Travel Tales from Asia

Thailand has become quite popular in recent years as a holiday destination. One reason for this is that holidaying here offers great value for money. Not only is it reasonably cheap to get there owing to the number of different cheap flights to Bangkok that are available, but once you’ve arrived, accommodation, eating out, shopping and sight seeing is very affordable.

Thailand’s climate is tropical with an annual mean temperature of 28 degrees C. In the central plains and the south it is very hot, while in the North and particularly in the hilly regions, it is cooler. If you’re planning on visiting Thailand, the best time to travel there is generally considered to be November through March when the days are mostly dry, and the humidity is lower.

Thailand is primarily Buddhist in religion, and you will notice that the Buddhist monks that you see are highly respected and revered members of the Thai community. There are even special areas reserved for them on many buses, and in airports. If you visit Thailand, then the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) which is located on Sukhumvit road in Bangkok city is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about Thai Buddhism and meditation practiced in the temples locally. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are all practiced in Thailand too, but to a lesser extent.

Thailand is a country where the lifestyle is one of peace and calmness, and this traditional attitude has survived for many centuries almost unchanged. For visitors to Thailand, this means a warm welcome and great feeling of acceptance. The Thai currency is the Thai Baht, and although tipping here isn’t strictly necessary, it is customary in most restaurants and hotels. 10% is considered a reasonable amount to tip, and with prices being so low and service generally very high, this norm feels quite natural here.

Flights to Thailand are often heavily booked, so it’s well worth booking in advance so you can travel when you desire. Most flights into Thailand, land in the capital city Bangkok, and therefore this is generally the starting point for most visitors, and as a starting point it’s not a bad one. There’s a lot to see and do here, and a wide choice of accommodation as well.

Thailand, and Bangkok in particular offers a wonderful mixture of tasty cuisine, amazing temples, natural beauty and peaceful lifestyle. The Grand Palace in Bangkok is very much a place worth visiting. Home to kings for over 150 years, and still a place today which houses royalty on occasion, although not all of it is open to visitors much of it is, and what can be seen is pretty impressive.

If you’re looking to travel further afield, there is plenty to see through the rest of Thailand. Chiang Mai in the north, is Thailand’s second largest city, here you can clime the 300 steps to the Doi Suthep temple, or take excursions to see some of the regions ancient temples and hill tribes. Ayutthaya is a place where you can step back in time. Once Thailand’s capital city, you can now walk through the ruined palaces and wats on foot, or travel around the area on the back of an elephant.

After traveling to Bangkok, I went down to Phuket. Phuket is the big beach resort area in Thailand. It is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Asia and is filled with big hotels, resorts, beaches, bars, restaurants. and much more. There is some great diving here and they even filmed a James Bond movie here.

After being in Bangkok for awhile, I needed a break for the beach. I’d heard a lot about this area so I figured I would test it out. Normally, I prefer more off the beaten path destinations but everyone was raving about Phuket. You can’t hate a place you’ve never been so I thought I would try it out. I looked for some good Phuket hotels and finally settled on a place just south of Patong beach. Patong beach is where all the action is and I didn’t want to be surrounded by drunks and sexpats for my whole time there so I decided to get a place just south and then travel there. Better to only visit the craziness than live in it.

I spent my time in Phuket doing what I wanted- sitting on the beach. I thought the beaches and water were very nice. But they were very crowded with people and it was hard to get some “peace and quiet.” One thing I really hated were all the hawkers trying to sell me something every five minutes. If you go to some of the beaches on the southern part of the island, it’s a bit nicer, quieter, and with less hawkers. I ended up going down there for a few days to avoid the crowds.

One of the big activities to do here is to go diving. There seems to be a dive shop on every corner here- it’s like Starbucks! It was hard picking which one was good or bad but I just used the hotel’s advice. I ended up going to a dive shop on Patong and learning how to dive. I’d never dove before so I was a bit nervous. But after my first dive, I can see why everyone loves it. I’m hooked. I didn’t have time this trip but next time I am going to get my PADI. I’ve heard that many of the Phuket accommodation booking sites do a combo where you can do a dive/hotel package so I am going to look into that. But then again, I also heard it was better to do that in Ko Tao. Thoughts?

Overall, I liked Phuket but I’m not 100% sure I’d go back. With nicer and quieter beaches elsewhere in country, Thailand has a lot more to offer.

Malaysia has many different types of cities but we are going to check out one in particular Kuala Lumpur. In the next few paragraphs we are going to see what you can do in this particular city as it has so much to offer and it has many tourist attractions.

