Wildlife Ecotourism Boosting Cambodia, Malaysia And The Philippines
I’m in a protected forest in Cambodia’s Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area, staring through a high-powered telescope at a Great Hornbill. Five minutes before I had little idea what a Great Hornbill was. Now I am gaping in awe at this incredible looking bird, its massive beak curved like a scimitar. In a neighboring tree a […]
An Epic Hill Trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake
The hiking trails from the hill station of Kalaw to Inle Lake vary in length, but all of them offer an undiluted Myanmar countryside experience: you’ll walk past farmlands that used to grow opium, but now specialize in cash crops like cabbage, potato and canola; you’ll explore villages occupied by Taung Yo, Danu, Palaung, and […]
ASEAN’s Sea Gypsies: In Sync with the Tides
The sea gypsies of Myanmar and Thailand’s Andaman coast managed to escape the worst of the Boxing Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. They noted the receding tide and the change in currents, recalled the stories of their ancestors, and retreated to higher ground. Coastal settlements and boats were inevitably lost but very few of their […]
Soft Adventure in Brunei
While its big neighbour by which it is embraced on three sides receives over 25 million international tourists annually, the tiny Islamic Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam welcomes a mere one hundredth of that number. Yet, unquestionably it’s as ‘truly Asia’ as Malaysia is; and the Philippines, one may add, since the current country is all […]
Trekking in Southeast Asia
Tired of watching the scenery pass you by as you ride from place to place? Consider hoofing it instead. In Southeast Asia, you have an almost endless selection of trails to hike through, if traveling on wheels has lost its charm. Southeast Asia’s trekking trails, go through jungle, farmland, desert… even up the side of […]
Soft Adventure Around Cambodia’s World Heritage “Angkor”
By far Cambodia’s claim to fame is the vast Hindu temple complex Angkor, a World Heritage site that attracts over 2 million foreign tourists alone, more than half of the country’s total. For over 5 centuries it was the capital of the Khmer empire that incorporated much of South-East Asia, exercising a lot of political […]
Wrecks Within the Deep: Diving in Brunei
Brunei’s waters may not get plenty of diving traffic, but so much the worse for the majority of diving enthusiasts. The territorial waters off Bandar Seri Begawan comprise about 4,500 hectares of some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Coral Triangle, with a series of wrecks lying less than a dozen or so […]
Traipsing through the Treetops at Macritchie Reservoir
Surprising to many visitors to Singapore, nature and greenery has been flourishing hand-in-hand within this well-known concrete jungle. The Tree Top Walk is the first of its kind in Singapore and the region – a free-standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang, the two highest points in MacRitchie. From the bridge, travelers get […]
The Mountains of Sagada: A Hike in the Heavens
Hiking through Sagada takes you through the Cordillera Mountains’ peaks, caves and falls, and serves as an object lesson in isolation: its remote location prevented Spanish conquistadores from setting foot in the region, preserving the indigenous culture of the people. At the tourism office in town, you can book a starter sight-seeing tour that stays […]
Lao PDR: Nature-Based Tourism
1.1. Khon Phapheng Waterfall The Khone Phapheng Waterfall is made of several cascades of crashing water that occupy a 13km stretch of the Mekong River. The powerful rapids prevent navigation of the Mekong into China, but make up for this handicap by presenting a breathtaking natural sight for visitors. Recognized as the largest waterfalls in […]