Why Southeast Asia Is The Perfect Spot To Digital Detox

Why Southeast Asia Is The Perfect Spot To Digital DetoxIf the flocks of postgrad travelers in elephant print pants haven't told you already, Southeast Asia ishaving what we like to call "a moment."And just because it definitely has its share of over-touristed sites, don't let the region fool you: thereare some seriously stunning spots that are perfect for your next digital detox.Want to know which authentic places backpackers really get amped about?1. Pai, ThailandIf you uprooted the hippie neighborhoods of San Francisco and plopped them into the jungles ofnorthern Thailand, you'd (roughly) end up with Pai. Ride your motorbike a few hours into thismountain town for a chillaxing weekend of zenning out at Rasta bars, napping in woven hammocks,and -- if you can manage to leave your field hut -- exploring the waterfalls and hot springs.2. Phu Quoc Island, VietnamAlmost everybody agrees that Phu Quoc is about to become Vietnam's next hot destination, butthankfully the perfect beaches are still mostly empty. You can rent a motorbike (no license needed,no questions asked) and zip up, down, and around the red dirt roads of this island paradise. Then,take a snorkeling or scuba dip. Hurry up, before other people discover the secret.3. Bagan, MyanmarTemples seem to pop out of nowhere in Bagan, which has the highest concentration of Buddhistruins the world. A hot air balloon ride over the temples during the quiet dawn or sunset hours is anabsolute must.4. Mui Ne Sand Dunes, VietnamThey're not far from Saigon, but these sand dunes seem like they belong on another continententirely. You can sled, bike, or just freely frolic down both white and red mountains of bliss. Be sureto find the Fairy Stream, a magical river with a soft, sandy bottom that flows between dry rocks.5. Mergui Archipelago, MyanmarThis is a pristine chain of hundreds of tropical rainforest islands in the Andaman Sea. Check in atone of the two hotels and kayak or sail the uncharted blue waters, where you might run into seagypsies who, for part of the year, live on boats while they dive for pearls.6. Cameron Highlands, MalaysiaThis is one of Southeast Asia's most popular hill stations, holiday towns at the base of lush, lowmountains. Travelers agree the Cameron Highlands are a perfect escape when you're too hot towithstand another day of astronomically-sizzling Malaysian temperatures. You can tour one ofseveral authentic tea factories before cozying up to a mug overlooking the rolling green hills.7. Ngwe Saung Beach, MyanmarWeary travelers looking to literally escape it all should head to Ngwe Saung, an astonishing NINEMILES of beach that just recently opened to the public. It's unspoiled, uncrowded, and some of thebest scenery you'll see in Myanmar.8. The Mekong Delta, VietnamThe Mekong River creates a rich marshland responsible for the bulk of Vietnam's rice crops. Thereare oodles of tiny villages and floating markets to visit, with kindly locals who will gladly let yousample their fruit or teach you to birdwatch. Avoid feeling like a yuppie in a tour boat by biking theDelta-- that way, you can see the impressive rice paddies and stop off at destinations on your own.9. Sapa, VietnamThere's nowhere on Earth like Sapa: tiers on tiers of bright-green rice fields are dotted with thecolorful clothes of hill-tribe dwellers and roofs of French colonial villas. Sometimes the view getsclouded by a warm, jungle-y mist, but it only makes your day of hiking even prettier.10. The Marina Bay Sands, SingaporeThis $5.7 billion hotel -- which also boasts shopping, a dinosaur museum, and a concert hall -- has ayacht-shaped infinity pool teetering on the 57th floor. When you take a swim, it feels like you'reabout to spill over the edge and onto glittering Singapore beneath you.11. The White Temple in Chiang Rai, ThailandIt may look ancient, but the White Temple (technically named Wat Rong Khun) was actuallydesigned by a Thai artist in the 1990s, and it's still a work in progress. A tangle of gnarled statuesand outstretched hands -- symbolizing the cycle of rebirth -- lead you into the temple, where you'llfind intricate (although haunting) murals of Keanu Reeves and planes hitting the Twin Towers.12. Luang Prabang, LaosUNESCO named Luang Prabang a World Heritage Site, partly for its architecture that fuses Asianand European styles together. As in much of Asia, elephant tourism is huge here. But not manyplaces have four-day mahout courses where you can learn to expertly (and humanely) ride elephantsas their keepers do.13. Kep, CambodiaThis seaside village was a hip getaway for wealthy Frenchies in the early 1900s, and it's about to tipover into another big tourist boom. For now, though, you can feel like a total local in Kep's tranquilbeaches, where cute seafood spots on stilts serve some of the yummiest crab in the world.14. Mae Sot, Thailand"Perfectly remote" might be a good way to describe Mae Sot, which teeters right at the border ofThailand and Myanmar. The crowd here is a zesty mix of Burmese, Thai, hill-tribe natives andWesterners making visa runs. Locals hang out at the town's herbal sauna and open-air markets, andvisitors get a kick out of adorably furry rescued apes at the Highland Farm Gibbon Sanctuary.15. Angkor Wat, CambodiaThis larger-than-life temple complex really is as epic as it looks. The biggest religious monument inthe world is surrounded by a wide-open moat-- you'll march down a massive stone causeway to entera village of temples, life-size stone-carved faces, and giant tree roots that have grown to twist overand around dark, windowed hallways.16. Inle Lake, MyanmarThis massive, shallow lake is over 13 miles long and a big draw for visitors, as it's inhabited by manylocal tribes who set up waterside "workshops" for intriguing traditional crafts. Despite the touristy-ness of it all, most agree Inle is unmissable because of its peaceful floating gardens and entire townshoisted onto stilts.17. Ko Lanta, ThailandWhen backpackers want to visit one of the hundreds of islands off Thailand's coast, they normallyhead for the "big names" like Ko Tao (known for its scuba diving) or Ko Phangan (home of thefamous full moon parties). These islands are pretty and so are the foreigners that visit them, but fora true Thai experience, try the blissfully empty Ko Lanta, where the National Marine Park protectsunpolluted oceans that explode with angelfish.18. Cu Chi Tunnels in Saigon, VietnamViet Cong soldiers used these narrow, claustrophobia-inducing tunnels as hiding places during theVietnam War. Trap doors in the jungle led down into the underground network, where soldierssuffered from malaria and parasites while guarding food sources. The eeriness is all too real duringa modern-day tour.19. Chiang Dao, ThailandThis forested region is a Disneyland for nature junkies complete with waterfalls, hot springs, andincredible limestone cliffs. The biggest attractions of all are the Chiang Dao Caves, which consist ofabout 100 caverns that extend as far as 40,000 feet into the mountains. You can enter five of thecaves alone or with a guide to explore narrow rocky hallways, hanging stalactites and hiddenBuddha statues.