Far East Travels Video Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Saboe
Far East Travels Video Podcast is inspired by Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Anthony Bourdain, and National Geographic. Travel advice and inspiration from the Himalaya to the remote jungles of Norther Laos. Travels through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Japan, Taiwan, India, Nepal, Korea and beyond.
In this video, Nha Trang Back To Life, I visit some of the iconic sites of the city and share some thoughts from what it's been like since the last lockdown. We are obviously in the midst of one of the greatest challenges the human race has faced in the last 100 years. It's a time where we have an opportunity to grow individually and as a global community. I'm afraid we may miss this opportunity on a world wide scale but there's still hope, there always is. Nha Trang being a town that's relied on a robust tourism industry for some time now has faced one of the worst setbacks of any place in Vietnam as a direct result of the pandemic. I hope the day is coming soon when travelers will be once again welcomed back to the country and the hardships people have faced here will be long behind everyone. As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy. If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways: Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe
It's been a few weeks since I last checked in, I apologize for that. The last days of lockdown felt like they were going to drag on forever. Then all of a sudden, some of the gates starting coming down in green zones and we were free to take a walk, pick up some takeaway, and even do some shopping. Either waiting at the door of the store for someone to fill your order or in a rare instance, actually entering a supermarket to pick up some badly needed staples. I found the stores were pretty well stocked except for some produce in one instance but living in Vietnam we are lucky to have many independent sellers with baskets up fresh fruit and produce ready to make a sale. In this video, Nha Trang, After Lockdown Vietnam, I share some moments from the first few days of freedom to a glance at some neighborhood festivities during the Mid-Autumn(Moon) Festival. I feel very grateful to have received my first vaccination here in Nha Trang and I'm on schedule to have my second jab in a few weeks. Life although looking different than before this last wave of the pandemic, seems to be returning slowly to a new normal, much dependent on being fully vaccinated and the use of apps to monitor public spaces and everything from cafes to supermarkets. It's fine we'll get used to it. Thanks again for your support! Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
In this video Nha Trang, (Social Isolation Vietnam), I document visuals of the city before and during the latest pandemic measures. For some, it has been extremely challenging, making it through these latest actions to manage the spread of infections. As extreme as some of these measures are they seemed to have worked so far in Nha Trang. From a logistics point of view it hasn't been easy I'm sure to ensure that people are complying with the latest directives. Overall on my street people have been very cooperative and as I mentioned in the video, industrious in finding ways to make some money with the current restrictions of staying in your home or street. I've managed to buy noodles, fruit, beer, and other essentials within a few steps of my building thanks to these pop-up shops. At the time of publishing this video we have news here in Nha Trang of the slow loosening of restrictions which will include in person shopping and exercise, for those in "green zones". Please stay safe wherever you are, we will get through this! Support the channel with your donation: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Become a Patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Nha Trang is normally a vibrant beach resort town hosting Vietnamese and international travellers with it's world-class bay, beach, and sites. In Nha Trang, Life In Lockdown Vietnam, I talk through the streets and explore the current situation just before the lockdown and reminisce about my visit here in 2016. Some of my very sites here include The Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang Cathedral, and the stunning Po Nagar Cham Towers. Unfortunately all of these sites have been closed since my arrival so I share images from my last trip. Nha Trang is really like most any other city in Southeast Asia that relies heavily on tourism, from locals and foreigners. Many changes have taken place it seems since my last visit include new shopping malls and supermarkets but the beach remains as it was from my memory, inviting and safe. Lockdown has not been easy and for me this is the strictest one I have been through in Vietnam since the pandemic began in March 2020. With patience and an aggressive roll-out of vaccinations hopefully business and life will begin to return to a more normal level of activity. I am especially hopeful for the all the small operators that rely on daily customers from the food cart sellers to the small independent restaurants for as speedy recovery as possible. Thanks again for subscribing and supporting me and the channel! Anything and everything is very much appreciated! Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe Monthly pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
It's been several weeks since my last COVID Diaries vlog. I honestly thought I was finished with the series but with the resurgence of the virus in Da Nang I've decided to continue with more videos. We have been impacted but only slightly overall here in Ho Chi Minh,(Saigon). Bars, nightclubs/discos, have been temporarily closed. Mask wearing in public is now mandatory and is being enforced with fines, up to $13USD. As I stated in the video I have been wearing a mask in public since we were first asked to wear them in public. I had never heard it was OK not to wear them. The situation is more serious in Da Nang with approximately 300 new cases detected since July 25th and for the first time, fatalities, as of this posting 18, all with underlying conditions. Thousands of volunteers, military personal, and healthcare workers have been deployed to Da Nang to fight the pandemic. I hope you are staying safe wherever you are, practising social distancing, avoiding crowds if possible, and wearing a mask in public to help stop the spread of the virus. It appears it may be some time before we are all through with this. Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. I hope this series helps people understand how other places like Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing to the channel! If you feel like supporting the channel with a pledge or donation I would be most grateful. Monthly Pledges-Patreon-Far East Travels Patreon Donations-https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile This video references a little bit about what life is like for me but I'm hoping there are circumstances that anyone can appreciate and relate to as far as managing through this pandemic. It's still really hard to say when Vietnam will open up to the world again but I don't believe it will be before they bring their population up to herd immunity. Let me say here that there has been lots of talk and videos regarding the visa situation in the country. All I will say in my humble opinion is that whatever or however the government deals with visas is their business. I'm merely a guest, grateful to be here knowing that at anytime I might have to leave. Unless you hold permanent residence somewhere that is the reality of life as a foreigner or expat living abroad. I also make reference to people who are or were employed in the tourism industry. My heart goes out to you if you are currently waiting for tourism to reopen in your country wherever in the world. I have hired and worked with many career tourism professionals in the past and I look forward to working with you and using your services hopefully in the not too distant future. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and comments. I look forward to sharing more of life in Vietnam and beyond in the future.
In this video, Vietnam Beaches - Da Nang, I'll visit the more accessible beaches including My Khe, Man Thai, Man Thai Fishing Village, T20, and Son Thuy Beach. These are the closest beaches to most of the hotels and resorts are depending on where you're staying, no more than 10 minutes by taxi or motorbike, and in many cases, within a few minutes walk. I have been fortunate to have traveled through much of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, so when I say this is one of the nicest beaches or coastlines in Asia I'm speaking from first-hand knowledge, it truly is! One thing I did not mention in the video is there is absolutely no cost to visiting any of the beaches in this video, unless you're using a paid parking lot. Currently renting chairs cost d40,000 for the wood chairs that sit under the thatched roofs and d20,000 for the webbed chairs, but I wouldn't recommend using those until the late afternoon when the sun is starting to set. The beaches shown are obviously less crowded due to the current situation and as I mentioned normally My Khe will have more visitors than what you see in the video but the other quieter beaches are not busy during normal times, with the exception possibly of lifeguard stations specifically at Son Thuy Beach. There are many beaches to explore around the Son Tra Peninsula and further south to Hoi An that I hope to share on this channel in the future. Thanks again for watching and giving a thumbs up. Subscribe to the channel and turn on the notification bell so you'll when the latest videos are released and feel free to explore the channel for more videos from Vietnam, the rest of Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. You can support the channel either by sending one off donations to:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Become a patron! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Rush Hour Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Series are episodes I'm presenting on the channel that highlight everyday life for the people of HCMC and how they make it through the traffic daily. We'll go to some of the most congested spots in the city so you can see how beyond the initial look of chaos it all seems to function. There are currently an estimated 8.5 million motorbikes in HCMC but the number could even be higher. As the city builds more infrastructure to help keep up with the growth commuters somehow continue to deal with the congestion, sometimes flooding, air pollution, among other things in an effort to improve the overall quality of their life. It's truly remarkable how entrepreneurs have founds ways to help accommodate bike commuters with food carts, markets, and other services you'll see in this series that help keeps the traffic moving. Thanks so much for watching! Any suggestions for interesting traffic spots we should highlight in this series are welcome! I often get asked what camera or cameras do I use. I currently use a DJI Osmo Pocket camera and an insta360 One R Twin Edition camera set that includes a dual lens 360 camera I use for drone like shots and other effect shots and a 4K wide angle action camera. If you use the following link to purchase an insta360 One R camera you can get either a free selfie stick or battery with the code in the link. I do receive a small commission if you use this link:https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRA92U
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon has been very good to me. So many positive things have happened since I arrived here almost two years ago. I created this video to help others who are either thinking of moving here or have just recently moved and are looking for some more insight into the options where expats would feel comfortable settling in. As you'll see in the video, there are some things you'll have to deal with depending on where you decide to live. Either traffic issues or a lack of safe places for pedestrians to walk are two things you'll have to come to grips with. Most expats do choose to live close to where they work as the traffic can be a nightmare to deal with, and then there's those downpours during the rainy season. If you are wanting to find out more about living in Ho Chi Minh City you can book a one hour session with me on Zoom or Skype. I can cover many topics from best places for expats to live, shopping, food, entertainment, some health and safety issues, cultural differences, and general things that can save you time and money. You can contact me by email to find out if I can help you out and rates-john@fareasttravels.com. I hope to share more insights and things that can help you learn more about Ho Chi Minh City before you decide to move. I often get asked what camera or cameras do I use. I currently use a DJI Osmo Pocket camera and an insta360 One R Twin Edition camera set that includes a dual lens 360 camera I use for drone like shots and other effect shots and a 4K wide angle action camera. If you use the following link to purchase an insta360 One R camera you can get either a free selfie stick or battery with the code in the link. I do receive a small commission if you use this link:https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRA92U
Asia Life In Lockdown covers four cities that are experiencing various levels of lockdown during the latest wave of the pandemic, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, Osaka, Japan, and Taipei, Taiwan. Thanks again to Derek Cowan, Bruno Black, and DaveInOsaka for contributing and sharing their personal experiences during the latest wave of the pandemic. I have been very grateful to be based in Vietnam where despite the latest challenges, has been a relatively safe place to live. The sharp social distancing measures that seemed extreme at first during this latest wave, have recently paid off with the lifting of some of the restrictions in Da Nang. Whatever the future may hold, I have learned alot living through this pandemic and I hope to continue to share some of these experiences with you. Thanks again to all of those that have recently supported the channel. Your donations help cover travel and production costs, and any unforseen expenses. If you would like contribute there are two ways. Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile Monthly Pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Follow Bruno Black Facebook-https://m.facebook.com/brunoblackofficial Podcast:https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F0wsi0TqXSCvAePBioJB5Pk%3Fsi%3DOAi66yvnSxGFubS803Goeg%26utm_source%3Dcopy-link%26fbclid%3DIwAR1N5B6yDVkL-D57Qfq8OI774xiuGlEic6SQbfCzMe2H2tnV_-lPc4Qrvwk&h=AT0Ne8xLZK25HlNaTzqTHeKcWzRUdeDL7XHk8dYMqwmpAV5OrTRoS8dU4iCQYeGQ6G81XRv90d-Fvf_Uv2pa94ii8j-EG_Eznn-NwF-B8nkY3hUqQ3-vbyEblNVIbqhB655cgXpU DaveInOsaka-https://twitter.com/DaveInOsaka
Most of this video was filmed prior to the latest outbreaks of COVID in Vietnam. My intention was simply to create a video about visiting the local markets of Da Nang. Before I was to complete it the country, including Da Nang, was once again taking measures to contain the pandemic. A complete video of my original idea was out of the question so I decided to just show what I had intended to create and what the reality of life is like currently in Da nang. Although the measurements were swift and strong, as in the past, they do tend to gain favorable results. Of course in the future I know I'll have more opportunity to revisit these markets but to be quite frank, I think it was important to share what happened here, as there are currently similar conditions in Southeast Asia and of course throughout most of Asia and the rest of the world. Up until quite recently I felt like I was living in a bubble with little to no local community cases reported in Ho Chi Minh City and here. I certainly do feel that way now, but I am grateful for what seems to be the best measures to contain the situation. Thanks so much for watching and subscribing to the channel. If you feel like supporting my work and the channel you can do so either by PayPal or Patreon. I am grateful for any support you offer! Paypal:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Continuing the channel's traditional market series videos with "Ho Chi Miinh City, Vietnam Traditional Markets Season 1 Episode 3-Tân Mỹ Market District 7. One of the reasons why this is one of my favorite local markets is it's situated in a neighborhood with a few bakeries, an upscale grocery store filled with excellent quality imported foods, and some good inexpensive vegetarian restaurants. The people here are especially friendly and I find the operators are fair with pricing and the quality of fruit is especially good. I lived out in this area for awhile so I found it was very convenient. If you're looking for an interesting local style market to break up your visit to all of the landmark sites in Ho Chi MInh this is a good option. Approximately 15-20 minutes by car from District 1 depending on traffic. If you're a photographer visit in the morning anytime before 9am. In the afternoon after 4pm will give you some great shots.
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. The traditional markets of Ho Chi Minh City continues with a visit to the unique Kenh Te Floating Market on Tran Xuan Soan Street alongside the Kenh Te Canal. Although you're on dry land at he little market on the side of the road, unlike the floating markets of the Mekong River Delta it is a unique setting. Vendors selling fruit mostly come from various provinces of the Mekong River Delta Region, which is where most of the fruit grown in Vietnam is grown. These sellers live on their boats that are moored on the canal and live a relatively modest life. With the waterfront setting it's nice to visit an hour or two before sunset, but you will have to be mindful of the volume of traffic that travels along Tran Xuan Soan. Getting some wonderfully fresh fruit, engaging with these super friendly folks and supporting their community is a truly unique attraction and one which few visitors to the city ever take the time to experience.Hope you enjoy the video and thanks again for watching!
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Traditional Markets S1 -S1 Episode 2-Vuon Chuoi Market/Secret Weapons Basement located in District 3 is a wonderfully authentic market and neighborhood combined with a national landmark-the Caphe Do Phu, the former house that with it's secret basement filled with 2 tons of weapons was a major part of the Tet Offensive that commenced on Jan. 30, 1968. As I mentioned in the video I believe in order to understand the history of Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), and it's people it's really important to visit these sites and neighborhoods for an unfiltered view of everyday life. Down the alleys and streets in this part of District 3 you'll be hard pressed to find a chain coffee shop or restaurant. Lots of local independent businesses like the market sellers and shops that surround Vuon Chuoi Market along with indie cafes like Caphe Do Phu which is also a designated cultural site. The market and cafe are within 5 minutes of each other so they make a perfect morning visit. This is the second episode in a multi-series on the Traditional Markets and their neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City. If you enjoyed the video please give a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so won't miss any new episodes when they're released! Cafe Pho Du 287/72 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street-District 3 Vuon Choui Market-428 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu-District 3
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly COVID-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Traditional Markets Season 1 Episode 1-Ba Chieu Market is the first of a multi-episode series focusing on local/traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City,(Saigon). I've also been fascinated with traditional markets whether they're in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. My trips aren't complete without multi-visits to the traditional markets of wherever I'm staying. Fortunately because locals still support these markets, even with the invasion of the hypermarket to Asia, we are blessed to be able to experience these temples of food and the simple great joys of life. In this series I'll be covering off some basic tips, suggestions, and of course the most interesting markets Ho Chi MInh City has to offer. All 24 districts have at least one major market but many have several as well as smaller lane markets or street markets as well. I'll be featuring markets that are usually within about a 15-30 minute taxi ride from District 1, where most visitors stay when they're in Saigon. I can't stress how much visiting these markets is so important in discovering and learning more about everyday life in Vietnam. Unlike tourist markets like Ben Thanh Market you'll find that people aren't as aggressive at getting your business as they really have no souvenirs to sell and almost all of their customers are local. So in some ways these market are a little more relaxed to wander around, even with the traffic! I just love these places and I hope when you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City you'll get the chance to see one or more of these markets during your stay, so much more memorable and authentic than any market that's primarily focused on tourists. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to The Far East Travels Podcast:https://apple.co/385ne0m
In this video I visit Lương Như Học Street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 5 for their annual Lantern Street for Mid Autumn Festival In Vietnam. This is a great way to take part in the festival as most of this 4000 year-old celebration is centered around the family gathering. District 5 is one of my favorite places to wander in Saigon. It's filled with alleys full of character and heritage. Old Chinese style shophouses, colonial and art deco architecture along with modern Vietnamese architecture of the 19 1960's can all be admired here along with some of the busiest wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Lương Như Học Street is in the heart of District 5, I'll leave a Google Maps link below. The lantern street starts about 2 weeks prior to the Mid-Autumn Festival, 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar every year. You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe Fundly-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-https://fundly.com/vietnam-covid-diaries You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels? Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. Luong Nhu Hoc Street:https://goo.gl/maps/zSrXX1rQcKox8afEA
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPal Fundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa,mc,WeChat, AliPay) You can support me through Patreon:Pledge monthly Thanks again for following the series and subscribing to the channel. I hope this series helps people understand how other places like Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode I share my feelings on how safe I feel here as well as a story about a very compassionate Vietnamese entrepreneur and why I think places like Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan are having more success dealing with the pandemic than many Western countries, it's very much a cultural thing. In coming episodes I'll try to move around the city and share with you some different backdrops as well as more stories and personal thoughts. Thanks again, please stay safe, spend most of your time at home if it's possible, and try not to touch your face. Blessings to you from Vietnam....
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPal Fundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa,mc,WeChat,AliPay) You can support me through Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/join/FarEastTravels?
Things are changing daily as far as visas, which countries will be denied entry, and other requirements for Vietnam. It's amazing at the time of the publishing of this video that there are still less than 80 cases of COVID-19 in Vietnam with no fatalities. As I mentioned in the video there will probably be a spike in numbers this week as many Vietnamese return from Europe and other parts of Southeast Asia amidst fears of being stuck somewhere with no way of getting home. It appears the Vietnamese government is well prepared with additional health care workers and quarantine facilities. Keep watching for more videos as this series continues.
Thanks so much for your support! You can make a donation to me and the channel by PayPal:PayPal Fundly COVID Diaries Campaign-Visa/Mastercard/Amex/AliPay/WeChat-Crowdfunder(visa, mc, WeChat, AliPay) You can support me through Patreon:Pledge monthly I'm in Vietnam, (Ho Chi Minh/Saigon), until further notice so I thought it might be compelling to relate what the situation like is here during COVID-19 crisis. Vietnam made some pretty tough decisions early on and I believe it's helped them contain the virus to, at the time of this video being posted, 61 patients and with no fatalities. Of course like most everywhere else in the world that has a robust tourism sector it will be devastating to those in that industry. I truly feel for the restaurants, hotels, and services that primarily cater to tourists whether their foreigners or locals.
In this video Cambodia Know Before You Go Siem Reap Guide I take you on a walking tour of some of the busy and quiet areas of the town so you have an easy choice as to where you'd like to spend your time. Mostly used as a gateway to Angkor Wat and the Angkor Ruins Siem Reap can be almost anything you want it to be whether it's a place to party in between visits to Angkor or a quiet spot to reflect and process the amazing temples and structures you'll be exploring. Pub Street and Phsar Chas, the Old Market area are the most popular places to hangout. If you're looking for more of a quieter spot try the Wat Damnak area for everything from family style inexpensive humble restaurants to stylish multi-course dinner venues. The alleys amongst the heritage buildings south of Phsar Chas have some great little restaurants and cafes. The Old French Quarter has some very exclusive options including 3 choices at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor along with some classy and low key places like FCC Angkor and the Siem Reap Brewpub. I personally like the quieter neighborhoods like Wat Damnak and the less touristy but interesting hipster like Kandal Village. You really are missing out if you don't get out into the smaller local restaurants away from the Pub Street area for a more authentic Khmer experience. Thanks again for watching! Don't forget to subscribe to The Far East Travels Podcast:Audio Podcast
In this video, Phnom Penh Russian Market, Exploring The Neighborhood I check inside the market and visit some places and people that have made the area their home. This is one of the city's most interesting neighborhoods. A mix of traditional Khmer stores and shops, and expat businesses, with the center of the neighborhood being the Russian Market, or Toul Tom Puong. It's still a busy area but I find it a little more relaxing to walk and explore it's many streets and lanes that are quieter than many parts of Phnom Penh. Only a 20 minute tuk-tuk ride from Riverside it definitely attracts a different crowd which mostly is made up of locals, expats, and some tourists that are interested in the market, shopping, and eating at some of the most diverse restaurants and cafes in the city. The Russian Market got it's name from the expat Russians who made this area their home in the 1980's, a time when most of the expats of Phnom Penh were from the former Soviet Union. Today the expat community is quite diverse, with people from many Western countries who are here either as English teachers, NGO workers, or entrepreneurs. There are also expats from other parts of Asia including India, Turkey, and the Philippines as well as China. This is a fantastic neighborhood to sample classic street food at either the night market outside Toul Tom Poung market that operates every evening or at many of the food carts that you'll find in the area. I enjoyed my dinner at Nesat Seafood House but there are also some traditional seafood bbq stands and restaurants around Toul Tom Puong. It was great meeting Tyler from Riel Brewing Distillery. They are usually open a couple of nights a week but they are primarily a brewery supplying their wonderful craft beers to restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Visit their website to find out more:Riel Brewing Distilling
In this video I visit a China Fake Paris style development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Koh Pich, or Diamond Island is a huge residential/commercial development located in an area of Phnom Penh that used to be a swamp until 2000 on the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Elysee is the Paris inspired development that is similar in style to the fake Paris cities of China like Tianducheng, a suburb of Shanghai with it's own fake Eiffel Tower.Interestingly enough it appears that Elysee is being marketed to foreign, particularly Chinese investors, who can afford to fork over between $800,000 to over $1.1 million USD for the units that are available. The setting is nice enough but it still doesn't appear to be complete let alone occupied 4 years after ground breaking began. The new high rise buildings in the same area seem to fit in more with the modernization of Southeast Asia then the bizarre out of place Elysee. Elite Town another "old world" development doesn't seem like it fits in any better. Hopefully these won't be future "ghost cities" or towns. The setting itself is quite attractive with a lovely boardwalk along the Bassac and special events and celebrations have been held here in the past like the Water Festival.
NOTE The immigration office at the moment will accept your applications between 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday. You will receive a receipt with a copy of your passport that you can use as id while you’re waiting for your passport and visa extension. There was a time when it was difficult if not impossible to extend a tourist visa in Cambodia yourself but that seems to have changed. I recently completed my Cambodian Visa extension tourist, "T" class visa while staying in Phnom Penh and it was completely hassle-free. Everything you need to know to extend your visa is in my Cambodian Visa Extension DIY Tourist "T" Class video. I was charged the standard $30USD fee at the Cambodian Immigration Department office across from the Phnom Penh International Airport. Most travel agencies in Phnom Penh charge $49USD total for the visa and their services. In some cases they may not do it unless you give them your passport and the fee a week or longer before your visa expires. As I stated in the video, in order for this to be cost effective you'll need to take local bus #3 from Phnom Penh to the airport. Expect your total investment of time to be approximately 3 hours initially. When you pick up your passport after your visa extension has been completed, approximately a week later it shouldn't take longer than the travel time, about an hour each way, along with a 10 minute wait to pick up your passport. Although I haven't tried it myself it is also possible to extend an "E" class visa if you have been offered a job, are looking for a job, or are wanting to start a business. This will require more paperwork and letters and or appropriate proof of a business, retirement etc. depending on which extension you're applying for. You can visit an agency in Phnom Penh that specializes in these extensions and many travel agencies are also able to help you with this service as well. For tourists wanting to stay longer than 30 days in Cambodia, especially those on a budget, it's nice to know it appears easy and relatively simple to do this now in Phnom Penh. Just remember although you don't need a passport photo for a visa on arrival now, you will be asked for one when you request to extend your tourist visa. You'll just need to bring $30USD for the visa extension fee along with your passport. After the immigration officer checks your passport and visa they will give you a one page form to fill out. When you pay the fee and hand over your passport, photo, and application form the officer will give you a receipt. Keep this in a safe place and remember to bring this to the office when you're picking up your passport. That's it! Hope you find this helpful for your next visit to Cambodia!
First off, these scams are not endemic to Phnom Penh or Cambodia for that matter. They can be found in other cities across Asia and beyond. In Phnom Penh Scams as far as the "buying milk for my baby" and fake monk scams go it's up to you whether you choose to give these people money. I'm just sharing this info so you know what's actually happening. The blackjack scam has been reported in Phnom Penh for years now but I've also seen reports of it taking place in Ho Chi Minh City as well. As I stated in the video there was a group arrested in the summer of 2019 but it's possible that other teams or groups are carrying on the scam here. I believe it's a little more sophisticated than "oh that's a nice shirt, where are you from" scenario that usually is the start of some petty scam. This one involving multiple players is definitely more complex but if you have your wits about you it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what's going on. I have pieced together a possible scenario or two based on many reports in forums and from news sources. It might not be precisely what occurs but it should be close enough for you to detect if you are experiencing the same kind of exchange. If someone really is genuinely interested in chatting with you or sharing travel stories they won't mind if you suggest a place to meet. If they have lots of excuses for not doing so and insist a location of their choice then you'll know they're up to no good. If you want to donate money to real local monks of course it's possible to do so but there is some etiquette you should know before you begin, otherwise you could make them feel awkward or uncomfortable. It's best just to observe how locals do it during the morning alms, when monks wander the streets for donations. There are more scams I will cover off in another video. Thanks for watching! Don't forget to check out my Far East Travels Podcast in the iTunes Store, Spotify, or whatever platform you download your podcasts from:Write A Review
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Phnom Penh in my opinion has one of the coolest looking markets in Southeast Asia, the art deco Central Market. The Khmer name of the market is ផ្សារធំថ្មី, "Phsar Thom Thmey", which technically translates to "New Grand Market" in English. When it opened in 1937 it was considered the largest market in Asia. Even today it's easy to see it dwarfs markets like Saigon's Ben Tanh Market. The ceiling of the dome area reaches 26 meters with four arched arms that house many stalls from tshirts, to pots and pans. Ever since I first saw it I was attracted to it's grand scale and the market itself is very interesting, almost a theme park for shoppers and food lovers. In the main dome you'll find gold, gems, watch, and jewelry sellers. The four arms are somewhat categorized with either clothing, electronics, or household items. This market is not solely focused on tourists as you'll see by the traditional Khmer clothing for sale along with everyday household items, hardware, and more. The perimeter area is my favorite place to wander as it's where you'll find the wet market and food area with all kinds of special Cambodian delicacies from dried fish to sweets. There's also a large dining area where you can sample local favorites including all kinds of noodle soups and bbq seafood. This is my 3rd visit to Phnom Penh in the last 4 years. During this current visit I spent almost every day wandering around the market for an hour or so to familiarize myself with the layout and to observe some of the little everyday things that some people might miss if they only visit it once, like the area where they slide the ice into the market for chipping. I hope you enjoy the video and subscribe to channel! I have a passion for exploring East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia and have made it the focus of my life for the past 6 years. I also have an audio podcast I would love you to check out! Feedback is always welcome:Audio Podcast
Chinatown Ho Chi Minh City or Cholon(District 5,6,10) in my opinion is one of the most exciting districts in Saigon. I'm excited to share this busting neighborhood with you and it's historic Binh Tay Market. This is primarily a wholesale market for shop owners, cafes, and restaurants so it's not necessarily an ideal place to shop but it's an exciting place to visit. I love wandering through the market and the surrounding neighborhood with all of it's local ma and pa shops. The lack of international brands and chain shops is refreshing as well. It's a real personable place with locals greeting many visitors that make their way out to these districts. I really hope these videos encourage people to visit because you'll get such a different experience here than you will if you spend most of your time around Bui Vien or Pham Ngo Lao and the rest of District 1.Start out from Binh Tay Market and just wander. There are interesting shops everywhere and surprisingly still a record of the development of Saigon with architecture that spans the French colonial era, art deco, and 50's -70's. The Chinese style shophouses are still to be found in the are with traditional character signs. There are also some wonderful Buddhist/Taoist temples to visit that I didn't cover off in this video. Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy these street videos.