Petronas Twin Towers – This is the main attraction to go and visit as it has made its name for itself as Sean Connery and Katherine Zeta-Jones made part of their film here which was called “Entrapment.” The company that runs this building produces 1,000 free tickets per day but it is only on a first come first basis. You can get tours that will allow you to go to the 41st and 42nd floor but these are only with a tour guide, however it will be defiantly worth it with a tour guide as you will know so much more information about the history behind it.

Pavilion Mall – As Malaysia is known for its cheap products it may be worth getting an extra suit case as Pavilion Mall is supposed to be the next main attraction. It has many shops within the mall that you will not to stop yourself shopping. If you are looking for something to eat then there is a food court which has many different varieties of foods that you can choose from.

Merdeka Square – If you are looking to see some historical facts about Kuala Lumpur then Merdeka Square if defiantly the place to visit. Back in 1957 the union jack was lowered in the square which made independence for Malaysia. You will also able to see the flag pole which has the Malaysian national flag on it and it is the largest one in the world.

Bird Park - Are you a big bird fan or looking to take a rest from the city, then you will be most attracted to come and visit this bird sanctuary. You will able to some amazing pictures which you will not forget. You will probably only need to spend half the day there but you will be glad that you have visited this wonderful Bird park. If you want your Bird Park extra special then you can pay an extra 2RM so that you can feed the lorikeets. If you are looking to do this it will be worth it as it will put a smile on your face.

Asia has always been one of the best travel destinations for the people all over the world. If you are also among them, then I will not be surprised. Asia is not only the biggest continent in the world, but it is also immensely filled with lots of different countries having their own distinct culture and traditions. Now only this but inexpensive accommodation, food and local transport make this region one of the world’s most popular backpacker and cheap travel destinations. So if you have decided to visit this place physically then you must go forward.

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China and many others all offer you some thing or the other to have fun with. You will never bore in this pleasant continent. I assure you of that. Some of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand’s beach resorts, are naturally more expensive than less-travelled areas in Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar, but most Southeast Asian countries offer something for all travel budgets from rock-bottom cheap to five-star luxury.

There you will never face any problem with the accommodation facilities or food facilities. Yes, food is another amazing standard which you can explore out there. There are so many tastes to be explored that you might take a whole long year to have them. Most of the people just don’t feel like moving away from this special continent. It is evenly filled with natural landscape, vaulting mountains and with splashing rivers. These all special features make them for you lots of opportunities to be explored out there.

Now if we talk about the traveling medium out there, then also there is hardly any problem which you will face out there. Several low-cost airlines operate on the Indian subcontinent, and budget airlines connect most of Southeast Asia’s big cities. But the cheapest (and a more environmentally friendly) way to travel in Asia is by public transport. Local trains and buses in most Asian countries are very affordable. So what are you waiting for?

Just check out the Asia and then you will have a feel of that you have explored any travel destination. Enjoy it in style.

When ever we talk about some of the fine places in South East Asia, then one name which immediately strike to our mind is of Cambodia. Cambodia has every thing in it which a traveler desire for. This is the main reason why it is emerging as one of the best travel destination for the people all over the world. So, if you are also planning for a travel trip along with your friends or family, then do consider Cambodia as a potential option for you. Why you must do so? We will disclose here.

First of all the traveling means to Cambodia are in good numbers and you can stick with either of them. Most often people from foreign countries prefer to visit this beautiful place by the air route. You can very easily get the tickets booked for your self and then enjoy. Secondly, being a famous travel destination there are lots of fine and awesome option for the accommodation process. All the hotels are luxurious and you can explore almost all the features in it. They will provide you a feeling of being at home and you will just not wish like leaving that place.

Cambodia is filled with several tourist attraction and other attractive places. In this context, the best place to pay a visit to is “Siem Reap”. You will get a chance to see there famous Angkor Wat temple out there. This temple has its own historical and architectural importance, because of which it is famous through out the world. Hence you just can’t afford to leave this place. It is just a four hour drive from the Phnom Penh.

Another good and attractive place on your trip can be the “Royal Palace”. This is also quite an old monument and has some historical importance attached to it. You can easily get all the details about it from the net.

You will also get a chance to see out there the National Museum which houses Angkorian artifacts. The Museum was opened in 1920, and displays over 5,000 objects ranging from Angkor-era statuary to post-Angkor Buddha figures. Outside the Museum, a large selection of art galleries can be found on Street 178.

There are still more places to be explored. So just stick to it and enjoy.

