Asia

Planning a trip to the Far East? Check out the advice, stories and tips I’ve written over the course of my many trips to Asia, which have seen me visit the countries of Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Hong Kong India, Laos, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and important tourist attractions such as Angkor Wat, The Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

Train Travel from Laos to Thailand

Lumphini Park Orchid

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Taking the train from Vientiane to Bangkok (or vice-versa) is the cheapest and, indeed, the most relaxing way to bridge the gap between the capital cities of Laos and Thailand.

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Is Angkor Wat Worth The Fuss?

Photo of Angkor Wat

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The crowds you encounter if you visit Angkor Wat these days are more befitting of Disneyland than semi-rural Southeast Asia.

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French Colonial Cool in Hoi An, Vietnam

Woman on a boat in Hoi An, Vietnam

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Hoi An is a marvelous intersection of Vietnam’s French-colonial past and the local culture that has been sustaining people long before the arrival of the French, all in a beautiful coastal setting.

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Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines

Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, Philippines

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According to some anthropologists, the Banaue Rice Terraces are the oldest existing example of human agriculture, and date back more than 5,000 years.

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Why I Love and Hate Shanghai

Shanghai Lujiazui skyline

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In Shanghai, opportunity looms low in the air like the city’s perpetual pollution haze, but both eventually become suffocating.

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Splurging at Bangkok’s Devarana Spa

Lotus petal bath at Devarana Spa

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If you feel the need to splurge while you travel in Bangkok, take the plunge at luxurious Devarana Spa in the city’s trendy Silom area.

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Cheap Lodging in Hong Kong?

Street corner at Hong Kong's Nathan Road

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If you travel to Hong Hong and are looking for a cheap, centrally-located place to stay, search no further than Chungking Mansions in the Tsim Sha Tsui section of Kowloon.

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7 Reasons to Give Manila a Chance

San Agustín Monastery in Manila

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If the adventures I described in my previous post about the Philippine capital didn’t convince you, consider these seven reasons you should spend at least a few days in Manila.

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Money and Costs in Cambodia

Beautiful lotus in Cambodia

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With the exception of tickets to enter famous attractions like Angkor Wat, costs of travel in Cambodia are cheap enough that you can easily subsist on under $30 per day.

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Why Laos is an Overrated Destination

Construction in Vang Vieng, Laos

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Laos is a beautiful, serene country I absolutely recommend you visit, but certain aspects of travel in Laos detract from its reputation as the crown jewel of Southeast Asia.

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Created by Robert Schrader