guide

Custom-signed Books Who wants us to personalize a book to their favorite traveler, newlywed, or empty nester? Outdoor lovers will dig Comfortably Wild, and every couple in your life needs a copy of Ultimate Journeys for Two. Not to mention, supporting our books helps us keep exploring awesome destinations and sharing them with you! Give Travel Inspiration

Want Free Flights & Hotels?

We are launching a brand new newsletter, dedicated to earning free flights and free lodging around the world! Travel hacking since 2011, we've learned so much about the miles & points game and reaped unbelievable benefits (including 276 flights we've taken using points!). If you are interested in learning how we travel around the world (for next to nothing), and making that happen for yourself, sign up for our top-secret travel hacking newsletter!

Travel with love,
Mike & Anne