You’ve been in Southeast Asia too long when…
Chang starts to taste good. And Singha tastes even better.
You no longer flinch when you jump into an ice-cold shower.
You consider $2 to be an outrageous price to pay for a beer.
You haven’t had a massage in two weeks and that feels like a really long time.
You’ve had your clothes and wallet stolen when skinny-dipping.
You carry a huge bottle of water wherever you go.
It seems completely normal to take off your flip flops before entering a building.
You refer to tank tops as singlets and mopeds as motorbikes.
You’re starting to get an English accent because 70% of the people you meet are from England. You also use expressions like “taking the piss” and “I can’t be asked.”
You have survived at least one border crossing.
You have scars all over your legs from scrapes and mosquito bites.
You have to throw out all your make-up because you’re too tan.
You’ve stayed at a hostel with bedbugs.
5 pints of beer no longer makes you tipsy.
You’re definitely templed out.
You’re a pro at using squat toilets…
…And you throw toilet paper away in the trash without even thinking.
You own more than one pair of hippy pants.
You can get a good night’s rest on an overnight bus.
You’re emotionally attached to your backpack.
And even though you have to sleep here…
You get to eat here.
And party here.
And lay out here.
So life is pretty damn great.
Have you ever backpacked Southeast Asia?
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Correction: “I can’t be arsed”
Your English is atrocious!
Agreed, Singha tops Chang any day!
Well thanks for the correction :)
Too funny! I am extremely emotionally attached to my backpack. I don’t travel without it. Ever. And I always liked both those beers, hah.
Ahahahah such a genuine and fun post!
I never backpacked SE Asia (only spent 2 weeks on Holiday in Bali) but now I want to :)
What a great post! Looks like you’ve really enjoyed S.E. Asia!
Hahaha, seriously fun reading, and makes me miss SE Asia.
Hey that’s hilarious and sheds great local flavor and surrounding insight for the rest of us! So fun! Cheers!
haha very cute list- all so true! picking up english accent and saying new phrases for sure, the toilets and taking off shoes- all second nature now!
Haha true! I find myself saying little things like “on a night out” and little expression you don’t even notice :)
I hated Singha originally, 12 months later I was living on the stuff…
True words girl. That huge water bottle one made me laugh. It is so accurate, for some reason those ginormous water bottles were so normal to lug around all the time!
Bintang with a squeeze of lime for me! And I’ve been in the tropics so long that I’ve built up a tolerance and don’t even drink water anymore! So bad… I will turn into a shriveled prune.
This is funny! Indeed, the British expression you’re referring to is “I can’t be arsed” (meaning I can’t be bothered), but it’s interesting and completely understandable that you’d hear it as “asked” since the release of the /k/ is masked by the final /t/ in many British accents. (Sorry, I’m a phonetics nerd and this fascinates me!)
That’s so funny, and all this time I was thinking the wrong thing! Thanks for letting me know :)
Mastered the bum gun yet? :P
Haha oh dear… I avoided those at all costs!
I’m planning my trip to SEAsia now for this Fall and this is making me seriously excited! I can’t wait for…literally everything on this list. Thanks for sharing a true piece of backpacker inspiration :)
This is so funny Ashley but so true and as one of those people from England, I can so relate! It’s even funnier that you picked up on “I can’t be arsed” meaning I don’t give a flying #$%# and “I’m totally pissed” meaning I’m drunk. Don’t forget, “I’m gonna pull” meaning It’s my lucky night.
Oh yeah, scratches and scars, the horrible toilets, bringing your own toilet roll and taking it everywhere, automatic squatting and having beers at breakfast. Happy Days!!
Haha oh my goodness I loved this!! I’ve been traveling in Southeast for 5.5 months now and I can totally relate to nearly everything on this list. I too have started using phrases like “it’s meant to be quite cool.” Yet somehow… I still haven’t mastered the squat toilet. Please, PLEASE, educate me!
Lol – I hear you! Can’t agree more :)
Btw just followed you on Twitter as well – great travel blog you have :) Looking forward to connect!
Oh boy, this is so true! I had a good laugh at “you’ve had your clothes and wallet stolen when skinny dipping”. I know this scenario too well…
Fun ready. When in Asia, you’ll witness or see a lot weird stuff at times.
I had a good laugh. Yeah, if the beer is beyond $2, its a rip-off! Cheers!
I’m likely moving to SE Asia soon so this is definitely useful information!