Join me for a visit to the Tan My Market, one of the most interesting local markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Most people that visit Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon for the first time end up at the Ben Thanh Market. Nothing wrong with that, it's an interesting place too, one of the oldest markets in the country. But it left behind it's traditional roots along time ago and today is geared almost exclusively to tourists. If you want a true authentic market experience, I mean where they still kill chickens to order, sell live fish, frogs, and other seafood out of tanks or aluminum trays, then head for the Tan My Market in District 7 or one of several traditional markets that still do business everyday in and around the greater Ho Chi Minh area. Not only will you be able to observe daily life in a neighborhood like this one, but you won't be constantly asked if you want to buy a t-shirt, or coffee, or anything! In fact if you have any engagement at all with locals it will be the friendly warm welcoming that people in these neighborhoods exude, especially at the sign of a rare visit from a foreigner. If you do want to buy, most everyone will be happy to help you, and even though their English skills will be limited or non existent, they'll still find a way to communicate. I also find in these markets that everyone is fairly honest, in fact I would be shocked if you weren't given the local price everyone else gets. Thanks for watching! I would love to connect with you. Send me an email to john@fareasttravels.com. Please also follow me on any or all of the social media links on the front page. Also feel free to subscribe to my audio podcast:Far East Travels Podcast-(Audio)
I'm somewhat disappointed when I see visitors to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City only having time to visit it's most famous market, Ben Thanh Market. Unfortunately as interesting a place it is, it's not the true reflection of a real traditional market in Saigon. To me it almost feels like a recreation of the real thing. It has the variety of stalls, even a wet market that operates in the morning, and lots of local dishes you can try but it lacks the soul of a real traditional market. Also because it's geared towards tourists it has very little of the authentic charm and warmth that you'll find in a non-tourist market.
If you're in Saigon, walk over the charming little Rainbow Bridge into District 4 to visit the Xom Chieu Market. This is the real traditional style local market and it's here where you'll truly experience the warmth and charm of the Vietnamese. You'll also be free to roam, take pictures, and explore the market and surrounding area without being hassled by sellers,(I know, they're just trying to put food on the table). It's also a great place to do some shopping to fill up your fridge in your hotel with some local snacks, and fresh fruit. Don't worry about the language barrier. Most people that work in these markets do not speak English, but they'll understand "how much"? and either show you the bills or use a calculator to tell you the price. I also find that in these markets people are generally honest and do not try to cheat or overcharge foreigners. You'll notice the prices are cheaper compared with District 1 as well as a much more relaxed environment. One thing you do have to be careful of are the motorbikes that are constantly streaming through area. People, as you'll see, do not walk and shop in Saigon. Parking is sometimes a hassle and most are just accustomed to shopping on their motorbike.
Xom Chieu Market-Le Van Linh (Lê Văn Linh) street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh (Hồ Chí Minh) City
Thanks so much for watching! Would love to get your feedback on the podcast or ideas for future podcasts. I'll be uploading more of these vlog style podcasts from Asia and would love to hear your thoughts. john@fareastravels.com
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For Nepal 2015 will go down as one of the worst years on record, for disasters, politics, everything!
On April 25 at 11:56am an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 shook the country from it's epicenter at Lamjung District at Barpak, Gorkha.
In the weeks to follow hundreds of aftershocks would be felt. In the end over 9000 were killed at least 21,000 injured and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes either temporarily or permanently.
I decided to follow up on the state of the country shortly after most of the international media had left. My intention was to document the effects of the earthquakes and aftershocks and assess the conditions for travellers.
Nepal relies heavily on tourism to support the economy, in fact it is normally 10% of the GDP, gross domestic product. Many rely on tourism to support their families, in some cases the only alternative to working abroad, something that over 1 million Nepalis do.
Having made friends in Nepal's tourism industry I had deep concerns for their welfare. Some international media were reporting that this would be the end of tourism for Nepal, devastating words almost as strong as an earthquake itself.
I knew that some sites were completely destroyed including many temples in the Durbar Squares of the Kathmandu Valley. But I also knew that many had either suffered some minor damage or none at all. Was the industry really in ruins?
So I set off for Nepal, with a scheduled arrival for 1pm at Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu. My adventure started just before we were about to land with an announcement from the pilot that another earthquake had struck the country. Our descent would be delayed so crews could check for any damage to the runways. Ninety minutes later we touched down to a country shaken into another level of fear with a 7.3 aftershock with an epicenter 18km southeast of Kodari near the border of China. The epicenter was on the border of Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk.
More nights of sleeping outdoors, shops and businesses staying closed, and stories floating around of more, stronger earthquakes on the way.
The first episode in a series on Far East Adventure Travel-the people, stories, and places effected by the Nepal earthquakes of 2015.
One of the greatest adventure destinations on the planet-Everest Base Camp, Nepal! We were so blessed with having clear skies in the morning and afternoon each day above 4000 meters. The moments were precious as I mentioned in the video so working fast to capture these moments on video was crucial. I would usually jump out of bed between 5:30-6am, 90 minutes before our scheduled breakfasts on most mornings, to ensure I captured footage of these giants of the Himalayas. Fortunately most of the time the skies remained clear up until the early afternoon. Then like in Lobuche, the skies would clear up again just before sunset, enabling me to get some video of beautiful Nuptse. This was my second time on this trail, I previously completed the Gokyo Valley/Everest Base Camp trek 4 years ago and was still completely overjoyed to be in this setting again. I hope you enjoyed the video and perhaps it will inspire you to head to Nepal to trek to the highest mountain in the world!
Experiencing different climates from sub tropical to literally touching the Tibetan Plateau, topping it off with an ascent of the highest point of the trek, the Thorung La Pass at 5416 meters. As well, seeing and interacting with the people of several different cultures and villages that dot the valleys.
Our timing for the trek was perfect starting on the biggest day of the country’s most important festival of the year Dasai, usually falling sometime in October. The festival celebrates the God Durga with the theme of good conquering evil and culminating with almost every family sacrificing an animal, in most cases a goat, as part of the celebration. Rituals and prayers take place before the final sacrifice but we didn’t stick around to watch.
Another tradition of the Hindu festival is constructing a swing in the village for children that’s used only during the celebration.
Along the path we came across a small herd of lucky goats that appeared to have dashed the sacrifices for this year’s festival.
Our first stop was lunch in Bhulbhule, a small village with a population of just over 3000 that sits below views of Mansalu, the 8th highest mountain in the world at 8163 meters. These days many trekkers take a bus all the way to Bhulbhule to make this town their starting point of the Annapurna Circuit. It’s still very warm during the day at 840 meters elevation so we could enjoy the scenery and lunch in short sleeves next to the Marshyangdi River.
Shortly after leaving the village we were hit with a huge downpour of rain so we stopped over in a little hut to avoid a drenching.
When we finally got moving again we came across a giant new dam funded by the Chinese government. A construction flag marking the spot as a Chinese project was visible from the trail.
An investment of this size is very helpful to local residents with steady work for many but it is definitely changing the landscape of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Less and less of the original trail exists, replaced by roads that now take people and goods all the way to Manang, the last big village before crossing the Thorung La Pass.
This region is considered subtropical and there’s lots of scenery to enjoy from beautiful terraced rice paddies to traditional villages.
One highlight of trekking Annapurna are the frequency of villages allowing for plenty of comfortable stops for tea breaks and more opportunity to gaze at beautiful rice terraces and fruit trees.
To get from one village to another most of the people of the area walk so it’s not uncommon to run into villagers especially along the old trail. One of the reasons why I insisted we stayed on this route as much as possible.
On a good portion of the trail there’s plenty of company from the Marshyangdi River. And lots of village life to observe. Like some local villagers involved in a traditional Nepali gambling game. Hari my guide pronounces the name for me.
We continued on our way to Chamche where we’d spend the night. Still more little villages along the way with dramatic waterfalls made the long day of trekking seem like a short hike.
Finally we arrived in Chamche, where the village was preparing for their final night of celebrating Dashai, with dancing and singing performances.
The next morning we were ready to go by 8am with a new plan of just a 2-3 hour trek to the village of Thal. I had come down with a cold so we decided it was best to try to rest while we were at a relatively low altitude before trekking into the higher villages of the region in Manang District. Still sticking with the old trail as much as possible to keep the trek as close to the original route.
After walking for a couple of hours we reached the gate that marks the entrance to Manang District.
Thal is a wonderful little village and we had the pleasure of staying in a perfect guesthouse, with super clean rooms, attached bathrooms and great food. I spoke with the owner Guru about the tragic trekking accident that happened on the Annapurna Circuit around the same time the previous year and how such disasters can be avoided. As well, Guru gave us some background on the village.
After chatting with Guru we started back on the trail with a little stop to enjoy another waterfall just outside of the village. The next few moments were terrifying and proof that accidents happen quickly and without notice.
Join me next time on Far East Adventure Travel for more of trekking Nepal's Annapurna Circuit.
It's alway exciting when you first arrive in a destination like Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. The sights, food, people, the environment as a whole. I have so many great memories of Kuching in particular because I was able to easily explore the town by foot. Meeting local people, being invited into the Sikh Gurdwara for lunch and a tour. Walking in the old Kampongs, traveling by riverboat on the Sarawak River, and meeting the warm, friendly, and hospitable people of the region. I hope this episode gives you a taste of what this amazing place on the exotic island of Borneo has to offers.
Japanese Toilets-The Complete Travel Experience
knack for innovation is unprecedented in all areas throughout the world but especially when it comes to technology. This is obviously not new of course but when you actually visit the country it becomes evident how much the need for innovating and improving on just about everything permeates the culture. You’ll come in contact with this no matter what you do from ordering a meal in a restaurant with a vending machine to flushing a toilet.
In this podcast I run through the control panel of a typical toilet you’ll find in most hotels on your next visit to Japan. I promise this experience will be something you definitely share with friends and coworkers. Hey, I did a whole podcast on the subject. That’s how amazing these toilets are!!!
Where To Stay In Saigon(Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam-6 Great Locations
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This video is a guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in if you are a visiting Saigon as a traveler or tourist. The chosen because of their proximity to the main sites people are interested in seeing while staying in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as well as dining and shopping options that are nearby. Personally I do like Dong Khoi and Da Kao as far as location goes and they are great options if you have the budget. They might not be suitable if you are trying to get a taste of everyday life in Saigon. Those neighborhoods would include, Nguyen Thai Binh, Co Giang/Co Bac, and parts of District 3. Of course there are lots of other options if you are adventurous and wanting to stay even more off the beaten path. But you will be using taxis or ride shares to get around as places like District 5, 7, are too far out to walk to sites. Perhaps you’d like to stay in the new Vinpearl Landmark 81 hotel, again you’ll be needing to catch rides everywhere. Thanks again for listening! 6 Neighborhoods Where You Should Stay in Saigon, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, has a wide variety of options for hotels, guesthouses, and hostels. From a humble dorm bed to 5 star luxury suites. Most of the sites that are of interest to traveler’s can be found in District 1, or D1. I’ll break it down into 6 different areas that will help you decide which location is best suited to you.
The Dong Khoi area is at the center of Saigon’s District 1 and close to many of the top sites of the city so it makes for a perfect base, if you’ve got the budget. Dong Khoi, Nguyen Hue, and riverside has the highest concentration of 5 star hotels in the city, but if you dig around you can find some midrange places too as well as Airbnb’s. Nice streets and sidewalks that are usually clear of motorbikes, the finest restaurants in the city, with a huge variety of cuisine from Vietnamese to Indian, Japanese, Argentinian, and some very smart cafes. Rooftop bars at some of the most iconic hotels in Saigon, trendy nightclubs, and beautiful French colonial architecture that blends with the modern. You won’t get a sense of every day Saigon in this neighborhood but you’ll be pretty comfortable. You really can walk to most of the popular landmarks or sites from Dong Khoi. Being a place that attracts traveler’s with large budgets expect a fair amount of attention from motorbike taxis, massage hostesses, shoe cleaners, and sunglass salespeople. And always guard your personal items. Stay away from the edges of sidewalks when checking messages or google maps on your phone or taking selfies.
On Dong Khoi street you’ll find some of the cities iconic hotels, near the Saigon River, more classics and more 5 stars.
Near the War Remnants Museum and just outside District 1 in District 3 is another area worth considering for it’s good selection of midrange and moderately priced hotels. You might want to use a taxi to get to some of the sites but you’ll be in a less touristy area, with some great restaurants, food streets, and a more local feel. A little closer to the airport too!
The Ben Thanh Market area is loaded with conveniences from a great variety of Vietnamese, Malaysian, Japanese, and Western restaurants to money changers located on the streets directly across from the west and north side of the market and tour booking services everywhere. Don’t forget the market itself where you can bargain hard for a variety of clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and sample Vietnamese food. This is great shopper’s area with streets surrounding the market holding potential bargains on shoes, clothes and other items and within a short walking distance to the modern Saigon Center shopping mall and the Saigon Square bargain center. There’s also a night market that opens after 6pm. If you like attention you get loads of it at Ben Thanh! Located between the Dong Khoi and Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien backpacker area, this is a perfect location for covering off sites and close enough to long distance bus pick-up locations to travel beyond Saigon.
A 5 minute walk to the Bui Vien backpacker area if you want to be close to the action but not right in the middle of it and about 10 minutes to Ben Thanh Market is Co Bac/Co Giang.
This neighborhood has a few budget options in some of its lanes and streets and will also make you feel less like a visitor and more like a resident with it’s traditional feeling neighborhood and a morning market where you can pick up some fruit and street food. This area also has a vibrant street food scene at night and a mix of old school and newer cafes and restaurants.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia-5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit
I truly hope you find these videos informative and helpful, especially if it's your first time to Cambodia. It had been 4 years since my last visit and it doesn't appear to have changed much as far as the bag snatching goes. I was warned several times as I was walking around filming to be careful of my stuff. If this video helps one person avoid the loss of their personal items I will feel this one together was well worth it! Everything else in the video is pretty straightforward. I really enjoy interacting with the Khmer, there are so easy going, warm, and friendly. The culture is one of the richest most interesting in the region and I will definitely be sharing more of it along with other helpful videos on Kampot, Siem Reap and other destinations within the country in the future. The stories of people posing in bathing suits and naked at cultural sites and temples like Angkor are quite disturbing to me. I really don't care if people want to pose naked or almost naked at their hotel swimming pool but to do this in places of worship and that are extremely sacred to the local people is completely selfish and insensitive to the culture. I hope those that visit make an extra effort to follow some of the local customs and show respect to Khmers, above all be gracious and humble. They really do appreciate the effort! Thanks again for watching! FYI-The tshirt meaning in the thumbnail is a Khmer saying. "When you are angry you lose everything"! Couldn't agree more!!!
Ghost Festival Day-Praying For The Hungry Ghosts-Saigon Vietnam
Throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia during the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar it's believed that the gates of hell are opened so as to allow ghosts to wander the earth for the month. These ghosts are said to have experienced a particularly bad death, or do not have anyone praying for them in the after life. Followers of Buddhism and Taoism as well as others who believe in the presence of these ghosts will put out offerings of food and drink, as well as money. Prayers are also offered so the ghosts will not create mischief or havoc during the month. There are many superstitions that surround the ghost month including not getting married, starting a business or going on vacation. The most important day is the full moon day which is considered Ghost Festival Day falling on the 15 day of the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar. In Vietnam this also coincides with Vu Lan which is like a Mother's Day. People also go to the temple to prayer for the mothers but usually prayer for fathers as well as the rest of the family. If you spot someone wearing a red rose it means their mother or parents are still alive. If you see them wearing a white rose it means the mother or father is deceased. If you want to see any of these rituals when visiting Saigon the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda in District 5 is a good place to visit as well as other temples in this district. Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi would also be great places to see the rituals surrounding this month or day when visiting Vietnam.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-Breakfast Stop And Largest KL Wet Market-Pudu
I always have a great time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! First the food is amazing! Easily one of my favorite food cities in Asia, then the wonderful hospitable people, finally the exciting cultural mix! And that's just the start! In this episode I share with you one of my favorite pastimes in KL. Visiting restorans, the cheap cafes that are found everywhere around the city. I absolutely don't feel like I've arrived in KL until I have an order of roti canai, the flaky bread that's dunked in dhal, or other types of curries. For breakfast, absolutely! A masala dosa is another dish I have a hard time resisting for breakfast. Spicy potatoes, with some onion wrapped in a crepe made from rice and lentils soaked in water. Wash it down with a teh terek, pulled tea, and you've got the quintessential restoran stop as far as I'm concerned. The Pudu Wet Market is the largest one of it's kind in KL. If you're a cook, or just into food, you must visit this market. As Anthony Bourdain used to say, if you want to get to know a culture visit their markets. This one is indeed impressive, with everything from pet dogs, to live chickens, an amazing variety of seafood and truly some of the friendliest people on the planet. Some pretty crazy stuff too, I didn't film the guy firing his cap gun every few seconds to get people to notice the smartphone accessories he was selling. Thanks again to all of the wonderful people who were so kind to show me their goods and exchange some smiles!
Penang, Malaysia-Best Street Food Dish/Drink/Bourdain Food Court
I sampled one of the best char kway teows I had on my visit, a thirst quenching nutmeg juice with sour plum, and a grilled stingray feast at a food court Anthony Bourdain visited on his last trip to George Town, Penang. I was still surprised with the influx of tourists advancing on George Town in the past few years that street food prices are still low, in alot of cases no more than 5 Ringit=$1.20USD for alot of the classic dishes from laksa to char kway teow and many more. My grilled stingray, large, feast with a nice side of stir-fried vegetables and rice was less than $14USD including beer. One of the most unique drinks I've ever tried was the nutmeg juice that I found out later is only served or available in Penang and Indonesia, obviously where nutmeg is grown. Evidently alot of the fruit that surrounds the nut gets turned into charcoal and exported, Indonesia. Wonderfully thirst quenching in the tropical heat and humidity of Penang. So George Town is definitely worthy of a visit, especially if you appreciate great food! You won't find the same kind of variety of accommodation that you will in other tourist hot spots of Southeast Asia. On the budget end to moderate priced properties there's a good chance you'll have to take a room and use a shared bathroom. George Town has the most pre WWII buildings in all of Southeast Asia and although many have been converted to today's standard of accommodations, many places haven't or simply can't. You'll probably notice some rooms with a bathroom and shower in the corner almost looking like it was just placed there next to the bed, it probably was! If you're out enjoying the sites, eating some of the best food in Southeast Asia you'll soon forget about your odd accommodations. Thanks so much for watching the video and please don't forget to subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications! Please feel free to check out and subscribe to my audio podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-Best Visitor Guide To The KL Monorail/LRT/MRT/Batu Caves
I've put together a basic simple guide to what most visitors need to know to get around on KL's LRT/Monorail and trains. At first glance the lines can look a little on the complicated side but provided you're staying in a typical tourist center, like KL Sentral, Bukit Bintang, or around KLCC this guide should provide you with all you need to know. The KL Monorail, Kelana Jaya line, the newer SBK Line, and the Komuter train that takes you to the Batu Caves will get you to most popular landmarks and sites around the city. It's also helpful to be familiar with KL Sentral as this is the major hub for transportation which includes buses to and from both airport terminals, the KLIA Express train to both terminals and other trains. By the way there are shower facilities available for a nominal fee at KL Sentral. They were really handy one time when I had an 8 hour layover coming from Nepal while waiting for my flight to Taipei. A nice quick refreshing shower made my day while visiting KLCC just before Christmas. Even though in the video it looks like I only use tokens, this was only for demonstration purposes. I recommend if you're staying longer than a short layover to get a KL Touch 'n Go card. They are super convenient and you will feel it was well worth the nominal 5 Ringit purchase when you see the line-ups at the token machines during rush hour. Here's more on the Touch 'n Go card:https://www.touchngo.com.my/CMS/Personal/Products/Touch-n-Go-Card/About-Touch-n-Go-Card/ As English is an official language of Malaysia you will find instructions and signs in English everywhere! Hope you enjoy the video and it helps you have a smooth stay in one of my favorite cities of Southeast Asia!
Tasting Banana Street Food Desserts In Saigon, Vietnam
Two of my favorite desserts in Saigon, chuoi chien, (fried banana), and chuoi nep nuong, grilled banana with sticky rice coating, (batter), in warm coconut pudding. These treats make great snacks anytime of day and there are still many carts and stands that sell them in all of the districts. Vinachuoi.com has a stand in District 1 near the Nguyen Hue Walking Street.https://goo.gl/maps/4xmDVvkn1d819NyA9 and another one here:https://goo.gl/maps/CbuNwJuLCNGNTWLY9 The wonderful place that churns out grilled bananas with coconut pudding is located here:https://goo.gl/maps/8EUe6vBQq7CMgfQW9 Just remember they close at 7pm. You can also find places around the Ben Thanh Market that sell these treats but they're usually more expensive. You can find carts and stands scattered around Districts 3, 5 and 10. These locations listed are some of my favorite places for fried and grilled bananas. Thanks so much for watching the video and subscribing to the channel. Please also feel free to check out and subscribe to my podcast Far East Travels:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943
Tasting McDonald's New Chocolate Pies-George Town, Malaysia
I love chocolate so when I heard about McDonald's Malaysia releasing their much anticipated chocolate pie I was the first to order them at their historic Birch House location in George Town-Penang, Malaysia. Apparently when Singapore introduced the chocolate pie in March 2018 it immediately sold out and was actually taken off the menu shortly after. It was expected to be a limited edition item but being such an Instragammable subject and with a huge demand it was brought back to the menu and was also introduced in Malaysia June 6, 2019! I was lucky enough to be one of the first to try it at their wonderful Birch House location on the morning of June 6th. It's actually quite an interesting dessert, not too sweet, which suits well with the Southeast Asian palate. The crunchy deep-fried shell is just a little odd, having tasted many molten style chocolate cakes with a spongy texture, but overall a nice treat and certainly a cut above the average McDonald's offering. The Birch House was originally the office of Eastern Smelting, which had it's plant right next door where the Times Square Mall is now located. Built in 1908 apparently the back door was close to the plant and it's rumored this was the spot where difficult employees were reprimanded. There are some nice street views on the outdoor upper level. It's not always open so when it is, definitely go up and have a look. Thanks so much for watching and again apologies for the flicker in the video during my tasting segment.
How To Get Around Penang, Malaysia With A Cheap Bike Share
What a huge find! Penang's Link Bike share program is only 2 MYR a day for unlimited free 30 minute rides and 1 MYR per hour after. Each time you take a bike out! What a great way to ride the beautiful historic streets of George Town taking in all of the amazing architecture from old shop houses to British Colonial buildings. I used Link Bike alot during my most recent visit to Penang and found it was a great way to see alot of streets in a shorter period of time then walking. As I mentioned in the video, unless you are really adventurous, and used to a tropical climate, you might find extensive rides across town a little on the exhausting side. The traffic and numerous one way streets can be frustrating to negotiate as well. What a great program and so cheap! You could literally get a way with using this program for less than a $1/day. I found there were numerous bike stations around all of the important sites so it was easy to ride from one place of interest to another and have a convenient station to drop the bike off at, as well as pick one up again to move on.
