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Tonight, 28 July, 8 pm ET, the first episode of Passport to China with Samantha Brown airs on Travel Channel. In this week’s episodes, Samantha will focus on the history, culture and cuisine in Beijing, Sichuan and Xian. First out is Beijing:
“After tasting Peking Duck Tongue at the famous Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, Samantha is ready to hike one of the world’s seven wonders: The Great Wall at Badaling. After fighting the crowds, she discovers the secret of hiking the wall alone.”
In tomorrow’s episode, Samantha actually gets to hold a giant panda when visiting Sichuan.
For a complete schedule, see China Week.
Today, you can read the second part of Lounging In Lipe by Nomadic Matt. For more pictures from Thailand and the rest of the world, take a look at Matt’s Travel Photos.
TEXT & PHOTO: Matthew Kepnes
Paradise Found
We spent our days on the beach and our nights at the bar. I’d lost my flip flops and, in true island spirit, was going barefoot. Life was simple.
Most of the foreigners on the island had come years ago and, captured by this place, returned every season. There was Kelvin the crazy Welshman, Fred the Frenchman, Julie the Swiss girl who seemed to speak every language, and Chris the young, lazy Canadian backpacker.
My plan was to spend four days there before going back to the mainland. I didn’t leave until three weeks later. Ko Lipe had captured me and I was its willing prisoner. I had found my beach. We explored the island everyday- crisscrossing the interior, exploring the town, eating at all the restaurants, and swimming at all the beaches. We left no corner of the island unturned.
We set out to explore the little island near my bungalow. During low tide you could walk to it- as long as you avoided the urchins! During high tide, you could leisurely swim there, letting the current push you. On the opposite side of the island, the shelf dropped off deep and the current kicked in. There was a lot of fish swimming around showing all the colors of the rainbow. Neon blues and pinks darted around us. It was beautiful. We looked continuously for reef sharks but, sadly, we never saw any.
Days passed. I got tanner. My backgammon game improved. We all bonded at the bar each night playing football, jamming to music, and laying out under the stars. We celebrated birthdays and festivals and just being there. It was like the beach and I imagined this was what Thailand was like before mass tourism hit the country.
The locals of the island were native sea gypsies and historically nomadic fishermen but with increased tourism to the island were slowly exchanging fishing poles for bars and restaurants. Being there long term allowed me to get to know them really well. There was the owner of the sandwich shops, Mai, who I visited everyday. She always had my food ready (I’m a creature of habit) and always taught me Thai. Her family and I conversed over breakfast or lunch. There was also the local soup shop owner, who didn’t speak any English but was always happy to see us come in and always had a smile on his face. The locals took time out to ask us about our day and always waved and smiled as we went by.
But paradise slowly faded as we all began to trickle off the island though. Nothing perfect last forever. First the German couple left, then my friend, followed by Chris, and then finally me. Paul and Jane stayed longer but my visa was expiring and it was time to go.
After Christmas, I reluctantly boarded the ferry back to the mainland; sadden by the fact I’d have to wear footwear again. I never have made it back there. Maybe it’s a good thing. Ko Lipe was my utopia. Any return trip might ruin the dream in my head. Somewhere out there there’s another Lipe waiting to be discovered.
In today’s last post, Matt from the newly redesigned Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site shares his experiences from the Thai island of Lipe.
TEXT & PHOTO: Matthew Kepnes
I stared at the ferry I was going to sit on for three hours. I watched as they packed more and more people. I hope it doesn’t sink, I said to myself. I dropped my bag below deck. People were waiting about. There didn’t seem to be too many single travelers here. Maybe it would be different on the island. I went up above to get a tan.
I was heading to Ko Lipe, a small island of the southern coast of Thailand. Located hours from the mainland, it doesn’t see many tourists. I’d never even heard of the island until my friend emailed me saying she was there. It wasn’t in my guidebook and my fellow travelers were just as clueless. She described it as paradise- cheap, deserted, and beautiful.
With a description like that, I couldn’t resist. I was in Ko Phi Phi, the exact opposite. Ko Phi Phi is expensive, touristy, and crowded but this place sounded different- like paradise. I read the words over again. Cheap. Beautiful. Deserted. It was my dream. It was my own personal “beach”. (The Beach is a novel by Alex Garland about finding paradise and then destroying it.) I took the next ferry back to the mainland, bought a bus ticket, and eventually, I was offloaded at the ferry.
