For travelers who’ve been to Southeast Asia, they know that Laos itself is no longer the hidden gem of the region it once was, with more and more travelers having been turned on to the slow rhythms and friendly people that populate this small, landlocked country. Many backpackers end up [...]

The limestone steps were nearly vertical at some points, each varying in length and width, distorting my perception of depth, and causing me to stumble like a lame bird. I peered over the edge and sighed at the lush landscape of verdant highlands almost 800 feet below; a magnificent view [...]

A seventh mysterious death of a traveler occurred this week in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and little to no answers have been given for their causes. As reported in the New Zealand Herald yesterday, Canadian Bill Mah died after using the Downtown Inn facilities, including their swimming pool. The same hotel [...]

Visiting the city of Siem Reap and the surrounding temple complex known as Angkor is an unforgettable experience and a requisite stop for any trip to Cambodia. The sheer size and options available in the area can be overwhelming, but try these 10 tips to make the most of your [...]

One disheartening aspect of travel is the uncertain fate of many of the places we visit. The growing trend of privatization and destruction of national parks, tribal land, and rainforests is such a sad reality that I can’t help but wonder: “When will we get that this is all we [...]

Let’s pretend for a moment that I’m a jacked-up, grease-loving, motorhead that feels at home in leather pants. I would boast of my vehicular chariot’s duel exhausts, 454 “ponies under the hood,” and chrome-plated deely-bops. I’d even have the Kia logo tattooed on my right forearm. Also, I can get [...]

Okay, I’m just putting this out there: Maybe Thailand (and Bangkok) is such a backpacker mecca because of the food? I mean, where else in the world do you find dishes so catered to both the eat-cheap and eat-on-the-go crowd? From banana roti (a perfect late-night snack to enjoy with [...]

Much of what we read about travel is packaged into a descriptive personal essay that seeks to sweep the reader to a magical land where cotton candy falls from the sky and unicorns roam undulating; verdant hills leading to an ethereal Eden. And let’s face it, most of us enjoy [...]

By Jude Polotan Barely seven in the morning, the Victory Liner bus jolts to a stop and the child-sized driver announces in an accent I can barely make out, “Five minutes!” Ken wakes and shifts in his seat. He laughs at the sight of me huddled beneath clothes I retrieved [...]

Nothing beats long-haul bus trip in Southeast Asia, with its blaring TVs, the hair-raising passings, and the curious roadside food offerings. But if you’re strapped for time and have a little bit of extra cash on you, plane travel is the way to go, especially now with the announcement of [...]