We’re spending 202 days traveling through 10 countries, exploring more than 20 cities across Asia.
Follow our route, see where we are now, and get a peek behind the scenes as we film our next episodes.
China
Day 1
Touchdown in China
After months of planning and anticipation, our 202-day journey across Asia officially begins here in China.
China is massive, layered with thousands of years of history and modern energy that seems to move faster than anywhere else. We’ll be spending the next 50 days traveling through roughly 9 cities, from Guangzhou’s dim sum and Chengdu’s tea houses to Chongqing’s skyscraper hotpot scenes and Shanghai’s futuristic skyline.
We’re not just here to see the landmarks but to slow down, understand the rhythm of each city, and experience what daily life feels like in modern China. It feels like the perfect place to kick off this 202-day journey and redefine what travel means to us.
This is the start of something much bigger than a trip. It’s our journey toward living slower, seeing deeper, and finding connection in the everyday.
We’re starting in Guangzhou, then heading north through Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wangxian Valley, Xiamen, and going back to Guangzhou before crossing into Vietnam.
Each city will tell a different part of the story. Some days will be quiet moments in teahouses or long train rides through the countryside. Other days will be crowded markets, street food hunts, or early mornings chasing drone shots before sunrise.
We’re documenting everything, not just to show where we go, but to capture what it feels like to travel long-term. The exhaustion, the excitement, and the small moments that make it all worth it.
Vietnam
Day 51
Crossing Into Vietnam
We’ve only been to Vietnam once before, and that was during a cruise where we spent a short day each in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Even with just two days, we absolutely loved it and knew we had to come back for a longer stay. This time, we’ll be spending a full month exploring different parts of the country.
Sapa has been on my radar for a while, especially after seeing it featured on several Korean variety shows. It’s often called the “Swiss of Asia,” and even though I’ve never been to Switzerland, I can’t wait to see the mountain views and terraced rice fields in person. I’m slightly nervous about the cold since we’ll be there during winter, but hopefully, the weather works in our favor.
We’re also looking forward to spending some time in Quy Nhon, a quieter coastal city that’s perfect for slowing down and unwinding after weeks of travel. We like visiting a mix of busy and laid-back destinations so we can enjoy both the energy and the calm that come with long-term travel.
From mountains to beaches to cities, this part of the journey will let us slow down and find balance between filming, editing, and actually living it.
We’re starting in Hanoi, heading north to Sapa before making our way down through Ha Long Bay, Quy Nhon, Hoi An, and Da Nang.
Each stop will give us something completely different. Hanoi will set the stage with its Old Quarter chaos, train street energy, and endless street food. Then comes Sapa, where we’ll take the overnight train and spend a few days surrounded by terraced mountains and cold misty air.
From there, we’ll head back to Hanoi briefly before spending a few days in Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise and some kayaking. Quy Nhon will be our long break, where we’ll recharge, film beach B-roll, and capture quiet moments of local life. The trip will wrap up in Hoi An and Da Nang, where we’ll film our Vietnam recap before heading off to Cambodia.
Cambodia
Day 81
Arriving in Cambodia
After a month in Vietnam, Cambodia will be a short but meaningful stop on our 202-day journey. We’ll be spending six days in Siem Reap, splitting our time between exploring and recharging.
Ian has always been a history buff, so visiting Angkor Wat and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center is high on our list. Both places carry deep cultural and emotional weight, one showing the height of Khmer civilization and the other a painful reminder of its past.
Outside of sightseeing, we’re planning to slow down a little. This stop will be about reflecting, catching our breath, and preparing for the next leg of the trip. After weeks of constant movement, it’ll be nice to pause and take everything in before continuing south through Asia.
From history to stillness, Cambodia gives us space to breathe, learn, and remember why we started this journey.
We’ll be spending a few days in Siem Reap, exploring the temples and soaking in the peaceful rhythm of Cambodia. Visiting Angkor Wat has always been a dream, and seeing it in person feels surreal. The scale, the carvings, and the history behind it are unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Outside the temples, we’re visiting the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. It’s not an easy visit, but an important one. Ian has always been drawn to historical sites, and this experience gives us both a deeper appreciation for Cambodia’s strength and resilience.
This stop will also be a chance for us to slow down. After weeks of constant movement, we’re taking time to reflect, edit, and prepare for the next leg of our trip. Cambodia feels like the right place to pause and take everything in before moving on.
Thailand
Day 87
Back again in Thailand
We spent almost three months in Thailand last year, and while we loved it, we didn’t explore as much as we should have. We did all the big attractions like visiting temples, the train market, and even taking a short trip to Pattaya. This time, we’re planning to experience the country in a different way.
We’ll be staying closer to the city center to soak in the energy and atmosphere that makes Thailand so special. The plan is to dive into the food scene, revisit some favorite night markets, and finally make time for the places we missed before such as Koh Samui and the nearby islands.
I’m especially looking forward to the small moments like late-night street food, mango sticky rice, and visiting the Jurassic Park attraction that’s been trending online. It feels good to come back with fresh eyes and explore the country at our own pace.
We’ve been here before, but this time it’s less about checking places off and more about enjoying being here.
We’ll be spending time in Bangkok first, soaking in the buzz of city life and rediscovering parts we missed the first time. I’m not sure what it is, but nothing feels more like traveling than sitting on plastic chairs, eating skewers in the heat and humidity. There’s something about that moment that always reminds me why we love doing this.
From there, we’re heading south to explore the islands around Koh Samui. We’ve been dreaming of spending a few quiet days by the beach, editing by day and chasing sunset shots in the evening. The slower pace feels like the perfect balance to Bangkok’s intensity.