Mainland Thailand is a popular tourist destination that’s home to historic sites, modern cities and cultural variety. But a trip to Thailand doesn’t have to stop at the mainland. Thailand is also a nation rich in tropical islands that add variety to any vacation in one of the most popular Southeast Asian countries.

The second most popular island in Thailand is a tropical island called Ko Samui. Known simply as Samui to the island’s inhabitants, it’s defined by the white sands and coral reefs we most often associate with the Caribbean. Most importantly, the rainy season in Samui lasts for only one month (November) and the rest of the year is relatively dry. If you’re looking for a secluded island getaway, this isn’t the destination for you. The island has a population of 50,000 but while this may be a problem for some travelers, the population can be an asset to any vacation.

Vacationers can enjoy the many festivals hosted by the island including a regatta, a tennis open and a five-day Fisherman’s Village Festival. Many of the festivals involve Samui’s unique cuisine based on a fusion of Malaysian, Indian and Indonesian influences.This food is renowned for being extremely spicy and should be an important part of anyone’s trip to the island. Located in Surat Thani Province, Samui has an international airport that makes going to and from the island fairly easy.

The Phi Phi Islands are slightly closer to the mainland and much of their ecology is protected by National Park Status. This protection has preserved the beauty of their beaches as well as the availability of wildlife that has made the two islands perfect destinations for bird watching.

The Phi Phi Islands have a slightly longer rainy season than does Samui but the fact that they’re far less populated is an attraction for many tourists. Like Samui, the Phi Phi Islands host a number of festivals of interest to tourists including the Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival that features water games at the beginning of the tourist season. Tourists should know that the islands haven’t totally recovered from the 2004 Tsunami but most public services are functioning again and the ecology that was such a draw to tourists before the Tsunami is still thriving in the islands’ national park.

Tourists interested in Thailand’s tropical islands should also consider Ko Samet and Ko Phangan which are both less popular than Samui and offer resort style accommodations. Being less populated, they’re also ideal sites for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Thailand’s tropical islands offer the same amenities and activities that can be found in the Caribbean but do so as part of a Thai vacation package. Some of the Thai tropical islands are even connected to the mainland by bridges so that there is really no excuse to avoid visiting them. You can visit them for typical tropical activities but at the end of the day it’s their unique Thai culture and cuisine that sets them apart from tropical islands the world over.

I traveled to Singapore last November for a small vacation. It was pretty muggy and the temperature was a little high for my liking but regardless of the climate, Singapore was worth every dollar I spent getting there. The diversity and uniqueness of the food is really what made my trip and while normally my vacations focus on landmarks and World Heritage Sites, this vacation was mostly about eating.

Every year, Singapore puts on a massive Food Festival. It’s filled with carnivals, workshops and promotions. Of course, I missed the Festival by a few months (it’s held in July) and I only know about it because of the tourism site I looked at while in the city. But it’s probably for the best that I missed the Festival because without carnivals and promotions, I was able to enjoy the diverse foods of Singapore in relative quiet and solitude.

My first stop was Singapore’s Little India. In the interests of full disclosure, I should say that I’m a raving fan of Indian food. I love all of it but my favorite is North Indian and my tastes are fairly traditional. Singapore’s Little India had some of the dishes I was used to but the channa masala and dal makhani that I normally seek out were in short supply. Instead, Indian food in Singapore is heavily influenced by Tamil cuisine and most of the dishes I encountered were South Indian.

I hade some really great dosai while I was in Little India and one of the more curious places I stepped into was Komala’s. Komala’s is an Indian fast food restaurant where the menu is exclusively vegetarian, I had a masala dosai there and was surprised by the quality. In fact, I even looked them up to see if they had any international locations where I lived and although they have one restaurant in Ontario, there is no Komala’s in the United States.

Upset by the absence of Indian fast food franchises in my homeland, I decided to visit an historical site (something I’d been too distracted by food to do on the first three days of my visit). So with history in mind, I traveled over to the island of Sentosa to visit Fort Siloso.

Fort Siloso was a coastal battery constructed by the British in the late 19th century. It was destroyed during the Japanese invasion but was reconstructed as a museum during the 1970s. Today, it’s the only British-era battery open to the public. The tour took me about an hour and change and while it was an enjoyable site to see, it certainly wasn’t better than the food. That being said, it was fascinating to see a restored WWII battery complete with the guns.

Visiting the fort wasn’t the highlight of my trip but it was important to me to tour some of the historical sites while I was there. However, I did a lot less historical sightseeing than I usually do because I’ve never been to a place with such a diverse selection of fantastic food.