A 2024 Travel Review
As is tradition, I document my travels for the past year around this time, my annual update to the blog. 2024 has been relatively muted, compared to previous years. A couple of new countries, some re-visits that included new regions. Overall, I would give my 2024 travels a Satisfactory grade. Let’s delve into details.
In summary here are the stats for 2024:
- Total number of new countries and territories visited: 3 (Japan, New Zealand, Niue)
- Total number of countries and political territories where I made repeat visits: 5 (South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia)
- New NomadMania regions visited: 9 / New MTP regions visited: 7
- Total number of calendar days spent travelling: 38
- No of days of solo travel: 15
- No of days of family travel: 23
As usual, these annual posts are a way for me to document my travels, and I am thankful to have been able to travel at all. Highlights of 2024 include:
- Visiting Niue – The Rock of Polynesia is reachable by flight only from Auckland, and my time there was spent marvelling at the coastal-rock formations, hiking sea tracks and just being in awe of this spectacular island nation.
- Extraordinary Travel Festival Bangkok – Where the biggest travellers gathered in one place. It was a chance to listen to travellers speak. Travellers like Thor Pedersen who travelled to all UN countries without flying, Renee Bruns who travelled round the world on a wheelchair, and Dr Raiiq Ridwan who travels with a Bangladeshi passport. Shout out to Ric and the awesome organisers!
- Dropping by my sister’s in southern Cambodia, where she runs a homestay in Nesat Village, an up-and-coming utopia where travellers come to visit for days and stay for months.
Granted, it’s not much travelling this year, but it is still one step closer to achieving my travel goal: Every UN country eventually, while visiting as many territories, anomalies and unrecognised states as I can along the journey.
A map of UN countries I have visited.
A more modest map of NomadMania regions I have visited.
January: Cambodia – Kratie, Kamping Cham, Nesat
Strangely, my first trip of the year was to Cambodia. My last and only visit was back in 2009, where Angkor Wat was the main reason for travelling to Cambodia. This time round, I made my way north of Phnom Penh to Kratie, the launchpad for a visit to see rare Mekong dolphins. With my travel buddy Michele’s exceptional drone handling skills, we were afforded bird’s-eye views of these spectacular creatures as they swum in the Mekong River.
Looking out for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River
A brief stopover to Kampong Cham saw us crossing the longest bamboo bridge, en route to a local fairground for families, where we stopped for ice-cream to beat the heat.
The longest bamboo bridge. Kampong Cham, Cambodia
And finally the piece de resistance of my trip to Cambodia is a visit south to Phum Barang, better known as Nesat Village. This up-and-coming gathering point for backpackers and travellers is located close to Sihanoukville, and arose as a result of expats moving from Sihanoukville to find a newer, authentic experience. It’s a nice little piece of heaven, with some hidden gems to discover like a quarry lagoon.
En route to Nesat Village, by bike!
January: Vietnam – Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh
On the same trip, I crossed the border to Vietnam, to the city of Can Tho, a first visit. It was just a morning walk around the riverside, but Can Tho is abound with domestic tourists posing for photographs by the river. From there, I made my way to Ho Chi Minh, did some shopping at the mall, before flying home.
Can Tho riverside, a wonderful photo spot for áo dài clad locals.
February: Malacca
A family drive-trip up to Malacca state – although instead of the city, we explored the newly rebranded Malaysia Heritage Studios, a theme park which had replicas of houses from all the Malaysian states. Each house was made sure to be Instagram-worthy, with plenty of photo opportunities.
At Malacca’s newly renovated Malaysia Heritage Studios, the interior of each house is a surprise
We also visited Tanjung Tuan, part of Malacca state, but existing as an anomaly as a small peninsula that is separated from the rest of Malacca. A hike uphill to the tip of the peninsula saw us at the Cape Rachado Lighthouse. We later spent time by the nearby beach, popular with the locals.
We made the climb up to Cape Rachado Lighthouse!
Closer to home, an excursion to Tanjung Piai, the southernmost point of mainland Asia, and the site of plenty of mangrove forests.
A little trip to Tanjung Piai, the southernmost point of mainland Asia
May: South Korea – Seoul, Jeonju
This is a second visit to Seoul in two years, although this time it is only with the wife. On the agenda was a musical performance based on a book (The Old Woman with the Knife, authored by Gu Byeong-Mo), of which I had no inkling of what it was about when I agreed to watch. In the end I found it very entertaining and was glad I went. Also taking in the sights, including the Instagram-worthy Starfield Library.