Laos' Adventure Capital-Vang Vieng-Exploring It's BackRoads/Blue Lagoon
Vang Vieng has come a long way since it's days as party central in Southeast Asia. Once the home of major tube parties, cheap booze and readily available drugs it has started to transform into an adventure capital. After a few unfortunate deaths/drownings in the Nam Song River the police dropped in and shut down alot of the river bars. You can still find some parties and tubing here but it's not like the old days. It's a pretty chill place and you are definitely exposed to more of the everyday simple life of Laos. There's much to appreciate here from kayaking the river, exploring the caves, and grabbing a motorbike to head for the backroads. Motorbike rental places are easy to find in Vang Vieng and most will help you with directions and even give you a map so you can explore the caves and lagoons of the region. Most caves have a small admission fee, and will most often loan you a lantern. Some will have guides you can hire as well. The Blue Lagoon is a place most hear about and want to visit when they arrive in Vang Vieng. You can catch a tuk tuk out to the Blue Lagoon, or rent mountain bikes, but it will be a hot a sweaty ride out there, forget about walking-the heat is too much for most. Two or three days in Vang Vieng should be enough to capture the essence of rural life and get in an adventure activity or two-some great rock climbing here to check out. Everything here from cheap guesthouses to lux settings on the river. Vang Vieng is an easy 3-3.5 hour bus ride from Vientienne. It's a great way to split up a much longer ride from the capital to Luang Prabang as well! Hope you enjoy the video! I also have an audio podcast in the iTunes Store where I chat about travel in Asia and invite followers and guests on the show with advice and to share travel experiences. Far East Travels Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943 Support the channel by becoming a patron! Patrons help with travel and production costs and get exclusive access to content on my Patreon page for as little as $2/month. Check out all of the offers here:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Luang Prabang, Laos-Revealing It's Beauty And Charm
I hope you enjoy this film as much as I enjoyed waking up early and walking around the town of Luang Prabang, Laos, inspired to share it's beauty and charm. This is easily one of the most charming towns in all of Southeast Asia, not to be missed as you travel through the region. It has one of the largest monastic communities in the country, it was once the center of power and home of the Royal Family. Luang Prabang can be a little crazy in the morning. Shortly around the time of the beginning of Tak Bak, when monks and novices walk the streets collecting their meal for the day from followers, minivans and taxis invade the center of the town where many of the temples are located dropping off tourists eager to participate in the alms giving. How in the world this became a major tourist activity is beyond me as by my observations, many of the people participating don't even seem to know what or why they are giving alms. It's been a big problem for years with many locals complaining about the tourists, their misunderstanding of the ritual, and in many cases, bad etiquette. I actually found that just before the last of the monks finished up collecting proceeds for their meal of the day the frenzy died down and the ritual, and the town revealed it's true charm. I spent several days on my last visit wandering around the town during this time and capturing footage that became this film. Most everyone ignored me as I filmed them, particularly the monks except for the young novice who looked into the camera lens at the very end. Thanks again for subscribing to the channel and following my life and travels around East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. I also host a podcast available in iTunes or wherever you download your favorite podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943 You can also follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/ Support the channel financially and get access to exclusive content on my Patreon page for as little as $2/month. Visit my page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Saigon, Vietnam-6 Favorite Veg/Vegan Banh Mi Shops
I know how frustrating it can be to find vegetarian and vegan options, especially when it comes to tasting local dishes! The banh mi is a classic street food snack or meal in Vietnam. The wonderful baguette from the French colonial period, fresh herbs, veggies and pickles, but unfortunately for vegetarians and vegans the classic version includes mostly pork, pate, sometimes chicken, and occasionally fish. I'm not either a strict vegetarian or vegan, I still indulge in fish and seafood on occasion, but I mostly stick to a plant-based diet so I know the challenges sometimes trying to find things to fit into the diet. Luckily with a Buddhist based culture in Vietnam, vegetarianism/veganism, is a more widely accepted diet or way of life compared with many other countries. I've been eating my way through the many plant-based options in Ho Chi Minh City for the last few weeks and narrowed down 6 of my favorite banh mi that are either vegetarian or vegan. As I mentioned in the video I believe some of the vegetarian options could be vegan if you asked to leave mayo off the bread. The least expensive banh mi was found at Veggie Saigon for d15,000, (takeaway), the most expensive from The Vegan Garden d35,000. We are talking a price range from $0.65-$1.51USD, amazing value! Delivery from District 7 to District 1 for the banh mi from The Vegan Garden was $1.00USD. Please let me know in the comments if you enjoy and appreciate these videos on finding good food, particularly vegetarian and plant-based food, and I'll do more. Ho Chi Minh City was recently named one of the top 15 cities in the world for vegans. I'm not the least bit surprised. I'm finding the options, value, and quality of vegan food in HCMC first rate! Thanks again for watching the video! If you'd like to support the channel you can become a patron for as little as $2/month. Patrons get access to exclusive content including extra videos and tips. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels List of restaurants featured in the video in order: Banh Nam-213 Bui Vien District 1 New Hoang Banh Mi-109 Nguyen Thai Bin District -d20,000 Veggie Saigon-42 Duong De Tham District 1-d15,000 takeaway Cha Hang Chay Au Lac Healthy World-120 Nguyen Trai District 1-d25,000 Banh Mi Express-Uptown-17 Pasteur District 1-d20,000 The Vegan Garden-So 336 Ha Huy Tap-District 7-d35,000
Beautiful Borneo-East Malaysia-Talk And Sites Along The Sarawak River-Kuching
I absolutely love Malaysian Borneo whether its Sabah or Sarawak-two of my favorite spots in Southeast Asia.
This podcast was captured during my last visit to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Not only is this a great base to explore some of the state from, you're only an hour or so away from the incredible landscape and wildlife of Bako National Park and the orangu tan rehabilitation center of Semenggoh Nature Reserve. It's also a wonderful diverse town with a Chinatown, Little India, and some pretty amazing places to eat delicious affordable seafood feasts.
On top of that some of the friendliest most welcoming locals I've ever encountered. They should all be compensated by the Tourism Board of Sarawak! It's truly astonishing that more don't visit this paradise of nature, culture, and food. I broadcasted from the Sarawak River as sunset was approaching. It's a lovely place to spend time strolling, stopping for a coffee or tea, and enjoying the lovely atmosphere and surroundings. Since my visit they have opened the Daru Hana Pedestrian Bridge connecting tne north and south sides of Kuching. There was fear when the bridge was first planned the Pak Tambang, the traditional boats used by villagers to cross the river would become obsolete. But regular commuters wishing to save time would find the boats would make a much faster crossing then a long walk on the new S shaped bridge.
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Coronation Ceremonies Update-May 6-Bangkok, Thailand-Flashback Episode-August 2017-$90 Million Dollar Royal Funeral Preparations-Bangkok, Thailand
I was very fortunate on my August 2017 visit to Bangkok, Thailand to see history in the making as thousands of mourners attended the Grand Palace to pay respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Preparations were also underway to construct a huge funeral pyre, 50 meters in height where the late king's remains would be cremated in October that year. Total cost of the funeral was $90 million USD. King Vajiralongkorn, the son of the late king will be coronated in May. Several roads will be closed in Bangkok from May2-6 for coronation ceremonies. There will be several parking spaces, (lots), 27 in all around the city where people wishing to attend the ceremony will be able to board shuttle buses that will take them to six different spots near the Royal event.
The Grand Palace is the most number one attraction in Bangkok, the number one visited city in the world. This will mark another milestone being the first coronation of a King in Thailand since 1950.
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-5 Things You Should Know Before You Visit
These aren't all of the things you should know before you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, Vietnam but it's a start. It also allows me to start this series on Vietnam's largest city! This is an incredibly fascinating city and when you visit your are really watching the process of a rapidly expanding, modernizing city. For now there's still lots of traditional and local neighborhoods that feel like the real Vietnam. I hope have a chance to visit these places as well as seeing all of the famous sites. For Yellow bus 109 here's the link with all of the stops:http://en.sats.com.vn/tan-son-nhat-airport-bus/airport-bus-109-tan-son-nhat-airport-ben-thanh-market . There's also a Yellow bus 119 that will take you to the bus station where you can move on to Can Tho and the Western provinces. I personally use Grab and the GoViet apps for motorbike taxis around the city. If you want to be picked up at the airport by one of them you'll need to walk outside of the domestic terminal area where the motorbikes have to stop. I hope you find these tips helpful. Please let me know what else you'd like to learn about Ho Chi Minh City.I plan on doing lots of videos on food, finding vegetarian and vegan food, good coffee, local producst and more! Don't forget to subscribe to my audio podcast:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?mt=2 Connect with me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/ Support the channel by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Donations:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboe
Shopping For Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner At A Traditional Market-Taipei,Taiwan
Binjiang Market is my favorite traditional morning market to visit in Taipei, Taiwan. Close to the wholesale fruit/vegetable market and wholesale seafood market you can get everything here from bananas to King Crab! Personally I mostly shop for fruit at Binjiang Market. Sometimes I'll buy sashimi and I will occasionally visit the Addiction Aquatic Development Restaurant for takeaway sushi or grilled fish. It's especially exciting to visit the market leading up to Chinese New Year as vendors will bring in special items knowing people will want to buy the best for the reunion dinner.
Thanks so much for watching! You can support the channel by becoming a patron! For as little as $2/month you an help with production and travel costs and get access exclusive content! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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Free Samples! Dihua Street Year Of The Pig Lunar New Year Market-Taipei, Taiwan
The Dihua Street Lunar New Year, (Chinese New Year), Market takes place every year in Taipei, Taiwan 2 weeks prior to the start of the New Year. In 2019 that’s February 5th, the Year Of The Pig. This is a very exciting time of year marking the most important holiday in Taiwan. This festival is a great way to get to know the culture by sampling the enormous quantity of snacks and food on hand that Taiwanese stock up their pantries with for the holiday. Everything from dried squid, nori snacks, (seaweed), nuts, dried fruit, candies, along with New Year’s traditional food like mullet roe, canned abalone and conch is available. Outside of festival time Dihua Street, also known as “grocery street”, is a commercial district filled with Chinese traditional medicine shops and stores that sell these New Year’s food items year-round. There are lots of cafes and restaurants in this neighborhood from humble stalls or shops that sell noodles and other traditional foods to Italian Restaurants and historic bakeries. During the 19th and early part of the 20th century Dihua Street was the center of commerce for Taipei, when many international companies set up export businesses shipping tea, fabrics, and other goods worldwide. Today it’s one of the most beautiful “old streets” of Taiwan that’s l lined with buildings that go as far back as the Qing Dynasty. Thanks so much for watching the video! Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast on your favorite podcast platform or in the iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2 Support the YouTube Channel by becoming a patron! For as little as $2/month you can unlock exclusive content including videos, travel tips, and more! Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/
Stinky, Crispy, Delicious Hanoi Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I love the street food of Hanoi. My favorites? Rice noodles and tofu dipped in fermented shrimp paste. The paste smells fowl, really bad, but when you start eating it something magical happens. A wonderful umami explosion and since the first time I tried it a few years ago I've been hooked. Fortunately for me, most regional dishes of Vietnam are available in Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), so on my most recent trip I had to dive into some more of this wonderful eating. Alongside the Bun Dau Mam Tom I ordered some crispy wonderful Banh Tom Ho Tay, or West Lake Shrimp Cakes. These are shrimp or prawns deep fried with sweet potato and come with lettuce and herbs in the usual sweet/sour fish sauce for dipping. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed eating this wonderful Hanoi street food! Please subscribe to the channel and share the video! You can support the channel and my podcasts by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content and help with production and travel costs. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels When in Ho Chi Minh City please visit:https://dauhomemade.vn https://dauhomemade.vn for great street food in an atmospheric setting.
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Chinese New Year(Lunar New Year) Market Preview in Taipei, Taiwan
Dihua Street, also known as "grocery street" in Taipei, Taiwan was the center of commerce in Taipei in much of the 19th and early 20th century. It still continues today as an important district for purchasing specialty food items, Chinese medicine products, and high quality tea. Every year it hosts one of Taipei's biggest Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year markets where locals can shop for all of their special snacks, dinner items, and treats for the biggest holiday of the year.
I thought I would give you a preview to show what the market looks like just before it opens two weeks prior to the New Year. My next podcast episode will feature the Dihua Street Market in full swing. It's fun, loud, and a great place to sample all of the great traditional snacks of the holiday. Thanks for subscribing to the podcast.
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3 Days Of Fireworks-Qingshan King Festival-青山靈安尊王-Taipei, Taiwan
The Qingshan King Festival takes place every year in Taipei’s Wanhua District on the 23rd day of the 10 month of the lunar calendar. The 3 day festival includes two days of inspections by the Qingshan King deity who is brought out from the Qingshan Temple on a palenquin accompanied by his generals. They make the rounds of the neighborhood which include necessary exorcisms of evil spirits. Firecrackers and fireworks are also used to drive away these menaces of the underworld. This festival by far uses the most street level fireworks in Taipei and is similar in it’s boisterous rituals to many temple festivals of Southern Taiwan. This is one of the most thrilling festivals hosted in Taipei and is a must see if you happen to be in the city near the end of November or early December. The first two days of the festival are inspection days when at approximately 4pm the Qingshan King leaves the Qingshan Temple and is carried around the district for inspections. Along with his Ba Jia Jiang, 8 generals of the Godly realm, who rid evil spirits of the neighborhood and bring safety to the people of Wanhua. In the 19th century the Qingshan King was credited with saving the people of Wanhua or Monga, the Taiwanese name of the neighborhood, from a devastating plague. Ever since then the KIng Of Qingshan has been brought out on his palenquin for yearly inspections of the neighborhood. This is one of my favorite festivals of Taiwan. It reminds me of the more traditional rituals that are seen with more frequency in the South. Thanks so much for watching the video and subscribing to the channel! You can also support my YouTube channel by becoming a patron. Patrons get access to exclusive content on the Far East Travels Patreon page along with other benefits. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers: https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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Zipling-The Gibbon Experience, Laos-Is It Worth It?
Many people ask me once they find out I've taken a trip to The Gibbon Experience in Laos if it's worth it. I always say yes, but there are a couple of things I make people aware of, just minor mostly but I've always felt better mentioning these points as everyone usually has different expectations going into one of these adventures. First off, the treehouses are awesome, this is truly one of the best parts of the package, the 360 views in the highest treehouses in the world are mind-blowing! But these are far from luxury accommodations. They're nice, clean, but basic. You sleep on the floor with your own mattress with everyone else, although some treehouses may have a separate bedroom. We let a young couple take the separate bedroom in our group of 7. Also you are expected to clean up the dishes and kitchen area after meals, I don't believe this was mentioned in the briefing, although it wasn't a big deal. The staff are pretty good at managing expectations-they are very clear that spotting gibbons is very difficult at best and the chances of getting close to one is virtually impossible. So if you are a photographer, unless you have a 600-800mm lens, a tripod and a ton of luck don't expect to get any serious pictures of gibbon. Just enjoy the sounds, atmosphere, and being in this absolutely spectacular setting. The ziplining is really an overwhelming experience. Image going from one line to the next, taking in all of the scenery as you float over the forest canopy. It took me days to process all of that. There are 3 different packages. I took the Classic 3 day, 2 night stay which is the best one for having a change to hear and spot the gibbon. I originally booked the Waterfall 3 day, 2 day package but after discussing my interests with one of the very helpful staff he suggested I change to the Classic. The Waterfall package takes you further into the forest with a stay at a different treehouse each night and a chance to swim in a natural pool with it's own waterfall. There is also an Express one night package available as well. In March 2017 there was a death at the Gibbon Experience, the first one since it opened in 1996. The only other accidents before that were some broken leg and twisted ankle injuries. So whenever you go on one of these adventures whether it's jungle trekking, kayaking, rock climbing or ziplining there's also an inherent risk of injury or worse. Personally I felt safe during my visit. The guides were usually around to assist and make sure that no one left the platform until there was enough time for the last person to reach the other end of the line.
I think the Gibbon Experience is truly one of the great authentic adventures of Southeast Asia and definitely worth the money. You can also feel good knowing that you contributed to the conservation of this forest which employs local people who at one time might have had to poach wild animals in order to put food on the table for their family. There are over 100 local people employed as a result of the Gibbon Experience. I highly recommend you book ahead before you leave Luang Prabang or if you're coming from Chiang Rai. Here is a link to their website:https://www.gibbonexperience.org You can support my YouTube Channel and podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content and more. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Finding Christmas in Taipei, Taiwan
Seems like there's less decorations for Christmas this year in Taipei. I went on a search to find signs of Christmas. Granted Taiwan doesn't officially acknowledge Christmas as a holiday and the culture is definitely geared toward Chinese celebrations and rituals being an island of Buddhist/Taoist followers mostly. Still it's usually recognized by the retail and commercial industries. Often people will have a Christmas party at work, or go out with the family on Christmas Day but I would compare it to Halloween in importance and the way it's viewed. Usually though the shopping and entertainment districts will deck the halls and offer lots of opportunities for people to come out and take selfies, as you can see in the video. Hope you enjoy following my awkward journey to find Christmas in Taipei!
Is It Safe To Eat At Food Stalls/Humble Joints In Asia?
I often see travellers, mostly from Western countries gravitate to what I call the stainless/glass joints across East Asia and Southeast Asia. Some of it is familiarity, they look alot like places back home where they're used to dining. Also because many food/travel guides or bloggers recommend them because they may be a little more foreigner friendly, flavors, and English speaking staff.
Venture out into the more local places, the food stalls and humble family restaurants and you are certain to get more authentic flavors and feel more like a local and less like a tourist or traveller.
In Taiwan where I shot this video there are thousands of places like this one across the island. Simple looking place, basic tables, plastic chairs, but good food at very affordable prices. It's how many Taiwanese are able to eat out 5 times a week or more!
Often Westerners confuse simple places like this with being unclean, and not safe but this isn't the case at all. Speaking from personal experience I've never been sick from eating at any of these places in East Asia, or Southeast Asia over the course of several years. Even when I lived in the West and would travel here I would never get sick.
South Asia though is a little riskier depending on which city you're in. Varanasi has a reputation of making foreigners sick with it's street food. But I ate so much street food the last time I was in Mumbai and never became sick.
Just recognize why you are not feeling comfortable with a place. Is it because it really doesn't look like a place that looks appetizing? Few people around at a busy time? Or is it because the surroundings aren't familiar?
In some cities in Southeast Asia I really haven't noticed much difference in the food quality from the simple restaurants to the more upscale versions, with fancier dining rooms and uniformed waitstaff. Unless I'm wanting to impress someone or just looking for a place that would be comfortable to linger around for a few hours i was usually disappointed with the food quality considering it was at least twice as much as the humble joint.
Also these more upscale versions quite often cater to foreign tastes, in some cases leaving out important authentic ingredients like fish sauce.
Along with the food I also want to feel like I'm really in a different place, and if I simply just go by what the person that writes in my language recommends, I might end up dining with a bunch of foreigners and never feel the local experience. Even if there is a language barrier it's very rare that the local people didn't really try hard to be helpful or make me feel at home. And usually there's always someone around that can speak English and help out.
Get out there, bust out of your comfort zone and really experience the food and dining culture of Asia!
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Tour-Traditional Morning Market-Taipei, Taiwan
I'm going to experiment with some different versions and exclusive content for the video podcast. In the past I've repurposed previous livestreams but I would like to share more high quality content and with my new podcasting platform, Podbean, I can do that! Would love to get your feedback on what kind of content you'd like to see.
Binjiang Market is by far my favorite morning market in Taipei for the sheer variety of produce, fruit, and seafood! It's right next door to the wholesale markets and I find the quality at most of the vendors is quite high. Addiction Aquatic Seafood is probably the most famous seafood in the area and it was my introduction to this neighborhood four years ago. It seems enough vloggers and YouTubers have visited the place now to attract it's fair share of foreigners. It definitely wasn't the case four years ago.
Taiwan has some of the best quality fruit in Asia in my opinion and I believe this is one of the best places to shop for variety and quality in Taipei. Dragon fruit, bananas, pineapple, wax apples, buddha's head fruit,(custard apple), and in the summer one of my favorites, milk pineapple, a white fleshed version that contains less acid and is super sweet! You can even get jackfruit here, not grown widely in Taiwan, during the summer months.
Thanks so much for watching!
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Tasting The Stinkiest Tofu In Taiwan-Stinky Tofu Challenge-Taipei
It's just something you have to try the first time you visit Taiwan-stinky tofu. Every local will ask you if you've tried it yet. That along with bubble tea and Din Tai Fung, dumpling house. Stinky Tofu is originally from Ahui Province, China. Brought over with other special and unique dishes to provinces and regions from around China throughout it's history and with even more of a fervent pace when Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek and his KMT army retreated to Taiwan after losing the civil war in 1949. Stinky Tofu remains at the top of the heap of street food specialities and I believe locals love to see foreigners wince upon their first bite of the smelly bean curd. I joined Travelblogger Bruno Black and his English Club friends at one of Taiwan's most famous restaurants that specializes in stinky tofu-Dai's House Of Unique Stink in Xinyi District-Taipei. We sampled most of their famous dishes, including I believe the same ones TV Host of Bizarre Foods Andrew Zimmern chose when he visited in 2007. There's something strange about eating strong almost offputting food, it's kind of addictive. Like the fermented shrimp paste of Vietnam that as stinky as it is on it's own is absolutely delicious with cold rice noodles or tofu, (my opinion). Same thing we some of the tofu we tried. I think my favorite was the deep-fried. I loved the texture, crunchy inside, soft outside, stinky but wonderfully paired with sweet kimchi and chili sauce. The number 15 tofu paste was just a bit too much for consuming as a dish itself. Fun though to try with friends and see who can eat the most or last the longest without making a face. Thanks so much for watching the video. Please give it a thumbs up if you enjoyed and subscribe to the channel for more videos from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Support the channel by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content while supporting channel production and travel costs. Visit my Patreon page to learn more and see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Follow Travelblogger Bruno Black as he explores Asia and beyond: Official Blog： http://www.brunoblack.com
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Everest Base Camp Trek-Best View Of Everest-Kala Patthar-5643 Meters
Exhausting, especially after a roundtrip trek to Everest Base Camp the previous day, a hike up Kala Patthar could be the real highlight of your EBC adventure. This was my second EBC trek in four years so I was familiar with the challenge of walking to base camp, then turning around back to Gorakshep for a night's rest before trekking up Kala Patthar. As much as I love the mountains and the challenge, I'm not particularly fond of walking in the dark, which is what is required should you desire to make it to the top for sunrise. It's all of course worth it once you're up there, staring at the highest mountains on the planet and the expanse of the Khumbu Valley. Ama Dablam peak literally looks like a painting with it's surrounding backdrop. I've met people who were too tired to climb Kala Patthar after the long day to reach Everest Base Camp. It's a shame because this really is the highlight of the trek, at the least, equal to reaching EBC. Please give the video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it and subscribe to the podcast and watch more videos from East, Southeast, and South Asia.
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Everest Base Camp Trek Reward-Best Apple Pie In Nepal
I was thinking about this piece of pie ever since we left Tengboche on our way to Everest Base Camp. Now that we were heading back after a successful trek to base camp and a climb up Kala Patthar, I wanted to reward myself with that big piece of apple pie from the Tengboche Cafe. Unfortunately on the way down I tripped over some rocks on the trail just after leaving Pheriche leaving me with a gash on one of my fingers and a bruised knee. As well as a dented but functioning camera. Still, even after taking that fall, I still couldn't stop thinking about that piece of pie! It was every bit as delicious as I imagined. Actually there are lots of bakeries in the Khumbu Valley that bake apple pies everyday but this one stood out. Thanks so much for watching! If you haven't checked it out yet don't forget to watch the podcast episodes Everest Base Camp, Nepal-Ultimate Trekking Adventure Parts I and II available.
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Everest Base Camp, Nepal-Ultimate Trekking Adventure Part II
One of the greatest adventure destinations on the planet-Everest Base Camp, Nepal! We were so blessed with having clear skies in the morning and afternoon each day above 4000 meters. The moments were precious as I mentioned in the video so working fast to capture these moments on video was crucial. I would usually jump out of bed between 5:30-6am, 90 minutes before our scheduled breakfasts on most mornings, to ensure I captured footage of these giants of the Himalayas. Fortunately most of the time the skies remained clear up until the early afternoon. Then like in Lobuche, the skies would clear up again just before sunset, enabling me to get some video of beautiful Nuptse. This was my second time on this trail, I previously completed the Gokyo Valley/Everest Base Camp trek 4 years ago and was still completely overjoyed to be in this setting again. i hope you enjoyed the video and perhaps it will inspire you to head to Nepal to trek to the highest mountain in the world!
Support The Podcast-Write A Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-inspired-by-rick-steves-national-geographic/id890305531?mt=2 Everest Base Camp Trekking/Nepal:I am also a partner in a trekking company in Nepal. If you want to find out more about our treks to Everest Base Camp along with all of the great trails of Nepal please visit our website:https://explorehimalayan.com Support The Far East Travels Podcast: a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content and help support production and travel costs. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Everest Base Camp, Nepal-Ultimate Trekking Adventure Part 1
One of the must do adventures on the planet, Everest Base Camp! I've been lucky enough to have trekked in several regions of Nepal and EBC is still one of my favorites. This was my second time around and loved it just as much as the first! The views are spectacular and the adventure begins from Kathmandu as you cross your fingers there's good conditions for your flight to Lukla, and Tenzing/Hillary Airport, one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Due to the late monsoon season this year many trekkers ahead of us were delayed up to 7 days, insane! We were sent back to Kathmandu/Thamel after the first day we tried-flight cancelled. Second day we were on the 3rd flight but due to a minor mechanical problem with our plane we were taken back to Kathmandu half-way through the flight. Finally an hour later we were back up in the air and on our way to Lukla. The nice part of the Everest Base Camp is the fact that on day 2 you already have views of Everest, weather permitting, and all of the other spectacular peaks of this portion of the range. I am also a partner in Sacred Trekking, an adventure outfitter based in Kathmandu. We provide fantastic guides and life-long memories of your trek or visit to Nepal. Feel free to message me if you're interested in finding out more about trekking in Nepal. Or visit our website:https://explorehimalayan.com Don't forget to like the video on your favorite podcast app! Better yet write a positive review in the iTunes Store. Good reviews help others discover the podcast. Use this link, then click Ratings and Review. Don't forget to write a review after you rate the podcast! Write A Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-inspired-by-rick-steves-national-geographic/id890305531?mt=2 If you would like to more involved and support the channel you can help out with production and travel expenses for as little as $2/month. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers! Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
Cheap And Tasty Snacks/Food in Kathmandu, Nepal
I have been coming to Kathmandu for many years so I have dined at most of the famous restaurants, especially in Thamel. On this trip I started venturing out to try some new cheap places. I've already got some new favorites including Western Tandoori and Naan House, Dudh Sagar, Classic Momo Express, along with old favorites like BK's. On a couple of occasions I shared a table at Western Tandoori with other travellers that had eaten there multiple times on the same trip. With the recent passing of Anthony Bourdain, I can't help but think that eating at hole in the wall or humble places didn't have the wide acceptable exposure until Mr. Bourdain came along and showed us it was OK. His shows that featured eating at a roadside restaurant in Rajasthan, or street food in Kerela or some other far flung place was not only cool but not as risky as one might think. I ate sometimes on multiple occasions at the places featured in this video and I never got sick. Hope you enjoy the video. Send me some feedback if you want to see more videos like this. So many people now are doing food videos on YouTube that I think it's a bit of saturated topic but hopefully my take is maybe a little bit different and even amusing. Thanks again! If you would like to support my travels and video creation and at the same time get it on some exclusive content and chat consider becoming a patron. Visit my Patreon page for more details:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Here is a list of the featured places and addresses in Kathmandu: BK's Place-Thamel Bhagawati Marg Dudh Sagar-Kanti Path, Kathmandu Classic Momo Express-Tridevi Marga, Sanchayakosh Building(Himalayan Bank) Western Tandoori Naan House-Amrit Marg/Thamel
Explosive Cultural Festivals Of Taipei, Taiwan-Qinshan King Festival
The festivals and cultural events of Taiwan are some of the most vibrant in the world! Because of the cultural significance of firecrackers and fireworks, they ward off evil spirits, a certain amount of caution is needed to enjoy these festivals safely. Since I've been to many over the years including one of the world's most dangerous, The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival held every year in Southern Taiwan, I thought I'd take this opportunity while enjoying the recent Qingshan King Festival in Taipei to pass on some safety tips. This is only my second time attending the Qingshan Festival in the Wanhua District of Taipei but it's already one of my favorites. The first two days of the festival are inspection days, when the Qingshan King is taken from the Qingshan Temple on a palanquin out into the neighborhood along with his generals to route out evil and no good in order to keep the residents safe. The Qingshan Temple was originally credited for saving many from a deadly plague in Taipei in the 19th century. Ever since there's been a boisterous celebration for the king on his birthday with this festival. The third day is a full on procession with lots of stages set up for performances from singers to dancing girls. The procession is for sacrifice and blessings and includes lion and dragon dances and Gods from other temples around the neighborhood taking part and paying their respects. Wanhua is where the world-famous Longshan Temple is located along with the Qingshui Temple. Firecrackers and fireworks are no doubt one of the most dangerous aspects of many of these religious and cultural festivals. Recently more temples are moving away from live fireworks and are now introducing electronic firework machines that reproduce the sounds of the explosions. I will tell you having experienced being near these machines now for the past year they seem to be even louder than a standard bundle of firecrackers and I highly advise standing clear of these noisemakers, even with earplugs on. Typically the temple positions them right near the entrance or directly across the street. Also firecrackers, especially when massive numbers are lit at the same time can fly in the air and can explode near you or even hit you so it's also advisable to stay clear of the main explosion. If do find yourself near where firecrackers are to be exploded and there's no way for you to get out of the way in time it's best just to turn your back to the explosion. Better your back to get hit then your face, or worse, an eye! Hope you enjoy the video and thanks again for subscribing to the channel.