Play it again Sam
I had made my way up to the front of the deck. Around me were various couples- British, German, and French. I sat down near them but without the nerve too talk. They were all in conversation. I felt awkward. Quietly, I just took in the sun. The British couple had a guitar and was playing a few songs while merrily chatting away. After awhile, I worked up the nerve to talk to them.
“Hey,” I said. “You’re pretty good. Know any Jack Johnson?”
And that was all it took. They introduced themselves as Paul and Jane. They had met in Australia a few years back, had been traveling for years, and were on their way to moving to New Zealand. It’s funny how you can connect with random strangers. We spent our time on the boat chatting. To this day we remain good friends.
“So, where are you meeting your friend?” They asked.
“I have no idea,” I said. “It’s a small island. I’m sure I’ll run into her.”
We had hopped in a longboat and headed to the shore. There’s no dock on the island so you need to be ferried from the boat. Landing on one of the beaches, I heard my name called. I looked around and there was my friend on the beach.
We hugged. We chatted. I went to find a room. It was about 3pm after I checked into my bungalow. The wooden bungalows were on a hill, shrouded by large trees, and overlooking the ocean. Below was a tiny secluded beach and, out in the distance, a small island, surrounded by coral that looked prefect to swim to and explore. Staring at my surroundings, it looked like a post card. This was clearly paradise.
Scenes in Taiwan
Professional nomad, travel writer and Lonely Planet co-author Joshua Samuel Brown is almost done researching Lonely Planet Singapore 8. Before he will get to the writing from home, I had the chance for a short interview.
E.J: How did you get into writing guidebooks for Lonely Planet? Have you always loved writing and traveling?
JSB: I’d been doing journalism and traveling since about 1998, with a fair bit of “travel journalism” thrown in along the way. In 2006 my first book - Vignettes of Taiwan - was published, and I sent a copy to Lonely Planet. They invited me to apply for an author’s position, and shortly after I was working on my first LP title (Taiwan 7). Since then, I’ve done two more books for LP.
E.J: What is your favourite location and/or trip and why?
JSB: Any trip in which I don’t have to collect data for a guidebook or conduct interviews has been of late very dear to me. But I still do love Taiwan, if you’re looking for me to plug someplace.
E.J For those who aren’t familiar with your blog Snarky Tofu, can you tell us a bit about it?
JSB: I do a lot of stuff with Snarky Tofu. Sometimes I run short articles that I’m considering putting into whatever Lonely Planet guide I’m working on to see what readers think - readers of Snarky T and Taiwan 7 will see a few examples of this on both. Sometimes I run experimental essays that LP wouldn’t even know what to do with, or run short stories I’ve written that really don’t fit into any particular theme. Sometimes when I’m too lazy to write I post images. Sometimes I just use the blog to vent about how I’m losing my mind. This seems to be happening more and more these days as I slip further and further out of sanity.
E.J: What are you favourite posts? I have to say I loved ‘My Parents Are Little People’.
JSB: I like that one too, and I’m actually going to reference it in another question. I find myself steering people to the posts that have both educational and entertainment value. Number-one visited post is “Me and the Ladyboys” - man, people just can’t get enough of ladyboys….
E.J: What advice can you give to people who want to write for Lonely Planet?
JSB: To have a clear picture of what the job entails. Much of what I do is gathering information… what time does this bowling alley open and how much are shoe-rentals, that sort of thing. The pace can be grueling, and the writing itself can sometimes be soul crushing (”Rooms are clean, tidy, and fairly spacious, and some have lovely views of the interior courtyard’s bamboo garden.”… fun, eh?). Basically, any potential writer should understand that there’s definitely a lot of “job” involved in the job.
E.J: Recently I read that Thomas Kohnstamm, one of Lonely Planet’s guidebooks authors, confessed he had faked information. Apparently, he wrote the guidebook to Colombia from his home in San Francisco. How do you think Lonely Planet’s reputation will be affected by this?
JSB: Hopefully by now you’ve sorted out fact from hype about the case - TK was commissioned only to do some front end material for the Colombia guide in question, not to do the on-the-ground research. So in this instance the “confession” was more media hype to pump up a bad-boy image which he might well deserve for other reasons. I found myself having a very ugly reaction to the case initially. Even wrote the man a fairly brutal letter & posted it on my blog, only to take it down later after I realized - through a bit of soul searching - that my reaction was based mostly on my own career doubts and dissatisfaction.
