May 16th, 2013 at 11:00AM: estetika, Flickr
In the West, randomness is a crucial, torturous pillar of border security. Those who have been to Asia know that active sadism is supplanted by bureaucracy, vanity and venality. In my opinion these are highly preferable alternatives. Once you know how land borders adopt these principals, they can be easily navigated with a bit of tact, patience and occasionally a small financial ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
SoutheastAsia posts
The Gatekeepers Of Asia: Face To Face With The Border Guards Of The Far East
May 16th, 2013 at 11:00AM: estetika, Flickr
In the West, randomness is a crucial, torturous pillar of border security. Those who have been to Asia know that active sadism is supplanted by bureaucracy, vanity and venality. In my opinion these are highly preferable alternatives. Once you know how land borders adopt these principals, they can be easily navigated with a bit of tact, patience and occasionally a small financial ...Better Know A Holiday: Showa Day
Apr 29th, 2013 at 9:00AM:
Formerly: The Emperor's Birthday, Greenery Day
When? April 29
Public holiday in: Japan
Part of: Japan's Golden Week, a series of four public holidays in the span of a week that sees offices closed, trains and planes packed and a mass exodus from the major cities like Tokyo.
Who died? Former Japanese Emperor Hirohito, posthumously referred to as Emperor Showa.
They changed his ...Balochistan, The Unluckiest Corner Of The World
Apr 24th, 2013 at 10:00AM:
The earthquake that shook Iran and Pakistan last week has already been overshadowed by fatal tremors in Sichuan, China, a few days ago. Perhaps not surprising given that both places are in seismically active areas, but both of these disasters are repeats of far more deadly earthquakes that occurred in the last decade. In 2008, the Great Sichuan Earthquake killed almost 70,000 people, while a ...Photo Of The Day: Sketching In Angkor Wat
Apr 5th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
As the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat is truly massive, taking hours to get just a cursory view of the temple complex. While it is Cambodia's prime attraction, there are still plenty of corners in which to find your own personal space, which is exactly what this sketch artist is doing inside Banteay Kdei. Known as the "Citadel of Chambers," monks still lived inside up ...Photo Of The Day: Colonial Architecture In Burma
Mar 10th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
When we think of Southeast Asian architecture we often think of old temples and ancient statues, but the influence of colonial times on this area of the world has had just as much of an influence on the local infrastructure and design.
Flickr member R A L F captured this beautiful building facade in Yangon, Burma (Myanmar). The city, also known as Rangoon, has the largest number of colonial ...US State Department Funds Thai Monument Restoration
Feb 16th, 2013 at 12:00PM: The United States State Department's Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation recently bestowed a $131,800 grant to the World Monuments Fund for restoration work at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a historic Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
According to WMF President Bonnie Burnham, "Support from the State Department's Ambassadors Fund will assist the Thai Department of Fine Arts with continuing ...Halloween Costumes For Travel Lovers
Oct 16th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
Is your love of travel part of your identity? Have you trawled every Southeast Asian backwater, and explored the twisting streets and alleyways of little-known European cities? Whether your adventurous spirit takes you abroad for work or pleasure, chances are you've seen enough of the planet to know that certain stereotypes exist for a reason.
This year, Gadling decided to come up with some ...Photo Of The Day: Monks In A Line
Sep 16th, 2012 at 9:00PM:
There are few visuals more familiar to the Southeast Asian traveler than a line of brightly robed monks passing down a local street. This particular monk image comes to us from the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya at the Wat Niwet Thammaprawat courtesy of Flickr user Mark Fischer. I love the bright saffron/orange color of the robes and the repeated pattern of the line of men as they stroll ...Off-Course Airplane Gets Shot At By Cambodian Troops
Jul 15th, 2012 at 9:00AM: And most people get jumpy when their flight hits turbulence. Passengers of a Bangkok Airways airplane were in for a unnerving surprise when Cambodian troops opened fire at the them. The airplane was supposed to land in Siem Reap Airport; however, due to bad weather, the plane was forced to fly off course.