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Taipei, Taiwan-5 Top Districts For Your Hotel Search
It's always challenging when you visit any city for the first time to decide on where exactly you want to stay. This video highlights my 5 favorite districts to stay in Taipei. The characteristics of each district are highlighted to make it easier to decide which one suits you best. Technically Taipei Main Station is not a district but falls in Zhongzheng but I think it's better to use Taipei Main Station when you're searching for hotels and other retail or services. The districts fall in order of transportation convenience with number 1 Taipei Main Station being the best and Xinyi District the area furthest away. Taipei City is not that expansive so if you stay in Xinyi it will take you approximately 20 minutes to get to Taipei Main Station by MRT. Zhongshan is convenient and has a some nice sites to visit including the Ningxia Night Market, Dihua Old Street, The Museum of Contemporary Art. Daan is great for shoppers, foodies, bar hoppers, and some nice parks and neighborhoods to explore. Ximending is the most energetic district with lots of choices for food, cafes, entertainment, street performers, and is completely safe even with the crowds that inhabit the place every night. Xinyi is the most luxurious of all the districts with the best selection of 5 star hotels, international restaurants, Chinese/Taiwanese fine dining, and the best Japanese food. Bars, hot nightclubs and one of the best selections of luxury goods stores in East Asia. Thanks so much for watching the video! Please subscribe to the channel for the latest videos from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia! Music: http://www.purple-planet.com
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Hanoi, Vietnam-How To Avoid Tourist Scams And Overcharging
I love Hanoi! It's one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. The Old Quarter, French Quarter, and Hoan Kiem Lake hold some of the most charm, intrigue, and atmosphere in the whole region. But being overcharged or taken on a scam can taint your stay so I put this video together on my last visit in order to help you be prepared. Actually many of these incidents don't usually involve big dollars but no one wants to be taken no matter how little it is. Sometimes the baguette ladies will try to charge you double, which is usually only 5000VND more or 20 cents but it's still double what you should be paying! As I said in the video most of these people are misguided or desperate and are often only trying to make some quick money to put food on the table. One other scam I did not include in the video are massage places that give you a price but then subsequently charge ridiculous fees for ad ons that feel like freebies, like water or tea. If you do a search on Trip Advisor or other platforms there are trustworthy places in Hanoi. Mostly it's just common sense and being very clear how much something costs and in what currency. I've been to Vietnam 4 times in the last two years and it's just something I naturally do when I'm there. Most often hotels and tour companies will always quote you a price in US dollars so I automatically ask them to give me the price in VND. That way you can check the conversion rate before you agree to anything.
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Best View in Vietnam-Cat Ba Island Adventure
Cat Ba Island was a nice easy little getaway from Hanoi on my last visit, too bad the weather sucked! I mean the purpose was mostly to get out into Han La Bay, do some kayaking, stop by Monkey Island, all the cool stuff I had heard about. Instead I settled for a little scooter trip out to Hospital Cave and Cannon Fort for some sightseeing. The seafood was great and I think a bargain compared with Hanoi. As I mentioned in the video I've heard some bad things about some of the floating restaurants so be careful. You really are putting yourself in a vulnerable position when you rely on a restaurant in the middle of the bay to arrange for a boat to get you back to the shore. The area of the town where I mentioned has some great local style restaurants. Nothing against the restaurants on the main street facing the ocean but if you want more of a local feel get away from the main drag. The hotels were cheap, only $12/night for an ocean view on the 7th floor. The little boat cruise I took in the harbour was fun and could be added on as an extra before or after you go to Han La Bay. You can also hire them to take you to Monkey Island. Next time for sure I'm getting out on a kayak! Thanks so much for watching. I appreciate all of the positive feedback. You can also support me by becoming a patron at the same time having access to exclusive content, chat, priority messaging and more! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers! https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
One of the best layovers for value in Asia, Kuala Lumpur offers fantastic and amazing food value, good inexpensive accommodations, and cheap transportation to and from it's international airport terminals. I challenged myself on this layover to come up with a total cost of less than $30 that would cover transportation including within the city. Dinner, and light breakfast and a little sightseeing. Staying at KL Sentral is one of the most convenient spots in the city to get quickly to and from the KLIA terminal 1, about an hour each way, and to some of the major tourist attractions. I found an inexpensive hotel room with a queen size bed, private bath, t.v., free wifi on agoda.com at KL Sentral. Since it's close to Little India, a spot loaded with character and inexpensive dining options it was a quick and easy choice for dinner, within walking distance. That also made it easy to catch the LRT to KLCC to do a little sightseeing around the Petronas Twin Towers after. For a light breakfast before I caught the bus back to KLIA I stopped at an inexpensive restoran for some toast, roti canai, and coffee. The total cost of the layover was $23!!! You could even do it cheaper with a dorm bed for $7 but sorry, I'm not that cheap!!! Thanks again for watching the video and subscribing to the channel. You can also support this video channel, my podcasts, and live streaming that offers travel advice and inspiration. Visit my Patreon page to see the offers.https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel
Annapurna Base Camp Ultimate Trekking Adventure Video Podcast Part II
This was a completely fulfilling experience for me! On a fast trek to the Annapurna Massif and lucking out with clear skies on sunrise day, it was spectacular. Seeing how Dave and Martin enjoyed the trekking experience, the local culture, and getting their first look at the Himalaya was really rewarding for me. This trek for most people is probably best as a 7 day rather than 6. Was fantastic to finish up with some lovely mild weather and sunny skies on the way out. The shortest trek I've ever been on in Nepal but highly stimulating and rewarding.
Get exclusive content, live chat, behind the scenes, messaging and more by becoming a patron! Check out my Patreon page here:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel My partners and I are now booking Annapurna Base Camp Treks for spring and fall 2019! Visit our website now and message us with any questions:https://explorehimalayan.com I'm also leading a small group trek to Everest Base Camp September 15th. Message me for details! Special thanks to my trekking partners Martin Fisher and David Custer for being apart of this video. As well as my Explore Himalayan/SacredTrekking partners Shanker Bhatta and Derek Cowan. Music Credits: Darkening Developments by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100267 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Nepal-Ultimate Trekking Adventure Part I
This was one of the fastest treks I've ever done in Nepal! I've never been so close to 7-8000 meter peaks within 3 days, crazy! It was a wonderful experience. Almost like a mini Annapurna Circuit with varied landscape but not the same varied culture and villages. Still I'd highly recommend this as a first time trek or if you are short on time. Dave and Martin were great trekking partners. It was really rewarding to help a couple of fellow Canadians see this amazing magical place for the first time. I have been blessed to have explored much of this country and it's trails. I can't wait to introduce more people to the beauty of Nepal and it's people. By the way, I mention a man by the name of Shanker in this video. He is an awesome guy and one of my partners in Explore Himalayan/Sacred Trekking. Get exclusive content, live chat, behind the scenes, messaging and more by becoming a patron! Check out my Patreon page here:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels My partners and I are now booking Annapurna Base Camp Treks for the Spring and Fall season 2019! 10-14 day itineries available! Visit our website now and message us with any questions.https://explorehimalayan.com I'm also leading a small group trek to Everest Base Camp September 15th. Message me for details! Special thanks to my trekking partners Martin Fisher and David Custer for being apart of this video. As well as my Explore Himalayan/SacredTrekking partners Shanker Bhatta and Derek Cowan. Shanker runs a the very nice and comfortable Pilgrims Hotel in Thamel. Music Credits: "Vadodora Chill Mix" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Qingshan King Sacrificial Ceremony Festival-Top 3 Festivals of Taipei, Taiwan
The Qingshan King Festival is held every year in the Wanhua District of Taipei usually falling in November or December for 3 days.
It's considered one of the top 3 folk festivals of Taipei alongside the Baosheng Emperor Parade and Xiahai City God Cultural Festival.
The Qingshan Temple in Wanhua was a haven during a plague shortly after many immigrants from
Quanzhou, China arrived in Taiwan. The temple was a place to pray for safety and the health of the community and ever since a festival honoring the Qingshan King deity has taken place in the district.
A procession moves through the neighborhood inspecting the streets and alleys to ensure the safety of residents and businesses.
This video features a lion dance in front of the more famous Longshan Temple of Wanhua or the Monga, (Taiwanese), neighborhood. I will post another highlight video from last year's Qinshan Festival in Taipei.
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing to the podcast. The return of regular video podcasts is long overdue and I'm so glad to be once again sharing stories and images of my travels and life in Asia. You can also subscribe to my audio podcast Far East Travels eighter on Podbean or in iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2
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Taipei, Taiwan is a super modern city with a deep-rooted culture that is becoming more and more popular as a gateway to East Asia and Southeast Asia.
It’s new express MRT service from Taoyuan International Airport, a 36 minute ride, will make it even more convenient for travellers, especially those on a short layover.
This short but important list of essential things you should know will help keep you on track with a smooth stay.
Although taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive compared with other big cities in East Asia the MRT is one of the best ways to get to most of the main sites and business centers of Taipei City.
The Nangang Exhibition Center where many conventions and shows are held is accessible by the blue and brown MRT lines. Neihou, where many tech industry businesses have their head office is also on the brown line, Xihu is one of the most convenient stops for quick and easy access.
Taipei 101 for the last 3.5 years has had it’s own MRT stop on the red line. This is where you’ll also find The International Convention Center next to the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall. It’s also in close proximity to Taipei City Hall and is apart of the Xinyi Shopping District, where you’ll find one of the largest selections of luxury goods stores in East Asia.
If you want to get more of a local perspective pick up an Easycard available at most MRT stations and register it online with Ubike, https://taipei.youbike.com.tw/en/index.php so you can have access to the city bikes that have stations across Taipei City and New Taipei City. Simply swipe your card next to the bike you want to rent and you’re ready to go. You can drop the bike off at any Ubike station. They’re almost always located near an MRT station.
In the video I mention briefly that the Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful. It’s true! If you ever appear to be lost or confused while looking at a map you will in most cases immediately attract the attention of a local who will be pleased to help you find your way. That’s wny I said “get lost”, literally you can get lost while exploring this amazing city with it’s maze of alleyways, quiet cafes, food stalls and shops and not worry that you won’t have help getting back to your hotel.
Taipei and the rest of Taiwan is an extremely safe place to travel. There is literally no or very rare violent crime against tourists. Personal ownership of guns is banned. There has been reports of pick pocketing and petty theft, particularly in night markets and crowded places, but I think this is even rare now.
Enjoy your stay in Taipei and please feel free to leave any comments or questions. You can also message me on the Far East Adventure Travel Facebook page!
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https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel I rely on public support to continue sharing travel inspiration from Asia! Become a patron of Far East Adventure Travel! Visit my Patreon page now! It's alway exciting when you first arrive in a destination like Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. The sights, food, people, the environment as a whole. I have so many great memories of Kuching in particular because I was able to easily explore the town by foot. Meeting local people, being invited into the Sikh Gurdwara for lunch and a tour. Walking in the old Kampongs, traveling by riverboat on the Sarawak River, and meeting the warm, friendly, and hospitable people of the region. I hope this episode gives you a taste of what this amazing place on the exotic island of Borneo has to offer! YouTube-https://www.youtube.com/user/shngmn
https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Please support my continuing efforts to bring you exciting travel inspiration from Asia! Become patron of Far East Adventure Travel! Visit my Patreon page to find out more! Dream Parade is a unique event in East Asia held every October in Taipei, Taiwan. A celebration of life, freedom of expression, and creativity the parade mixes world culture with Hakka, aboriginal, and Chinese traditions plus a little essence of Burning Man. I have covered many festivals and traditional celebrations in Taiwan but this was my first time covering the Dream Parade. I've always so for a few years now that if you really want to see some amazing rituals, festivals, and traditions no one puts on a celebration quite like the Taiwanese do and Dream Parade is no exception. A mix of Mardi Gras, and Brazil's Carnival in spirit the parade itself features aboriginal groups in drumming and dance sessions, stilt walkers, fire-eaters, giant floats and mascots, and of course samba dancers! Hope you enjoy these highlights from Dream Parade 2017 from Taipei, Taiwan.
https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Become a patron of Far East Adventure Travel and support travel inspiration from Asia. Get access to exclusive content and follow the link now! A visit to Kanyakumari, India is certainly a buck list item for anyone who loves the subcontinent. Being at the very southern tip it’s a popular destination mostly for Indians seeking a pilgrimage although with the emerging middle class in the country it is becoming just as much a vacation destination combined with a spiritual journey. Having spent a few weeks traveling through Kerala it was hard to resist an extra 3 hour bumpy bus ride from Kovalam Beach to the southern tip of India. With limited time I had to literally jump off the bus, find a place to stay, and make my way for the ferry line-up to visit the small little islands, or rock outcrops that were home to shrines. The first stop on the ferry ride is at Vivekananda Rock Memorial where a shrine was built in 1970 honoring Swami Vivekananda who was believed to have attained enlightenment on the rock. The second stop was at The Thiruvalluvar Statue. The statue that rises 29 meters symbolizes wealth and pleasures. After I finished my trip to the monuments I explored the small town that must swell daily with tourists and pilgrims that arrive by bus, car, and train. It’s definitely a circus atmosphere, with carnival acts, horse rides, and a little amusement park for kids. Of course besides the other temples that pilgrims and followers make their way to including The Kanya Kumari Temple and The Gandhi Memorial Mandapam, the site where the great Mahatma’s ashes were kept before their final immersion. Just to see and meet Indians, many that had travelled hundreds of kilometers was absolutely fascinating. Of course the top attraction for most are the incredible sunrises and sunsets, provided the weather is cooperative. We had an amazing sunset, the next day unfortunately overcast skies and light rains prevailed. Nevertheless it was one of the memorable adventures I’d ever experienced in India.
https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Get access to exclusive content and insider info on my travels! Become a patron now! Visit my Patreon page and check out the offers! I was so glad to see the Taoyuan International Airport MRT line open earlier this year. This finally brings Taipei in line as far as convenience and access goes, to it’s international airport, with other major cities in East Asia including Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Southeast Asian centers like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Like most airport trains across Asia they do not operate 24 hours a day so if your flight arrives outside of the 6am to 23:00 train schedule then you’ll have to use a bus, still fairly convenient or catch a taxi. At NT$160 for a one way ticket the Taoyuan Airport MRT is the bargain of East Asia for airport rail fares. As I mentioned in the video Taipei Metro offers a number of unlimited passes ranging from 24 hours to 72 hours. These passes are not valid for the airport MRT. If you’d like an unlimited pass that includes a return trip on the airport MRT then purchase the “Joint Ticket” at the airport MRT counter. At the airport and at Taipei Main Station you can purchase an Easy Card or iPass which you can load up and use on the airport MRT, Taipei Metro, many bus lines and convenience stores. This video should cover most of your questions regarding travel between the international airport and Taipei Main Station. For more information visit their website:https://www.tymetro.com.tw/eng/index.php
There has been much talk lately about the elimination of food stalls and carts on many of the streets in Bangkok, Thailand. On my most recent visit this was very evident in places like Pratunam where there used to me non-stop food carts on the streets of this mega shopping district. While exploring Chinatown it seemed like there were still many food carts on the streets and alleys but it’s possible there are not as many as there once was. This is a continuation of a live video stream from my exploration around Chinatown. Discovering electronics markets, exotic foods, and temples is what I consider one of the great joys of traveling. Having the time to just wander without the pressure of ticking off a list of attractions or sites is liberating. I hope you enjoy this casual walk through the streets of one of the most visited cities in the world, Bangkok, Thailand.
Follow me on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fareastadventuretravel/ Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. A modern city that's retained much of it's cultural heritage, it's fast-paced, vast, naughty, and filled with temples, markets, amazing food, entertainment and world-class shopping. It's also where you can find one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant Chinatowns. In this episode I explored some of the interesting lanes and streets where you can find everything from durian, the king of fruit, to Chinese medicinal remedies, fantastic street food, restaurants, and stores filled with gadgets, kitchen utensils, and pottery. I'm also looking forward to very soon bringing you live broadcasts from Asia on BlogTalkRadio and a chance to connect with you either by phone or Skype-stay tuned! Write a review for Far East Adventure Travel:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id1079513943?mt=2
https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Check out the offers on my Patreon page to become a sponsor and patron of Far East Adventure Travel!Follow me on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fareastadventuretravel/ What a thrill it was to watch the giant feast offering for the hungry ghosts at the recent “Pudu” ritual at Taipei, Taiwan’s Provincial City God Temple. During the 7th month of every lunar calendar year ghosts or “good brothers”, as they are politely referred to by Taiwanese, walk the earth potentially causing trouble for the living. Food, drink, other offerings, and prayers are offered to appease the wandering ghosts. Taiwan Provincial City God Temple in Taipei City, Taiwan holds one of the biggest “Pudus” on the 25th day of the lunar calendar month. The Taipei City mayor is invited every year to help initiate the event and thousands show up throughout the day to bring offerings of food, drink, and other items and watch the rites performed with help of Taoist and Buddhist monks. The local media was out in full force to cover the event and would probably out number any North American city of the same size. I was impressed with the amount and variety food that was brought to the Taiwan Provincial City God Temple and my friend Wayne Chen shared with me that many of the items are donated to charity as well as local aboriginal tribes in Central and Southern Taiwan once the rites have been completed at the Pudu. I want to thank the director of the temple Chan Ling Chuan and Wayne Chen for inviting me to the Pudu along with all of the wonderful volunteers that work very hard to put together this event. Taiwan is an amazing place filled with a fascinating rich vibrant culture. I hope on your visit you are exposed to these great festivals and rituals and the hospitality of the Taiwanese. fundly.com/far-east-adventure-travel-video-production-improvements I am in desperate need of upgrades to my video equipment. Please visit my crowdfunding page. If you enjoy these videos I create a donation will help me to bring you better quality content from Taiwan and across Asia. Thank you! John
https://fundly.com/far-east-adventure-travel-video-production-improvements/dash Please support my crowdfunding efforts to raise money for new video equipment to bring you better videos and podcasts from Asia. $5, $10, $20 or more is most gratefully appreciated! This was truly an interesting experience visiting the Yimin Festival in Hsinchu County. My friend MJ and I set out to see one of the most unique cultural events in Taiwan, The Pigs Of God that are offered every year for the Yimin Festival held during the 7th month of the lunar calendar in Hsinchu County and other communities where Hakka people reside. The Hakka are the second largest ethnic group of Taiwan with a population of approximately 4.6 million in total, with the majority of the population residing in Hsinchu, Taoyuan, and Miaoli Counties in Taiwan. The Yimin Festival has become a controversial cultural event, mostly for the pigs that are purposely force-fed to extreme weights of over 800kg. This tradition actually does not go back to the beginning of the event but only began a few decades ago. Some influencial people in the Hakka community have called for the end of the force-feeding practise but it still continues today in many communities around Taiwan including Hsinchu county. After discovering the Pigs of God are not on display at the Yimin Temple in Hsinpu, one of the most significant temples and cultural centers of Hsinchu County we got directions to the closest site where we could see some of the pigs on display. To my surprise the event, held at one spot in Zhubei City this year, was not entirely made up of the force-fed pigs, but also included regularly raised pigs that were slaughtered for the festival. People also bring goats, chickens, and ducks, to offer Yimin. In Hakka culture Yimin are actually men that lost their lives defending the Qing Dynasty from rebels in the 18th century. You can read more about them here:https://festival.hakka.gov.tw/Festival-Content.aspx?a=816&l=2 https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Become a patron of Far East Adventure Travel and gain access to exclusive content! Check out my Patreon page to see the offers! Thanks so much for watching the video! Subscribe to my channel for more videos on Taiwan, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
Ghost Month or The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place every year during the 7th month of the lunar calendar in Taiwan and other parts of Asia. This is the 15th day of the month which is also called Ghost Day. During Ghost month it’s believed the gates of the underworld are opened for the spirits to wander the earth, many without descendants. Offerings of food and drink are set out and ghost money is burned for the ghosts, or good brothers, a more respectful term the Taiwanese use. So why do they treat the ghosts this way? Because of the potential for disruption by the wandering ghosts during the month many people in Taiwan avoid travel, swimming, holding weddings, and putting off major purchases like a car or house. https://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Become a patron of Far East Adventure Travel and gain access to exclusive travel content from Asia. Visit my page to see the offers!
fundly.com/far-east-adventure-travel-video-production-improvements Thanks so much for visiting my crowdfunding page! Your support will help me to create even better podcasts from Asia! Bangkok, Thailand has been one of the top 3 cities visited in the world for some time now. It's no surprise when you start discovering what Bangkok is all about. History, tradition, culture, shopping, food, and notorious red light districts. It's also of course a hub for Southeast Asia and a bridge to the middle east and Europe. On my most recent visit I saw for myself the clear sidewalks void of the famous street vendors of Bangkok. This has been reported for many weeks now but this was my first-hand look at the current street food situation. There are stalls to be found if you look around Chinatown, some of the tourist streets like Khao San Road but the vendors are gone all around Pratunam and the streets around Siam Paragon and Central World. It's disappointing but it's happening around other major cities in Southeast Asia, like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Governments in some cases want the sidewalks free of clutter so it's safer for pedestrians. That's certainly a valid concern for a city like Ho Chi Minh where it can be quite dangerous walking around stalls and parked motorbikes. It may just be the new reality of Southeast Asia. It may also be an opportunity for countries like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar that are still considerably undeveloped and have plenty of growth opportunity with their tourism industries compared with a giant like Thailand. Regardless Bangkok is still an amazing city worth spending several days visiting. You'll no doubt end up in Pratunam, considered by most the center of modern and luxury shopping in Southeast Asia. Join me for an evening walk in Bangkok's shopping mecca district.
fundly.com/far-east-adventure-travel-video-production-improvements Thanks so much for taking the time to view my crowdfunding page. I continue to strive to bring you better video content from Asia. I'm extremely grateful for your support whether it's $5, $10, $20 or more. In order for me to make what I do sustainable I need to expand my video on YouTube as well as continue to grow my livestreaming base and of course what started it all, the video podcast! Thank you for your support! For me a visit to Bangkok is not complete without a trip to see the Erawan Shrine, in the heart of Pratunam and the shopping district. The contrast between modern shopping, elevated trains, and the 4 headed Brahma shrine is sharp and unlike any city in the west. Unfortunately the shrine gained international attention in August 2015 when a bomb was set off there killing 20 people and injuring 125. Today there is still no conclusive evidence of who or why the bomb was detonated at the shrine. The Erawan Shrine was actually placed on this site because of bad luck believed to have been caused by laying the foundation for the Erawan Hotel on the wrong date. The builders consulted an astrologer who advised them to put the shrine on the site to counter the bad karma. In 1987 the Erawan Hotel was demolished making room for the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Thai traditional dancers sing and perform for worshippers who pay a fee. You can order the full deck of dancers-8, or just 2 who will sing and dance while you pray. A live band accompanies the singers. The music, singing, and intense smell of incense against the backdrop of the biggest shopping district in Southeast Asia is intoxicating and addictive. I'll always visit the Erawan Shrine!
