Did you know that yesterday (8th Aug) was ASEAN Day?
Just some simple facts that you might already know (or maybe not) about ASEAN:
- ASEAN has 10 member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam. (I am actually trying to tick them all off my travelling list, but still have 2 more countries to complete! *Argggghhhh*)
- The population of ASEAN is actually approximately 625 million - and yes, that's 9% of the earth's population!
- And most importantly, for avid travellers & soul-searchers out there, did you know that there are a total of 33 UNESCO Heritage Sites just in ASEAN alone? (I am glad I am born in a region that's so full of rich history, culture & diversity!)
I must say I am truly blessed to be working for an airline, and am able to travel throughout this region. It has taught me many lessons (both good & bad), opened my eyes & my mind, as well as helped me to expand my knowledge.
There are simply so many things you can do while travelling throughout all the ASEAN countries, and here are some of my memories throughout some of the places I've been to (which you can try too!)
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| SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: When you do get to Siem Reap, remember to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat!! It is one of the most amazing experiences of my life :) Truly indescribable. And trust me when I say the nightlife in Siem Reap is HAVOC!! :P |
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| CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: Take an awesome white-water rafting session down one of the rivers. What an adventure we had!! #overnice peeps would understand :D (can you spot which one I am in the photo? Hehe) |
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| Guess where I took this photo? JAKARTA, INDONESIA! I had the privilege to be taken around Jakarta by a good friend, and we discovered many places off the beaten track that helped me to appreciate the beauty of Jakarta :) |
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| SINGAPORE: Visit the world's largest viewing panel in an aquarium at Singapore's SEA Aquarium @ Sentosa. If you love aquariums, this is definitely your playground. |
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| DA NANG, VIETNAM: This is Hoi An, one of the UNESCO Heritage Sites situated in Da Nang. Another UNESCO Heritage Site worth visiting while at Da Nang is the ancient city of Hue. Google them and read all about it :) I've been to Da Nang three times, and I'm still in love with it!! |
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| LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: Learn some traditional Laotian handicraft & artwork at Luang Prabang. There are also elephant rehabilitation centres here in Luang Prabang, and one day, I hope to be able to stay there and help out. The architecture & ambience of Luang Prabang is simply enchanting. |
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| PERHENTIAN ISLANDS, TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA: Enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches, snorkelling spots & diving sites in the world at our own backyard, Malaysia :) My recent foray into diving as a leisure activity has kept me busy with planning for dive trips. And there are still so many dive sites in Malaysia to discover!! |
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| BORACAY, PHILIPPINES: Simply chill & hang out by the beaches of beautiful Boracay at Philippines. I remember I had a whirlwind 24hour trip to Boracay few years back. So hopefully I get to return there again soon. |
So yes, that's 8 countries and the only 2 countries left for me to explore are: Brunei & Myanmar. Looking forward to complete the ASEAN list, but the only obstacles are: time & money. Haha... I am sure many others can relate.
Unfortunately, work has not brought me to either Brunei OR Myanmar yet (yes, this is an answer to those who I can hear saying - ya meh, work in airline takkan never go there for work before??).
Of course, all 10 countries in ASEAN are so amazingly power-packed in various cultures, beliefs and history, one simply cannot finish exploring all the places there are in ASEAN. But above all, I believe that the borders that define our countries, cannot stop us uniting through our diversity. It feels good to be an ASEAN Citizen :)
And it also feels good that these beautiful birds below can bridge gaps & bring ASEAN closer together :)
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| KLIA2: The sight of these beautiful aircraft lining up to connect family, friends and communities never fail to put a smile on my face |
So anyways, a belated Happy ASEAN Day to all of us, ASEAN Citizens :) Have a great weekend ahead!
