Travel Explore Asia

A Swiss in Hong Kong explores Asia and the world. On the web, available under travel-explore.asia. Made by @wyss.social from somewhere in Asia.

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Longform Stories

Hanoi: visiting the capital during Vietnam’s 80-year anniversary weekend

I actually didn’t plan to be in Hanoi during a national holiday - it happened by accident, and I ended up being really grateful for it.

May 27·7 min read·1244 words

Back in Manila – A Walk through Malate, Pasay and Makati (Poblacion)

Walking in Manila on a sweaty 20 km weekend route from Rizal Park through Malate and Pasay to Makati’s Poblacion - street life, wrong turns, cold brew, and a surprise fiesta.

Feb 25·4 min read·711 words

Sri Lanka in 14 Days: My Personal Experience

My Sri Lanka travel experience in 3 phases: a challenging start (Sigiriya, safaris, Knuckles trek + basic camp), the most fun days in Ella (zip-line + pool club), and a Mirissa beach recovery to end t…

Feb 8·6 min read·1002 words

Sri Lanka, Part 3: The beaches of Mirissa, Udawalawe Safari and Galle

Spotting 20 elephants at Udawalawe safari, glamping under the stars, watching whales in Mirissa, and exploring historic Galle Fort - Episode 3 of my Sri Lankan adventure with Karl Watson.

Jan 8·5 min read·914 words

Sri Lanka, Part 2: Kandy & the train to Ella

Cooking Sri Lankan curry in Kandy, visiting the sacred Tooth Relic Temple, riding the scenic train to Ella, and zip-lining at 80 km/h - Episode 2 of my Sri Lankan adventure with Karl Watson.

Jan 1·5 min read·957 words

Sri Lanka, Part 1: Sigiriya, a safari and hiking in the Knuckles Mountain Range

Climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress, counting 21 elephants on safari, and hiking 17 km through the Knuckles Mountain Range - Episode 1 of my Sri Lankan adventure with Karl Watson's group.

Dec 26·3 min read·594 words

14-Day Sri Lanka Itinerary: Knuckles, Ella, and South Coast

Earlier this year, I joined one of my favorite YouTubers, Karl Watson, on a 14-day adventure through Sri Lanka. Karl is known for his engaging travel content and unique approach to exploring destinati…

Dec 25·7 min read·1379 words

Roi Et stole my heart: 3 days in Thailand’s underrated Isaan city

After wrapping up my first Isaan journey, I knew it wouldn’t be my last. A few months later, I found myself booking a last‑minute trip during Chinese New Year – and this time, my destination wasn’t Ud…

Nov 16·9 min read·1741 words

One Day in Pattaya on a Motorbike

After wrapping up my Isaan journey, I discovered (the hard way) that flying out of Korat wasn’t an option. So I hit the road and drove straight to Pattaya — about six hours — which turned out to be th…

Oct 22·5 min read·895 words

Skydeck to Save One: Exploring Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)

In October 2024, I decided to explore Isaan. Although I knew many people from eastern Thailand and had visited the country more than 20 times, I had never explored the countryside of Thailand's far ea…

Oct 8·3 min read·568 words

Exploring local nightclubs and temples in Khon Kaen

In October 2024, I decided to explore Isaan. I knew numerous people from the east of Thailand. However, even after visiting Thailand over 20 times, I had never made it to the countryside in the far ea…

Aug 22·4 min read·638 words

Traveling by train to Udon Thani

In October 2024, I decided to explore Isaan. I knew numerous people coming from the east of Thailand. However, even after visiting Thailand over 20 times, I had never made it to Isaan. Following my ow…

Jul 13·3 min read·459 words

The beauty of Nong Khai

In October 2024, I decided to explore Isaan. I knew numerous people coming from the East of Thailand. However, even after visiting Thailand over 20 times, I had never made it to Isaan. Following my ow…