It's always challenging when you visit any city for the first time to decide on where exactly you want to stay. This video highlights my 5 favorite districts to stay in Taipei. The characteristics of each district are highlighted to make it easier to decide which one suits you best. Technically Taipei Main Station is not a district but falls in Zhongzheng but I think it's better to use Taipei Main Station when you're searching for hotels and other retail or services. The districts fall in order of transportation convenience with number 1 Taipei Main Station being the best and Xinyi District the area furthest away. Taipei City is not that expansive so if you stay in Xinyi it will take you approximately 20 minutes to get to Taipei Main Station by MRT. Zhongshan is convenient and has a some nice sites to visit including the Ningxia Night Market, Dihua Old Street, The Museum of Contemporary Art. Daan is great for shoppers, foodies, bar hoppers, and some nice parks and neighborhoods to explore. Ximending is the most energetic district with lots of choices for food, cafes, entertainment, street performers, and is completely safe even with the crowds that inhabit the place every night. Xinyi is the most luxurious of all the districts with the best selection of 5 star hotels, international restaurants, Chinese/Taiwanese fine dining, and the best Japanese food. Bars, hot nightclubs and one of the best selections of luxury goods stores in East Asia. Thanks so much for watching the video! Please subscribe to the channel for the latest videos from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia! Music: http://www.purple-planet.com
Far East Adventure Travel relies on viewer support to cover travel, broadcast, and production costs! Become a sponsor and patron now! Visit patreon.com to see exclusive offers: I thought it might be interesting for those who subscribe to the podcast and are curious about life in a place that faces typhoons regularly and might be traveling to Taiwan in the future see what it’s like to go through the hours leading up to a typhoon. I get many followers asking me about safety and what to do before and during a typhoon in Taiwan. I’m also thinking that Taiwanese who follow the channel will find it humorous to watch a foreigner talk about a typhoon and how we perhaps perceive it as more of an event than just an actual weather occurrence. I mentioned focustaiwan.tw as a good English language resource for foreigners in Taiwan. Taiwan television always has extensive coverage leading up to and during a typhoon but unfortunately it is only available in Mandarin. Of course you can also use apps like Windy or Storm to give you up to date weather information but I like Focus Taiwan for comprehensive coverage which includes transportation and other useful information. Of course flights will most likely be delayed or cancelled during a typhoon so if you do have travel plans that fall close to a typhoon you’ll have to stay up to date with your airlines as flights will either be delayed, or in some cases moved up to depart earlier than scheduled. The government can also call a “typhoon day” which means all services, offices, and schools will be closed. If a “typhoon day” is called it may also mean that many stores will be closed. Having some extra food and drinks on hand can be helpful if you’re in a smaller town or city in Taiwan but I’ve found especially if you’re in Taipei there are usually enough stores, cafes, and restaurants open to find something to eat. Of course this will also depend on the severity of the typhoon so there are exceptions. Having been through several typhoons now I am much more used to them as just part of the weather season but I still find following and tracking a typhoon extremely fascinating. Help others discover Far East Adventure Travel! Write a review in the iTunes Store:
Kyoto is located in the central part of Honshu Island, Japan and was the imperial capital of the country for over a thousand years. It is also known as the City of Ten Thousand Shrines. It is an absolute must see on a visit to Japan. To get some expert advice on how best to spend your time and get the most out of your stay in the city I spoke with Niall Gibson expert guide, travel planner and managing director of kyotofun.com and myjapanadventure.com. from his home Kyoto. And please some advice on how to conduct yourself in this polite culture. I first set off on foot near the Yasaka Shrine To get a feel for the city. Wait a minute what the hell is this? Hari Kirshnas? In Kyoto? Well it’s an international city so anything is possible but not my idea of traditional Japanese culture. So I moved on to the Heian Shrine. It is a top ranked shrine by the Association of Shinto Shrines. Heian dates back to 1895, a relatively short history compared to other important temples and shrines in Japan. Outside the shrine on a busy road in Kyoto sits It’s Torii Gate, one of the largest in Japan. Built in 1929 it’s over 24 meters high. A torri gate symbolizes the transition from the profane to the sacred. The orange, green and white buildings inside are meant to be replicas of the old Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Heian Shrine’s gardens are some of the most impressive in all of Japan. If you’re timing is good you’ll see a stunning display of cherry blossoms in the spring. If you’re timing is good…. No matter what time of year taking a stroll through the gardens is a true zen experience, and hey you can even step over these stones. The same ones Scarlett Johansson hopped over in “Lost In Translation”. I left the Heian Shrine totally refreshed from my walk through the gardens and headed back to Gion to take a walk through this traditional neighborhood, where I’ve been told real Geisha’s can be seen. Actually the correct term or name for a Geisha in Kyoto is Geiko and an apprentice is called a Maiko. But my best sighting was just the many tourists who come and dress up in traditional kimonos and walk around and pose for pictures. I took another suggestion from Niall and made my way to Arishiyama, about a 30 minute train ride from central Kyoto to see the Tenru ji Buddhist Temple and finish off my visit with a walk through the world-famous Bamboo Grove. Arishiyama is home to several temples and interesting sites to see including a monkey park where over 170 monkeys reside. It’s also a spectacular place to visit for the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains, especially during the spring and fall. I made my way to Tenru ji-the head temple of the Tenru branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. Construction was completed in 1345 but the temple has subsequently suffered through many fires and the buildings that currently stand here were reconstructed in the last half of the 19 and early 20th centuries. Tenru ji is surrounded by beautiful gardens and was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. It’s North Gate is the entrance to the famous Sagano Bamboo Grove. It’s no coincidence that bamboo gardens or groves in Japan are usually situated near Shinto Shrines or Buddhist Temples. The bamboo represents strength, a symbol intended to ward off evil.If you want to truly experience the wonder of this place and it’s magical sounds, visit early in the morning or late in the day. That’s it for this week’s Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. Don’t forget to like the Far East Adventure Travel page on Facebook and for more inspiration subscribe to John Saboe on YouTube:http://bit.ly/2ni8SSjyoutube visit fareastadventuretravel.com Until next time this is John Saboe. Safe travels and Namaste!
Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is made up of 5 small islands between 5-8 kilometers off of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah Malaysian Borneo. In this episode I’m heading for one of the smallest, Pulau Sapi, or Cow Island. It’s one of the least developed areas of the park. Great beaches, diving and snorkeling with a bonus chance of seeing some monitor lizards up close in the wild. Sapi Island can be reached by boat from the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in KK. You can purchase a ticket directly to the island or get a multi-island ticket. This is a half-day or day trip for most. There are no hotels on Sapi but with prior permission from the park’s office you could camp there. Pulau Gaya, the largest island in the group at 3700 acres compared to Sapi at just 25 has resorts and more amenities. This is one of the finest beaches in the park. I’ll spend a little time here but first I’ll do a quick hike around the island where I may see the lizards and some macaques. This is the map I had to work with, not exactly detailed but the island is only 25 acres. In the worst case I’ll just swim if I get lost on land. Right out of the gate I get a quick glimpse of a monitor lizard but it quickly dashes into the forest. The trail that runs the perimeter of the island takes about 45 minutes to hike around with some nice little private beaches you can stop at along the way. Here’s a pretty cool adventure. Take a boat to Pulau Gaya, then zipline to Pulau Sapi. You can reach speeds of up to 50km/hr on the 250 meter crossing of the two islands. It’s also possible to swim from island to island, but as there are no lifeguards there, do it at your own risk. Back near the center of activity on Sapi close to the main beach and bbq area I found the biggest gathering of monitor lizards. These are actually water monitors, locally they’re called biawak. The males can reach up to 3 meters in length and weigh up to 50 kilos. They are very adept at swimming, and can stay underwater for up to a half-hour so watch out! You may see them catching a wave next to you. They’re more scavenger then predator so you probably won’t find them attacking people unless you get to close in their space, like some foolish tourists who try to include them in their selfie. These lizards carry a deadly bacteria in their mouth and their claws could tear a sizable chunk of flesh out of you so be careful. Monitors defend themselves with their tails, claws and jaws. These lizards are carnivores and will eat birds, rodents, snakes, crabs and even carrion, similiar to their bigger cousin The Komodo Dragon. Their main hunting technique is to run after their prey once spotted. They also have an amazing one way breathing system that can be traced back to dinosaurs. Pulau Sapi was a great half-day getaway from Kota Kinabalu and in between bigger Borneo trips. An easy boat ride gets you to a pretty nice spot for beach, relaxation, absorbing recent travel and cultural experiences, and even a little exotic animal viewing. It’s back on the boat to KK and more adventure in Malaysian Borneo with Far East Adventure Travel The Podcast, I’m John Saboe, Thanks for joining me, safe travels and Namaste!. "KKMap3". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KKMap3.png#/media/File:KKMap3.png
Support production, broadcast, and travel costs by becoming a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel! Visit my Patreon page to see the offers:patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel I find the history and relationships Taiwan has had with nations like the United States and Japan absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately due to the development and rapid growth particularly of Taipei and New Taipei City many buildings that were apart of the history of America's years of on island support are gone. The old U.S. Embassy has been replaced by the National Taxation Bureau. The U.S. Taiwan Defence Command is now the location of The Taipei Fine Arts Museum. I sense though that there are still places out there to be discovered and shared. Video Script: "In Zhongshan District, a vibrant area of Taipei where many luxury hotels are located sits an iconic building of the neighborhood with a past life deep rooted in American history. When it was first built the former U.S. Ambassador’s residence was originally used as the U.S. Embassy during the Japanese colonial period of Taiwan. At the time of it’s completion in 1926 it was considered one of the most beautiful buildings on the island. The Western design with square floor plan and Grecian columns originally served as an administrative office as well as living quarters for the ambassadors and their families. When the United States established a new embassy after WWII this became the residence of the ambassador. I liked that this building has been repurposed as a venue for films and a meeting place rather than a museum. I felt sitting in it’s converted atrium and enjoying the surroundings in an unhurried manner had alot more value as an experience then a walk through a building with roped off areas. Not only did I have a great time hanging out where a U.S. President once stayed I had a pretty interesting selection of movies I could choose to watch, from a documentary about an American photographer turned Buddhist monk to a Japanese man living with a bunch of cats. In 1950 the United States started deploying U.S. military personnel to the island to aid the Republic of China with training, support, and economic relief. Special Western style housing was built for personnel including this almost 14 hectare site in the Yangmingshan area of Taipei City where many houses still remain today. Some of the houses have been leased from the Bank of Taiwan and are occupied by local politicians, artists, and personnel of the American Institute in Taiwan, the defacto U.S. Embassy in Taipei. But it appears many are cafes. The most recent building of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command era to spring back to life is the Yangminghsan U.S. Military Club, now a Cultural and Creative Park with American style restaurants. This was also the home of the Grass Mountain Teen Club for personnel families. The Bank of Taiwan and a local tech company have invested over $3 million dollars in the renovation which includes a vinyl listening room and museum. Yes they passed the taste test and there are some beautiful grounds and a rooftop deck to enjoy the spectacular Yangminghan Park setting." Getting To The Yangmingshan U.S. Military Housing and Brickyard 33 1/3:Take the Red Line MRT to Shilin, leave Exit 1 and walk to Zhongzheng Rd. Catch Bus #5 to Yangmingshan. The ride will be approximately 20 minutes before you'll get off at the Shanzihou Police Station stop. Walk across the street to Kaixuan Rd. You'll see signs for Brickyard, just follow those and you'll arrive there in about 5 minutes. This is also where you'll see many of the military houses that are either private, cafes, or empty. Getting To the Former U.S. Amassador's Residence(SPOT Taipei Film House) take the MRT Red Line to Zhongshan Station. Walk West along Nanjing East Road to Zongshan Rd. North. turn left and walk to #18. photos courtesy of http://taipics.com music: http://www.purple-planet.com
Support Far East Adventure Travel by becoming a patron! Visit patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel to see exclusive offers starting at $1/month! Support Far East Adventure Travel by becoming a patron! Visit:patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Mumbai is a fantastic city to visit with plenty of sites, heritage buildings, amazing street and restaurants. There are some things you need to be prepared for before you arrive. As I stated in part I you need to pace yourself to the incredibly stifling climate with breaks in air conditioned cafes, restaurants or shops. Staying hydrated is extremely important as any sign of fatigue will cause you problems with the next challenge, dealing with beggars. This unfortunately is the reality of major Indian cities and the beggars of Mumbai are relentless. Watching how locals react when they are approached is a great way to learn. You’ll notice that they do not respond at all to them and in fact are almost oblivious to their presence. This is probably the best way to handle beggars. If they see no reaction and cannot disturb you in any way they usually give up. The beggars job is not just to make you sympathetic, they are trying to agitate you in any way they can. If you get angry, frustrated, or emotional at all, they will continue to bother you until you give in. If you act like they aren’t there they’ll give up. You should always be cautious of where you are taking photographs around Mumbai. With a history of terrorist attacks police and authorities are sensitive to photography around certain sites. Photography is not permitted at the high and low courts, inside the C.S.T. train station, and the Bombay Stock Exchange. There was a heritage tour inside C.S.T. that apparently allowed photography but I’m not sure if it still exists. It’s always best to ask either security or if there are police at a particular site you’re interested in photographing. Crawford Market officially renamed Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market after a 19th century social reformer is one of the most famous markets of Mumbai where you can get everything from fish to fruits and vegetables and even live birds, dogs, cats, and other pets. Here’s a somewhat unconventional thing to do when visiting Mumbai. Head to Bandra in West Mumbai, considered the queen of suburbs and home to many famous politicians, cricket players, and Bollywood stars including one of the biggest ever, Shah Rukh Khan. Check out the locals who often hang outside his mansion waiting to catch a glimpse of the King of Bollywood! OK, let’s try talking to someone else. You can also visit the homes of Amitabh Bachchan, considered one of India’s greatest cinema actors of all time. Most taxi and autorickshaw drivers of the area know where all of these mansions are located. They’re happy to take you there! Thanks so much for watching the video! If you enjoyed it please give me a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel for more videos from East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia! Photo Credits-Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan:By http://www.bollywoodhungama.com Music:http://www.purple-planet.com
Thanks so much for listening and subscribing to the podcast. Mumbai is one of my favorite cities to visit in India. Not only is it loaded with atmosphere and amazing heritage buildings from the British raj, it’s also where you can find some of the best street food and restaurants in the country. One of the most enjoyable experiences for me was sampling the incredible street food in Kala Ghoda and the row of stalls across the street from CST. Not only are the dishes absolutely delicious but the atmosphere in which they are consumed is wonderful with lawyers taking a break from the nearby law courts in traditional robes mixing with everyday working people from the area. There are definitely things to be cautious of when walking around Mumbai, especially the traffic which can be overwhelming for some. As well you will soon see that locals do not wait for green lights to cross a street so if you want to follow in their footsteps, extreme caution is advised. Beggars are also a concern. As a foreigner you will no doubt be approached by many. Unless you want a parade of them following you it’s best not to give them anything. They also approach locals but you will quickly notice that natives will not give them the time of day and simply move on as if they are not affected by the encounter. Showing no emotion will show them there is no hope so they will move on. Pacing yourself in the tropical heat and humidity is also extremely important. As I mention in the podcast, taking breaks in cafes and museums throughout your day of exploring will help you stay comfortable. Support Far East Adventure Travel with your pledge to my Patreon page! Visit now and discover great offers starting at $1/month:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923 Write a Review in the iTunes Store and help others discover Far East Adventure Travel: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
Taipei, Taiwan is a vibrant city that is rich in culture, history, street food, and religion. It’s safe, super-friendly, convenient and probably undervalued compared to the super Asian city destinations of Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul. Ironically many residents of those cities choose Taipei as a destination, enjoying some of those qualities that their city once had or simply lacks. Why the title 8+3 Awesome Sights To See/Do? Well most in Asia would be clued in to the significance of the number 8 and 3. In Chinese,(Mandarin), the word eight sounds similar to the word for prosper or wealth. It’s also similar sounding in Cantonese. The number 8 is an auspicious number. The number three sounds similar to the character for birth and is also considered a lucky number. There are three stages to a person’s life-birth, marriage, and death. So my wish is for prosperity and good luck for all those that visit Taipei, Taiwan and for the people of the city that have treated me with such great kindness and hospitality for the past 4 years. Would love to get your feedback on the video and ideas for future content. Also what other countries do you like to visit in Asia? Thanks again with many blessings to you! John Here is the list of the 8+3 sights with links for more details on transportation and extra background for your preparation. 8.Dihua Street:http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002090&id=418 7.Dongmen:https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/yongkang-street-永康街 6.National Palace Museum:https://www.npm.gov.tw/en/ 5.Ximending:https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/ximending-youth-shopping-district-西門町 4.C.K.S. Memorial Hall:http://www.cksmh.gov.tw/eng/index.php?code=list&ids=21 3.Longshan Temple:http://lungshan.org.tw/en/index.php 2.Shilin Night Market:http://www.shilin-night-market.com/how-to-get-to.html#.WWMSz1KB10s 1.Taipei 101:http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/index.aspx Din Tai Fung:http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/tw/default.htm Kao Chi:http://www.kao-chi.com King Mango:http://www.kingmango.com.tw/index.html +3 3.Beitou Hot Springs:https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/beitou-hot-springs-北投溫泉-xinbeitou 2.Songshan Cultural And Creative Park:http://www.songshanculturalpark.org/en/ 1.Elephant Mountain(Xiangshan):https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/elephant-mountain-象山-xiangshan Please check out my Patreon page for exclusive content and offers:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923
Wine And Gourmet Taipei was one of the most challenging wine shows I’ve ever been invited to in the world. With a tasting selection ranging from Shochu, a Japanese distilled beverage, vodka like, to Australian Shiraz. Typically I would start at a traditional wine tasting with sparkling wine, moving on to light then more full bodied whites like Chardonnay, then the reds from Pinot Noir to Cabs then maybe if I’ve got anything left in me, ports and sherries. But there’s no way I could handle a diverse range of Japanese sake, shochu, craft beers, many fruit flavored ones, then an assortment of wines. The palate just can’t absorb all those flavors and intensities over a 3-4 hour period. So being in Asia I decided to focus on Asian alcohol and craft beers, including the emerging craft beer segment in Taiwan. Managing to finally pull myself away from the dazzling selection of Japanese Shochu and sake I made my way to the many Belgian beers that are available around Taiwan and the island’s homegrown craft beers including Bazu and Taiwan Head Brewers. I am really impressed with the range of beers, the quality and taste, and the actual infusions and flavors from Litchi, very refreshing and thirst quenching, to sour beers, tea infused beers, chocolate and more from the homegrown market. Craft brews are still relatively new compared with the North American market but interest, particularly with the younger generation is growing in Taiwan. Some purists might be put off by some of the fruit beers but I personally think they suite not only local food, but the climate, especially in Northern Taiwan with it’s extremely hot and humid summers. Nothing like quenching your thirst with a refreshing light litchi beer with maybe a plate of spicy squid on the side. Get exclusive travel content! Visit Patreon and become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel: http://www.purple-planet.com
Bukhansan National Park is almost 80 sq/km in size and is located so close to the urban area of Seoul, South Korea that it’s possible to take the subway here, like I did on this visit. I started out in Insadong and transferred to line number 1 and rode the train until the very last stop of Dobongsan, which is actually the name of the mountain I’m going to hike up today. I think it’s important wherever you are hiking to stake out a place to have a beer or coffee and something to eat afterwards,. Some motivation or a reward to think about as you’re making your way to the top and of course something to contemplate as you safely get back down. It’s a bit of a hike itself just to get to the entrance of the park from the subway station, passing through what seems like a galleria of hiking and outdoor stores, Koreans love their outdoor gear. Plus there’s loads of restaurants and stalls selling food. I’m going to grab some gimbap, Korea’s version of sushi, the perfect picnic or hiking meal. Some say gimbap was inspired by the tekkamaki sushi rolls eaten by the Japanese soldiers that were present here during Japan’s rule of the country. Others say it is totally an original food of Korea, Either its the perfect dish to stuff in my backpack along with some kimchi, Korea’s national spicy pickled cabbage dish. Finally it feels like I’ve arrived in the park or at least I’m alot closer. I spot this very cool relief style map of Bukhansan and all of the mountains that are hikeable. Rock climbing is also a huge sport here. Bukhansan National Park was established in 1983. Being so close to the urban sprawl of Seoul, which is the third largest urban area in the world and an area population of over 25 million it’s a very popular recreation area. In fact at least 5 million people visit the park every year making it the most visited national park per square kilometer in the world. Another added feature of hiking in Bukhansan National park are the Buddhist temples that are scattered throughout the mountains. The first one I come across is Gwangnyun-sa. Shaminism was widely practised in Korea before the introduction of Buddhism in 372. Because Buddhism did not conflict with the nature worship of shaminism it was allowed to blend with the indigenous religion. Because spirits were believed to inhabit the mountains in pre-Buddhist times they became the home to many temples. The trails here are well marked so it’s pretty easy to stay on course. Dobongsan mountain is made up of 5 peaks and on this day I will go to it’s highest, Jaunbong Peak at 740m. It’s not a hard hike if you are in reasonably good shape. OK Mr. positive I would like to see some amazing views but It’s just not going to happen today. Too bad because this peak looks absolutely spectacular from this photo point image. Even with a little light adjustment it only makes the trees stand out. The trails are quiet though and normally this place is crowded with hikers sometimes causing traffic jams. Within Bukhansan National Park you can see up to 1300 different kinds of flora and fauna, Bukhansanseong Fortress with over 2000 years of history and over 100 Buddhist Temples and monk cells. Bukhansan is also a birder’s paradise with a chance to see among other species the great spotted woodpecker. On this day I’m just going to have to settle for this spotted cat! I was getting closer to Jaunbong Peak but with the skies appearing to become darker the threat of rain was looming. I was hoping I would make it all the way to the top before a downpour. When it rains in this part of the world the showers are fierce and sometimes torrential. In East Asia you have to be prepared with rain gear, like a poncho or an umbrella, so long as there’s no lightning. With the heat and humidity in the summer months jackets, unless they are of the lightest material, will most likely cause you to melt. Because the skies were cloudy with the possibility of rain few hikers were here. Normally on a sunny day this trail can be backed up with people trying to get to the top. Wow, this was really a special feeling in the mountains of South Korea, only 20km from the border of North Korea amongst these beautiful rock formations. Just can’t see past these rocky of Dobongsan but on a sunny day this small area of Jaunbong would be packed with people. Oh yeah, gotta get the selfie in here. Hey think about it, if they had this ability back in the day do you realize Edmund Hillary would have actually had a picture of himself on the top of Mt. Everest. So laugh if you will but they are a great way to record your achievement. OK not even close to anything in the Himalaya let alone Everest but a great day hike with some incredible scenery and guess what-it just started to rain as I made it to the top. I will definitely come back to explore more of Bukhansan National Park in South Korea. There are so many trails, interesting sites and temples that I can’t wait to see. Now where was that place I staked out earlier for a much earned beer. I know it’s somewhere around here…. Write A Podcast Review:
East Asia is such a super friendly place for foreigners with efficient subway or MRT lines throughout all major cities including Seoul, South Korea. All stations have English signs and all stops are announced in English. Namsan mountain is the most well-known of the four guardian mountains of Seoul with the famous landmark, Seoul N Tower topping the 262m peak. It’s not a challenging or particularly strenuous hike but it’s a nice break from the chaotic megalopolis below. It’s also a great way to join locals in their everyday activities and experience the fitness and hiking culture of the city. If you start your hike from the gondola station it’s extremely easy to find your way with signs in English everywhere. This is more like a vigorous walk in a park than a mountain hike. No rough trails to deal with. Stairs everywhere and there’s even rubberized sections of the trail to lessen the impact of hiking on a hard surface. When it comes to activities like this Koreans really know how to makes things comfortable. This may look like a road but it’s pedestrian only! On the way you’ll see sites you can check out like Waryongmyo, a Buddhist/Daoist/Shamanist Shrine dedicated to Zhuge Liang, a Chinese statesman and general who lived from 181-234 AD. As you meander up the trail you’ll start to get views of Seoul and the surrounding mountains. It’s a wonderful way to appreciated the city where half the population of the country lives. It’s easy to enjoy the serene atmosphere of the walk up Namsan. You’ll also have views of N Seoul Tower. The N stands for Namsan, nature and New look from a 2005 15 billion won remodelling project. Namsan is a popular place for Seoulites to visit on the weekend with many spots available for picnics and other outdoor activities. Namsan is considered Seoul’s principal park. It averages 23,000 visits a day. Every April a Cherry blossom festival takes place across Seoul with the longest avenue of Cherry trees anywhere in the city at Namsan mountain. There was a haze and clouds over the surrounding mountains of Seoul on the day I visited Namsan. There are 37 mountains in the greater Seoul area, many easily accessed by subway or bus. One of the most fascinating things I saw along the hike was Sukhojung, an archery field that dates back to 1630, still in operation today. Archery had played a prominent role in the defence of the country, particularly on Namsan mountain, one of the sites of The Fortress Wall of Seoul, the shield that protected the city from invaders. This outdoor gym was a sign I was getting closer to the direct stairs to the top of the mountain. As you get higher each step has a built in rubber cushion making it a little easier on the knees and joints. Koreans are real outdoor enthusiasts that also appreciate making the activity comfortable and convenient with covered rest areas, washrooms, and these wonderfully comfortable stairs. As I was on final approach to the top, with the tower now in direct sight the views opened up to show even though this is one of the most densely populated places in the world there are still large visible green spaces in greater Seoul. Follow Namsan’s portion of the Fortress Wall of Seoul, first constructed in 1396, and you’ll understand the strategic importance of the four guardian mountains and this wall that protected the city during the Joeson Dynasty. When I reached the top I was just in time for the patrolling and lighting ceremony reenactment of Namsan Bongsudae. There were 5 Bondsudae stations on Namsan during the Joeson Dynasty used to communicate political and military information to the king with beacons. Bongsu is the combination of the words bong, meaning torchlight, and su, meaning smoke. At the peak of the Joeson Dynasty there were 673 beacons located throughout the Korean peninsula. This Bongsudae on Namsan was reconstructed in 1993. It was an extremely warm and humid day so these sprinklers were a relief from the heat for everyone. More views directly under N Seoul Tower, which has been open to the public and showcasing views of the city and surrounding area since 1980. These locks underneath the tower are symbols of love from the countless dates that have taken place here over time. You can check out how many different languages love messages are written in, on these symbols of a forever lasting love. Or leave your own, but it looks like all the good views are gone. I like everyday activities, like cycling, hiking or walking in an urban area I’m visiting. The feeling of participating in the same daily workout or exercise that locals enjoy, like Namsan Mountain, makes me feel more engaged and like I’m actually living in the place rather than just being a sightseer or tourist. Next time you’re in Seoul, South Korea try hiking one of the mountains for a break from the busy city, a sense of touching everyday life, maybe even a little bit of history, and some pretty amazing views.
