South Korea & Southeast Asia by Gateway Advisor David DiMichele

Wanderlust...

The Far Side of the World

(A Journey to S. Korea & S.E. Asia)

In October of 2013, my wife and I journeyed to what we know as the Far Side of the World.  With only ourselves, our backpacks, and five weeks to explore, we knew something incredible would lie ahead.  We were fortunate enough to see four Countries, eleven different destinations and endless sights along the way!  

From The Seoul, of South Korea, to the Bangkok Street Markets, we enjoyed the city lights until the islands of Thailand began to call our name.  With the most incredible turquoise teal waters cascading around the rock karsts and hidden beaches of Krabi, to the skyscrapers of Singapore, Southeast Asia had much more in store than what our imaginations had dreamed.  To end such a journey we ventured to the exotic island of Bali, Indonesia to find our last moments of Zen and tranquility before our return home.

Each destination had it’s own unique manner about it, and rightfully so, being that we stayed in varying style accommodations in each location.  I hope a brief walk through the journey will draw the imagination and leave you with hopes of a wanderlust moment to look forward to in the future yourself.

First stop was Seoul, South Korea where we stayed in a boutique hotel called “The Metro” in the Myungdong area which was centrally located.  Within walking distance we saw two of Seoul’s most popular attractions such as the “National Folk Museum of Korea” and a hike to the top of the “Seoul Tower” soaring high above the city.

After Seoul we headed to the central hub of Southeast Asia.  Bangkok, Thailand, where we stayed in a little Guest House known as “Urban house” which was cozy and quaint, located within a business district and nighttime street market in the city.  From that location we were able to walk or take a Tuk-Tuk all throughout the city with ease and access to everything.  

After the hustle and bustle of Thailand's capital city of Bangkok, we decided to take a short island hopper flight to the much quieter island of Ko Samui, Thailand.  We stayed oceanfront on one of the islands most incredible slices of beach known as Crystal Bay, hence the name “Crystal Bay Resort”.  A smaller property with some of the best real estate on the island, it’s an excellent location for exploring the many waterfalls or hidden beaches.

From the island of Ko Samui, we flew to the Krabi province located on the west coast of Southern Thailand.  Once we arrived in Krabi, we took a long-tail boat to an area known as Railay Bay, only accessible by boat ferry.  Railay Bay is a group of two spectacular cliffside beaches and one hidden gem known as Phra Nang Beach.  While there we stayed at the “Railay Bay Beach Resort” which was located between Railay Bay East and West, allowing us access to both sides of the peninsula.

Next, it was off to Phi Phi Don Island and the Uninhabited Phi Phi Lee (For all you movie lovers out there, this is the location where the movie “The Beach” was filmed). After a short 40-person speedboat ferry ride from Railay Bay, we arrived on Phi Phi Don.  Located between Krabi and Phuket, its truly one of the most incredible islands on earth.  Two Crescent shaped bays with one conjoining piece of sand connecting the two make up Phi Phi Don Island.  A true Adventure Island, with many boat tours and island excursions available to suit everyone’s needs.  We chose to stay at the “Phi Phi Island Cabana Resort” for its central location to town and value for a luxury resort.

After island hopping through the Phi Phi Islands, we were yet again crossing the Andaman Sea, only this time off to the garden lush isle of Phuket, Thailand.  From the ferry docks on the southeastern end of the island, to the Mai Khao area of Phuket, we made our way to “Anantara Phuket Villas”.  Nothing other than “A True Luxury Experience” can describe our stay here.  Anantara Phuket Villas are a Virtuoso property and their expertise is 100% excellence throughout your entire stay.  Before you even step foot into your own “private pool lagoon side villa”, you’re shown incomparable standards of service.  From hand picking your very own style of pillow to personalized evenings of dockside dinners under the stars, Anantara delivers on all notes.  The property itself is a truly unique destination with private lagoons, banyan treehouse lounges, and private golf cart concierges to take you around the property. Virtuoso standards consider each and every detail of service and go above and beyond to enhance every aspect of your stay!

After a marvelous time in Phuket, Thailand we flew direct to “Singapore”, the land of incredible architecture.  Here we found ourselves in a completely different style accommodation, a hostile.  In an area known as Little India in the heart of Singapore lies “The Vintage Inn”, a hostile with style.  A group of four friends set out to provide the most accommodating and hospitable business, and they’re doing just that!  Within walking distance from the Vintage Inn is direct access to the MRT underground rail system, which connects all throughout Singapore.  While visiting the city we ventured to one of the most jaw dropping buildings on earth “Marina Bay Sands”, with its three pillars and large floating ship design, it was considered one of the most “difficult designs to carry out in the entire world”.  We also took advantage of a traditional “Singapore Sling” at the world famous “Long Bar”, the original birthplace of the cocktail.  Staying in the Little India section of Singapore was definitely a cultural experience to remember and memory I’ll never forget. 

For the final leg of our itinerary we ended our journey in the exotic island of Bali, Indonesia, known to some as the “center of the universe” or the “island of the gods”, with a large religious practicing of Hinduism being practiced along side Buddhism. Celebrations and festivals happen all throughout the year and are prevalently seen in how the majority of the island lives. Our first stop and stay in Bali was Ubud, a village considered to be the art center of Bali.  In Ubud, our accommodations were at “The Payogan”  a hillside setting of private pool villas overlooking the rural jungles.  While in Ubud, we took day tours to the infamous “temple on the lake”, visited one of Bali’s largest waterfalls, and also the ever so breathtaking “Jatiluwih Rice Terraces”.  To see what Bali had to offer both inland and near the water’s edge, we decided for the final destination to move down near the beach in the Benoa/Nusa Dua area for those final bit of sunrays and ocean breezes.  While here we stayed at the “Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso” which felt very similar to a Caribbean styled open-air resort. Bali as a whole was more than just a destination, but rather a feeling.  An island in which meditation and well-being far surpass wealth and power.

As the wanderlust is subdued by fresh memories of ocean air, city streets, and island adventures, it’s only a matter of time before the desire to travel and explore the globe will set in once again.  Our journey to the “Far Side of the World” has given both my wife and I a new found respect for not only the culture we learned about, but the one we came back home to, as well.