Gone Native In Ormoc
A bamboo raft, more like a floating cottage really, glides serenely on the dark water of the guitar-shaped Lake Danao, cited as the Cleanest Inland Body of Water in Region 8 for three consecutive years. There are no motorized vehicles of any kind allowed here, so the stillness is only broken up by bird calls, […]
Dos & Don’ts in Thailand
Do Do learn to greet properly people with the traditional wai (the hands positioned on or below the nose depending on whom the wai it is addressed to). Do take off shoes when entering a person’s home or a religious site. Do bow slightly when passing in front of or between people conversing as an […]
Tempting the Taste Buds: Eating Your Way Through Bangkok
There’s something about a visit to Bangkok that can transform you. You arrive not knowing galangal from a cheaplu leaf. You can’t even pronounce gai hor bai toey, let alone know what it is. And yet, by the time you leave, dried chili, lemongrass, and kaffir lime are your friends, and you know how to […]
Rice Dreams: Southeast Asias Stunning Terraces
It is a sight to take your breath away: row after row of human-built terraces snaking along the contours of a valley, bright green before harvest or starkly barren afterwards. The planting and harvesting are often done by hand or with simple tools, making the view even more photogenic. Although the result is remarkably beautiful, […]
Meet in Brunei
Brunei Muara Brunei Muara district is located in the northern part of the country. Despite being the smallest of Brunei’s four districts, it is the most populated as it includes Bandar Seri Begawan, the Sultanate’s capital city with a population of over 100,000. It is the seat of all Brunei administration, from ministries to departments, […]
Golfing with the Gods on Indonesias Beautiful Bali
Bali is often called the “Island of the Gods” though many sporting enthusiasts say it should be dubbed the “Isle of Golf”. The fabled island has four world-class courses attracting multitudes of players and countless accolades. Soft sea breezes sweep across three of the much-heralded courses while the fourth was laid out on the foliage-ringed […]
Dos & Don’ts in Malaysia
Do Call before visiting a home. Remove shoes when entering a Malaysian home or religious sites such as temples and mosques. Drinks are generally offered to guests. It is polite to accept. The right hand is always used when eating with one’s hand or when giving or receiving objects. Be aware that some ladies will […]
The Past Track: An Historic Ride On Southeast Asia’s Railway
As the 19th century turned 20, Southeast Asia climbed onboard the steam locomotive revolution to transport people and freight throughout the region. By the 1920s, teak carriages clattered along tracks stretching from Singapore to northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai, but the line never reached its ultimate goal…Chiang Rai, the Mekong River and Laos. Early passengers – royalty, British colonials, […]
Dos & Don’ts in Philippines
Government The Philippines has a democratic republic type of government. Time The Philippines is eight (8) hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Climate The first half of the year, from January to May, is the best time to visit the country. November to February is cool, while March to May is hot and […]
Jazzed: Music Festivals of Borneo and Indonesia
The music scene in Borneo and Indonesia is varied, thriving and caters to a growing interest in the cultural as well as modern music genres in the region. Musical festivals are often a mix of local and international acts brought together to allow local talent to learn from well-established artists, who in turn bring a bagful of […]