The post you mentioned earlier - “My Parents are Little People” - was written partially in response to the issue, to show people just how far some writers were willing to go to get a review. But actually I pull stunts like that all the time. Makes the day a bit more memorable.
As far as LP’s reputation, It seems that the media buzz has died down, and that most people who care have gotten the real story, namely that TK had overstated his exploits (specifically the “writing-from-home” bit) to create a buzz. I think that most readers understand that LP writers spend plenty of time on the ground researching books, and that most writers take the commitment to providing unbiased reviews very seriously.
E.J: Last… if you had all the money in the world to spend on traveling, where would you go?
JSB: My wife Laurie and I are planning to spend the next few years developing our organic farm on our land in rural Texas, growing fruits, legumes, vegetables, flowers and bamboo, as well as raising goats, ducks, and (if she lets me) ferrets. So if I were to get a sudden windfall, I’d probably just buy more stuff for the farm and save the traveling for later. Probably would buy a cool motorcycle and use it to explore the American west when I wasn’t home farming.
Thanks for the interview Joshua and good luck with your Texas plans! And, I have to admit, you’re not the only one who wants to explore the American west on a cool motorcycle.
Editor’s Note: For more information about Joshua, head over to Snarky Tofu or visit his website at http://www.josambro.com.
Linda at the Ginza Crossing © Andreas Wiss
In today’s interview, the Swedish freelance writer Linda Iliste shares her travel tips and experiences from the Japanese capital. Specialized in travel, cultural phenomenon and human right’s issues, she has written for various Swedish newspapers and magazines as well as international development organizations such as ActionAid. Linda currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden, and in the summer of 2008 she’ll return to her former hometown of Tokyo, Japan.
E.J: When did you first travel to Tokyo and how come you decided to live and work there?
L.I: I initially came to Tokyo in June 2006. The reason for this - other than a previous interest in Japan and Japanese culture and a strong desire to go there - was that my boyfriend, Andreas, was granted a spot for his master’s thesis at Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo. To stay in Sweden when he moved to Japan seemed down right stupid. So two months after he left Stockholm I also went.
E.J: For someone who has never been to Tokyo before, can you recommend any must-see attractions?
L.I: Tokyo is the world’s largest city, with a total of 35 million inhabitants, so it’s not easy thing to do to recommend certain “musts” that are written in stone. There are just so many of them!
But the districts of Ginza, Shibuya, Harajuku and Akihabara are, in my opinion, without similarities anywhere in the world. Just being there, taking in all the sights, the people, the shops, the atmosphere, is well worth a trip! Any visitor should try bathing at a onsen (hot spring), watch the city from one of its many skybars (for example New York Bar at Park Hyatt Tokyo in Shinjuku) and sing karaoke in a themed booth (for example in the Candy Suite at Lovenet, Hotel Ibis 3F-4F, 7-14-4 Roppongi, http://www.lovenet-jp.com). Also, The Studio Ghibli Museum, featuring the animated work of Hayao Myazaki and Studio Ghibli, in the western suburb of Mitaka (1-1-83 Simorenjaku, Mitaka-shi) is fantastic!
E.J: I have heard that Tokyo is a great city for people who like karaoke bars, have you ever been to any? If so, which one is your favourite?
L.I: As almost already mentioned, karaoke is BIG in Japan. You can hardly say that you’ve been to Japan if you haven’t sung in a karaoke booth before you leave… There are a lot of chains operating around almost any Japanese city. At most places you rent a room by the hour and free drinks are included. A favourite is the already mentioned Lovenet, but I also really like Karaoke Kan in Shibuya (K&F Building, 30-8 Utagawacho, Shibuya-ku) where you can pretend to be Bill Murray and sing “More than this” in room 601 or 602 as he did in Sofia Coppola’s 2003 movie Lost in Translation.
E.J: How much Japanese do you know? How easy is it really to only talk English in Japan?
L.I: My Japanese is very basic, hardly even that. What little I’ve learned, I’ve learned being in Japan and having no choice but to try and pick up some of the language to be able to get by. So no, it’s very hard to get around only on English. Most Japanese people, even the younger generation, have a very poor knowledge in English. So if you don’t speak any Japanese you’ll have to - in most cases - depend on body language, pointing and your own good luck. Fortunately Japanese people are extremely friendly and will almost always try their best to help you out. And at places like train stations, signs are often in English.