Starfield Library, in Gangnam, Seoul
I squeezed in a day trip to Jeonju, having read of its Heritage Hanok Village (also new NM region!). It was a pleasant visit, with fewer crowds and many sights. Jeonju was also the place where bibimbap was said to have originated, and we made sure to have a meal there at one of the oldest traditional bibimbap restaurants.
Hanok roofs of Jeonju
June: Japan – Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara
With the family, we visited all the main tourist sites. This was my first visit to Japan (believe it or not!) and our stay in Tokyo included day tours to Mt Fuji and excursions to Tokyo Disneyland. I rather enjoyed the food, you cannot go wrong with the cuisine there, and also enjoyed particularly the convenience stores and their myriad offerings. Also, UNIQLO:
Welcome to Uniqlo! + Mannequins facing north, south, east, west
In Osaka, we did the touristy things – Osaka Castle and hello Glico Sign at Dotonburi! And also did a day trip to visit the temples and deer in Nara Park. I was of course pretending to be braver than I actually was, and got a nasty bite on my tummy while attempting to feed the deer.
Feed the Nara deer. But don’t get bitten in the belly like your daddy.
In Kyoto, it was the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and multiple temples and shrines located up the hill. This was also the site of the red torii gates featured in every influencer’s Instagram account.
Your instagram photos vs the reality.
Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Japan. I can see why people make repeated visits to the country, and made a mental note to revisit other regions of Japan in the future.
August: Niue
I had a limited number of vacation days, and needed a single discrete location that I can visit. Niue is the perfect destination, a island country on its own, but exists as a State in Free Association with New Zealand. With flights originating only from Auckland, it is remote enough and certainly fits my criterion for territories, anomalies and unrecognised countries. And the long flight there involving multiple transfers would also allow me to finally spend my expiring miles.
I am in Niue!
It was also humpback whale season in August, and Niue was on the migratory route of these majestic sea creatures. Which meant that in addition to walking along sea-tracks and exploring the natural features of Niue, a bit of whale-watching was in order. I jam-packed my four days there with as much activities as possible. Others I met were there for 2 weeks or even more!
There might be a whale below us? – photo credit: Federico from Explore Niue.
August: New Zealand – Auckland
On the way home, I overnighted in Auckland, and had a half day in the CBD. It was also my first time in New Zealand. A minimal visit, but a visit nevertheless. I will probably return with the family somewhere in the near future.
Hello Auckland Sky Tower, meet my head.
November: Thailand – Extraordinary Travel Festival
It is always a pleasure to return to Bangkok, and this time round even more so. I was there for the Extraordinary Travel Festival. I missed the first edition in Yerevan, and there was no excuse not to be here for ETFBangkok, just a stone’s throw away from home. I did not regret going. Despite missing the first day due to other commitments, I enjoyed myself thoroughly meeting old and new friends, and meeting face-to-face online acquaintances for the first time. Of course, the main draw were the speakers themselves, and they did not disappoint, sharing captivating and inspiring tales of their travels. The event was very well-organised, and I really do appreciate being a part of the travel community.
The EPS mods , on stage at the Extraordinary Travel Festival 2025!
Four cools guys, three of whom carry Sak Yant tattoos.
I had a day left in Bangkok, and proceeded to explore some of the temples, like Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Despite having been to Bangkok numerous times for work and leisure, the Grand Palace was as far as I got, in regards to tourist sites. I had never got round to visiting the temples, and so took this opportunity to visit some of them.
On the grounds of Wat Pho, one of Bangkok’s most famous temples.
December: Thailand – Bangkok
A second trip to Bangkok in two months, this time with the family in tow. The agenda this time round is more kid-friendly. We visited Safari World Bangkok, as well as took a tour out to the Floating Market at Damnoen Saduak, and the Railway Market of Maeklong.
Railway market, with train in the background
December: Cruise to Malaysian waters
I guess this counts as a trip with family, a short weekend on board a cruise ship – a first for the girls.
That’s all the travels for 2024. I am already planning for 2025, and hoping to reach more new places. As a start, trips to Socotra Island, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City have already been booked in late January 2025, and a weekend sojourn to the Andaman Islands via AirAsia’’s new route is planned for April 2025. Tentatively, I am looking at trips to several African countries as well – if you are headed to West Africa in 2025 let me know, maybe we can plan something together!