This stretch of the trip will be a mix of work and rest. We want to capture Thailand’s energy while giving ourselves time to breathe, eat well, and reset before heading to Malaysia.
Malaysia
Day 111
We missed you Malaysia
Malaysia has always been one of those countries that feels easy to fall into. It’s modern, welcoming, and full of character without trying too hard.
Last time, we split our stay between Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca, and Kota Kinabalu. Each place showed a completely different side of the country. Kuala Lumpur had the tall buildings and city buzz, while Malacca had history and charm. Penang was delicious, and we had some of the best dim sum there. Kota Kinabalu had beautiful crystal-clear beaches that we still think about.
This time, we won’t be staying as long, which is a real bummer, but it’ll be nice to dive back into KL and see what’s changed. We haven’t planned everything yet, so we’re looking forward to doing more research and figuring it out as we go.
At some point, we’ll also be taking a bus trip over to Singapore. It’s an easy ride from Kuala Lumpur and will be a fun break before continuing the rest of our journey through Asia.
We’ll be spending our time near the center of Kuala Lumpur. There’s always something happening here, from food markets that stay open late to new cafés popping up around Bukit Bintang. It’s busy, but in a way that feels familiar.
One of the things we love about Malaysia is how all the different cultures blend together. You can grab sushi at Don Don Donki, get Korean snacks from CU, and walk a few blocks to find Chinese hawker stalls that have been there for decades. Everything fits together naturally.
We haven’t started planning the details for Malaysia yet, so we’re keeping things open. This time, we want to explore new places instead of going back to the same ones. There’s so much we still haven’t seen, and that’s what makes this part of the trip exciting.
Indonesia
Day 171
flying in to Indonesia!
If there’s one thing on our bucket list for this trip, it’s visiting the pink beach. I came across it on social media where the sand looked pink against bright turquoise water, and it immediately caught my attention. I’m trying to keep my expectations realistic since a lot of photos look heavily edited, but I still want to see it for myself.
We’ll be spending about a week in Indonesia, starting in Jakarta before heading to Labuan Bajo. The plan is to explore Komodo Island and take it slow before flying out to Korea.
Even though it’s a short stay, it’s one of the parts I’m most excited about. I’ve never seen landscapes like this in person, and it feels like a good balance between adventure and calm before jumping into the next leg of our trip.
It’s the calm before the next chapter.
We’re still finalizing the details for Indonesia, but one thing’s for sure, we’ll make the most of our time there. The idea of island-hopping, seeing the famous Komodo dragons, and visiting beaches that don’t even look real sounds like the perfect change of pace.
Labuan Bajo will probably be our main base, and we’ll take a day trip out to Pink Beach and Padar Island. Whether the sand turns out truly pink or not, it’s one of those things that feels worth the effort.
After months of city filming and constant moving, I’m looking forward to a few quiet days by the water. There’s something nice about ending this leg surrounded by nature instead of noise.
South Korea
Day 171
Hello Korea!
Korea has always felt special to me. It’s where I was born and raised until kindergarten, so coming back always feels familiar in a different way. Even though I’ve spent most of my life abroad, Korea still feels like home every time I land.
What I love most about Korea is the mix of energy and comfort. There’s always something happening, from festivals to markets to late-night food stalls, but there’s also a rhythm to daily life that feels easy to fall into.
On our last trip, we ended up at a free outdoor concert completely by chance and saw artists like Chanyeol and Zico perform. The entire crowd was singing, dancing, and having the best time. It’s those random moments that make me love Korea even more.
It feels like the perfect transition before Japan.
We’re closing in on the end of our trip, and we’ve saved some of our favorite places for last. Korea has always been a highlight for us, and this time we want to make the most of it by spending more time in Seoul while also fitting in a few day trips.
We’re hoping to spend about a week in Busan since it’s one of the cities we’ve always loved. At the same time, we’re telling ourselves to venture out and discover new places too. There’s still a lot of the country we haven’t seen, and this feels like the right time to do it.
I’ve also come across cruises that go from Busan to Japan, so we might look into that as a way to wrap up our time here. It sounds like a slow and scenic way to cross into the next part of our trip.
Japan
Day 184
Finally Japan.
Japan has always felt like a second home to us. We used to have family here, so visiting felt familiar, but now that they’ve moved away, it feels more like seeing the country through fresh eyes.
As much as we’d love to stay for a month or more, accommodation prices make that tough. Even spending eight days here feels like a stretch, but we know it’ll still fly by too quickly. There’s so much we love about Japan that it’s hard to fit everything in.
This time, we’re trying to break out of our usual habit of going back to the same places. But there are still a few spots we can’t skip. Akihabara for Ian, Ginza for some last-minute shopping, and our favorite ramen shop for one last bowl of paitan chicken ramen before wrapping up in Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku.
As we board the cruise for our final leg, we hope you’ve felt like you were right there with us.
Every time we’re back, we can’t help but love everything about this place. The clean streets, the incredible food made with true craftsmanship, and my favorite part, spotless washrooms with bidets!
This time, we’re doing it all. From morning to night, we’ll be out exploring, filming, and hitting every convenience store we see to try the latest snacks. Japan makes even the smallest moments feel fun.
Two hundred and two days sounds long, but I know it’ll fly by. I’ll be excited to see my friends and family again, but I’ll miss being on the road. There’s something about traveling that feels more like home than home itself.
You’ve read the story.
Now see it unfold.
Join us on YouTube to experience every city, every meal, and every moment from our 202-day trip across Asia.
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