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[...]
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Asia
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[...]
It’s 7am and the sun’s rays are pouring into our wooden stilt bungalow on Inle Lake in Myanmar. I open the windows and hypnotic sounds of prayers flood in from the near distance. Every morning at exactly this hour, the Inthas recite their sermons in the Buddhist temple nearby. It’s become a da[...]
Thick, white clouds surround us almost as if we are floating above them. All the concrete of the city have disappeared beneath us, under that layer of marshmallow white clouds. There are only the soothing sounds of chanting prayers echoing in the distance. At 3,099 meters above sea level, all we se[...]
While in Guilin, China, we had the chance to visit Huang Yao, a 1,042-year-old town with beautifully-preserved remnants of the past. The time-warped, ancient city is a labyrinth of narrow streets and brick-laid houses, with giant marble paving the walkways and red lanterns hanging from the ceilings.[...]
One of the highlights of our trip to China was rice planting in Yangshuo and getting to know a local farmer and his family. Be sure to add this to your China itinerary! “Is this your first time planting rice?” said our host Mr Pan, a farmer from the rural outskirts of Yangshuo, Guilin. The grey[...]
A look at the world's tallest Buddha Statue in Leshan! It's an impressive sight that should be included in your China itinerary. World's Tallest Buddha Statue In our recent two-week trip to China, we had really wanted to explore more of Sichuan not just for the spicy foods the province is famous[...]
Our trip to North Korea was truly insightful and eye-opening. Here, we share our experience and answer all your questions on how to travel North Korea. Since our return from North Korea, we’ve been swamped by questions from readers who are all curious about the Hermit Kingdom. Rightfully so, sinc[...]
We have just returned from North Korea (or more formally known as Democratic Republic of Korea) after spending the past five days making our way around the capital of Pyongyang to the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ border with South Korea. Although we’ve barely scraped the surface of the coun[...]
Flying to Bagan is like descending into a lost world: thousands of ochre stupas sprawl across the plains amidst wilting Acacia trees and whirlpools of brown earth. Wispy clouds hang low, shrouding the landscape in an eerie yet dreamy setting. Some of the best Bagan temples are those hidden from the[...]
Having left Southeast Asia behind us, we've just arrived in Guilin, China - a laidback, tree-lined city hemmed by karst mountains, rice fields and winding rivers. Coming from the chaotic traffic-congested metropolis of Bangkok, we've warmly welcomed the transition and eased into the peaceful setting[...]
A look at how over-tourism is destroying beautiful Halong Bay in Vietnam. In Northern Vietnam, thousands of grottos and limestone cliffs dot the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Junk boats ply its water, against the natural backdrop of dark green rock formations shrouded in mist. The limestone in t[...]
After three weeks of traveling around the Philippines, we simply wanted to kick back for a few days in Crusoe-esque splendor – and on Sumilon Island we did just that. Located 10 km from Cebu island, it might be just a hop away from civilization but it sure felt like a world apart. Landing on the[...]
"Filipinos have always bonded through food,” said Ivan, “The best deals have been settled on the dining table.” With that, we began our journey into the Philippine culinary world. In Manila’s Binondo district, also known as Chinatown, we met up with our guide, Ivan Mandy, who co-owns Old Ma[...]
The air was thick with humidity. We followed the trail that snaked through the dense tropical foliage, pushing past thick molave leaves as we ventured further. “Shhh…” Our 18-year-old park ranger, Ijie, stopped us in our tracks and pointed at a branch hanging above our heads. There they were[...]
It's wet, it's wild and it's loud. Songkran festival is synonymous with massive water wars and street parties. In Thailand and many other parts of Southeast Asia, Songkran is celebrated as the traditional New Year’s Day. Traditionally, people celebrate by paying respects[...]
One of my favorite travel experiences of all time: swimming with whale sharks in Cebu, the Philippines. Read about our experience here. In the far distance came a spray of water and the faint outline of an enormous animal resembling a whale. We watched in awe as it glided gently by the bow of a sma[...]
Out of the five islands we've visited in the Philippines so far, Bohol has got to be our favorite. While it's one of the most visited islands in the archipelago, it's hard to deny Bohol's natural beauty. The isle's coastline is lined with spearmint-colored beaches while its interior is dotted with r[...]
“You are standing on what molded Philippines for over 400 years,” our guide Dustin announced. This spot has withstood centuries of battle and hardship: over 330 years of Spanish colonization, 14 years of American occupation and decades of revolution. It has protected and stood over the co[...]
'It's more fun in the Philippines' - the new tourism slogan reads. And we can't agree more.We arrived in the Philippines just a few days ago and in this short time span, we've already weaved through Manila's historical center, sampled its culinary delights, visited the beautiful Mount Mayon in Legaz[...]
Southeast Asia is a backpacker's paradise and the ideal destination for those on a budget looking to hang back and relax. It's home to some of the best beaches in the world, that are all cheap and easy to get to. Sadly tourism has transformed many of these beaches into overcrowded tourist traps. Fo[...]