The shooting was a misunderstanding, as troops believed the passenger airliner to be a spy ...Photo Of The Day: Bangkok Motorcycles
Jul 1st, 2012 at 6:00PM:
If there's one sound I remember from my travels in Southeast Asia, it's the motorcycles. The insistent motorized whine of these two-wheeled bikes is audible everywhere you turn, from Hanoi to Bangkok. Today's photo, taken by Flickr user halvora, is a great visual reminder of one of the most iconic images of Southeast Asia. Taken in Bangkok, the black and white image, dashed road lanes and ...The Vine Retreat: An Eco-Friendly Escape In Kep, Cambodia
Jun 21st, 2012 at 12:00PM:
Sometimes you just need a hammock and a view. At least that's how I felt after six weeks of life as an ex-pat in the loud, congested capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
I found respite at The Vine Retreat, a rustic eco-friendly hotel in the southeastern Cambodian province of Kep. There, simplicity is the name of the game. With little to do but relax, read, and enjoy the scenery, The Vine ...Adventures By Disney Travels To The Far East In 2013
Apr 2nd, 2012 at 8:00AM: Travelers looking to explore the exotic Far East will have a new option in 2013 when Adventures by Disney launches a new itinerary to Southeast Asia. The 12-day tour will visit Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, while still featuring the family-friendly activities that the travel company has become so well known for.
Highlights of the trip include stops in Saigon, Hanoi, Siem Reap, Luang Praban and ...A cultural tour of Burma through tilt-shift timelapse
Mar 8th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
For those who've wondered what local life is like in Burma (Myanmar), "Bonsai Burma" by Berlin filmmaker Joerg Daiber can enlighten you. Using tilt-shift photography, Daiber takes viewers on a cultural tour of the country showing daily life, women working in the hillsides, children playing, hawkers selling goods at the market, and fisherman working for their catch. Furthermore, viewers ...
Why you should visit Singapore in 2012
Feb 18th, 2012 at 4:00PM: There are many reasons Singapore makes a great travel destination, from unique architecture to rich cultural experiences to carefully prepared cuisine. In 2012, the Southeast Asian destination has even more reasons to visit, from exciting new restaurants to the opening of their first river-themed animal park. Here are some reasons to put Singapore on this year's trip itinerary.
New cultural ...Exploring the street food in Singapore
Feb 16th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Singapore is an island-nation in Southeast Asia that has a rich culture, especially when it comes to food. Their unique street food culture can be experienced in the numerous hawker centers: open-air food courts housing authentic, carefully prepared cuisine for a budget-friendly price. Sample delicious options like the local favorite Hainanese Chicken Rice (shown right), peanut sauce-laden satay ...10 tips for doing a homestay
Jan 24th, 2012 at 11:00AM: Doing a homestay in another country is a great way to get to know the culture from a first-hand perspective. By living with a family, you get to see how a local's daily life is, from what they eat, to how to they dress, to what their before-bed ritual is. With such a unique opportunity being given to you, it's important to get the most out of the experience while also being respectful. To help, ...Exploring the Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang, Laos
Jan 10th, 2012 at 1:00PM:
While traveling through South East Asia, I had the opportunity to explore myriad temples and religious sites. Wat Po in Bangkok, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, and Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang were all stunning sites of spirituality that I would recommend to other travelers. However, visiting the Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang, Laos, was an extremely unique religious site ...
A guide to giving alms in Laos, South East Asia
Jan 5th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
Giving alms is an important part of Laos culture and occurs in many South East Asian countries. When I took a trip to Luang Prabang, I was actually traveling with a Thai woman named Jaeb who asked me if I'd want to take part in the tradition with her. While I shuddered at the thought of waking up at dawn, I was excited to get the chance to be a part of a local tradition and get a deeper look ...
Watch the many personalities of Laos in this time-lapsed video
Dec 21st, 2011 at 10:00AM:
This time-lapsed video by Piotr Wancerz allows viewers to see the different personalities of Laos in South East Asia as well as the different events that occur in the country from morning to night. Watch as tourists and locals gather to Give Alms to the monks at dawn, people gather to swim and relax in nature during the day, and the bustling and lively markets come to life at night. The ...
Knocked up abroad: planning travel with a baby
Oct 25th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Let's get this out of the way: you can travel with a baby. Many new parents feel that once they have a child, their travel days are over, but many parents will tell you that the first six months are the easiest time to travel with a baby. Is it easy? Not exactly, but with enough planning and the right attitude, it's not as hard as you might think. Is it selfish? Probably, but so is most travel. ...
