We’ve been back in the UK for a few weeks now and have had chance to think a little about the places we were lucky enough to visit on this trip. This is the first of a few ‘epiblogues’ in which we’ll talk about some of our favourite memories of the trip. Of course, this is all subjective and the same question would probably get a different answer on another day, but it was still fun for us to do! We came up with categories and then independently listed top threes, with room for a few honourable mentions. Sometimes we agreed, other times it was more interesting.

Favourite countries

This list could realistically include every country we visited, as there wasn’t a place we didn’t like. We agreed on our top 2, though. There really wasn’t any doubt!

China blew us both away. It was like travelling to the future and seeing how humanity can truly function and flourish when the aim isn’t one of profit. Of course, it’s not perfect and the work is hard, but you can really feel the energy of a people who truly believe they are working towards a better collective future. It’s akin to the stories people tell of the feeling in post-World War 2 Europe and America and the contrast with the decay and apathy in the ‘west’ today could not be starker. Infrastructure and technology in every sector are advancing at dizzying speeds. China has everything from hundreds of futuristic cities to all manner of spectacular natural landscapes. The terrain stretches from desert to jungle, steppe to beaches, mountains to plains. Even in three months, we only scratched the surface.

As it happens, Vietnam was the closest thing to China outside of its borders, but that’s not why it makes our lists. It’s spectacular in its own right. The authentic community at the heart of everyday life is intoxicating, especially the propensity for eating fresh, healthy, and tasty food together. Street food, in its most time-honoured non-commodified sense, really does some up Vietnam. The landscapes are also captivating, as every valley, or town looks enticing to explore. Despite spending a month there, if felt as if we passed dozens of spots every day in which we could’ve stopped on an alternative trip.

In truth, almost any country could’ve made third spot. Kaja chose Georgia for the art and architecture found within every community throughout the country. It also has an astonishing range of landscapes, not far of that of China but in a tiny fraction of the landmass.

I plumped for Azerbaijan because the people there were the most hospitable I have ever encountered (except for possibly in Iran). This was especially noteworthy to me at a time when we were at a low ebb whilst waiting for Kaja’s lost bag to (maybe, hopefully) turn up. Nobody knew this of course, they were just welcoming us to their country. That summed up the standout message of the trip for me – remembering the good in the world.