10 modes of transport to use in Asia

Travelling Asia

Transport in Asia can sometimes be amazing and entertaining, to say the least. From whole families on scooters and bikes in Cambodia to jeepneys in the Philippines, they provide an essential service to local communities.

Imagine how many buses they would need to provide in a city such as Manila if they did away with the colourful transportation that has become so reliable for 10s of years?

Therefore, my Top Ten modes of transport may surprise most Westerners. Mainly because they don’t include a car, a bus, or even a taxi. And who really needs a plane to get around?

My Top Ten:

1. The Jeepney. Colourful motorbike with a large trailer with two benches lengthwise. It allows everyone in the Philippines without access to a car a way to move around the local area. All have set routes that allow many people to make a living by providing a service for about 10 PHP pesos per journey.
2. Tuk-tuks are found in both Thailand and Cambodia, and maybe a few other places. Popular with tourists as a free way to travel. A bike with an axle allowing a carriage of sorts for up to 4 passengers.
3. Scooter. Easy to rent anywhere in Asia and small enough not to cause too many accidents. Just be aware of scams, particularly in Thailand. (Always take a photo of any dents or marks before leaving the renter) And always remember to lock the bike before leaving for any length of time.
4. Motorbike. We are talking bikes, not scooters, here. Long-distance is definitely the way to go if you have one of these. Comfy, reliable, and easy to fix anywhere by the side of the road. Just perhaps not a Harley.
5. Horse. It’s on my bucket list to travel to Mongolia riding one. Whether that experience is a short ride or not, I aim to appreciate the difference from a more controlled and regimented English riding approach.
6. Buffalo, or more importantly, Water Buffalo. In the past, these amazing animals were used to carry large carts, and in some places, you can actually experience the ride. Normally, two buffaloes are side by side, which lessens the hardship, I guess.
7. Train. Not the intercity or even the bullet train of Japan. I am talking about slow, steady( well, maybe not that steady), and uncomfortable trains. Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. Bangkok to Chiang Mai are all very long journeys that should be appreciated with gusto.
8. Bicycle or mountain bike. Some of the most beautiful scenery is all around you. Taking the time to see it is always the problem. But in Asia, time runs on a different clock.
9. Canoe or long boat. Borneo, Malay, and Indonesia all have places so far removed from the civilised cities that to experience them, you must travel slightly off the beaten track, as it were. Any city with a river running through it should be first navigated via the waterway to give you a better perspective of what you see. Bangkok is a casing point!
10. Rickshaw. I mean the traditional pull carts or tricycles. They still have them in Kolkata, India, and Vietnam. But also in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, where they tend to be used by tourists. The pull carts are in decline, but traditional tricycles are still used frequently. I was lucky enough to ride one during my New Year’s visit to Penang, Malaysia, in 2017, and another in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2019. And amazingly, you can also find the odd one in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.