E.J: I’m a vegetarian and love to discover new restaurants. Do you know any good vegetarian (or vegan) restaurants in Tokyo?
L.I: I’m also a vegetarian and sometimes that can be hard, even in big cities like Tokyo. The Japanese kitchen isn’t exactly based on meat, but a lot of fish. A lot. In almost everything. On the other hand, healthy wonder stuff like soybeans are everyday ingredients - dairy is not - so once you get past the immediate difficulties even a vegan can find the Japanese capital to be a culinary paradise. My best tips in Tokyo are…
The chain of Ootoya which can be found in over 100 places around Tokyo. Their interior design leaves much to be desired, but their fried tofu is heavenly!
At 3F, 4-27-15 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku you’ll find Cafe 8, a trendy hotspot which serves vegetarian (an a lot of vegan) food.
The Pink Cow, at B1 Villa Moderna, 1-13-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, is another restaurant which mixes vegetarian food with various art displays.
Aoyama’s very posh, very vegan Brown Rice Café (5-1-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku) is lovely!
Check out http://www.vegietokyo.com/ for more tips!
(If you head out to Kyoto the local kitchen is actually very vegetarian friendly!)
E.J: What is your favourite area in Tokyo?
L.I: My favourite area in Tokyo… Wow, hard question!
I really like the backstreets of Harajuku. Yes, they’ve been written and sung about again and again - but hey, they are composed of an impeccable charm that the hype can’t rub out of it. I love to hang out around Odaiba at night, sitting in the grass with bare feet eating sushi and drinking Asahi beer, watching the sun set on the magnificent Tokyo skyline on the other side of the bay. Another favourite spot is the delightful suburb of Shinkoiwa which is buzzing with genuine Japanese life and commerce amongst the low houses and narrow streets.
E.J: I read on your blog Tokyo - A lovestory… that you will return to Tokyo in June, how does that feel?
L.I: To be returning to Tokyo feels amazing! I don’t even think I’ve really understood it yet. Soon we’ll begin searching for an apartment which feels very exciting. Last time we lived in Tokyo we shared a small flat in Nihonbashi, between the districts of Ginza and Akihabara. We love that part of the city but this time around I would really like to try out living in Hiroo or Shibuya.
Editor’s Note: Don’t miss Linda’s blog Tokyo - A lovestory… (Japan Madness and Tokyo Radness). Even if you don’t know any Swedish, head over to the blog and look at the pictures. I couldn’t help but laugh at these guys’ funny photo poses.
Celebrating its grand debut at the end of April, The St. Regis Singapore is the first significant hotel opening in Singapore in the past 11 years. Located in the downtown embassy district near the posh boutiques on Orchard Street, the hotel features 299 luxurious guestrooms and suites at one of the most prestigious addresses in the city.
“The St. Regis Singapore boasts a strategic location on Tanglin Road, a stone’s throw from Orchard Road, which is for Singapore what the Champs Elysees is for Paris,” said Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.
Thanks to St. Regis first-class Butler Service, each guest can expect a stay customized to his or her specific preferences. The hotel’s lavishly decorated and spacious guest rooms and suites were designed by internationally acclaimed architects Wilson & Associates. Guest rooms offer excellent views of Singapore’s downtown and stunning interiors complete with full silk-shaded chandeliers, state-of-the-art technologies and exclusive bath amenities and spa toiletries by Laboratoire Remède.
“We define St. Regis by our guests and the experiences and services they demand and expect. Nothing less than an unrivaled dimension of luxury and bespoke service - from arrival to departure, and beyond - will do,” said Ross Klein, President, Starwood’s Luxury Brands Group. “From Singapore to Shanghai, Bora Bora to Buenos Aires, St. Regis is committed to designing custom-tailored guest experiences in the best addresses around the world.”
With modern French cuisine at Les Saveurs and delicate Cantonese dishes at the contemporary Yan Ting, dining at The St. Regis Singapore is a stylish affair. The trendy Mediterranean terrace restaurant La Brezza serves flavorful recipes from across the Mediterranean region, while the Astor Bar offers a relaxing venue for the famous St. Regis Bloody Mary. Rare and prestigious vintages are served at the elegant Decanter that houses over 1,500 labels and 3,000 bottles of fine wine.
