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Miss traveling to Southeast Asia?
Films that evoke memories of ASEAN countriesBy _Kim Si-eun, CEO of ASEAN Lab

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN countries were the most visited destination for Koreans, with over 10 million tourists visiting the region in 2019.In other words, these are some of the places that Koreans yearn for the most. If you’re feeling nostalgic for Southeast Asia because you haven’t been able to visit the region for a while, why not try watching films that showcase the appeal of ASEAN?

The first film I want to introduce is “Eat Pray Love,” starring Julia Roberts. It will make you crave travel not just to ASEAN, but all over the world. A New Yorker who seems to have a perfect life takes off to find her true self as she “eats” in Italy, “prays” in India, and “loves” in Bali, Indonesia. The beginning and the end of the film are set in Bali, where her love story takes place. It’s the perfect location for a story that starts with her confusion and concludes with the discovery of true happiness.

While “Eat Pray Love” is about healing and introspection, my second recommendation, “Crazy Rich Asians,” will invite you to a delightful party. Rachel, who lives in New York, joins her super-rich boyfriend, Nick, on a trip to Singapore, where his best friend is getting married. The film features various tourist attractions, fancy parties, and extravagant food for the lavish wedding. It’s also satisfying to watch the dramatic scenes where Rachel confronts class differences with confidence. Overall, the movie presents a pleasant viewing experience throughout Rachel’s journey.

While the two films above focus on one location, the Thai film “Friend Zone”offers glimpses of multiple countries in Southeast Asia. The main narrative tackles auniversal question: is it possible for men and women to be friends? This theme might seem unrelated to travel, but the movie takes you across the historical sites and beautiful nature of the ASEAN region. The female lead suspects that her boyfriend is having an affair and takes her male friend along to spy on him as he travels widely to record commercial music. Don’t miss the amazing spots show cased in the film, which almost seems like a promotional video for the ASEAN region. You’ll see urban settings; Krabi, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and the Shwedagon Pagodain Yangon, Myanmar.