In ancient times, travelers from different directions would converge at caravanserais for rest. As evening fell, they shared tales of their journeys past and sought wisdom about their destinations ahead. We carry on this tradition via our Caravanserai meets across South East Asia and online.
Our conversations span travels, cultures, and countless other topics. We gather monthly at Singapore’s National Library, bimonthly in Saigon, and several times yearly in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh. We also connect through monthly virtual meets. All conversations are free and we have no commercial affiliations. Caravanserai aims to be a space where we can all learn from each other by sharing stories and insights.
On July 16, 2025 via Google Meet: Danang with Ska, Ladakh with Rani and Indi
- Danang has a river, the ocean, and a slower pace of life compared to Saigon or Hanoi. It’s also a favorite destination for people looking to spend more time in Vietnam. We’re inviting Ska to recall her experience of living in Da Nang. We’ll talk about what makes the city appealing, its relaxed vibe, and nearby places worth exploring. Ska is from Korea and she currently lives in Malaysia.
- Ladakh is often referred to as “the Third Pole” due to its frigid temperatures and glaciers. It boasts some of the highest roads and the most remote monasteries in the world. Join Indi and Rani to hear about their travels in this fascinating place, nestled between some of the world’s most contentious borders. Indi and Rani are from Indonesia and they are always somewhere in SouthEast Asia.
(Thought I had died and gone to heaven, Danang, Vietnam)
For full list of meets, see https://www.meetup.com/sgtravelmeet/
Accessibility and privacy
We do not collect personal information at the meets. In some regions we use meetup,com or other social media to post information about the gatherings, but an email is always provided. You do not need to sign up for these, just send us an email so that we have a count of the participants. We will delete the emails at the end of the gathering. Ditto for the photos you send for show and tell sessions.
To be accessible to all, we try to live stream wherever possible. There is always an off-camera zone.. Participants can choose to move here if they don’t want to appear on the live feed. For online meets, you are welcome to mute the camera. We avoid posting event photos unless the participants are agreeable.
Contact
Volunteers in various cities host Caravanserai conversations. You can reach us at smarterbysharing@gmail.com.