Recently included in Condé Nast Traveler “Hot List”, St. Regis Singapore also offers one of the finest private art collections in the region with more than 40 original paintings and sculptures by world famous artists such as Chinese modernist pioneer Gu Gan, French painters Fernand Léger and Marc Chagall, Columbian artist Fernando Botero, and American architect Frank Gehry.
Also, in Asia’s First Remède Spa guests can enjoy revitalizing treatments inspired by the finest ancient rituals of the bathing art, aromatherapy multi-chamber steam rooms, wet treatment rooms with built-in infra red heated marble and cedar wood sauna.
Additional facilities at St. Regis Singapore include more than 16,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the country’s first ballroom that features two skylights, an outdoor swimming pool, Fitness Club, indoor air-conditioned tennis court and an outdoor court.
For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, visit http://stregis.com/Singapore.
About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts:
Combining timeless sophistication with modern luxury, the St. Regis brand is uncompromising in its commitment to excellence. Founded by John Jacob Astor with the landmark St. Regis Hotel, New York over a century ago, St. Regis is known for delivering bespoke service and refined elegance at the best addresses in the world. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com.
Chai © Taylor Davidson
One of the best things with travelling is learning from locals and other travellers. Taylor Davidson who recently came home from a two months trip to India gained valuable information by chatting with friends and people he met on the road. Since he hadn’t been to India before and a friend of his was moving there, it seemed like a good time visit. Luckily, Taylor said yes to share his experiences with Blissful Travel.
I hope you enjoy the interview and also get some useful tips for future travels.
E.J: Where in India did you travel?
T.D: I went to India knowing I had two months to explore, and without a firm idea of where I was going to visit outside of a couple of cities to visit friends. My travel itinerary evolved over time, as I talked to friends, locals, fellow travelers, and just tried to absorb information and learn more about the different places and potential experiences (and also how to actually get from one place to another). Since I was lucky to have a friend living in Delhi gracious enough to let me stay with him, I had a good base to use to explore, as well as give me some time and experience to get comfortable traveling in India.
In deciding where to go, I fought two conflicting principles:
1) The more I saw, the more I realized the more I was going to be unable to see, simply due to time.
2) I have also realized on past trips abroad that you can have a much richer experience by visiting fewer places but spending more time in each place, rather than rushing between places, trying to fit everything in, because you get the chance to explore and see local life much deeper.
So, in the end, I ended up going to:
Delhi
Punjab: Amritsar
Uttar Pradesh: Agra
Rajasthan: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur
Maharasta: Mumbai, Pune
Karnataka: Bangalore, Hampi
Kerala: Trivandrum, Kollam, Allepehy, Kochin
Tamil Nadu: Ooty
Himanchal Pradesh: McLeodganj
(Actually, I have a map to view where I went:
http://www.taylordavidson.com/india/map.htm)
In retrospect, what would I have done differently? I would have spent more time in the hill stations and smaller towns in the south, staying out of the major cities a bit more, exploring some smaller towns for longer periods. But then, I am not a “big-city” person anywhere in the world, so that’s just my preference.
E.J: What was the best part of your journey?
T.D: Best places: Mcleodganj, Ooty, Hampi, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer. Why? For me, it was about the opportunity to wander the areas, to talk to and interact with locals in a different way than I would in the bigger cities. In each of these places I had amazingly interesting conversations with locals and fellow travelers, and got to explore some wonderful natural scenery.
Best activity: talking to locals in the cities, learning about people and life. While talking to locals was often the most annoying part of the day, simply because of the sheer volume of people that approach solo travelers, I had some amazing conversations and met some great people. And I’m not really a “people person”.
Best singular moment: camping in the desert, under the stars, Christmas Eve.
E.J: What did you learn from this trip?
T.D: About photography:
People LOVE having their pictures taken. They also love having their pictures taken with foreigners. Take their picture, and get used to having your picture taken.
About traveling in India:
1) Learn patience. Learn to forget about schedules, and learn to be comfortable without a carefully planned itinerary. India is an easy place to travel without a lot of planning, and it’s definitely the most fun way. The journey may not always be smooth, but it will work out in the end.
2) Learn to ask. Information is most easily available by asking people, and everyone is so friendly and open to helping, it is by far the best way to get information about how to get around, about what to do, about how things work. But don’t ask just one person: ask multiple people, verify and corroborate what people tell you.
