Travel Tales from Asia

In Laos, opportunities for tourists are endless. The tiny landlocked country in Asia, wedged between Vietnam and Thailand offers a host of unique activities, but one of the most famous and most well-loved are the elephant treks across the jungles.

Basically, when you are out of the bustling hub of Vientiane and the markets and endless propositions for you to part with your hard-earned dollars, you arrive in smaller towns and even villages full of smiling locals. Getting off the beaten track like this is a dream come true for many young gap-year students or even older people whose kids are now all grown up and they can use the opportunity to give themselves a treat.

One of the most famous places to go elephant trekking in Laos is the Elephant Mahout Camp, which is a parody obviously of the concept of a ‘boot camp.’ This association says that they can divulge to you the ‘secret language of the elephants’, ‘a firsthand jungle experience’ and even to be ‘part of their sacred bathing rituals.’

This form of sustainable and altruistic tourism is practiced at the Tiger Trail Elephant Village as well, where tourist funds are channeled into development projects for the elephants, the local economy, conservation in the jungle and sustainable development for nearby villages and communities.

Most elephant treks can be had for a fee of about 100 USD, though even this might be a bit pricey for the avid backpacker.

The adventurous tourist is usually greeted with either well-furnished hotel rooms or cabins near the jungle where the tour is to take place. For every elephant there are two people – your driver and you. For the particularly brave souls among us, they even offer you the chance to ride on the back of the elephant’s neck without a saddle.

This is one experience you’ll never forget about your stay in Laos!

Traveling to Asia gives you a perfect experience where you can exercise your new language learning experiences, if you’ve mastered one of the many languages spoken in Asia. Since one of the best ways to learn a language—and to use it, once you’ve learned it—is by traveling and living in the country where the language is spoken, traveling to Asia can be a great way to further develop some of the new languages you learned.

As you probably figured, though, traveling to Asia is not like traveling to a destination inside the United States, or even like Canada or Europe. Not only is the language structure very different in many Asian countries, but the things that you need to know before traveling are also very different. Here are some things to keep in mind as you travel to Asia, and before you get there:

1. Be prepared in advance for a long flight. The biggest thing you need to remember about getting from the United States to Asia is that your flight, no matter what part of Asia you’re traveling to, or where in the United States you’re leaving from, is going to be long. Plan on having a flight that is at least several hours, and bring enough with you to either help you sleep, or keep you entertained during the flight. Your flight will be even longer if you’re traveling from Europe, and you may want to make the decision to buy a business class seat where you can be more comfortable.
2. Remember to get your visa before you go—and do it well in advance of when you plan to travel. Many Asian countries require that travelers from the United States and Europe have tourist visas before traveling. You may need to get these months in advance of when you travel, unless you are willing to pay for expediting costs or you have a business that is sending you to Asia.
3. Keep an open mind with regard to food. Asia presents many opportunities to try food that you’ve never heard of, and probably have never tried. Don’t try to seek out familiar, Western food when you’re traveling in Asia. Instead, take advantage of this experience and try new foods that you definitely won’t be able to get as take out at home.
4. Remember that not all hotels are like those we have in the United States. This tip is very similar to the idea of keeping your mind open about food. Although many American and European chains do have locations in Asian countries, don’t expect even from those chains that you’re going to have the same level of amenities and room that you’d have in an American hotel room. In the larger cities, such as Tokyo and Beijing, space is at a premium and you’re going to have to accept up front that your hotel room may be smaller than what you’re anticipating.

There are so many countries I want to visit. Some of the top destinations on my list are Egypt, Thailand, Brazil and The Maldives. It wasn’t until I came across a travel review on Vietnam that I decided it was also a country I would have to visit at some point.

When I organize my holidays, I usually price flights to a number of destinations and choose the cheapest. At first I was surprised at how expensive it is to fly to Vietnam. After all, it is a long trip from the US to Vietnam. However, after looking long and hard I managed to find better airfares off-peak. I hadn’t planned to travel in March, but I am quite flexible with travel dates and am lucky I can do so. Plus, I figured it would be cheap when I got there.

I travelled with American Airlines from JFK airport in New York to Noibai Airport in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The flight was delayed for about 2 hours, but other than that there were no other issues. I have elite flight status with AA so at least I got to hang out in the airport lounge while I waited. After you arrive in Hanoi, you can take a bus from the airport to Hanoi city centre and the journey takes about 30 minutes.

Before travelling I had heard that Vietnam is very scenic and cheap. I can confirm both of these rumors. Perhaps tourism isn’t as developed as in other Asian countries…but if you love an adventure, and our open minded and easy going, you are sure to love Vietnam. I spent three weeks in the country and tried to travel a bit. I enjoyed staying in Hanoi for a few days and paid under $20 per night for three star accommodation. Some of the tourist attractions I loved in this city were the Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre, the History Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you can a mummified version of Ho Chi Minh himself. I also had the chance to escape the city and see the natural beauty of Vietnam at the Tam Dao Hill Station. Visiting Vietnam was a once in a lifetime experience and every time I leave a county in Asia I want to return.

Asia fascinates me and it really does seem to be the place to go these days…..especially for anyone planning a honeymoon or romantic break. I had traveled to Thailand, the Maldives and Indonesia, so the next destination on my list was the Philippines; a country which is sometimes overshadowed by the more popular tourist destinations. Unlike these resorts, the Philippines tends to attract fewer tourists and so it is a good place to go to avoid crowds of holidaymakers.

The Philippines is an archipelago located in the western Pacific Ocean. Some 7,000 tropical islands comprise this archipelago and they are renowned for their natural beauty both above and below land, as well as the people, culture and isolated beaches. In my opinion the Philippines is a destination for everyone regardless of budget as you can find anything from cheap accommodation perfect for backpackers, to luxury hotels for honeymooners and couples, or travellers in need of relaxation and pampering. There are also lots of different restaurants suitable for all travellers. Having said this, flights to the Philippines are expensive, but you should expect to pay similar fares for airline tickets to most destinations in Asia. If you are booking flights and accommodation separately, it is a good idea to use search and comparison websites to find the cheapest flights.

I love visiting countries in Asia because they are so different and are rich in natural beauty. The Philippines is by no means an exception to this rule. I spent about two weeks travelling in the Philippines to discover the rainforests and some of the most unique flora and fauna in the world. Before returning home I enjoyed a few days diving around Palawan Island. I had the chance to see Tubbataha sharks, turtles and explore hidden caves and life in the coral reef. What an experience!

My advice is start planning your trip to the Philippines now! It is one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

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.