Traveling North Korea was nothing like what I imagined. Here are the 10 things that surprised me. North Korea has earned itself quite a few names: Axis of Evil, Hermit Kingdom, and the Iron Walls. Better known as the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), it is one of the most isolated nations in the[...]
Atop an open-roofed jeep, we bounced across the muddy floodplains like a group of explorers out on a mission. Indeed, we were on a mission: to find Asian elephants in the wild. I had seen wild elephants many times but never in Asia — and being a wildlife buff, it was about time to s[...]
In the very center of Sri Lanka stands one of the country’s most iconic historical sites, Sigiriya Rock (Sinhalese for “Lion Rock”) — a massive column of rock that doubles as an ancient palace and historical site. From afar, it looks like a simple rock mount jutting out from a sea of greener[...]
Now that 2015 is almost here, it’s that time of the year again for to look back and reflect. 2014 has indeed been a fulfilling and meaningful year — I reprioritized my travels and made it my number one mission to tick off items on my bucket list. Places like Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Iran ha[...]
Here's a comprehensive, detailed Silk Road Travel Guide I wrote, based on my overland journey through Central Asia. The Silk Road is the greatest travel route of all time, spanning 8,000km across continents, weaving through deserts, mountains and grasslands and bringing traders from East to W[...]
I traveled Central Asia overland for two months and it turned out to be an epic once-in-a-lifetime journey. Here's all you need to know about overland travel in Central Asia. If you'd like to join me on the road, check out my new Tajikistan Pamir Mountains tour. Overland Travel in Central Asia T[...]
[box] While in Kyrgyzstan, I met up with a writer friend of mine, Stephen Lioy, who's an expert in all things Central Asian having traveled and lived in the region for several years now. Recently, he had the grand opportunity of photographing the first ever World Nomad Games, also known as the nomad[...]
From my own personal experience traveling Iran, here are my tips on solo female travel in Iran, including how to dress and keep safe. As a curious traveler, I believe traveling is the best way to learn on-the-ground knowledge and to see a place beyond the headlines. My solo trip to Iran �[...]
Ever heard of the Darvaza gas craters in Turkmenistan? I visited as part of a Silk Road overland trip. Here's my experience. In the middle of the Karakum Desert, a roaring fire burns from deep beneath us, its flames dancing in the darkness taunting and teasing us. The walls of the oval crater drop[...]
Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was one of the highlights of my 3-month Silk Road journey. This is my recommended list of the best things to do in Samarkand. We travel not for trafficking alone, by hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned. For lust of knowing what should not be known. We take the[...]
Prior to this Silk Road trip, I had seen photos of Uzbekistan’s monuments and I knew they were beautiful — but I had no idea of the extent and the sheer scale of it all. As my trip unveiled, Uzbekistan is home to some of the Muslim world’s best display of architecture, featuring grandiose[...]
Traditional gers dot the vast steppes while sand dunes rise from empty deserts and snowcapped mountains loom over lush green grasslands: Mongolia is packed with so much pristine natural beauty that few other countries can rival. Every turn on the road reveals a different landscape, be it a hill of c[...]
Walking the Camino de Santiago was one of the best experiences of my life. I've compiled a detailed Camino de Santiago guide for those planning for an adventure of a lifetime. As a well-known long-distance trek, the Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes running across Europ[...]
“Are you ready?” David, my skydive master from Gold Coast Skydive, shouts from behind me amidst the strong winds and the roaring engine. I’m sitting at the ledge of the plane’s opened door, about to jump from 12,000 feet above the ground. Looking down at the ea[...]
My Experience on the Shotover Canyon Swing “1…2….3….” Counting to three, I mentally brace myself for the jump and slowly push myself backwards with my toes. But just as I’m pivoted on the ledge, the jump master pulls me back up. He laughs at the expression on my face, but[...]
My recent visit to Germany reminded me of just how much we enjoy the country every time we’re there. We’ve traveled to Germany almost five times now, visiting different cities and during different seasons on each occasion. Germany never failed to surprise us with its historical sites, baroque ca[...]
Having been to over 140 countries, I've had the fortune of meeting numerous interesting tribes who live in isolated, remote corners of the world and have truly preserved their cultures and traditions. For certain places like Papua New Guinea, the intriguing tribal culture was what drew me to visit.[...]
Terracotta-roofed pagodas tower over the squares and courtyards. Narrow cobblestone streets weave their way between the houses, red-brick temples, stone statues and cisterns. Artisans are drying their pottery out in the open, while women weave cloth and knead clay by the roadside. This is Bhaktap[...]
The pointy snow-slathered peaks of the Himalayan Ranges stretch across my horizon like an endless sea of mountains. A blue haze covers the lower portion of the mountains, giving the illusion that they are floating in the air. Where I’m standing is almost 5,250 feet (1,600m) above sea level —[...]
The highlight of my trip to Nepal was the Annapurna Foothills Trek. Here's my experience doing the trek and a guide on how you can do it yourself. It’s almost late evening by the time we arrive in Nayapul, the starting point of the Annapurna Foothills Trek. After a hectic eight-hour drive from Ka[...]
Out on the brackish water, a pair of eyes lurks above the surface. Our boat man paddles gently to get a closer look. It stares straight at us and doesn’t move an inch. When we are just a few feet away from it, the motionless creature comes into full view — all of its marble-like brown eyes, shar[...]
When the first European explorers found their way into the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in the 1930’s, they didn’t find the mountain ranges they were expecting. Instead, they chanced upon heavily cultivated valleys and over one million people living here. Today, this part of the PNG is still th[...]
It’s that time of the year again — a time to stop, look back and reflect. 2013 has been a year full of milestones, of opportunities and of personal achievements for me. I published my first book, kept WildJunket Magazine going, became an aunt and celebrated our fifth blogiversary. Most important[...]
Hiking Tiger's Nest Bhutan was definitely the highlight of my trip to Bhutan. But it wasn't quite as easy as I thought. Here's my story. According to Sangay, I must have committed quite a lot of sins. I’m huffing and puffing, mid-way up the hundreds of steps that will take me to Bhutan’s m[...]
Stepping off the plane to arrive in Kathmandu after a long-haul flight was an exhilarating shock — the chaotic traffic, the dusty and polluted air, and the overcrowded streets caught me by surprise. Regardless of where I went in Kathmandu, I found myself surrounded by blinding swirls of colo[...]
Entrenched within mighty mountain chains and surrounded by Buddhist myths and legends, Bhutan still remains shrouded in mystery. Having only opened its doors to international tourists in 1974, Bhutan tourism is still in its infancy, but the country has come a long way in terms of development and mod[...]
On my recent East Africa trip, the biggest surprise for me was Lake Bunyonyi, a stunning part of Africa that I never knew existed. Sprawling across the Rwandan border in southern Uganda, Lake Bunyonyi Uganda was a breathe of fresh air after the dry, dusty savannas of Kenya. Em[...]
"Welcome to our home," announces Sam, our Masai guide for the day. We are here in a village tucked within the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The Masai (also spelled as Maasai) are a semi-nomadic people from East Africa who are known for their unique way of life [...]
Over thousands of wildebeests and zebras sprawl across the vast grasslands, peppering the landscape that runs for miles into the horizon. We’ve seen them before – but now to see them in such big numbers is just impressive. As we drive further alo[...]
The walkie-talkie crackles. Our guide Benjamin listens intently and whispers back in the local Rukiga language. “We've found the gorillas. A male and a female. They are just ahead," he announces. "Are you ready?" We drop our bags and proceed in silence through the thick and wet jungle w[...]