Southeast Asia's Best Unknown Destinations

Insular Southeast Asia is often a misunderstood place. Perhaps it has just been a case of bad P.R. Indonesia’s airline disasters, the Philippines political problems and separatist movements, and Malaysia’s conservative leadership may have dimmed the region’s attractiveness. Still, those who live or travel to Southeast Asia’s island nations know that daily life has nothing akin with what is shown on CNN or BBC. Manila, Cebu, Jakarta, Bali are places of endless opportunity and experiences. However, some of the region’s lesser-known destinations offer equally fascinating travels.

Here are the best of the “little-knowns” for Southeast Asia’s Island nations:

Yogyakarta is an old place. Old in a distinguished sense, not in a decrepit one. The Kraton, a palace belonging to a sultan, harkens back to the region’s former glory. The Kraton and other places in Yogya are nothing less than living postcards. Those seeking the ultimate exotic sights need look no further than Yogyakarta. If they did happen to look further? They’d find the ancient and impressively massive Borobudur Buddhist temple, and Prambanan, its Hindu counterpart.

Everyone knows that Penang is the place to fill your stomach. But what about Ipoh? The city on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia is as much an eating destination as its northern sister. The numerous stalls selling Chinese and Malay fare can be found day or night. Ipoh is supposedly one of the most pleasant places in Malaysia. It is a favorite location for people who are retired. However, this is not the South Florida of Malaysia. The food is a hell of a lot better in Ipoh than Palm Springs.

Davao, one of the largest cities in the Philippines, sits on the troubled island of Mindanao. Still, this friendly and modern city bears little evidence of strife. The malls here are almost as numerous as in Manila, and the food is unbelievably tasty. Davao is a great alternative to more crowded and expensive cities like Cebu and Manila.

Kota Kinabalu is a seaside city in the Sabah state of Borneo. Aside from a growing number of beach resorts, there are numerous inland activities, including trekking on scenic Mount Kinabalu. The real attraction here is the city, with a developed waterfront full of shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. Kinabalu is not what one thinks of when they think of wild Borneo.

These places offer something for every type of tourist. Whether it’s a snack if curried noodles in Ipoh or a trip to a fast food joint in Davao, Southeast Asia’s secret destinations are full of opportunity.