Apr 28·3 min read·575 words

Explore Sai Kung’s Best Beaches via MacLehose Trail

When you hike the MacLehose Trail Stage 2, you not only hike along the best beaches in Hong Kong. The hike offers so much diversity and beautiful nature — you might not expect when you are visiting Ho…

Apr 23·4 min read·689 words

Songkran 2025: Wan Lai in Pattaya

Happy Songkran! สวัสดีปีใหม่ไทย! Songkran, Thailand's famous water festival, usually takes place from April 13 to April 15. I had a great time celebrating it in Pattaya two years ago, and I made a VLO…

Apr 13·2 min read·224 words

One day in Vientiane, Laos

Apr 9·4 min read·668 words

Twenty Years After the Tsunami: A Personal Story about Memories and Remembrance

Some memories stay with us forever. We remember exactly where we were during major events like 9/11 or life-changing moments like having our first child. Twenty years ago, on Boxing Day 2004, I experi…

Dec 25·4 min read·706 words

The streets of Manila – a 14 km walk through the Pearl of the Orient

I love to explore, and I do that often by myself. I love traveling alone to meet new people on the street and feel a city's real vibe. When I was 25, I traveled to Prague, Shanghai, Dubai, and Munich.…

Sep 8·2 min read·312 words

Qiu Feng Stream Trekking in Sai Kung: Exploring Waterfalls in Hong Kong

In August 2021, we visited Sai Kung, passed four big waterfalls, and walked up the Qiu Feng Stream (秋楓石澗). On my YouTube channel, you can find two videos about this adventure. Once a YouTube #Shorts c…

Sep 5·4 min read·607 words

Hiking to Gulugod Baboy in Batangas

Mount Gulugod Baboy in Mabini is a wonderful place for nature lovers. I recently explored this beautiful hill at the southern tip of Batangas and shared my experiences in my latest YouTube video. http…

Mar 12·2 min read·313 words

Tai Long Wan (Lantau) & Chi Ma Wan Country Trail

Tai Long Wan?! Isn’t that in Sai Kung? Yes, it is. And also in Lantau. A quick search on Wikipedia clarifies this mystery. Big Wave Bay means actually Tai Long Wan (Chinese: 大浪灣) and is the name of se…

Mar 3·3 min read·593 words

Monkey Hill: Kam Shan Country Park — Visiting the monkeys on the Golden Hill

If you like to see monkeys in Hong Kong, you may visit the Hong Kong Zoo. Or you go to the Kam Shan Country Park (Golden Hill Country Park). In this area, you will find many free-living monkeys. And i…

Mar 1·3 min read·522 words

Celebrating Songkran in Pattaya

The fourth and final episode of my Thailand Series brings me back to the city: We celebrate Songkran in Pattaya and join Thailand's probably craziest water party at Beach Road, Soi 6, Soi 7, Soi Buakh…

Feb 27·2 min read·251 words

Exploring Dragon Crest: Ngon Nak Nature Trail in Krabi

After moving to Railay and exploring beautiful places like Phra Nang Beach, I had a special plan for my last day in Krabi. On the first day of Songkran, I wanted to revisit my favorite trail in Krabi.…

Feb 25·3 min read·462 words

Railay’s beautiful beaches & steep viewpoints – Exploring Krabi

After travelling from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, my video series "Songkran in Thailand" continues. I explored the beautiful beaches of Railay and hiked one of my favourite trails in Thailand: The Dragon C…

Jan 30·2 min read·389 words

Koh Phi Phi – Exploring the famous beach at Maya Bay

Today is a great day! I just launched my new YouTube video series titled "Songkran in Thailand". I filmed this series about 9 months ago during the Thai holidays. During that time, I visited Thailand …

Jan 27·2 min read·397 words

Balabac video trip recap: Is it safe? Is it worth it?