I will confess right up front! I am not a meat-eater so that’s why you don’t see me trying anything that has meat in it at this year’s Food Taipei. I do eat fish and seafood but for many years now I have not eaten, beef, chicken, pork, or any other animal. That may sound like a challenging diet to uphold especially in East Asia but that’s not the case at all. In fact, Taiwan and specifically Taipei is a fantastic city to be a complete vegetarian or even vegan for that matter. Recently PETA Asia voted Taipei the number vegan-friendly city in Asia followed by Singapore. There are lots of modern or contemporary vegan style restaurants in the city but it’s also the traditional vegetarian buffet style restaurants that are popular with the Buddhist community that help to make it a convenient place for vegans. So of course my tasting of some of the snacks and food at this year’s Food Taipei show, one of the biggest of it’s kind in East Asia, leaned towards vegetarian with a few seafood treats throw in. All of this food is delicious and I believe even if you are a meat eater you would still enjoy these snacks at or in between regular meals. This was a great show held over three days at two sites, the Taipei World Trade Center and Nangang Exhibition Center. Food exhibitors from all over the world come to this Food Taipei every year to showcase their products but I was more interested in sharing Asian food, particularly some of the products and specialities of Taiwan. Hope you enjoy the video and subscribe to the channel! Please feel free to leave comments. I would love to get your feedback on what else you would like to see as I continue to explore Asia and the Far East. For as little as $1/month you can become a sponsor of my channel and the Far East Adventure Travel Podcasts and have access to exclusive content along with other offers. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923 Support Far East Adventure Travel-Write a Review in iTunes-https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2 Music courtesy of:http://www.purple-planet.com
How do you figure out which temples to see in Bangkok when there are over 400 of them? Here are the top 3 that should be on anyone’s list. I’ll explore more in another episode but here’s where to start. This may be enough for your first trip to Bangkok, Thailand. Let’s start the tour! Number 3, Wat Arun. Even though it’s name means temple of dawn this is a wonderful site best enjoyed at sunset. Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, some consider it the most beautiful temple in Thailand. It’s prang or spire on the banks of the river is a world-class landmark. At the time of my visit, Wat Arun was undergoing major renovations as you can see by the scaffolding. Wat Arun held the great Emerald Buddha before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaew at the Grand Palace. In fact the temple was part of the grounds of the royal palace where it was located before it was moved in 1785. Wat Arun glistens in the golden hour at sunset. It’s intricate craftmanship of tiny pieces of glass and Chinese porcelain artfully placed on the prang and other structures is an unforgettable site. You can get to Wat Arun via Tha Tien Pier also called Pier 8 right after you visit the number 2 temple. Wat Pho, home of the reclining Buddha. This temple complex is perfect for just wandering as most people will show up, check out the 46 meter long Buddha and immediately leave. You’ll have lots of space to enjoy the atmosphere of a world-class heritage site and the largest collection of Buddha statues in Thailand. Wat Pho was the first public university in the country and is also home to the top massage school. This is where you can experience a more therapeutic rather than soothing massage. Book ahead otherwise you may have a long wait which can eat into precious exploring time. Of course you also want to savour the presence of this incredible reclining Buddha that’s covered in gold leaf. This image is the Buddha entering Nirvana thus ending reincarnations. The statue is 46 meters long and 15 meters high with the soles of the feet at 3 meters height and inlaid with mother of pearl. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor representing the 108 auspicious characters of the Buddha. You can purchase a bowl of coins you can use to drop in the bowls for good fortune, which also aids the monks in preserving the reclining Buddha and Wat Pho. The sound the coins make when dropping is pretty cool in the giant hall. Wat Pho is within walking distance of the number one temple to visit in Bangkok, Wat Phra Kaew or the temple of the Emerald Buddha, located within the Grand Palace complex. Because Wat Phra Kaew doesn’t house any monks it is more like a personal chapel for the royal family than an actual temple. The emerald Buddha is considered the palladium of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is made of a single block of jade and is 66 centimeters or 26 inches high, cloaked in three different gold costumes appropriate for the three seasons, wet and hot, and winter, the cool season. No photographs or video are allowed inside the chapel but you can spend as much time as you like enjoying the Buddha and interior of the structure. This is the spiritual heart of Thailand and the top tourist attraction of Bangkok with thousands of visitors daily. There is a dress code and you will be stopped by officials if your clothing is deemed inappropriate. I’ll leave a link in the video description for your reference. In fact most if not all Buddhist temples in Thailand have specific requirements for appropriate clothing. The Grand Palace is crowded and most of the time, an extremely hot place with no air conditioning so pace yourself. To avoid some of the bigger crowds it’s best to start as early as possible, the complex opens at 8:30 everyday. Conceivably you could see all top 3 temples in one day. Starting out at The Grand Palace, then stopping for a coffee or tea beak in a cool cafe around Tha Thien or Pier 8, which is close by Wat Pho and the reclining Buddha. Then visiting Wat Pho before a leisurely lunch around Tha Tien. Then finishing off your tour with a river crossing to Wat Arun in the late afternoon and perhaps enjoying the sunset from one of the best spots in the city. Help others discover Far East Adventure Travel in iTunes! Write a Review: Dress Code For Royal Urn at Grand Palace-Bangkok, Thailand: Regular Dress Code: Music Credits Indore Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Mystic Force Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Taipei, Taiwan has one of the most efficient and reliable MRT or public rapid transit systems in the world. Locals are used to the convenience but if you are visiting either for a short or extended time to Taipei you are in store for a comfortable, safe, and easy way to get around the city. There are 5 main lines of the Taipei Metro which consists of a mix of underground and above ground infrastructure with a total of 108 stations. This does not include the airport service as this is a separate entity called Taoyuan MRT. I highly recommend downloading either the IOS or android Taipei MRT app available in The App Store and Google Play. This will help you plan your day while you’re having a coffee in your hotel room or at breakfast. All of the stations are also searchable online with full descriptions including in most cases major sites that are close by. You can purchase single journey tokens but you’ll save alot of time, especially if you’re traveling during rush hour, to pick up either a TaipeiPass card or an Easycard. You can purchase TaipeiPass cards at any MRT station and at most convenient stores including 7-Eleven. They are available in 1,2,3, and 5 day unlimited use cards. There is also an additional 1 day + card that can be used on the Maokong Gondola next to the Taipei Zoo. These passes are for unlimited use on the Taipei Metro, not including bus routes with four digit buses for their time frame so there’s no lead to load or reload them. TaipeiPass Cards: If you’re planning on taking some bus trips or train rides to Northern Taiwan besides using the MRT then you may want to purchase an Easycard instead for NT$100. You’ll have to load money onto it but the EasyCard is more flexible than the TaipeiPass. EasyCards can be purchased at all MRT stations. Using the Easycard gives you a 20% discount on single journey fares on the MRT and 10% on local trains to Keelung and Ruifang. Keelung has one of the most famous night markets on the island, Keelung Miaokou Night Market. Ruifang is your connection to Pingxi, home of the world-famous Sky Lantern Festival. The Taipei MRT system operates between 6am-12am but service ends earlier at some stations. Here is a link that gives the last train time for each station:http://english.metro.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=1056375&CtNode=70242∓=122036 Music courtesy of:http://www.purple-planet.com Become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel! Visit my Patreon page now!: Help others discover Far East Adventure Travel! Write a Review:
Taipei, Taiwan is a super modern city with a deep-rooted culture that is becoming more and more popular as a gateway to East Asia and Southeast Asia. It’s new express MRT service from Taoyuan International Airport, a 36 minute ride, will make it even more convenient for travellers, especially those on a short layover. This short but important list of essential things you should know will help keep you on track with a smooth stay. Although taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive compared with other big cities in East Asia the MRT is one of the best ways to get to most of the main sites and business centers of Taipei City. The Nangang Exhibition Center where many conventions and shows are held is accessible by the blue and brown MRT lines. Neihou, where many tech industry businesses have their head office is also on the brown line, Xihu is one of the most convenient stops for quick and easy access. Taipei 101 for the last 3.5 years has had it’s own MRT stop on the red line. This is where you’ll also find The International Convention Center next to the Taipei 101 Shopping Mall. It’s also in close proximity to Taipei City Hall and is apart of the Xinyi Shopping District, where you’ll find one of the largest selections of luxury goods stores in East Asia. If you want to get more of a local perspective pick up an Easycard available at most MRT stations and register it online with Ubike, https://taipei.youbike.com.tw/en/index.php so you can have access to the city bikes that have stations across Taipei City and New Taipei City. Simply swipe your card next to the bike you want to rent and you’re ready to go. You can drop the bike off at any Ubike station. They’re almost always located near an MRT station. In the video I mention briefly that the Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful. It’s true! If you ever appear to be lost or confused while looking at a map you will in most cases immediately attract the attention of a local who will be pleased to help you find your way. That’s wny I said “get lost”, literally you can get lost while exploring this amazing city with it’s maze of alleyways, quiet cafes, food stalls and shops and not worry that you won’t have help getting back to your hotel. Taipei and the rest of Taiwan is an extremely safe place to travel. There is literally no or very rare violent crime against tourists. Personal ownership of guns is banned. There has been reports of pick pocketing and petty theft, particularly in night markets and crowded places, but I think this is even rare now. Enjoy your stay in Taipei and please feel free to leave any comments or questions. You can also message me on the Far East Adventure Travel Facebook page! Become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel for as little as $1/month. Check my Patreon page for the latest sponsorship offers! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923 Help others discover the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast! Write a Review:
I rarely if ever eat at McDonald’s but there is a curiosity that people, particularly from the west, have about what their regular fast food chains are like in Asia compared to their native country’s. It’s also a fall back when on the road dying for the tastes from home. It’s also a safe bet especially for some people who are a little shy to leave their comfort zone too long while on vacation and for parents traveling with children. So I thought I would check out McDonald’s Taipei as their special tropical burger currently on the menu is made from shrimp, something I still do eat. It’s pretty much what I expected, on the bland side, not horrible tasting but not very satisfying. Basically just a quick way to fill your stomach. I’m not a food snob but I do enjoy and appreciate good food, something there’s no lack of in Taiwan. Taiwan just may be the most convenient place to eat out in the world. I’ve heard estimates of over 300,000 food stalls on the island. Plus numerous restaurants that serve several styles of Chinese cooking, the most Japanese restaurants per capita outside of Japan, along with Korean, Vietnamese, and many Western cuisines. McDonald’s faces huge competition and it’s stores are not as successful in East Asia, particularly Taiwan and China then in other regions. It’s really not a surprise considering that Taiwan has a reputation in the east for being a food mecca. In recent years CNN viewers voted Taiwan the number one food destination in the world! Hopefully this episode will encourage those that fall back on the familiar to get out of their comfort zone more while traveling. Walk up to a food stall, order something new and different, and take away an unforgettable food memory and experience. Thanks for watching! Please support Far East Adventure Travel! You can become a sponsor for as little as $1/month. Check out my Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923 Help others discover the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast! Write a review in the iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
In part II of my walk through Jalan Alor Food Street in Kuala Lumpur I stop to talk with a Durian seller, check out some of the street musicians performing in the surrounding area and chat more about the culture and food of Malaysia. Jalan Alor is quite easy to get to from most places where visitors stay in KL. You can walk from Chinatown, about 15 minutes or if you're around KL Central Station you can take the monorail to Bukit Bintang station and walk 5 minutes. Don't bother showing up before 6pm as they still might be setting up tables and chairs for the evening. This is not really considered a night market as there are mostly sit down restaurants, but there are a few food stalls around. There are also fruit sellers selling whatever is in season. Lychee, longan, rambutan, mangosteen, or if you're daring or lucky, you'll be there for durian season and can finish off your meal in a most traditional Malaysian way with the king of fruit! For my most recent meal at Jalan Alor I dined at Wong Ah Wah. I ordered grilled stingray,(small portion), squid fried in batter mixed with squid eggs, some gai lan wok-fried with garlic, and rice. Total cost was 79 ringit=$18.40USD. The stingray was perfectly grilled, moist on the inside, and came with a spicy dipping sauce. This was my first time trying squid eggs fried with squid and it was almost overwhelming rich, but wonderful. The gai lan was fresh and delicious and I washed it all down with a large Tuborg beer, Tiger wasn't available. Ordering beer is not a problem anywhere along the Jalan Alor but if you've been traveling for awhile around Southeast Asia you will notice prices are higher compared to most anywhere else. For a 633ml of Tuborg I paid approximately 17 ringit=$3.97 USD. Vietnam is one of the cheapest spots for beer, with 450ml bottles going at some street stall restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City for $.70USD. There are lots of great restaurants in Kuala Lumpur but my favorite place overall for experience, food, and value is Jalan Alor! Help support travel and production costs for Far East Adventure Travel. Visit my Patreon page and become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel for as little $1/month. Get exclusive content and more! Check out the offers now! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923 Help others discover Far East Adventure Travel in iTunes! Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
For me Singapore and Malaysia were my first introduction to the amazing food experience of dining outdoors in Southeast Asia. Many years later the Jalan Alor food street of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is still one of my favorite places to dine. I've been lucky enough to have experienced the food and dining options of many cities and towns across Southeast Asia. Each one offers it's own unique food and charming experience whether it's sitting on tiny plastic chairs in the old quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam or enjoying the cheap vegetarian buffet in the night market of Luang Prabang, Laos while gazing at the Royal Palace's Temple at night. Jalan Alor is also one of the food centers I've visited the most having used KL as a gateway to Southeast Asia for several years. So I'm admittedly a little biased as well, but I've also never had a bad or even mediocre dining experience there. Jalan Alor is a tourist attraction but where some would find that perhaps not "authentic" I think it only adds to the experience with the possibility of sharing your dining experience with people from around the world, but mainly visitors from Asia. On my latest return I met a friendly group from Cambodia and some wonderful people from Iran. The restaurants have never let me down on Jalan Alor. The food is always consistently satisfying and being a seafood lover the options are almost limitless. My last meal consisted of grilled stingray, with a wonderful chili dipping sauce and deep-fried squid coated in a batter laced with squid eggs, it was so rich! I hope you enjoy this two part visit to one of my favorite places to eat in Southeast Asia, Jalan Alor-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Help others discover the Far East Adventure Travel podcast! Write a review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2 Become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel and gain access to exclusive content! Visit:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4035923
Bako National Park on the island of Borneo is Sarawak, Malaysia’s oldest park established in 1957. It packs in a huge variety of landscape, vegetation and wildlife for it’s small size of 27 sq/km. Only accessible by boat, if you’re based in Kuching you’ll just need to make arrangements to get to Bako Bazaar and the boat launch dock. There’s a public bus, or you can hire a taxi or Uber. By the way, although I did have to wait 18 minutes I was very lucky to get an Uber ride back to Kuching. Unless you want to pay a premium boats don’t leave the dock unless there are 5 passengers, so as long as you arrive not too late in the morning, it shouldn’t be long before you’re on your way, especially if you’re by yourself. The boat ride out to Bako, which takes about 20 minutes is an adventure itself, passing by fishermen and remote beaches and seeing the Satubong Peninsula. Once you reach Teluk Assam beach that leads to park headquarters you disembark from the boat and wade into shore. You could easily spend a half day just here, looking at the peninsula in the distance and checking out the wildlife that hangs out around the beach, including proboscis monkeys we caught a glimpse of right in the trees as we approached headquarters. You must check in at park headquarters when you arrive and present your park pass you purchased at the boat launch. It’s also a good idea to register which trail you will be on at the desk. Once you’ve completed that then you’re off to enjoy the beauty of Bako National Park. One of the guides that I met at the boat launch suggested I walk the Pandan Besar trail which gives you wonderful views, a chance to see unique vegetation, like the carniverous pitcher plants, and should allow enough time to do some wildlife viewing around the beach before the last boat leaves for the day at 3pm. Once you’re out of the lower trail and the jungle canopy you are in the scrub like padang vegetation and exposed to the sun, so it’s a good idea to bring a hat and use sunscreen. It would have been really easy to miss these pitcher plants that I saw close to the ground while walking the trail. They are abundant in this area. You will dip back into Kerangas forest, kerangas is an Iban word, Iban are the indigenous people of Sarawak. It means “land which cannot grow rice”-you’ll come out of the kerangas in the final stretch of the Pandan Besar trail. This is the prize at the end of the trail. Lovely views looking out at this beach, which is unfortunately inaccessible by foot. Another beach close by Pandan Kecil can be hiked from here. One thing you need to be mindful of when hiking here is the possibility of tropical downpours, Bako is part rainforest and on my way back I headed right into a huge rainstorm, which pretty much finished my hiking and exploring for the day. But it was a truly amazing taste of wild Borneo. Thanks to:http://www.purple-planet.com for their awesome soundtrack music! Write A Podcast Review: Visit the Far East Adventure Travel Patreon page and become a sponsor!:
I'm often surprised by certain things about a new place I've visited or discovered. Never more than on my recent trip to Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo where I found the local people were especially friendly and welcoming. Random greetings while crossing the street, "hello, welcome! Where you from?" Sometimes a hello from a group of students walking home from school or just people you cross paths with in the air conditioned modern shopping mall. Island people I've found, for the most part, are generally laid-back, easy-going and friendly. I've met and have had amazing hospitality on my most recent trip to Sabah on Borneo as well. And of course the people of Taiwan are known for being some of the friendliest people on the planet. I hope the Sarawak Tourism Bureau has a big party for their people because these are the kinds of things that most visitors will remember and tell their friends and others about when they're asked what their trip was like. No doubt you're going to have some pretty awesome memories if you visit Semenggoh, the orangu-tan sanctuary or spend a day or two in Bako National Park. Having Sarawak's famous Laksa, noodle soup for breakfast, gorging on some of the cheapest and best seafood in Southeast Asia at the UTC Top Spot Food Court will certainly be big takeaways from a visit to Kuching. I can guarantee you though that provided you didn't spend your whole time in your hotel or guesthouse room, it's the kind-hearted and friendly people of Kuching that will be one of your strongest impressions of a visit to Sarawak. In this episode of the podcast I'm experimenting with a different format including more travel advice and tips that's specific to the place featured. Of course I will continue to bring you the best experiences the area has to offer. In upcoming episodes watch out for my visit to the Semenggoh Orangu-tan Reserve, Bako National Park as well as other not to be missed sites around Kuching. I was really impressed with Kuching, the range of guesthouses and hotels, the exceptional food and overall value, Old Chinatown, India Street, and of course the wonderful boardwalk along the Sarawak River. There are amazing adventure activities that can be day trips while you maintain your base in Kuching. I'm thinking if you are coming from a Western country try to devote 5-7 days around the area which could include one or two nights in Bako National Park. If you're an Asian based traveller Kuching could be a great long weekend getaway. Many Asian cities have direct flights to Kuching and Air Asia has several everyday from Kuala Lumpur. I've started a Patreon account so for as little as $1/ month you can be a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel and have access to exclusive content. Check out the page and help support travel and production costs of Far East Adventure Travel. Help others discover Far East Adventure in the iTunes Store by writing a review. Follow the link here:
Yehliu Geo Park is one of Northern Taiwan’s top tourist sites attracting on average over 3 million visitors yearly. It’s a fun place and interesting spot with numerous natural rock formations including their most famous, “Queen’s head”, named so for it’s resemblance to the profile of Queen Elizabeth I, some even comparing it to Nefertiti. It’s a Disneyland for rock lovers and as you can imagine it’s usually crowded almost anytime during the day. Sitting right next to the park is the fishing village of Yehliu, which is usually quiet except for meal times when some of the tourists stray away from the geo park and food stalls and souvenir stands that surround it and head to one of the many seafood restaurants that serve the amazing bounty of the North China sea. Other than the density of seafood restaurants, that perhaps could not sustain themselves without the massive tourist attraction next door it’s a pretty typical Northern Taiwanese fishing village, with lots of men fishing off of the docks, boats in the harbour equipped with watermelon sized lanterns, numerous temples and shrines, and beautiful views towards the park and sea. I know that many will miss the charm of places like this especially if they are ferried in by tourist buses with guides that are in a hurry to meet the promises of a day spent seeing all of the sites of Northern Taiwan. Most are simply looking to rack up tourist spots visited with selfies to share back home, the traveller that judges a good trip based on the volume of places they've seen. There's nothing wrong with that if in the end you're satisfied with your vacation. However if you want to experience the real Taiwan perhaps even engaging a little with locals, like the man who showed me the squid eggs in one of his tanks, then spend more time exploring and worry less about the number of things you see. I've found lots of interesting places literally on the fringes of tourist spots. Always my biggest take aways are those moments of interaction with locals that are far more endearing than a checked off list of sites. But do see Yehliu Geo Park next door, it’s worth the visit! Become a sponsor of Far East Adventure Travel for as little as $1/month. Visit my Patreon page to find out more and see the rewards on offer: Write A Podcast Review For Far East Adventure Travel:
The last few days I spent in Nepal during the earthquakes of 2015 were a whirlwind of visiting villages in the Kathmandu Valley and the remote hard hit Sindhupalchowk District. At least two thirds of all of the houses in Sindhupalchowk were destroyed. It was shocking as we rode up the windy road to one of the most remote villages, Thangpalkot I to see twisted buildings and piles of stones that were once homes. I met one young man that lost his guesthouse and had no idea how he would support his wife and daughter in the short term. Many of the younger people in the families around Sindhupalchowk were contemplating leaving the country to find work in order to save the money it would take to rebuild. In the Kathmandu Valley some villages lost historic buildings and temples, like Bungamati's Rato Machhendranath Temple, where the patron God of Patan deity usually presides. When I returned later in the year many of the villages and sites I saw in May had been cleaned up and there were more temporary shelters in place but the work had not yet begun at almost all locations. Nepal was also in the middle of a fuel crisis, spurred on by a constitution that wasn't favorable to villages in the Terai region. It was believed India was also in disfavor of the new constitution and held back deliveries of fuel giving the reason that drivers and trucks did not feel secure crossing the border. Most tourists were still able to move around the country by bus and with internal flights but Nepalis were preparing less vegetables in order to conserve cooking fuel. Less fuel also meant less goods available in stores and higher prices at the markets. The country and it's people could not think about rebuilding in this unfavorable environment. Today the work still remains painfully slow, especially in the remote regions like Sindhupalchowk but the country's state of panic has passed. When I visited Nepal in May of 2015 my intention was to support tourism and get the message out that although it wasn't the best time to visit during the aftermath, the country and it's people were still counting on tourism to help sustain the economy and families. It wasn't a surprise that many people cancelled their plans for a fall visit and a fuel crisis was not exactly a sign that things were stable. Today among other projects including two podcasts and a YouTube Channel I find myself a partner in a trekking and tour company based in Nepal with a personal stake in bringing tourism back to the country. I visited Nepal at my own expense during the earthquakes, no trekking adventures or relaxing days around Phewa Lake in Pokhara. I was there to document the damage, speak to people that were deeply affected by the destruction and share on social media that immediate help was needed and long term support of tourism was necessary. Most of the great trails of Nepal saw little or no damage as a result of the earthquakes and the south, the birthplace of the Buddha and some of the best wildlife viewing in the world were completely unaffected. Only 15% of the world heritage sites were damaged or destroyed. For every trekker or tourist that visits Nepal at least seven Nepalis benefit during that time spent in the country. Visiting Nepal whether you use my company or someone else's will have a huge impact on the recovery from one of South Asia's worst natural disasters. Beyond the knowledge and awareness of how valuable your tourist dollars are to the country I believe you will feel like you've had one of the most memorable and meaningful vacations of your life. For more information on travel and trekking in Nepal visit our website:https://explorehimalayan.com Please support Far East Adventure Travel with your donation:paypal.me/JohnASaboe Write a podcast review and help others discover the Far East Adventure Travel:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
Part IV of Earthquake Diaries From Nepal begins in historic Sankhu Village, approximately 45 minutes by car from Thamel-Kathmandu it is located in the northwest corner of the Kathmandu Valley. It is where many religious festivals take place and was a stop on the original salt trade route from Tibet. I visited Sankhu a few times during my stay in May 2015. Outside of the Sindhupalchowk region this was one of the most devastated villages I witnessed in the Kathmandu Valley. Many locals were willing to share their experience and loss and it was not only heartbreaking but extremely overwhelming to hear the stories of losing brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, along with friends and relatives as a result of the earthquakes. There was also a miracle rescue when the sister of a man who had lost two other sisters, his father, and two domestic workers of the family, was pulled from the rubble of their house 5 hours after the initial earthquake. The site of people living in terrible conditions along the Bisnumati River was shocking. There were tented camps in Kathmandu with much better conditions but locals did not want to be far from their homes fearing looting or theft. There were aftershocks almost everyday sending more fear of yet another big earthquake on the way. Please send me any feedback on this documentary series to john@fareastadventuretravel.com. This podcast can’t happen without public support, help me continue to produce this series that I hope helps you either plan your next big adventure or allows you to imagine travelling at a time when it’s maybe not possible. A donation of $10, $20, $30 or more helps meet production costs and travel expenses. Support Far East Adventure Travel with your donation today: paypal.me/JohnASaboe Nepal Travel and Trek Planning: explorehimalayan.com Write a Podcast Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
My Earthquake Diaries Nepal documentary series continues with part 2 and a “cry for tourism”. This episode follows my first few days of walking through the streets and alleyways of Kathmandu, visiting many sites that had suffered damage, destruction and terrible loss. I met tour guides and taxi drivers that saw a future of little or no work. And one afternoon I came across a group in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square conducting a desperate rally for unity within the tourism industry. I also traveled around the Kathmandu Valley visiting some of the most popular landmarks and Unesco World Heritage sites including Boudhanath, the Tibetan Village, the great Pashupatinath Hindu Temple complex, and the medieval village of Bhaktapur to see first-hand the damage to these sites that in the past have attracted travellers from around the world. This podcast can’t happen without public support, help me continue to produce this series that I hope helps you either plan your next big adventure or allows you to imagine travelling at a time when it’s maybe not possible. A donation of $10, $20, $30 or more helps meet production costs and travel expenses. Support Far East Adventure Travel with your donation today: paypal.me/JohnASaboe Nepal Travel and Trek Planning: explorehimalayan.com Write a Podcast Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
