“This delightfully friendly capital, studded with crumbling French mansions, bougainvillea-blooming streets and steaming noodle stalls, is somewhere between a big town and a diminutive city. Full of things to see, from the golden Pha That Luang to the serene Wat Si Saket and an impossibly rich selection of international cuisine – most pointedly French Read more…
Nestled beside the Nam Song River amid stunningly beautiful limestone karst terrain, Vang Vieng provokes a mixture of responses. The area’s main attraction has always been the dramatic landscape which surrounds this small town; however the Nam Song River now plays host to travellers floating along on tractor inner tubes – a pastime so thoroughly enjoyable and popular that it has become one of the rites of passage of the Indochina backpacking circuit. Read more…
“After years of war and isolation, Southeast Asia’s most pristine environment, intact cultures and quite possibly the most chilled-out people on earth mean destination Laos is fast earning cult status among travellers. It is developing quickly but still has much of the tradition that has sadly disappeared elsewhere in the region. Village life is refreshingly simple and even in Vientiane it’s hard to believe this sort of languid riverfront life exists in a national capital. Read more…
“One of the many questions Thais may ask a foreigner visiting Thailand is ‘Have you been to Chiang Mai yet?’ underscoring the feeling that Chiang Mai is a keystone of any journey to Thailand. Along with Sukhothai further south, it was the first Southeast Asian state to make the historic transition from domination by Mon and Khmer cultures to a new era ruled by Thais. Read more…
Of the famous and infamous attractions, Bangkok’s best feature is its intermingling of opposites. A modern world of affluence orbits around a serene traditional core, so after a day spent appreciating the spiritual side of Bangkok in one of its famous temples, it seems only right to try and balance it out with an evening spent wandering through the impressive shopping malls located around Siam Square for a spot of retail therapy! Read more…
If there is one must-see sight that no visit to Bangkok would be complete without, it’s the dazzling and spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782 the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people. Read more…
Pura Tanah Lot, or Tanah Lot temple, is said to be the work of revered 15th century Hindu priest Nirartha and has been an important element of Balinese spiritualism and mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast and each of the sea temples was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. Read more…
“Bali may be small in size – you can drive around the entire coast in one long day – but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully so. Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding surf, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances and ribbons of beaches are just some of the images people cherish.” – Lonely Planet. Read more…
The fabled Ijen Plateau is a vast volcanic region dominated by the three cones of Ijen, Merapi and Raung. A beautiful and thickly forested alpine area, these thinly populated highlands harbour coffee plantations and a few isolated settlements. West of Gunung Merapi is the spectacular Ijen volcano, also known as the “Green Crater” Read more…
After all of the bad weather I have been experiencing lately I decided to travel down the coast to a place known as one of the sunniest locations in Vietnam, Mui Ne. All of the literature about Mui Ne discusses how it rarely see’s rainfall and when it does it is light and sporadic – unfortunately for the 3 days I spent there it did nothing but pour it down Read more…