What is Banana Pancake Trail?
The Banana Pancake Trail is not a well-defined path set in stone. It is indeed an ever-changing path or route which covers the major tourist spots in Southeast Asia. The trail is the name given to this route which is frequently trodden on by experienced as well as first-time backpackers. The name is also referred to those travellers which use the travel guide books by Lonely Planet. The essence of the trail is about travelling the world and experiencing the culture, food, music and lifestyle of the Southeast Asian countries. The trail has many counterparts in different parts of the world such as the trade route known as the silk route, the Hummus trail in India or the Gringo Trail in South America.
What’s With the Name
The name, Banana Pancake Trail, was a tongue in cheek phrase used by backpackers. The sweet dish is something that one can find all along the trail and was a welcome relief from other rice-based local dishes every now and then. There are many different stories which people tell why this became the official name of this route. Some say that the name came from those cafes, restaurants and street vendors which were the hotspot for backpackers. Since most of these places served banana pancakes as free breakfast to backpackers they started associating banana pancakes as an imperative part of the trail. Another reasoning which is popular for this name is that banana pancakes were an easily available, cheap and fulfilling dish. Therefore the budgeted travellers exploring this route enjoyed this delicious dessert along the way and started calling it by this name. The name gained popularity in mainstream culture when American singer Jack Johnson wrote a song of the same name.
How Did It All Start ( History)
From time immemorial the west has always been fascinated by the orient, this interest finally led to the birth of the Banana Pancake Trail in the 1960s. The war in Vietnam was at its worst and more and more people in the west were feeling disillusioned from their world. They wanted to explore the culture of the east and do it on a budget. The idea became a raging sensation when influential personalities like The Beatles and Allen Ginsberg endorsed and encouraged such hippie or counterculture movement.
The trail which is not a fixed path even now started in southeast Asian countries like Bali and Indonesia. One of the first stops ever to be added to the list was Bangkok’s Khao San Road. The Khao San road now has a reputation of being the first stop of tourists and backpackers alike because it seems as if permanent carnival is going on there. But the time that we are talking about was devoid of smartphones and the internet. People did not have information just a touch away but had to depend upon the valuable advice of others who have travelled more widely than themselves. This advice was no less than the map to the holy grail for them. Through word of mouth and then through books and internet information about the Banana Pancake Trail spread and the route kept on growing and evolving.
Some Drool-Worthy Spots on the Trail (Places on the Trail)
The trail has changed much since its inception but listed below are the spots which are generally agreed to be a part of the trail. This does not mean that you need to follow this list in its entirety, you can choose to add or leave out the places which you don’t want to visit.
Thailand: Bangkok (where the famous Khao San Road is), Chiang Mai, Pai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, Koh Lipe, and Koh Chang.
Laos: Vang Vieng, Bolaven Plateau, Si Phan Don, Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw.
Malaysia: Kedah, Penang, Malacca City, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, and Port Dickson.
Cambodia: Siem Reap, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Sihanoukville and its offshore islands.
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sa Pa, Dalat, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, and Hoi An.
Indonesia: Bali, Gili Islands, Lombok, Yogyakarta, Mount Bromo and Nusa Penida.
Philippines: Boracay, Banaue, Sagada, El Nido, Siargao
India: Goa, Pushkar, Varanasi, Jaipur, Kerala, Dharamkot and Jaisalmer.
Myanmar: Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake and Hpa-An.
China: Dali in Yunnan, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Xi'an
How Much Time do You Need
Now we would love to provide you with an itinerary planned by the most experienced and veteran travellers but that will be against the essence of this trail. It is about discovering the wondrous gems that are hidden along this trail on your own and experience it at your own pace. It is about making the mistakes for yourself and learning from them on your own. Some people like to touch a city and go within a day or two. At this pace, you can even consider covering three or four countries within three to four weeks. While there are other travellers who might find a week not enough to cover small countries like Laos. For such travellers it may take your around 9 to 10 weeks to cover three to four countries in Southeast Asia What you need to realise is that everyone works at their own pace and you need to realise what works for you according to your interest and time constraints, such as work, college schedules, and other responsibilities at home while deciding the time frame of your trip.Your Checklist for the Trip (Tips to remember)
While travelling into unknown land following the path trodden by many others before you may sound very exciting, it can also be very dangerous. Some spots on the trail have become a hub of crimes against backpackers. Therefore it is important that you are very careful while travelling, especially if you are travelling alone.Apart from the vices of humans, make sure to get yourself vaccinated against germs and bacteria that you might contract in these areas.
Don’t forget to keep sunscreen since Southeast Asia lies in the tropical region and you may suffer from sunburn.
While going for such a long trip, make sure that you have your trip insured.
The banana pancake trail is all about travelling and exploring this world. We hope that after reading this you are already packing your bags and booking your ticket.