Cambodia's bamboo train-essential transportation for rural living doubles as a tourist ride[/caption] Far East Adventure Travel The Podcast is brought to you by Far East Adventure Travel Magazine. Get your free copy now! Go to the iTunes App Store, download the app then download your copies of Far East Adventure Travel Magazine. I was staying in Battambang, Cambodia. While I was there I had to visit one of the area’s most famous attractions, the bamboo train. The bamboo train gets it’s name from the bamboo deck or floorboard used that rests on top of the wheels that can transport anything from chickens and rice to people. In Khmer it’s called a Lorry and has been used since the Khmer Rouge shutdown of most regular train service in the country. The Bamboo Train Station. Now where is the first class lounge? I could use a bloody mary about right now! Waiter? Actually the place is quite charming and surprisingly not touristy feeling at all. At least not at the starting point in O Dambong, about 4 km from Battambang. The bamboo train solves the biggest problem of a single track train line. What do you do when two trains meet from opposite directions? In the case of the bamboo train? Simple-move one off the track. This experience alone makes this one of the world’s all time great train rides. A little heavy on the photo gear I know but I’m a one man show right now. Farewells from the departure crew and we’re off. The bamboo train was not the first flatbed type service in Cambodia. During the civil war of the 80’s and 90’s flatbed trains were used as mine sweepers ahead of the rest of the train. Service was free, risky but popular. [caption id="attachment_2266" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Bamboo train station at O Dambong-approximately 4 km from Battambang, Cambodia[/caption] And here we go about 3 minutes into the ride and our first stop. Wow, now that’s taking service station to the next level. The first lorries or bamboo trains were actually hand driven with a pole, kind of like an Italian gondola. Small motorcycle or tractor engines, like this one were added later. The wheels? They’re actually from abandoned tanks! Yes get your ass off the deck so I can do my job, thank you! Once again we are rolling on the tracks. The ride lasts almost a half-hour each way starting in O Dambong with a short stop in O Sra Lav before returning. The tracks are not in the best of shape with little or no maintenance for decades making them warped and misaligned. Occasionally you’ll get a strong bump from a really weak section, but hey it’s all part of the charm. It is just after 7am and I think this is a perfect time to come-with the sun just rising and cool comfortable temperatures. The atmosphere is amazing and feels like you’ve been dropped into an Indochina themed adventure movie. Cambodia’s first rail line was built by the French in the 1930’s. By 1969 the rail system was still in good shape but the civil war of the 1970’s soon saw some of the line destroyed. By 2008 passenger service was completely discontinued. Private interests currently hold the concession to the railway with only freight operation running between Phnom Penh and the coastal town of Sihanoukville. We are slowing down because another train is coming our way. The rule is the car with fewer passengers gives way to the other car. So if you want priority service bring a group or give some locals a free ride. Finally after a ride with stops that lasts just under 30 minutes we arrive at O Sra Lav. Here’s where it gets a little touristy, with the usual t-shirts, scarves, and kids selling bracelets. But that’s OK, they’re just trying to make a living and the people are always friendly here even if you don’t buy. Like this man kindly showing me the way. Ten minutes later we are back on the tracks and heading back to O Dambong. Sometimes so-called tourist attractions are spoiled by being over commercialized eventually losing the charm that originally made them attractive. For me the bamboo train is an absolutely original experience. Pieced together with leftover tank wheels, tractor motors, and eco-friendly bamboo, it’s the ultimate transportation mutt making it one of the world’s most original travel experiences. Subscribe to the audio podcast:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id1079513943?mt=2
As I assemble this series from my days in Nepal during the earthquakes of 2015 the memories of fear, shock, and helplessness are painfully resurrected. People from all walks of life, sleeping outdoors for fear of another earthquake that could collapse their house, if they still had one. The site of shocking destruction, streets where buildings were folded like an accordian. Apartment blocks levelled to the ground with the remains of personal and household items scattered amongst the debris. And the helplessness of watching people struggle to find food and shelter and listening to the stories of relatives that fell to death. There was much talk of more earthquakes and rumors that another one was inevitable, perhaps larger than any of the previous tremors that shook the country. Even if you wore a mask the dust that floated around the Kathmandu Valley from the thousands of buildings that collapsed seemed to find a way deep into your lungs. There was also a light and warmth that you felt from the hundreds of volunteers from around the world that were there to serve their fellow humankind. A nurse from The Netherlands working in one of the local hospitals, a young Taiwanese backpacker that decided to postpone the rest of her trip to help out. A Japanese medical team whom when I asked how long they would stay, they simply responded, "as long as necessary". And Nepalis themselves organizing shelters, and meals for the homeless. The country's tourism industry is beginning to rebound which is one of the best ways to lend support to the rebuilding of Nepal. For every tourist that visits the country at least seven people are affected in a positive way directly. Planning a trekking or cultural trip, and even a safari is not only an enriching personal experience, it's a step towards helping one of the most deserving people anywhere on the planet. You're welcome to check out trip ideas with our travel company in Nepal, just follow the link below. Nepal Trekking and Tours:https://explorehimalayan.com If you enjoy watching the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast please help others discover travel inspiration for East, Southeast, and South Asia. Follow the link below, click Ratings and Reviews, rate the podcast out of 5 stars, then write a review. Write A Podcast Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2 Subscribe to the Far East Adventure Travel Audio Podcast:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id1079513943?mt=2
It’s been 2 years since the first of several earthquakes and tremors terrorized the Himalayan nation of Nepal. It was April 25th, 2015 at 11:56am local time when a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the country. It was followed by several hundred aftershocks and another 7.3 tremor on May 12 that in total killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 22,000 leaving many homeless. To this day thousands are still not living in a permanent home. Having visited the country on several occasions over the years when I first heard the news of the devastation I thought I should plan a trip to see first-hand how severely damaged the country was and it’s tourism infrastructure. I knew that the media reports of a ruined tourism industry would have a huge impact on the nation and it’s people that desperately rely on tourists to earn a living. I also wanted to encourage other people to visit the country either through volunteering to help with the recovery or once the situation had stabilized, make their own travel plans to Nepal, as this is one of the most effective ways to help the country rebuild. My flight was due to arrive at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport May the 12th at 2pm. Approximately 1 hour before we were due to land the pilot announced another earthquake had struck Nepal and our descent would be delayed until crews finished a runway safety check. The plane went completely silent, passengers mostly all Nepalis returning home for the first time since the devastation, fearing more loss. This documentary series, comprised of recorded live streams, apologies for the inferior quality, along with regular footage I captured is my diary of the 20 days I spent in Nepal during some of the most desperate moments in the country’s history. After 90 minutes of circling the Kathmandu Valley on May 12, 2015 we were finally cleared for landing. This is where my story begins. I would love to get your feedback on the podcast either by email to john@fareastadventuretravel.com or just message me on the Far East Adventure Travel Facebook page. In China you can contact me on Weibo as fareastadventure. If you want to find out more about visiting Nepal you can check out our travel page Explore Himalayan. The link is in the show notes of this podcast. I’ll also leave a link in the show notes to my photo essay “Voices Of Nepal” published last year in the Impossible Project Magazine. Write A Podcast Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2 Travel Information For Nepal:https://explorehimalayan.com John Saboe "Voices Of Nepal"-https://magazine.the-impossible-project.com/voices-of-nepal/?utm_source=Impossible+Magazine&utm_campaign=4ecd6c44b0-Magazine_Monthly_Newsletter_July_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3aa46766f1-4ecd6c44b0-91484753&mc_cid=4ecd6c44b0&mc_eid=af7b26c1ba
This is part II of my live broadcast from Can Tho, Vietnam. I spent my first night exploring the city near riverside and the night market. When I arrive in an unfamiliar place I'm always excited to get out and walk the streets, check out what restaurants and food stalls or night markets are serving and get to know where people gather. Can Tho, like many cities in Vietnam and Southeast Asia has a few areas where you'll find activity at night-it usually revolves around eating. Near the waterfront and night market featured in this episode and around De Tham Street, nicknamed "food street" by locals where a series of restaurants serve everything from hot pot to seafood, and vegetarian. Your hotel can give you directions, just ask them where's food street? I stumbled onto Com Chay An Lac, a hole in the wall vegetarian restaurant that serves ultra fresh and cheap Vietnamese vegetarian food. Big bowls of noodles with imitation bbq pork,(bean curd), springs rolls and other tasty guilt free food for less than a buck. Join me in Can Tho as I explore and chat with some of the live viewers on varying topics from street food safety to trekking in Nepal and an impromptu interview with a friendly French tourist. Also in this podcast a thank you goes out to everyone who subscribes to Far East Adventure Travel, especially those that have followed my travels since 2014. As well as gratitude for the lovely reviews written in the iTunes Store. Below you'll find a link to the podcast page where you to can rate the podcast and submit and write a review. Leaving a review helps others discover Far East Adventure Travel. Also for a wide variety of videos on East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia please subscribe to my YouTube Channel:http://www.youtube.com/c/JohnSaboefareastadventuretravel I'm also very interested in your feedback on the podcast. Where are you from and what would you like to see in the future. You can message me on Facebook(Far East Adventure Travel) or send me an email-john@fareastadventuretravel.com. For those of you in China I'm also on Weibo as fareastadventure. Please feel free to follow me and send a message(English). Write A Review:https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east-inspired-by-rick-steves-lonely/id890305531?mt=2
Can Tho, Vietnam is the largest city in the Mekong River Delta region, famous as a destination for Mekong River Floating Market tours. It was one of the highlights of my most recent visit to Vietnam. Upon arrival in Can Tho, approximately 3.5 hours by bus from Ho Chi Minh City, I decided to immediately head for riverside, naturally where most travellers gravitate and explore the streets, night market, temples, and shops in the area. I also wanted to investigate hiring a boat for a tour the next morning. Some of my best and fondest memories of traveling are seeing a place for the first time. It's always exciting getting familiar with unknown territory. Night markets, cafes, fruit stands and Ho Chi Minh statues are not much different from one end of the country to the other but the settings are as well as the people and local culture. Throughout Vietnam you will find a mostly friendly attitude towards foreigners, from outgoing to reserved but friendly. In Can Tho and I believe much of the Mekong River Delta region locals are very hospitable. I was setting up my camera crouched on the side of a street one afternoon when behind me a friendly older man had brought out a plastic chair for me to sit on. Vietnam has a plethora of famous cities and destinations that are highly recommended by guide books and travel experts from the centers of commerce, arts, and politics like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, to the picturesque and historic cities of Hoi An and Hue. Can Tho is certainly a favorite of mine now. It doesn't have the same charming and historic atmosphere of Hoi An but it also doesn't draw excessive crowds and with the exception of the "boat ladies" who aggressively sell boat tours, is not hyper-focused on tourist wallets. Two or three days of hanging out in Can Tho, taking in some river excursions and visiting local temples and sites would be a wonderful diversion from the big cities and tourist towns. Tasty cheap local food, like 60 cents for a big bowl of noodles, a fantastic selection of tropical fruit, and simple street side cafes in a wonderfully laid back environment will have you contemplating retirement if not here, somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Can Tho is the fourth largest city in Vietnam and the largest in the Mekong River Delta region. People that visit are here primarily for the boat cruises that take you to the world-famous floating markets. A confluence of boats that merge in various locations of the river for trade of mostly fresh fruit and produce. For this trip I hired a boat for about $14 dollars that will take me on an approximate 3.5 hour tour on the Hua River, a tributary of the Mekong where I’ll see a wholesale floating market in action and visit a rice paper making village. After 45 minutes of passing by colorful vessels and regular river activity, including tourist boats heading in the opposite direction on their way to other floating markets we arrived at the Cai Rang wholesale market. Cruising at a slower speed by boats almost spilling over with pineapples and other fresh fruit and produce. Local buyers arrive to purchase goods from the farmers that bring their fruit and produce to Cai Rang and take it to the cities to sell to shops and other wholesalers. It’s important to hire a boat and leave the dock at Can Tho before 7am otherwise you’ll mostly just run in to other tour boats by the time you arrive. You can either book your boat in advance at your hotel or make a deal with one of the boat ladies hanging out at the dock on Hai Ba Trung. Typically a boat here will have a sample of whatever they’re selling attached to a long pole, so it’s easy to spot what you’re looking for from a distance on the water. This also saves the farmers or sellers from having to yell out what they’re selling like in a typical market. You’ll also have a chance to interact with boats pulling up and offering drinks and snacks. Can Tho was once part of the Khmer kingdom. There’s still a significant Khmer community noticable by the numerous Cambodian style Buddhist temples in the city. If you’ve just arrived from Ho Chi Minh City you’ll appreciate a slighter slower pace with a mix of wide streets and narrow lanes. The city has enough interesting sites and places to stroll to keep you engaged for at least a few days. I found it effortless to settle in and enjoy the even friendlier environment and the inexpensive delicious food and fruit of the region. The Khmer style temples of the region are Theraveda Buddhist unlike the Vietnamese type that are filled with Taoist Gods and Buddhist deities. A visit to Munirensay Pagoda will either immediately take you back to your days in Cambodia or inspire you to cross the border. There are plenty of lovely restaurants along the waterfront on Hai Ba Trung as well as a nightly market with plenty of cheap food stalls but don’t miss out on the great spots on De Tham, the street of food located on Hue Vien close by the Munirensay pagoda. Here you can find a huge selection of dishes whether you favor meat, fish, or vegetarian. Plus there’s bake shops that sell slabs of cake for less than 50 cents, and fruit stalls with jackfruit that’s as sweet as candy. There are lots of friendly streets to stroll and if you decide you want to take a rest and have a caphe da, or vietnamese iced coffee, just grab a plastic chair and have a seat. I like the fresh fruit juices cafes serve here as well. Head back to Hai Ba Trung walk along the river’s edge, check off another Ho Chi Minh statue you’ve seen on your trip and make your way to the prettiest temple in Can Tho, Ong Temple inside the Guangzhou Assembly Hall. Under all of the huge incense coils that lends to the temples magical atmosphere you’ll find Kuang Kung or Guan Yu, right in the center. The God of war Kuang Kung symbolizes truth, justice, and courage among other qualities. Kuang Kung is the main deity worshipped at the temple. Development and modernization is spreading across Vietnam including Can Tho but there’s still remnants from the past including the Ninh Kieu Pier Tourist Market and it’s Market Hall dating back to 1913. Inside you’ll find trinkets and clothes, souvenirs, and a restaurant/cafe with lovely river views. Meanwhile back on the floating market tour we traveled up one of the quieter pretty canals to visit a rice paper making village. As touristy as some of this activity may seem you’d kick yourself if you didn’t hire a boat and visit a floating market while staying in Can Tho or the Mekong Delta region. The feeling of cruising up and down the river amidst this unique way of trade is an extremely rewarding adventure. There are longer river trips and more temples and sites to see around Can Tho. However it’s the slower pace, obvious relaxed feel of the city and it’s people as well as the transcendental experience of the Mekong River system that is the bigger take away. It’s a reminder that as much as the country is changing it’s the old ways and pace of life that reflects the true beauty of Vietnam. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
The Sanzhi UFO houses was a famous beach house development in New Taipei City, Taiwan featuring futuristic "space pod" living spaces that were abandoned and never completed. Eventually they were demolished in 2008. Who knows if Sanzhi, or this other "beach house" development I discovered in Northern Taiwan through research and first-hand accounts were "beach developments" or simply a cover up and ultimately destruction of evidence that extraterrestrial life at one time was present in Taiwan. One story behind this development involves a soda pop tycoon's investment in a beach house community in the 70's made up of futuro and venturo homes that failed and subsequently were also abandoned. Like the main character in the novel and movie adaptation filmed on location in Taiwan, "Life Of Pi", I ask you which story would you prefer? The failed attempts at real estate development by Taiwanese millionaires, or aliens seeking to establish beach front communities while enjoying the rich culture, amazing food, night markets, hot springs, great health care, and a "new hope" on Ila Formosa, "the beautiful island". You decide! Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
It was New Year's Day 2017, unusually warm at 26 celsius, making it perfectly pleasant to walk around interesting neighborhoods in Taipei, Taiwan including Dongmen and it's Yongkang Food Street. Anchoring this street that has been published in almost every travel and food magazine and guidebook, is the world-famous Din Tai Fung, purveyors of xiaolongbao, delicious soup dumplings. Crowds, as seen on this day, will line-up for over an hour in the midday just to get a table. Even though this restaurant is a big draw there are plenty of other restaurant in Dongmen serving the delicious specialities of Taiwan. The history of this neighborhood goes way back to the Japanese occupation when high government officials and the affluent started taking up residence here. Qingtian Street is a lovely place to stroll while enjoying a classic Taiwanese snack purchased from Yongkang Street like green onion pancake. There are still Japanese style homes left over from the time of occupation that have been converted to art galleries and teahouses. You can also visit the Taipei Grand Mosque that's close by. It's no wonder this is a top destination for tourists visiting Taipei. Great restaurants, interesting sites, and friendly locals make for a memorable time in Dongmen. Don't hesitate to just wander. Getting lost in the little alleys that are dotted with interesting cafes and shops is part of the fun of visiting Taipei. Join me in the Dongmen neighborhood sharing some of my favorite places to eat while giving you a taste of what it's like to walk in one of the tastiest and friendliest places in Asia! Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is on the move! It's one of the fastest changing and growing cities of Southeast Asia with modern shopping complexes springing up everywhere, a skyline filled with construction cranes, and a joint venture between Japan and Vietnam to build the city's first subway/rapid transit system. It's great to see the people of Vietnam enjoying new amenities and infrastructure but people like me still want to see the old Saigon. Traditional culture, morning markets, non-touristy neighborhoods. The good news is there's still lots to see. Around Co Bac And Co Liang streets in District 1 they still have a traditional market and if you stay in one of the guesthouses in the neighborhood you'll feel very much like a local. The other area that's still ripe with traditional shopping and culture is Cholon or District 5 and Binh Tay Market, a wholesale market that bustles everyday of the week. Binh Tay Market technically is located in District 6 on the border of 5. Cholon is where the ethnic Chinese community is based. Some say it's the biggest Chinatown in the world. I've visited the neighborhood a few times in the last year and find it fascinating, friendly, and full of life. It's also a photographer's paradise with constant activity, huge displays of food and hard goods, and people so occupied with their tasks that candid shots are a breeze. Join me for a walk around Binh Tay Market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in this episode of Far East Adventure Travel. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
I truly enjoy cities that are pedestrian friendly. That is, sites, parks, entertainment districts, hotels, restaurants, that are within easy walking distance of each other. Although you might think with it's frenetic pace and appearance of crazy traffic Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam might not fit this category, but that's not the case. Once you get used to the traffic flow and crossing etiquette of Vietnam's largest city you'll appreciate, specifically the District 1 area, with it's convenience and plethora of landmarks, historical sites, museums, hotels and other amenities within reasonable walking distances. One place I always return to in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, or what still many locals refer to as Saigon, is the Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral area. The Saigon Central Post Office in my opinion is one of the most beautiful buildings of the French colonization era of Indochina and Vietnam. Built between 1886-1891 there seems to be conflicting stories on who actually designed it. Gustav Eiffel has been named, as has Alfred Foulhoux and Auguste Henri Vildieu. Of course because the Eiffel name is so well known this is the most marketable story, he actually had an office in Saigon during this era designing many bridges, some of which are still in use today in Vietnam. Regardless of who designed it the Saigon Central Office is one site not to be missed on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Join me on a tour this is iconic treasure from the past, that today is still a working post office in this episode of Far Eat Adventure Travel. Recorded from a previous live broadcast on Periscope. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
Considered one of the most beautiful metro stations in the whole world Formosa Boulevard Station in Taiwan's second largest city, Kaohsiung is a stunning art exhibit that doubles as a metro station that connects two MRT lines. Named after the "Formosa Incident," pro-democracy demonstrations that lead to an observance of Human Rights Day December 10th, 1979. It's regarded as one of the key events that eventually lead to democracy in Taiwan. The Formosa Boulevard Station's Dome of Light as it's known was created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata who also oversaw the installation of it's 4500 glass panels. It's the largest glass art exhibit in the world. The Dome of Light's four themes tell the story of human light Water: The Womb of Life; Earth: Prosperity and Growth; Light: The Creative Spirit; and Fire: Destruction and Rebirth. The exhibit is also a metaphor for the development and movement towards democracy in Taiwan. Even the outside entrances and exits of Formosa Station Boulevard are striking. Designed by Japanese architect Shin Takamatsu. The four main glass entrances evoke a sense of redemption or prayer as they orientation suggests folded hands. This is a wonderful little diversion from a stay in Southern Taiwan that can be incorporated while you're on the move to many sites of the city that can be visited via the Kaohsiung MRT. It's a wonderful peaceful spot, even with the beeping of metro gates. You may even catch a piano recital with the baby grand piano that's always on site. Thumbnail photo by Gerard Laubscher Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
On my recent swing through Southern Taiwan to take in the annual Beehive Fireworks Festival in Yanshui/Tainan I managed to visit Taiwan's second biggest city, Kaohsiung. For the first time I was able to see the city's wonderful lantern festival next to the atmospheric Love River. I'm always asked when is the best time of year to visit Taiwan. Almost anytime of the year can be interesting but one of my favorite times to recommend is during the Chinese New Year,(Lunar New Year) festivities. The first day itself is always inspiring and full of good spirit as many Taiwanese visit temples to start the year off with prayers of good fortune, luck, and health. Then of course there are the many festivals that are centered around the New Year including the Beehive Fireworks Festival, if you're daring and looking for extreme adventure. See the podcast featured on this channel. For a more serene experience the Lantern Festivals of Taiwan are wonderfully beautiful and completely safe, but you will have to endure huge crowds. Most major cities on the island host a lantern festival. Internationally the most famous one is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival of Northern Taiwan. This festival features mass releases of sky lanterns that dance in the skies of Northern Taiwan sending out wishes of good fortune, health, luck, and even marriage! Having had the opportunity to see a few I can say that although some themes will be the same, mainly lanterns featuring the year's zodiac character, this year the rooster, there will be variations based on the location of the city. As Kaohsiung is the largest port city of Taiwan there are many marine themes. Artistically I noticed there were many interesting variations of the rooster theme compared with the Taipei Lantern Festival and the Love River setting is absolutely magical. Join me for part one of this two part series on the 2017 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival on Far East Adventure Travel. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival is held every year in Yanshui District in Southern Taiwan. Locally known as the Feng Pao it is considered one of the most dangerous festivals in the world as well as being the third largest folk celebration. Why do they blow off millions of bottle rockets and firecrackers you ask? It all started with a cholera epidemic in the late 19th century. Due to the underdeveloped state of medicine victims multiplied daily and the people of the district lived in fear. On the day of the Lantern Festival, 15 days after the 1st day of the Lunar New Year, town folk paraded Gaun Di, the God of War on a palanquin around the streets. Firecrackers were lit until dawn. In one night the people of Yanshui rid their district of the plague and the festival has been carried on ever since. This year along with taking in one of the most notorious events of the festival, the actual beehives that are metal racks lined with bottle rockets that are exploded in the streets of Yanshui I also attended the daytime events on the last day. There were processions of Gods paraded on palanquins, pole dancers on jeeps dancing for the crowds, sometimes also seen at Taiwanese funerals, and plenty of deafening firecrackers and fireworks exploding on the streets. Join me for highlights of one of the most vibrant, exhilarating, and dangerous festivals in the world, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival 2017 on Far East Adventure Travel. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
In Chinese and Asian culture The Lantern Festival marks the end of Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year celebrations. Always falling 15 days after the first day of the year the date varies according to each new Lunar Year. The tradition started more than 2000 years ago with the emperor and noblemen having the most elaborate lanterns. Today, especially in Taiwan, Lantern festivals are huge commercial productions, with many corporations and educational institutions sponsoring lanterns. The festival usually begins at least one week before the Lantern Festival day with some cities and counties carrying their event a few days past the 15 day mark. This year's Lantern Festival's theme was "Westside Story, Taipei Glory" honoring the historic Ximending and Beimen neighborhoods on the westside of the city. Join me for a tour of some of Taipei's 2017 Lantern Festival highlights in this edition of Far East Adventure Travel.
I woke up to blasts and blasts of firecrackers echoing through the streets and alleyways in the Zhongshan District of Taipei, Taiwan. The crackling and explosions marked the first day of business in the Lunar New Year, 2017. In Taiwan and Chinese culture, ceremonies and rituals take place on the first day of business to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year. Offerings for the Gods are laid out on folding tables in front of businesses throughout Taipei and the rest of the island of Taiwan as shops, banks, offices, and most other commercial operations mark the start of their business year. Firecrackers are lit to chase away any bad spirits and kick off a prosperous year. Some larger businesses or associations will hire a Lion Dance troupe to help start the year off with good luck and fortune. This year after I heard the sounds of firecrackers I immediately got ready and headed for Dihua Street, the site of an annual New Year's food and snacks market and a commercial district the rest of the year. Dihua was once a bustling site of trading and export houses from around the world. Tea, fabrics, rice and other goods were loaded on ships docked at the nearby Danshui River. Today Dihua, a neighborhood of historic Qing Dynasty era buildings is home to traditional Chinese medicine shops, bulk foods and speciality items, cafes, and the Yongle Fabric Market. It was here where I eventually found myself ready to capture one of the most traditional and exciting ways to start the business year in Taiwan, a Lion Dance performance, prayer ceremony and a powerful firecracker blast. Xīnnián kuàilè, Happy New Year from Taipei, Taiwan!
