Southeast Asia Travel
Krabi’s Peaceful Rhythms
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 of coconut palms, rubber trees […]
Why Are So Many Travelers Dying In Chiang Mai?
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 has also been linked to […]
Top 10 Tips For Visiting Angkor
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 adventure. 1) Sunrise / Sunset […]
Eco-Tourism Boom In Koh Kong Bringing Big Changes To Cambodia
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 have?” Soon there will be […]
Vietnam By Bike: The Greatest Trip On Earth
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 away with a Kia tattoo […]
What To Eat In Bangkok
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 your new buds from Germany) […]
The Tourist Footprint: Are We Ruining Earth’s Natural Wonders?
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 reading a romantic story about […]
The Early Bus To Baguio
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 from our bag and have […]
Low-Cost Carriers To Greatly Expand Service In SE Asia
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 two huge players in the […]
SE Asia Trip Dispatch: Part Five (Phnom Penh)
After leaving Siem Reap I decided to break up the impending grueling 12-hour bus ride and head to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, about 6 hours to the southeast. It’s probably safe to say most people don’t know much if anything about the city, and the first thing they wonder is how to pronounce […]