In this last and final episode of my limited series, I will recap the last days in Balabac. Is it worth travelling to the southwesternmost tip of the Philippine archipelago to visit Balabac? How is th…

Jan 22·2 min read·203 words

El Nido with Rainstorms, Dolphins & Glamping

In my last blog post, I wrote about my dream to visit Balabac. I explored the fantastic place in the Philippines, which includes 31 islands with stunning beaches, beautiful sandbars, and diverse marin…

Jan 15·2 min read·346 words

Why did I start making videos — a childhood dream and a Vietnamese notebook

I still remember the days when video cameras were a luxury. Growing up, I couldn't afford one for sure. So, my early memories are captured in photographs taken with a traditional film camera. I rememb…

Dec 10·5 min read·836 words

Exploring the best islands and beaches in Balabac, Philippines

In my previous blog post, I wrote about the beginning of my fascinating journey in Intramuros, where I found myself in the middle of local culture and exploring notable landmarks like Fort Santiago. N…

Nov 25·2 min read·275 words

Intramuros: Exploring Manila’s Historic Heart & Local Life

In 2019, I came across some pictures of this place and instantly knew I had to visit it. I booked a flight, but unfortunately, COVID-19 struck, and I had to cancel everything. Now, more than three yea…

Nov 15·2 min read·218 words

High Junk Peak – Steep but short & rewarding hike in Hong Kong

It’s a short but steep hike: The way up to the High Junk Peak is maybe steep, but for me, also a lot of fun. Two days before the year-end 2021, I was back on the trail! On this year-end video, I show …

Nov 1·3 min read·600 words

Mansion Buenavista, El Nido (Review)

Following my adventurous trip to Balabac, I spent several nights in El Nido, finding rest at the Mansion Buenavista. My stay was so delightful that I am compelled to share my experience. The hotel Man…

Sep 27·3 min read·554 words

Exploring the paradise: Balabac in the South of Philippines

Since the year 2019, I had a dream: a visit to the breathtaking islands of Balabac. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that my plans had to be postponed indefinitely. Fast-forward to …

Sep 21·7 min read·1361 words

Sai Wan Swimming Shed near Kennedy Town

https://youtu.be/dmBVQzA57Jg It took almost seven years until I discovered the Swimming Shed in Sai Wan, near Kennedy Town. It turns out to be the perfect place to watch the sunset in the western part…

Sep 8·2 min read·329 words

Exploring Mount High West on Hong Kong Island

End of 2021, I decided to visit the Filmmaking & Storytelling class with Casey Neistat on Monthly.com. This is one video I did create during this class. I made a short VLOG, together with my son. We w…

Sep 3·2 min read·327 words

Koh Phi Phi: A Step-by-Step Guide for booking your ferry from Phuket

Following my recent escapade to Koh Phi Phi, many of you asked the same question – "How do I book a ferry ticket from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi?". I remember facing the same dilemma and turning to the Twi…

Aug 10·2 min read·355 words

Shek Nga Shan & the Buffalo Hills

The hike via Shek Nga Shan to the Buffalo Hills holds many surprises: Climbing some rocks on the way to the top of the Shek Nga Shan or hiking on the beautiful North Ridge with great views. And you wi…

Jul 14·3 min read·463 words

West Dog’s Teeth: Hong Kong’s hardest trail to Lantau Peak?

Many people told me that the West Dog's Teeth hike is Hong Kong's hardest trail. I agree it's a long, steep, tricky climb in certain places. But in the end, the hike is everywhere safe, and there are …

Jul 9·5 min read·853 words

Meander Saigon Hostel (Review)

💡 This post was originally posted in May 24, 2023 and got last updated on July 7, 2023. I first came across Meander Saigon through a YouTube video by Paddy Doyle and was instantly captivated by these…

Jul 7·3 min read·488 words

Exploring Bride’s Pool, Mirror Pool & Wang Chung Stream in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is more than just tall buildings and busy streets. It also has beautiful nature spots, like the Wang Chung Stream. This might be the most beautiful stream and waterfall hike in all of Hong K…

Jun 23·4 min read·796 words