Militant monks? Sounds like a contradiction; but not in Myanmar, a beautiful, elusive country full of paradoxes and conundrums that tease the traveler’s mind. Monks play a huge role in Myanmar – from spiritual leaders to fomenting political discussion and descent. … Continued
Most travelers who venture into Laos stick to the country’s mountainous north. Southern Laos, under appreciated and hardly explored, holds as much beauty – if not more – than its northern cousin. Below are a few pics from Kong Lor … Continued
Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is often overlooked by travelers but given a few days, you’ll be smitten by the city’s laid-back vibe, a rarity for any Southeast Asian capital. Further north, Luang Prabang, the former colonial town and royal … Continued
Imagine a place where reruns of Friends and Family Guy play 24/7. Where throngs of backpackers stoned on “happy food” and Laos whiskey float on tubes from bar to bar on the Nam Song river’s chilly current. Where limestone cliffs … Continued
Outside of the city Luang Prabang, a former French colonial town, rescued logging elephants live the good life hauling tourists instead of downed trees. Despite their massive size, riding on these gracefully surefooted animals is a meditative experience – watching … Continued
Three weeks in Vietnam exploring from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to Hanoi in the north (including a few beaches, the former colonial French town Dalat, set in the highlands of western Vietnam and a foray into the … Continued
At Indonesia’s 8,660 foot Kawah Ijen volcano, miners toil in hellish conditions as they pry raw sulfur from the volcano’s crater. Despite the roiling liquid sulfur, acidic steam and a boiling acid lake, the miners toil without any protective equipment. … Continued
Today is Hong Kong’s Chung Yeung festival, the day where ancestor reverence boils over and the country shuts down to show their respect. Besides being a national holiday with government offices and banks closed, many Hong Kongers visit cemeteries to … Continued
Street food is a staple of any Chinese (and China traveler’s) diet. Between steamed dumplings for breakfast and grilled/boiled/friend something (usually meat) for dinner, check out the exotic variety of foods and Luoyang’s night food market:
Thick clouds of mist and rain couldn’t dissuade us from exploring the Mutinyua section of China’s Great wall. Hidden from view were miles of walls first built in the 5th century B.C.E., extended by subsequent rulers until reaching more than … Continued