3) Learn to answer questions that you might not answer at home. People are very inquisitive, and are eager to ask questions about you, your home, your country. Depending on where you are from, you might get asked questions which are more personal than you would ordinarily answer at home. It is incredibly common for people’s first questions to be if you are married / dating, what your job is, how much money you make, or other similar questions. These are all important ways for people to understand you based on values and beliefs in Indian culture, much in the same way in Western culture we may ask about school, jobs, hobbies, or personal interests. The questions are normal, and whether you choose to be truthful or not, answer them, but remember that you will be judged and “slotted” by your answers.
4) Learn when to be aggressive, and when to be passive. Perhaps the toughest of all, it takes some time to be able to grasp and assess situations appropriately. While people are very warm and friendly once they recognize you as an individual, there is also an “individual callousness” that requires you to be a little more aggressive than you might otherwise. At least that is my experience, as a male traveling solo: it might be different if you are female and/or travel with friends in a group.
5) Logistics:
Booking: all hotels, travel agents, Internet cafes, etc., will help you book tickets and provide advice, for a commission. All business in India is done through middlemen, and using middlemen to book tickets for you can often save you a lot of time and hassle.
Trains: multiple classes of service are available; take what you’re comfortable with. Trains are a great way to meet people and talk to locals and fellow travelers. You can book easily online with a credit card. If you can sleep on trains (I can sleep anywhere, anytime), trains can be pretty efficient way to travel overnight. If you’re going non-AC class in the winter, take a blanket.
Buses: intra-city buses can be intimidating, but actually quite easy if you get comfortable asking people how to get to where you want: often people will take you under their wing and tell you where to get off or change buses. Inter-city buses are similarly easy, and for some, the popular routes are the easiest way to get around, cheaply and without any advance booking. For some routes you should book ahead, for others, just show up at the station and take the next bus.
Cars: if you have the money, or are short on time, for some routes cars (with drivers) are also an option, and can take you between and within cities quite easily. Definitely much more expensive than buses and trains, but I met numerous travelers who chose to hire drivers to take them between cities, often on self-directed tours between a group of cities.
Boats: I only took one, and if you go to Kerala, definitely take a backwaters tour by boat.
Flights: easy to book, usually does not require much advance booking, much faster than trains and buses for long distances. But flying is much, much more expensive, apt for delays, and you will not get the chance to meet people or see the landscape as you would by bus or train.
Overall: the key, in the end, is to ask people about the route you want to take to get their advice on which method to use, times, schedules, and of the variety of options available.
About India:
The diversity in culture, people, places, etc., continues to remind you that the more you see, the more there is to see. Every day is an opportunity for creating experiences, both good and bad. If you have an open mind, interact with people, embrace Indian culture, and bring a positive spirit, India can be an incredibly powerful, warm, inviting place to travel.
Editor’s note: Thank you for the interview Taylor. Definitely interesting to hear about your journey. I can understand that camping in the desert under the stars was the best moment. Who wouldn’t appreciate sleeping under a starlit night sky?
I must say I love the composition of the photo above from Rajasthan.
To see further shots from India, I recommend Taylor’s India Close & Afar photo gallery. For more reflections, see the blog posts Unordered Thoughts from India and Cultural Tourism.
Doorway © Steve Peer
Even though mega-cities can be exciting, it’s often the places where you can escape the hectic city life you will remember most when thinking back of what made a travel destination special. After reading Tianhou Temple, Shenzhen’s Soul I can understand why the author Steve Peer calls the temple the soul of the city. With an almost 600-year-old history, Tianhou Temple is like an oasis of tranquility in the midst of a busy metropolis where people can reflect on the past and dream about the future.
Columns © Steve Peer
The article was written for In The Know Traveler, a site where travel enthusiasts write about their travel experiences from extraordinary destinations around the globe.
Thailand © Dale Weber
Even though flying is not the most environment friendly way to travel, it is a good choice for people wishing to see much of a country in a short time period. Below are some different flight routes in Thailand.
The Routes
Bangkok to: Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Trat (Koh Chang), Sukothai
Chiang Mai to: Bangkok, Sukothai, Koh Samui
Koh Samui to: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya
Phuket to: Bangkok, Koh Samui, Pattaya
Pattaya to: Koh Samui, Phuket
Sukothai to: Bangkok, Chiang Mai
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok, Mae Hong Son, Khon Kaen
Chiang Mai to: Phuket, Bangkok
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Narathiwat
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani
Bangkok to: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai
Phuket to: Bangkok, Hat Yai
The City of Seoul offers nine different walking tours in Seoul in seven areas covering the major tourist sights. The tours take between 2 and 3,5 hours and online reservation must be made at least three days in advance.
