Taste the Local Culture through Southeast Asia’s Noodle Dishes
On my first full day in Myanmar, I met my tour guide at our first stop on a tour of the neighborhoods around Shwedagon Pagoda: Daw Cho, an unassuming noodle stall on Old Yay Tar Shay Road off the ancient pagoda’s eastern entrance. As far as introductions to ordinary Myanma life went, Daw Cho could […]
Eco-Tourism In Southeast Asia
The state of the environment – and our impact upon it – is a thorny issue. While responsible tourism and sustainable development have been prevalent concepts for decades, concerns about our impact on the world have mushroomed recently. While one could argue that the very idea of tourism (of any kind) is antithetical to ecological […]
On The Right Trek: Community Based Tourism In Laos
Trails wind through primeval forests to hidden caves and waterfalls; rope bridges cross rivers; mountain peaks survey wilderness; remote ethnic villages offer lodging to the tired. Laos presents some 50 hiking circuits and is blazing more for trekkers, who really want to get off the beaten path. All of these guided treks are based on a […]
Wearing Traditional Costumes in Southeast Asia – Dos and Don’t’s
Locals in Southeast Asia take great pride in their national costumes, and – within reason – are proud to have you try them on as well. That should reassure tourists who worry about being tarred for “cultural appropriation” by social-justice-savvy friends. Contrary to campus cries of “we’re a culture, not a costume”, trying on a […]
Southeast Asia’s Top Sunset Spots
You can view a sunset anywhere on Earth, but exceptional sunsets require going a little out of the way. Around Southeast Asia, a few places have gained renown for their ability to provide stunning sunset views. During dry, rainless months (coinciding with peak tourist seasons), sunsets can look especially vivid, particularly when set off against […]
Imbibing The Iban: A Longhouse Homestay In Sarawak
The culture of the Iban—the aboriginal people of Sarawak—has always held a certain fascination with me. Once considered the fiercest and most stoic warriors of the Southeast Asian jungle, the Iban were renowned headhunters. They inspired fear into the hearts of any who tried to seize their land. And their intricate tattoos, woven blankets and […]
Biggest, Tallest, Longest: Southeast Asia’s Record-Breaking Destinations
In Jakarta, Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest mosque stands in mute witness to faith of the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Istiqlal Mosque was designed and constructed in the first few years of Indonesia’s independence: President Sukarno, who ordered its construction, wanted to demonstrate government support of Islam that could also coexist with other faiths (the Catholic Gereja Katedral Jakarta stands practically […]
Southeast Asia Lakes You’ll Love
Historically, Southeast Asia’s most picturesque communities thrived along the region’s lakes. In modern times, tourism has overtaken traditional livelihoods, as travelers to Southeast Asia check out the charms and countless adventures found along local lakesides. The Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia’s northwest holds an almost sacramental importance to the nation. Lakeside communities provide a glimpse of traditional […]
Top Spa Stops in Southeast Asia
Travelers looking for some R&R from the bustling streets of Southeast Asia feel confident that they have the region’s wellness industry at their beck and call. Known for homegrown practices in massage therapy and holistic treatments, Southeast Asia’s spas take on an array of forms, from posh resorts to quick-fix massage parlors tucked away in […]
My Little Paradise in Isan
I have been to PhuWua Wildlife Sanctuary several times because I love trekking, watching the beautiful sceneries of Isan wild nature and hearing the sounds of the forest. And another reason is I live in a big city where nature is difficult to find. This time I stayed there two days and Peter, a volunteer […]