Our 3rd favorite country was Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic). Some people hate it, some people love it, but Laos definitely has its charm. It's relatively clean, it is beautiful and it is silent compared to other Asian countries. It is one of the best countries on earth to rest and recover after long years of trying to survive in the wild and stressful Western world.
Our 2nd favorite country was Nepal. Yes, it has its problems. More than half of Nepal's population lives for less than 2 dollars per day. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, at the same time, it is also one of the richest too (if it makes any sense). They have unbelievably beautiful landscapes, Himalayan mountains, and colorful culture and history. Some people say, Nepalese are so good, they can even touch your soul. After spending there one month and volunteering in a tiny village, I think it is the truth.
Our 1st favorite country was, is and probably will be - Iran. There are no words to express how hospitable and kind most of the Iranians. However, this is also the country which is called the source of evil, which is so sad and wrong. Yes, Iran might have some problems with its government and international relations, but average people there are sooo amazing I can hardly express. We hitchhiked to Iran a few thousand kilometers from Lithuania, which is in the exact center of Europe. We spent around 30 days there. In all that time we have spent only 3 or 4 nights at a hotel. All other times locals invited us to stay with them and of course, we agreed. I really think it is one of the safest and one of the most "budget-friendly" countries you could ever imagine and the people are one of the kindest in the world. Let's not forget that Persian Empire was one of the biggest empires in the history of humanity. History, breathtaking architecture... Iran has it all...
Who knows, maybe this list will change after we finish our next journey to India and Pakistan...