9 Types of SE Asia Backpackers

No matter where you travel, you meet some real characters. SE Asia is no exception and it may even be the rule for backpackers. From Pai to Phuket, Koh Phi Phi to Koh Phangan you will get to know a bunch of wonderful weirdos that will continue to travel with you, even though they aren’t physically there. Among those are:

The Partier

“Did you hear about the SICK bar crawl!” Is an enthusiastic phrase you can hear slurred out of this (most likely) 17-25 year-old wearing a neon tank top and about 37 bracelets. This traveler always travels in a pack of 2-5 and loves house music played loudly. 'Buckets' are their dinner of choice and they have been to the Full Moon Party, if not the Half Moon as well. Culture? Is that a club? These guys are a lot of fun, but if you want to make an early morning hike or snorkel trip DO NOT let them talk you into “just one Chang/Hiney/Bintang”.

The Old Pro

This is not their first rodeo. The Old Pro knows his/her way around a foreign train station and doesn’t get scammed into an over priced tuk-tuk, if he/she even takes a tuk-tuk at all. They always know the expat hangs and don’t get caught up in the minutia of the trip. They know enough about SE Asia to be on Thai Time and go with the flow. They have very little patience for The Partier and The Tourist. Their many tattoos all have incredible stories and they probably know the place to get some bang-up local Pad Thai. Befriend immediately.

The Chiller

They want to hang, they want to meet good people, they want to kick back, they maybe want to smoke a big fat joint, WHO KNOWS? The Chiller is a great travel buddy. Not overly obsessed with plans or marching from site to site, they prefer a game of pool at the hostel or lazing about at the beach. They may be a bit annoying to you if you do like an occasional planned itinerary, as leaving the hostel quickly is not their forte. They are equally as wonderful for nights out when you would rather not lose your mind with The Partier. Be on the lookout for Chiller Couples as well.

The Deep/Spiritual One

“Traveling is about so much more than the road. Listen man, you ARE the road.” Personally, these are my least favorite of the bunch. Everyone who travels knows that this is an amazing opportunity, why ruin it with a bunch of quasi-spiritual musings of a philosophy minor from Berkley? I tend to move my beverage to the other end of the bar. For a better conversation seek out the Old Pro.

The Solo Traveler

Out on their own, doing their thing. The solo traveler is out on a quest to test themselves away from the routine of daily life and tend to go all out. Strong willed and also pretty stubborn, they can be trying to travel with long term. It's always interesting to hear what compelled them to start traveling in the first place.

The Tourist

They're here to see the sites and DAMMIT! if they won’t keep to their travel agent’s carefully crafted itinerary! Sensible walking shoes, extra sunscreen, and security measures galore, they are determined to make it back to whence they came without being beaten, robbed, or taken too far out of their comfort zones. Can often be heard exuberantly proclaiming that, "(insert SE Asia site) is SO much like (insert a place from home)".

The Couple

I hesitate to add this category because it often overlaps with the others. There are Partier Couples, Tourist Couples, and Old Pro Couples. But they all do have things in common. 1) They like to canoodle. 2) They finish each other's travel stories (loudly if drunk). 3) They might fight when in group settings. Can be a great and welcoming resource for Solo Travelers as they often want some company other than each other.

The Overpacker

This guy/gal is my favorite. They have a two week holiday, they packed for ten. The patterned pillows, duty free bags, and humungous hard shell rolling luggage overwhelms them as the stumble down the crowded humid streets, losing bits of themselves as they go. They are immediately concerned with the 'outlet situation' and if it is compatible with their 3 curlers and 2 Ipads. They end up hiring some poor local to heave-ho their bags all the way to their mid-price bungalow. Do not be them. Pack light, feel right baby.

The Seeker

There’s a bit of this guy in all of us as well. We travelers are all looking for something intangible that we all think might be out there on the road. There is no wrong way to go see the world, as long as you do it. Maybe try and respect the local culture, maybe make some local friends, maybe try something new. The Seeker is in all of us if we let them win.

Who else have you seen out there on the road? Let me know in the comments!