Love Trunk: The Elephant Sanctuaries of Thailand
Thai Elephants have had their share of problems over the last few decades. As with any industrializing country, much of Thailand’s success has come at a cost to its ecological heritage, leaving tame elephant refugees incapable of returning to the wild. Elephants have long been a national symbol in Thailand. They once served as an […]
Another Side Of Singapore
With spectacular all-in-one resorts like the new Marina Bay Sands Casino and its 2500 rooms swallowing up much of Singapore’s 11 million annual visitors, a lot of tourists could be forgiven for thinking Singapore is the city-state equivalent of Disneyland with slick facilities, all carefully planned and purpose-built. While this is true to a large […]
Southeast Asia’s Most Scenic Day Hikes
Avid hikers will go on and on about Southeast Asia’s gorgeous multi-day trails – the hikes up Mount Fansipan in Vietnam and Myanmar’s Kalaw to Inle Lake trail come to mind – but even the region’s short hikes can give back far more than travelers dish out: amazing wildlife finds and stunning scenery out of […]
7 Unknown Beach Escapes
1. Mystical Island/Province of LoveThere’s something mysterious and magnetic about Dinagat Islands, a province located south of the Leyte Gulf. Adventures are in store for those who do not seek the luxury of hotels. What you have waiting for you are lodging rooms (sometimes built on stilts), homestay accommodations from warm villagers, and fresh, crawling […]
Secrets Of Mindoro
The mere mention of Mindoro conjures images of Puerto Galera and Apo Reef in most people’s minds. But, is there anything beyond these popular places that is worth discovering?After spending three days in and around San Jose, the gateway to Occidental Mindoro, the answers came to me. Think of discovering unspoiled beaches, serene island retreats, […]
These 4 Southeast Asia Zoos Rule: Travel Bloggers Tell Us Why
Southeast Asia’s wildlife can be seen without venturing into the local wilderness, if you find yourself within commuting distance of one of these four zoos. Zoos, when executed well, provide humane sanctuary to animals and a lifeline to survival for endangered species. Most of the zoos mentioned here collaborate with conservation efforts for species like […]
Davao: Highland To Island
It’s difficult to write about one’s own hometown objectively when you only have superlatives to describe it. Forgive the intensity of a Dabawenya like me who grew up in a place blessed with abundant food, uncontaminated air, and the sweetest tasting water—and that’s only half of it. How do you enjoy the largest city in […]
Felines Fighting for Survival
Endangered tigers, leopards, and other wild cats still roam the remote forests and grasslands of Southeast Asia, though their numbers are dwindling due to the destruction of their habitat and poaching. The chances of spotting one are almost nil, though adventurers willing to head to the hinterlands may find evidence such as paw prints and […]
Bloggers Unwind at These Relaxing Southeast Asia Spa Experiences
There’s a spa experience in Southeast Asia for every interest. Almost every five-star hotel or resort offers a wellness package (adapting many traditional local wellness practices), but it pays to dig a little deeper and explore more specialized experiences elsewhere. We asked a few of our blogger friends to tell us about their favorite spa […]
Chinese New Year Light-up and Festivities
Singapore welcomes the Chinese New Year with much fanfare. Albeit, officially, a three-day celebration, the country makes merry weeks before and even for weeks after the fact, serving up everything from food bazaars to glitzy firework shows by the marina. It’s common to find the streets a blitz of activity during this time. The locus […]