Not when the risk is very very likely to cause something bad to happened to you. Know the difference between a risk of trying something new and a risk that’ll get you badly injured or killed.

These folks dying in Vang Vieng Laos put themselves in a very high risk situation by getting drunk everyday on the river jumping and tubing.

Hold on, there can be numerous reasons why someone may be in Bangkok with voluminous luggage and not wheeled carry on and this is often ignored. Bangkok is a hub in the region and often people are passing through while on longer extend journeys across multiple climates.

While the humidity is high even in Jan in Bangkok, in other parts of Asia it is at its coldest and most importantly there are many out there who truly are backpacking in the original sense of the word, on extended independent outdoor wild camp and weeks long treks in remote parts of China or something with all nescessary and often professional gear required and you are going to stand there and judge what someone must be about because in isolation you happen to spot them in Bangkok?

Look, I accept many of the criticisms of the cult of party backpacking, especially in regard to SEA but just as irritating is the smug attitude of people (expats in particular with an apartment and all the facilities of back home) with their little carry on believing that is all you ever need.

Over 20 years of travel I\’ve alternated between a 20ltr panel loader and a military grade 110ltr pack depending on what I happen to be doing at the time and sometimes the settings cross paths during travel.

The notion that someone with a large pack is a newbie, has been around for decades now and remains as ever a tiresome and ignorant assumption.

Hey, maybe you spot someone in Bangkok shuffling a weighty back into a bus at Ekkamai and assume that because they\’re a falang who is not pristine with a freshly ironed shirt and is on the way to the beach, they must be a partypacker. Little did you know that two weeks ago they were in the Karakorum in total cultural immersion. All this judging a book by its cover, persists in travel circles today and no a 30ltr simply will not cut it in various non semi urban ravel scenarios, no matter what some people insist on claiming.

Couldn’t agree more with you!

This post is nothing short of fantastic.

I\’ve been to the Indochine area a few times myself, being from the region (I\’m from Singapore!) and the amount of stupidity and disrespect I\’ve seen puts me beyond words sometimes.

I can never comprehend the fact that there are people who are willing to risk their lives trying something that will never be deem safe if they\’re at home. Travelling to a foreign land should NEVER empower anyone to put their lives in danger. This \’YOLO\’ culture that we have going on in our society today is just plain dumb.

Also, some are just plain rude and ignorant of others\’ cultures, yet when they don\’t get their due (or undue) respect at home or elsewhere, they start complaining about how they\’re being mistreated. Why so superficial? Just because you\’re better off and can afford much more than the locals can doesn\’t mean you\’re superior.

Backpacking doesn\’t give one the rights to be obnoxious and oblivious.

Party Culture (including clubbing) is the social cancer of our generation, yet anyone that states this or points it out is labelled as a ‘loser’.

Would rather be alive with memories of this world than live a life of black out memories in a drunken haze.

Of course not! At the beach it’s perfectly fine. But not in temples, monuments or museums. In religious places make sure you’re shoulders, knees and cleavage are covered up.

I love you.

So I know these comments are super old, but I’m planning a trip around SEA and want to be mindful of peoples customs. I understand wearing a bikini in town is a big no no. I wouldn’t even do that in the States, but is it also wrong to wear a bikini on the beaches in SEA? I’m not talking about a teeny tiny thong or anything, but just a regular bikini? Or should I invest in a one piece? I definitely don’t want to offend anyone.