For more information about Korea, visit The Official Korea Tourism Guide Site.
At several times, the Chinese Government has confiscated Lonely Planet guidebooks about China. In the past 18 months, Lonely Planet has received about 30 reports of confiscations. China’s ministry of foreign affairs has confirmed that the travel guides was banned because the map of China marks the mainland and Taiwan in different colours.
Read travellers’ experiences on the issue in Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue? at the Fili’s world blog.
According to the new Michelin Tokyo restaurant guide, the Japanese capital is the place to be for real gourmet dining. The city’s 150 selected restaurants received 191 stars in total, more than any other city in the world. Paris “only” has 97 stars. Sixty percent of the chosen restaurants serve Japanese food, some French, a handful of Chinese and Italian, and one Spanish.
Visit the Michelin Guide’s website for more information about their guides.
Before leaving for your first (or next) Thailand trip, learn some useful expressions. The inhabitants will appreciate if you make an effort to speak in their language. They might even treat you friendlier.
Various phrases
Good morning = Arunn sawadd
Good day/ Hello = Sawadii
Good night = Ratrisawadd
Good bye = Lagawn
See you = Läow påbb gann mai
My name is = Chann chue
How are you? = Kunn sabai dii rue?
Thank you = Kåb kunn
Do you speak English? = Kunn pood pasaa Angritt?
It was nice to meet you. = Yin dii tii daai roo djack
Good luck! = Chååk dii!
I am fine = Sabai dii
Shopping
How much does this cost? = Raka tao rai
Can you lower the price? = Lod raka noi dai mai
I like this = Chan chob aun nee
I like that = Chan chob aun nun
Do you have any other colour? = Mee see aeun bang mai
Shop = Ran kaa
Toilet = Hong nam
Clothes = Sier par
Shoes = Rong tao
Watch = Nar ri ka
How much? = Tao Rai?
Restaurant = Ran ar harn
Directions
Where is the clothes shop? = Ran kaa Sier par u tee nai
Where is the toilet? = Hong nam u tee nai
Where is the restaurant? = Ran ar harn u tee nai si
Bangkok Jazz Festival from the 8 - 9 December will attract both Thais and foreigners. Since 2003, Terminal Xtra Entertainment has been organizing the festival at Sanam Sua Pa with local performers and world class jazz artists from various countries.
Indian Sunset with boys running © Dan Brady
For a great guide over beaches, beach resorts and exlusive tour packages in India, check out India Beach Holidays. You can search for beaches by region or themes as romantic beaches, family beaches, water sports and exotic beaches.
From the 20th November, all foreigners wishing to enter Japan are required to leave fingerprints and have their face picture taken. After this, an immigration control will conduct a short interview. The new immigration procedures has been established to prevent against terrorism attacks. The law does not apply to persons under 16 years of age, diplomats or special permanent residents.
From the 27th November, Qatar Airways will fly non-stop to Doha, Qatar, from Stockholm Arlanda International Airport. Their Airbus A319 planes, offering eight seats in Business Class and 102 seats in Economy, will depart four days a week. The travel time to Doha is about six hours.
Click here for the full press release.
1. Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech, Morocco
Djemaa el Fna is located in the middle of the town next to the souk.
2. La Bouqateria and Mercat Santa Caterina, Barcelona, Spain
La Bouqueria is situated at La Rambla 89, Mercat Santa Catarina, Avenida Francesc Canbó.
3. Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jalan Alor is a parallell street to Jalan Bukit Batang in Kuala Lumpur’s so called Golden Triangle.
4. Krabi nightmarket, Krabi, Thailand
Thailand’s capital boasts several top-notch hotels. One of the most desirable is The Sukhothai at 13/3 South Sathorn Road in the heart of Bangkok not far from Lumpini Park. This residence offers comfort accommodation ranging from over 100 Superior Rooms to the elegant Sukhothai suite. Facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a Health Club and a luxurious Spa with various beauty and massage treatments. The Sukhothai also features the chic Pool Terrace Café & Bar, Lobby Salons with afternoon tea, a private dining room, the stylish The Bar, and three restaurants serving Thai, Italian and Japanese cuisine.
