To the Western visitor, Southeast Asia is an assault on the senses, an immersion into a way of life utterly unlike that to which we're accustomed. From bustling cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur to tiny fishing villages in Vietnam and the Philippines, from the jungles of Malaysian Borneo to the deluxe resorts of Bali, from the temples of Luang Prabang in Laos to the bacchanal of Patpong in Thailand, Southeast Asia offers a glimpse of the extraordinary, an explosion of colors, sounds, smells, textures, and life that will send you home with a wider vision of the human experience. In this section, we'll share our picks of the region's unrivaled highlights. While the rest of the world's continents fit into nice tidy compartments--North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa--Southeast Asia seems more like a hodgepodge of islands than anything surely defined. Take a closer look at this region and you'll see that the nations that make up Southeast Asia--Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam--many times have more differences than similarities. Differences in geographical features, history, religious and cultural heritage, and political and economic viewpoints make this an incredibly diverse part of the world. People, Etiquette, & Customs Greetings, Gestures & Social Interaction--In these modern times, the common Western handshake has become extremely prevalent throughout Southeast Asia, but it is by no means universal. There are a plethora of traditional greetings, so when greeting someone--especially an older man and even more especially a woman, of any age--it's safest to wait for a gesture, or observe those around you, then follow suit. In Muslim culture, for instance, it is not acceptable for men and women not related by blood or marriage to touch. In interpersonal relations in strongly Buddhist areas (Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand) it helps to take a gentle approach to human relationships. A person showing anger or ill temper would be regarded with surprise and disapproval. A gentle approach will take you farther. A delicate matter that's best to get out of the way immediately: In countries with significant Muslim and Hindu cultures (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Bali) only use your right hand in social interaction. Traditionally, the left hand is used only for personal hygiene. Not only should you eat with your right hand and give and receive all gifts with your right hand, but you should make sure all gestures, especially pointing ( especially, pointing in temples and mosques), are made with your right hand. In all the countries discussed in this section, it's also considered more polite to point with your knuckle than with your finger. When to Go With a few exceptions, whenever and wherever you travel in Southeast Asia, you are likely to encounter hot and humid weather. All of Southeast Asia lies within the tropics, and the countries closest to the equator--Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and southern Thailand--have the hottest annual temperatures. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and the rest of Thailand located 10 to 20 degrees above the equator also have high humidity but slightly "cooler" temperatures. The mountainous northern regions of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam get pretty chilly during the winter months between November and March, so bring a pullover. Monsoon winds make weather patterns confusing to keep track of. The basic rule of thumb is this: Between the months of October through February, winds from the northeast create heavy rainfall and rough seas along the eastern coasts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand (including Ko Samui), Malaysia, and Singapore; however, western coasts along Thailand (including Phuket) and Malaysia are peaceful and calm. In May the winds shift, bringing rains and swelling seas from the northwest down upon the western coasts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia until October. Most everyplace feels a dry and hot spell in March and April--Bangkok swelters! The cooler months of October through March are also the most pleasant times to visit Hong Kong, while the most rain usually falls between July and September, during typhoon season.