ASIA
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I went with a slightly different graphic for the Asia home page. The past twenty years of the global economy has focused on outsourcing and offshoring operations to cheap Asian labor. As this labor force grows in prosperity the next focus of the global economy will be about this area's consumption growth and their purchase of both domestic and international products. It's not simply an economic story but also a cultural story. |
Asian countries have rapidly grown into modernity - what took multiple generations of changes in the West has occurred in a single generation in Asia. These rapid changes draw many to Asia to see what life was once like and what the future may hold.
CENTRAL ASIA
The old and glorious silk road countries. I have not been to any of the countries in Central Asia yet but am putting a place holder as motivation to head there at some point in the near future. If it weren't for complicated visa applications (you can't obtain the visa once you've left your home or country or aren't a resident in your new country) I'd already be on my way.
There is nothing Asian about India and the surrounding sub-continent countries other than a couple hundred million years ago two continental plates collided. India is a behemoth of an area and much more intense in terms of people, action, smells, and noise than it's billion person counterpart China. I have a love / hate relationship with this part of the world - the are provides insights and perspectives found nowhere else but at the same time you are counting down the days until your flight departs...until the final week when you realize it wasn't too bad after all.
East Asia contains the "Big Two" of China and Japan. While China seems to have a more regional influence, particularly when you consider how many Chinese enclaves exist outside of China, Japan's isolation seems to give the country a more distinct and extreme culture. I liked traveling through East Asia because there's not as many backpackers as Southeast Asia. Cost and travel uncertainty seem to be the main reason why Southeast Asia backpackers do not continue to or start their travels in Japan and China but from my perspective these countries are worth the higher cost. There's more here - maybe not as much island hopping, drinking, and partying but more of everything else. China's rapidly expanding high speed rail network and in-city metro cities have made the country much more easier to travel through than several years ago.
Southeast Asia is the classic European and Australian backpacker circuit which means whereever you head it's a pretty well trodden trail and a party in every hostel. Prices on food, beer, and accommodation are much cheaper than East Asia even in the major capital cities. While the backpacker circuit may make the countries run together each one is distinct and offers different cultural perspectives. It is very, very difficult to find "off the beaten path" locations and when you do they can be very hit or miss.