Another sought-after hotel on South Sathorn Road is The Metropolitan Bangkok. Its funky east meets west interiour creates a peaceful atmosphere enticing business travellers and tourists alike. All the Oriental inspired rooms and suites provide modern tech as broadband and wireless Internet access. In Como Shambhala, guests unwind with calming treatments, private yoga lessons or a few laps in the outdoor pool. During the evening, the nutritious food at Glow and Cy´an’s Mediterranean influenced menu ensure an excellent gourmet experience.
For people interested in eco-tourism and helping out with various environmental projects as a volunteer, there are many available options around the world. If the idea of traveling to Thailand appeals to you, check out Phuket Eco-Tourism that gives information on eco-tourism in Phuket. And don’t hesitate to contact them if you are interested in volunteering. Working as a volunteer can be - to use a cliché - a life changing experience and make you more appreciative to the little things in life.
Lonely Planet’s Robert Reid has created a free Vietnam guide with useful tips and information for people interested in this friendly country in Southeast Asia. Go to Vietnam free online-guidebook for some suggestions on things to see and do when in Vietnam.
In Jakarta, they plan to make the city greener. The goal is that 14% of the city area should consist of parks by 2010. Taman Menteng by the street Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto was finished this spring and hopefully the other park creations will follow without any problems.
Are you planning a trip to Hong Kong and want tips on free activities? If so, check out this free Tai Chi Class from Hong Kong Tourism Board.
If you feel like seeing a great deal in a short period, rather focus on city life than the country side, and prefer arriving at your destination as fast as possible, consider traveling with an air pass. Imagine visiting 23 cities in 21 consecutive days. Now I gave you Cathay Pacific’s All Asia Air Pass’ most extreme example, but you get the idea. For $1,399 you can travel extensively within Asia, and a round trip ticket from New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco to Hong Kong is included in the price.
Admire on of the world’s best architectural designs as you stroll down the streets of Hong Kong where condominium and tall apartment buildings cover almost half of the city area. Stop at a restaurant in Hong Kong Arts Centre and appreciate the harbour view as you savour a delicious lunch. Next day, fly to Tokyo; see the gorgeous Japanese garden Hama Rikyu along Tokyo Bay; watch the buzz at Shibuya; visit Meiji Jing for some peace and quiet before catching a flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Take a photo of the famous Petrona Towers and board the monorail to discover the rest of KL. Continue to Bangkok; wander through the lanes and alleys to River View Guesthouse at 768 Soi Panurangsri (Thanon Songwat Road) in Chinatown; follow the pleasant street Thanon Phra Athit, and end your day with a Moon Light Peach cocktail at Sirocco Bar at 1055 Silom Road. Where next?
The choice is yours. The All Asia Pass from Cathay Pacific Airways boasts 23 cities, and if you get an unexpected urge for Delhi, Mumbai or Hanoi, pay the additional fees and you’re set to leave. Although traveling by train gives you another sense for the beauty of a country and its people, I must say that an airpass has its benefits and is worth a try at least once in your life.
Visit All Asia Pass Insider for more information on Cathay Pacific’s All Asia Pass and the available cities.
Night View at Shibuya, Tokyo
From 25-28 September 2007, Moscow Leisure & Travel Show will be held at the International Exhibition Centre “Crocus Expo” in the Russian capital.
I love travel shows and exhibitions because it’s so easy to get inspiration for new travels and learn more about other places. I remember the travel show in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2005. It was my first travel show and I found almost everything interesting and fascinating. I ended up going home with two big paperbags of travel brochures and magazines.
Red Square on Sunday © Vladimir Fofanov
Bangkok Night Traffic © Devin Kho
Are you planning to visit Bangkok in 25 years? Then, ask if someone can meet you with a boat. According to Thai scientists, there is risk for flooding if the climat changes continue as feared. If they could decide, the most realistic solution to the problem would be a huge ditch around the city.
Oman Beach © Suresh Gopalsamy
What is the most peaceful place to you? For me it would probably be on a quiet beach by the ocean or maybe diving somewhere (I’ve heard from certified scuba divers that diving is the most peaceful experience ever).
According to Lists of Bests, the best ever peaceful place in the world is Muscat - Oman’s capital. As I haven’t seen the city, I can’t tell you if I agree or not, but when I have (whenever that happens) I will bring up the subject again.
During Nepal’s civil war the amount of international visitors decreased greatly. At this time, Nepal celebrates one year of peace and can count with more tourists.
Photo courtesy of www.photobucket.com
