Expectations vs Reality – Travelling Across Southeast Asia During My Year Abroad

By Micha Raja, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore

Before leaving for Singapore, I assumed I’d probably get the chance to travel during the university holidays. What I didn’t expect was just how much time I’d actually have. By the end of the year, I found myself taking trips almost every other week.

Of course, there were periods where I had to fully focus on university (especially during the exam seasons) but overall, there was far more opportunity to travel than I had anticipated. Being based in Singapore made exploring SE Asia incredibly accessible and over the year I managed to visit almost every country in that region and some more! Looking back, those experiences are some of the most memorable parts of my year abroad.

People often describe SE Asia as unforgettable or truly life changing and before going I thought that sounded slightly exaggerated. After experiencing it myself, I completely understand why people say it. If you’re considering a year abroad in this region, I genuinely could not recommend it more.

Some of my favourite trips included travelling through northern Vietnam and completing the Ha Giang Loop, spending two weeks exploring Cambodia and the two weeks I spent in Laos. Each place felt completely different and gave me experiences that I’ll remember for a long time.

One thing I wasn’t fully prepared for though was the cost. I’d assumed travelling SE Asia would be very cheap but frequent flights, accommodation, activities and weekends away do add up. My biggest piece of advice would be to budget realistically if travelling is something you want to prioritise during your year abroad.

Travelling became one of the most rewarding parts of my exchange experience but balancing it with studies and budgeting made it feel even more worthwhile.