Taipei, Taiwan becomes unusually quiet for most of the Chinese New Year holiday as many who work and live in the capital visit family in their hometowns around the island. You'd never believe it though when you visit some of the city's most prominent temples. Overflowing with visitors getting in their good luck prayers to ensure a healthy and prosperous year for themselves and their family. Longshan Temple is by far the most visited with the temple so crowded it's not unusual to get a little poke from someone's incense stick as you make your way through the throngs of people. Guandu Temple near the old fishing village river port town of Danshui is another favorite with many making their yearly visit to the big complex and oldest in Northern Taiwan. Another one of my favorite's to visit, especially on a sunny day, is Zhinan Temple on Monkey Mountain near the Taipei Zoo. Accessible by stairs that start at National Chengchi University, it's an approximate 30-40 hike through the forest and jungle to the temple. If you're not up for the hike the temple can be accessed via the Maokong Gondola near the zoo. The views are wonderful and the temple complex as one visitor shared with me has perfect Feng Shui, the Chinese belief of harmony with surroundings. The main Zhinan complex faces south over a beautiful terrace with views of Taipei City and lots of sunny exposure. The back of the temple is on the mountain side, sheltering it from the inclimate weather of the rainy season and winter. Next to the main Zhinan Temple is the Daxiong Buddhist Chapel, on many days offering a free vegetarian lunch in it's bottom level-a delicious selection of tofu, vegetables, rice, and soup. After lunch I sat in the courtyard of the Daxiong Chapel, listening to the recorded traditional music playing as I gazed out at the hills checkered with small vegetable/produce farms, little tea plantations and the Maokong Gondola transporting people through the hills. Later watching groups paying respects at the temple with offerings and prayers. Feeling refreshed, alive, and full of chi,(good energy), I made my way down the stairs to complete a perfect way to spend a day in Taipei during the Lunar New Year(Chinese New Year), holiday. Getting there:Take the MRT "brown line" to Taipei Zoo. Cross the road from the MRT station and take bus 236 and get off at National Chengchi University. There are signs to the trails at the plaza entrance. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
To experience what life would have been like for a Nguyen Emperor of Vietnam one must only visit their tomb. Like a reflection of their life each tomb leaves one with a sense of how the Emperor viewed his place in the world. The tomb of Tu Duc, approximately 5 kilometers outside of Hue, the former Imperial Capital, is one of the grandest of all with construction that took place over 3 years requiring 10,000 laborers. Tu Duc was the longest reigning Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, holding power for 36 years from 1848-83. His tomb served as palatial retreat for himself, his wives, concubines, and entourage after it's completion in 1867. The tomb complex is filled with buildings, temples, a lake, a tiny island where he could hunt small game, pavilions for relaxing and writing poetry and expansive grounds. Tu Duc's remains were never actually buried at the site of the tomb where he had spent so much time. Instead they were placed in a mysterious location somewhere around Hue. To ensure secrecy, the 200 workers that buried Tu Duc's remains were beheaded afterwards. To this day this site has still not been discovered. It's hard to justify the tomb with the history of suffering and loss associated with it's creation. Furthermore the lives that were sacrificed in order to preserve a mysterious burial site. When I walked around the Tomb of Tu Duc while broadcasting live on Periscope it was truly hard not to appreciate it's beauty while marvelling at the craftsmanship, artistry, and design. Much more fitting than a legacy to one man is a belief that this site reflects the beauty of Vietnamese architecture, heritage, and the hard work and sacrifice of it's people. The day I broadcasted live on Periscope from the Tomb of Tu Duc, the temperatures were in the mid-thirties celsius. Before and after the broadcast I explored the tomb complex while capturing images and shooting video for future podcasts. Working in the heat was exhausting, I can't imagine how hard it must have been for the labourers who turned this landscape into an Emperor's paradise. I hope you enjoy this "Best of" broadcast from the Tomb of Tu Duc in Hue, Vietnam. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
Guandu Temple is one of the oldest temples in Northern Taiwan. Established in 1661 the temple is dedicated to Matsu, Goddess of the sea. The temple complex also contains a Buddhist shrine or chapel where Guanyin, the Goddess of compassion is also honored. It's also one of the most popular temples to visit during the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year holidays in Northern Taiwan. This year the temple is featuring two mechanical roosters in honor of the zodiac animal. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
This is one of the biggest traditional morning or wet markets in Taipei, Taiwan. It's close to the fruit/vegetable wholesale market, and the wholesale fish and seafood market so there's an amazing selection of fresh food. It is one of the top spots to buy food to prepare dinner for Chinese(Lunar) New Year's Eve. I visited the market the day for the big night when families gather together for their reunion dinner. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
To appreciate Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam, one needs time. Unlike other historic towns like, Hoi an or even larger cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, where many sites are within walking distance Hue’s important landmarks and buildings are spread out. It’s a large canvas with incredible beauty, tradition and culture. I spent several days on my last visit to Hue exploring all of the significant sites the city has to offer from the Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, where the Nguyen emperors lived and ruled, to boat cruises on the Perfume River, bicycle and motorbike rides to temples, Emperor tombs, and famous vegetarian restaurants. There are a few ways you can visit the tombs that were built for the Nguyen emperors, who ruled Vietnam from 1802-1945. One of the most romantic ways is to hire your own boat and cruise the Perfume River, stopping at each tomb-some require a motorbike ride from the river bank. You can also go on a tourist boat, which is more economical, but either way this form of transportation will take the longest. Hiring a car is the most convenient and will cost around $40USD. I wouldn’t recommend cycling as it would take all day just to possibly visit only one tomb but renting a motorbike, as long as you’re comfortable using one is fun and inexpensive. A motorbike in Hue costs around $5-$6USD a day plus fuel. These tombs are impressive and at least two are in a fantasy setting. In this episode of Far East Adventure Travel the best of my live Periscope broadcasts from Minh Mang’s tomb in Hue, Vietnam. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now!Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
Taipei often gets quiet during the first days of the Lunar New Year's celebration, Taiwan's most important holiday. Many who work in the capital will leave for their hometown to visit with family during the holidays. Especially important is returning for the family reunion dinner which takes place on New Year's Eve. Train tickets get booked weeks in advance. There is one place you will find busy in Taipei leading up to The Lunar New Year and that's Dihua Street, home to the city's biggest New Year's market. For two weeks every year prior to the Lunar New Year, this street, which normally sells speciality foods, traditional Chinese medicine, tea, and other goods becomes a pedestrian only market loaded with sellers of tasty foods and snacks that are consumed in great quantities during the holidays. Crowds descend on Dihua Street where aggressive sellers ply you free samples of peanuts, dried squid, candies, and other treats in order to get your business. It's a beautifully preserved relic from Taipei's past. It's one of the city's most atmospheric neighborhoods. It was first established in the 1850's as an important trade center. Many of the Qing Dynasty buildings have been meticulously preserved along with Japanese and Westerner buildings on the narrow one way street. In it's heyday tea, Chinese medicine, fabrics, and incense were all exported here with goods loaded right onto boats close by on the Danshui River. With roads and railway extensions built by the Japanese colonists in the late 1800's Dihua Street became less important as a trade center. Today it's still a commercial district specializing in Chinese medicine, speciality groceries, it's nickname is "Grocery Street", and other household goods as well as upscale cafes and restaurants. The fun begins everyday on Dihua Street in the morning and continues throughout the day wrapping up late at night. If you happen to be in Taipei within two weeks of the Lunar New Year it's worth paying a visit, just for the sheer array of free food you'll get to sample. Join me for a tour of one of the great markets of Taiwan, in this episode of Far East Adventure Travel. Donate now and help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. A gift of $5, $10, $20, or $30 goes along way to help with production and travel costs. Whenever possible I stay in guesthouses, employ local guides and drivers, and support local business. The money I spend goes directly back into the community and so can yours. Support Far East Adventure Travel with a donation now! Donate paypal.me/JohnASaboe Donate Write a Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country with a total of 54 ethnic groups making up 14% or 13-14 million of the total population of 90 million. Excluding the Kinh or ethnic Vietnamese people there are a total of 8 ethnic hill tribes that are found in the Sapa area of Northern Vietnam. Hmong, Dzao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa(ethnic Chinese), and Xa Pho. The last 4 tribes compromise less than 500 people. The largest groups are the Hmong(52%), Dzao(25%), and Kinh(15%). Many older women of the two tribes you'll see most often in Sapa, Hmong and Dzao, make blankets and other textiles to sell. Many will also sell produce as well as bamboo that they harvest in the hills. You'll also often see young children selling trinkets in the village to help support their family. Some places discourage this but in my opinion I'd rather see people buying trinkets from kids rather than handing out candy. Their dental hygiene is not good to begin with and signs around town discourage this practise. Better to donate pens, pencils, or books directly to the schools. If you insist on giving something to kids it's better to give items like toys to the parents so begging is not encouraged. Giving anything directly to children really does set a bad pattern. Please don't do this wherever you travel in Asia. It's just as gratifying to give to a local charity or school. It's always fun to walk through the morning markets to see local goods for sale including fresh fruit and snacks like the bamboo tubes full of sticky rice. The people of the ethnic hill tribes English is remarkably good and a sign that language skills are important to survival. They are lots of fun to chat with and if you can get past the aggressive salesmanship you'll have some wonderful memories of engagement and interaction. I truly enjoyed my recent visit to Sapa. A highlight of the trip was a daily visit to the morning markets. Hope you enjoy the podcast and if you'd like to write a review in the iTunes store it will help other people find Far East Adventure Travel. Please follow the link below, make sure you're signed into the iTunes Store, click Ratings and Reviews, rate the podcast with a possible 5 stars then write your review. Write a Review: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2 Write a Review
Sapa, Vietnam is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Vietnam. At the time of this original live broadcast guesthouses and hotels were being constructed in a frenzy to accommodate the demand, especially from Vietnamese for lodgings. Sapa, with an elevation of 1500 meters has been a cool retreat from the heat and humidity of Hanoi and the surrounding area since the early 1900's. Military and missionaries arrived in the late 1800's then the first French civilian took permanent residence in 1909. Inhabitants of the Sapa region date back hundreds of years with little known of the first civilization other than hundreds of petroglyphs they left behind. Then came the hill tribes, Hmong, ZDao, and others. Today those hill tribes are still seen everywhere around Sapa dressed in their traditional clothing. Because Sapa is a tourist center and the people of the hill tribes are relatively poor they are constantly seen around the village selling textiles, trinkets, bracelets, as well as their own vegetables, bamboo and other goods including knives they forge themselves. Sellers, mostly women, are aged anywhere from 2 to 85. On my most recent trip I spent a few days around Sapa getting to know the area and the people of the region. If anything I've learned in my years as a passionate prolific traveler, it's to be empathetic. I'm not a master but with every journey I believe I get better. The hill tribe women will come off as being very aggressive and will follow you sometimes as you walk around the town pleading with you to buy something. It's quite easy to feel pestered and ultimately frustrated and annoyed. Keep in mind that they are not trying to get money from you to make a car payment, buy a nice bottle of wine, or a new pair of designer shoes. They're trying to put food on the table for their family. To buy the essential needs for survival. It's unrealistic to expect that everyone that comes to Sapa buy something from everyone they meet. But when you put yourself in someone else's shoes for a moment the annoyed and frustrated feeling tends to fade away. I've found that a smile, a compliment, some respect, and maybe even sharing a laugh goes along way to create a much more pleasant environment between myself and local people and also allows me to say no without them losing dignity. And yes, occasionally I will buy something. But I can't say yes to everyone either. Can you imagine though, having to go out walking around your town everyday with a bag of goods, hoping you can sell enough to buy your kids some food or clothing. Or sending your 3 or 4 year old daughter out into the streets to sell bracelets so she can do the same. Join me in this two part series of walks throughout the village from previous live streaming broadcasts of my recent trip to Sapa, Vietnam.
One of the most interesting sites I’ve ever come across in Southeast Asia let alone Vietnam is Ho Quyen, or the Tiger/Elephant fight arena in the former Imperial capital of Hue. It’s not on the same grand scale as Rome’s Coliseum but it’s an unusual and rare peak into a time in Southeast Asia when fights staged between tigers and elephants took place. Only 3 kilometers outside of Hue it was built in 1830 by the emperor at the time, Minh Manh, Research of this site revealed it was crumbling and falling apart but I was surprised that it was in better shape than I thought considering there has been little to no upkeep of the arena since the last fight took place here in 1904. There’s still enough structure including stairs to reach the top of the arena that you can imagine what it must have been like for the royal emperor and his entourage to be present during these brutal fights. Tigers were the symbol of rebellion, beasts that killed helpless villagers. Elephants were noble and represented monarchy, so it’s no wonder through the drugging, declawing and defanging of the tigers before the start of a fight who won everytime. It’s somewhat of a haunting feeling being inside the arena, on the very ground where tigers most of the time were trampled to death by elephants. If it looked like an elephant was losing a fight another would be sent in to help finish the job. All in the preservation of the pride of the monarchy. I crawled into some of the old holding areas for the tigers, some of which had claw marks scratched right into the plastered walls. A few kilometers in the other direction outside of the main town of Hue is a traditional Vietnamese countryside location complete with rice paddies, quiet roads, and a beautiful Japanese style covered bridge with a wonderful history. Thanh Toan Bridge is a cultural relic with unique architectural features but the story behind the bridge is far more interesting than the structure itself. Tran Thi Dao the childless wife of a high ranking mandarin or official in Le Hien Tong’s court in the 1700’s had the bridge constructed to help the local people communicate and travel outside of the village. When the Emperor heard of her kind deed he freed the village of taxes as a reminder of her generosity. In 1925 Emperor Kai Dinh ordered the village to build an altar in Tran Thi Dao’s memory inside the bridge. The Emperor knowing that Tran Thi Dao never had children ensured that she would always be remembered in a culture that puts a high importance on ancestor worship. This is one of two ancient bridges of Vietnam that appear in guide books world-wide. The other famous bridge of Vietnam is Hoi an’s Japanese covered bridge. That bridge was in fact built by Japanese immigrants in Hoi an but the Thanh Toan bridge is a Vietnamese bridge with similar features to the Japanese covered bridges of the time with a decorative tile roof and platforms inside to lean against. This is a lovely setting and the bridge is a great reason to leave the busier surroundings of Hue, making it a great afternoon getaway from the town. Back in Hue another bridge to admire is the Truong Tien Bridge created by the famous French architect and designer Gustav Eiffel. Completed in 1899 it’s setting over the Perfume River is atmospheric, even rising to romantic in stature. It’s had many ups and downs weathering historic storms and two wars. It’s latest renovation took 5 years from 1991-95 and in 2002 a lighting system was added. Today the bridge is mostly used for motorbikes and pedestrians and admired by all, especially in the evening with it’s colorful light display. It’s wonderful to cross the bridge North of the river where the Citadel and ancient Imperial complex is located and also to visit Hue’s largest outdoor market, Dong Ba. This is a great market to visit and buy some of the local snacks and fresh fruit and admire all of the wonderful ingredients that go into the amazing cuisine of Vietnam. These are all interesting and highly recommended places and sites to experience but the real reason most people visit Hue is to see the Imperial City where the Nguyen emperors ruled from 1802-1945. The complex is protected by the Citadel. Fortified ramparts that stretch 2 kilometers by 2 kilometers with an outer moat filled with water routed from the Perfume River. Within the Citadel is the Imperial City, inside an even more exclusive area, the Forbidden Purple City, access of which was only permitted to the Nguyen Imperial family. Much of the Forbidden Purple City had been destroyed during the Vietnam War when in 1968 one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict took place here during the Tet offensive. At first because of the cultural significance of the site, U.S. troops were ordered not to bomb the Imperial City but as fighting grew more intense those restrictions were lifted. Out of 160 original buildings only 10 remain as a result of the battle. The Mieu Temple has managed to survive the conflicts but did suffer fire damage in 1947 and was subsequently restored. The Mieu means temple of generations and it’s here where the altars of Nguyen emperors are worshipped. Directly across from the temple in front of the Hien Lam Pavilion sits the 9 Dynastic urns, dedicated to the Nguyen emperors. The urns are works of art with depictions of stars, oceans, rivers, mountains and other images. Important to the cultural history of Vietnam but even more valued by the Vietnamese claiming the artwork proves their right to the hotly contested Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. This is one of the most beautiful spaces in the whole Imperial Palace complex. Sadly it reminds us of the terrible destruction war can have not only on people but the significant sites that are the foundation of a country’s history and culture. As Hue’s important cultural sites are spread out over a large area leave a few days on your itinerary to visit the former Imperial Capital. Unlike Hoi an, it’s neighbor 3 hours by car south, Hue is not as compact so it’s charm must be appreciated on a much larger canvas. It’s truly worth the time as you’ll experience tradition, food, culture and history like no other destination in Vietnam. Help others discover Far East Adventure Travel by writing a review in the iTunes Store. Visit the page, click “Ratings and Reviews”, rate the podcast with a possible 5 stars and write your review now! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
The Temple of Literature or Van Meiu, Quoc Tu Giam was Vietnam’s first university. This temple is dedicated to Confucius as well as past scholars and sages, so significant it’s even featured on the back of the 100,000 dong note. Confucius was a Chinese teacher, philosopher, and politician among other things. In the early part of his life in 500 B.C. China had broken into rival states battling for supremacy. To bring more peace and harmony into society Confucius, created a code of ethics for people. He traveled the country to explain his principles. At the time his philosophy was radically different from the belief of acquiring status by power and heroic actions rather than selflessness, non-violent behaviour, and respect for others. It was Founded in 1070 by emperor Ly Thanh Tong. Dedicated to Confucius or Khong Tu, when it first opened in 1076 entrance was only granted to those of noble birth. It wasn’t until 1442 that the university opened it’s doors to gifted students from across Vietnam who came to study the principles of Confucianism, literature, and poetry. As you walk the main path of the complex you pass through the landscaped grounds filled with trees and ponds and several gates that lead into other sections with a total of 5 courtyards. It’s easy to picture students taking a break to relax in between studies during the days of when the Temple of Literature was an active university. It’s still possible to feel some of that peace with just a dull rumble of motorbikes and traffic in the background. It’s easy to appreciate the traditional Vietnamese architecture with many structures and features made of wood and tiles. In the third courtyard sits the pond known as the Well of Heavenly Clarity, sometimes also referred to as the Lake of Literature. It’s here where you also find the tombstone looking stelae dedicated to 1307 Doctors who studied here between 1442 and 1779. All of the stelae sit on stone tortoises, the sign of wisdom and longevity. In May during exams in Hanoi, students were often seen at the temple rubbing the heads of the tortoise, believing it will bring good luck and a pass on their tests. Today there’s a fence in place to help preserve the turtles. The fourth courtyard is dedicated to Confucius and 72 honored students as well as Chu Van An, known as an extremely passionate teacher. There’s another tortoise on display, this one is gold plated ceramic. The tortoise is one of 4 sacred and mythical animals revered by Vietnamese, the others are the Phoenix, Dragon, and Unicorn. This area is also where Confucius along with his four closest disciples are worshipped.10 other philosophers are also honored in this sanctuary. Because the Temple of Literature is such a picturesque location of history and traditional architecture there’s probably not a day that goes by without young couples posing for their wedding photos. Depending on the time of year you’ll also notice students upon graduation or completion of studies taking pictures. During the time the Temple of Literature was operating as a university right up until it’s closing in 1779, students lived as well as studied here. Along with Confucianism, poetry, and literature, students learned Chinese, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese history. They had minor tests each month and four major ones every year. Students were enrolled in the university anywhere between 3 and 7 years. The fifth courtyard was constructed in 1076 to be the imperial academy. In 1236 the Minh Luan House, more classrooms and dormitories were added. Khai Thanh Shrine was constructed to honor Confucius’ parents. In 1946 the French destroyed the fifth courtyard and it wasn’t until 2000 that new buildings were constructed along with the addition of a bell and drum tower. Ceremonies are organized in the fifth courtyard for cultural scholars and events along with other activities. Ho Chi Minh is considered the founding father of modern Vietnam. He was a communist revolutionary, prime minister and president. He died in 1969 before he could realize his dream of a united Vietnam. Upon the fall of Saigon and the end of the war the former capital of the south was renamed after him. That same year a mausoleum was constructed in Hanoi where his body is displayed under dim lights in the cool central hall of the building. The mausoleum, inspired by Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow is open to the public daily from 9 to 11am. There are strict dress codes and even body posture. No shorts or skirts, and hands must not be in your pockets or arms crossed. Photography or video is not allowed and even outside of the mausoleum when the doors are open there is a minimum distance where visitors to the area are allowed. Still, it’s definitely worth visiting just for the fact that there are only 5 former leaders on display, this way, in the world. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located at the center of Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in 1945 establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Another site in Hanoi worth a visit and that should take less than two hours to properly cover is the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, known to American POW’s during the Vietnam War as the Hanoi Hilton. Much of the prison was destroyed in the nineties for development but the original gatehouse remains as do some of the old cells and corridors. The displays are mostly focused on the days when the prison, run by the French colonists, kept Vietnamese political prisoners. Inside a model of the original prison compound is on display along with lots of stories and articles of clothing of revolutionaries. Some of the cells are remembered as places where Vietnamese looking to overthrow the French suffered. A guillotine used by the French to behead revolutionaries is in a haunting room complete with soundtrack. There are a couple of rooms where flight suits, photographs, and other personal items from captured U.S. military are on display which most will find interesting. Including pictures of young North Vietnamese female soldiers capturing and marching big tall American soldiers through the jungle. Another room with the use of mannequins shows how crowded and horrid the conditions for Vietnamese prisoners were. Originally to house 450, records show there were up to 2000 imprisoned here in the 1930’s. The prison is really a show of the fighting spirit of these revolutionaries honoring their suffering for the eventual freedom from the French. There’s even the actual sewer on display that many escaped through. The final outside area of the museum is where a memorial is located and a haunting mural/sculpture depicting the torture and suffering of the Vietnamese that were jailed here. Hanoi is the polar opposite is some ways to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, more traditional and formal in some ways, even strict, with much of the old quarter closed by 11pm. Different but still fascinating and exciting in it’s own way, and I can’t wait to share more. Subscribe now-https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adventure-travel-far-east/id890305531?mt=2
For some Christmas in Taiwan might not feel quiet like the time of year they grew up knowing. For one thing, Christmas is not recognized as a holiday on the island. If Christmas falls during the week it's a regular work day for everyone. It also doesn't help that more than 95% of the island is not of Christian faith, so the religious importance of the day and time of year has no significance. Still many Taiwanese enjoy the Christmas season, going out to shopping malls seeking out selfies in front of the many decorated trees, holiday inspired mascots, like sumo wrestler elves, and Sanrio style characters. It's a fun time of year with office parties and gift exchanges, and some households adding some seasonal decor, although there are no live trees sold anywhere, that I've seen. A family gathering, is not necessarily important and there are no big holiday meals to shop for and prepare. As a Westerner what you will notice the most missing is the overall energy, spirit, and anticipation of Christmas and the holidays. That "buzz" in the air, especially a week before the big day is non existent. On the positive side there isn't the frenzied feel of people dashing around overspending on gifts and getting upset by long line-ups or stores running out of the latest gadget or toy. The best thing about Christmas in Taiwan is looking forward to their big celebration that's just around the corner, Lunar New Year, when the real festivities begin. This year having spent the most time on the island in December I've been extra curious about Christmas light displays, temporary markets, including the fabled Strasbourg Christmas Market appearing in Taipei for the first time, and other ways a foreigner can at the least, feel the essence of the holiday spirit. I also find that through all of my sharing platforms, including live streaming on Periscope and Facebook, that people from the rest of the world are very curious as to how people celebrate or recognize the holiday in other countries and cultures. So I hopped on what was my version of the "Polar Express", Taiwan's Bullet train, from Taipei, out to Taoyuan District to see the closest HSR station to the international airport, the new MRT airport line, and some wonderful Christmas light displays in a new shopping mall that I heard was authentically festive. Who would have thought that someone in a foreign land could find peace and that warm undeniable feeling of goodwill toward man amidst outdoor clothing stores, and luxury brands. Walking around that quiet new outlet mall with people putting the last minute touches on their store opening, listening to tasteful Christmas music, enjoying the dazzling illumination made possible by Taiwanese LED lights and watching children playing under a little snow machine surprised me. Those few moments stirred up wonderful feelings of treasured memories and reminded me that Christmas, if you allow it, is with us no matter where we find ourselves in the world.
This broadcast originally aired as a livestream on Periscope during my visit to Hue, Vietnam. Portions have been edited and some narration has been added for clarity. Hue, Vietnam was the seat of the Nguyen emperors and was the imperial capital from 1802-1945. The Perfume River divides the North and South sections of Hue. In the north, the Citadel, a walled fortress and the remains of The Forbidden Purple City, home to the Nguyen emperors. The South contains modern Hue, much of which had to be rebuilt after the Vietnam War. As I passed by the Citadel and the remains of The Forbidden Purple City of the Ngyuen emperors I chatted about the recent intense weather. Pedal boats in the shape of swans are popular at rivers and lakes throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia. Someone asked about a man I met working at a restaurant that made me a bottle opener with a bolt and scrape piece of wood. The Truong Tien Bridge was designed by Gustav Eiffel, who was responsible for many bridges and buildings during the French Colonial Period. This is a wonderful setting at night viewing the multi-colored spotlights on the bridge from the Walking Street market. The current population of Hue is approximately 350,000. As we passed under the Trong Tien Bridge my boat ride on the Perfume River was coming to an end. This was a fantastic experience riding past the green banks of the river seeing the Citadel and other sites from my very own chartered dragon boat. Hue is a city that in a relatively short time has seen emperor rule, terrible loss and devastation from war, and an eventual acceptance of what had been seen by the Vietnamese Communist Party as the reminder of a feudel regime. Currently restoration of many of it’s historic sites is underway. A truly remarkable experience and perspective from Hue’s legendary atmospheric waterway-The Perfume River.
On my recent trip to The Philippines I flew from Taipei,Taiwan direct to Cebu City, the second largest urban center in the country next to Manila with a population of approximately 1 million. The total surrounding metro Cebu City population is around 3 million. After arriving I immediately headed for the Fort San Pedro and waterfront area hoping to catch the sunset and some of the early evening activity. Looking at the flag of The Philippines at The Port Authority Building I felt excited but a little confused as I wandered through Plaza Independencia. Some followers expressed their concerns about crime in The Philippines. After watching some of the daily activity of the locals in the harbour including boaters and swimmers I walked back to Fort San Pedro. The original fort was built from wood. In the early 17 century a stone fort was constructed by the Spanish to repel Muslim raiders. The current structure dates back to 1738. It is one of the most visited sites in the city. The Philippines at 90 percent of the population holds the highest percentage of Christians in all of Asia, 82 percent of which are Catholic. It’s no surprise that signs of Christmas were seen everywhere in late November. Some Filipinos say that Christmas starts in September but there were still many decorations and tree lightings that weren’t commencing until early December. I visited Cebu City’s largest mall, SM Seaside City Cebu, the 3rd largest shopping complex in the country and the 8th biggest in the world to see how Christmas preparations were coming along. I also wanted to show how similar if not identical the Christmas shopping mall experience is in The Philippines compared to the West. Thanks for joining me for the Best of Far East Adventure Travel live in The Philippines. For images and other videos don’t forget to follow Far East Adventure Travel on Instagram and Facebook.
I was checking out Pham Ngu Lao and Bo Vien known as the backpacker center. I normally like exploring and photographing less touristy areas of a city but it never hurts to be familiar with places where you’re more likely to meet up with fellow travelers and exchange stories, suggestions and tips. I was on my way to Ben Thanh Market, another lively and well-known part of the city. Actually most of Ho Chi Minh City is lively. In fact pretty much all of it is. The constant buzz from the hundreds of thousands of motorbikes that race the streets fuels what looks like to the uninitiated, pure chaos. But for the most part, it seems to work. There’s lots of ways of getting around Ho Chi Minh City, or as many of the locals still call it, Saigon. It’s not for everyone, but when it wasn’t raining I found myself hopping on the back of a motorbike taxi ordered using an app. Safe, convenient, and courteous drivers only interested in getting you safely to your destination with fair pricing. The original Ben Thanh market area was established in the 16th century by local street vendors and eventually was organized by the French into a more formal setting in the mid 1800’s. The current location was established in 1912 with a renovation completed in 1985. Even though the market closes at 6pm every night it’s still a great gathering spot with lots of people hanging out, eating and socializing. A night market opens up just outside Ben Thanh right after the indoor market closes. Ben Thanh Market is a great place to see what people eat, and shop for in Saigon, but be aware these prices are set high for naive tourists and hard bargaining. Personally I love looking at stuff here, the giant stacks of clothes, souvenirs and massive containers heaped with dried fruit and nuts, candies, and coffee and tea sellers around everycorner. The displays are amazing and enticing, but I tend to shop in non-touristy neighborhoods where they’re not accustomed to foreigners and it’s easier to bargain. Because most people that work here speak pretty good English communication is easier. If you’re pressed for time and want to shop at Ben Thanh Market, look at everything with disinterest, and bargain hard. The food and drinks at the stalls are tasty and the prices are pretty fair for a high traffic area. Ho Chi Minh City is divided into 24 districts, but there’s really only 7 that you are likely to find yourself in. This is District 1-which is Saigon proper. It’s where you’ll find most of the major sites. From Ben Thanh Market there’s lots of places to see within a 15 minute walk, like the Opera House, The Old City Hall, major shopping malls, historic hotels with rooftop bars, and more. It’s also where the War Remnants Museum is located. This is one of the most visited museums in Saigon with an estimated 500,000 guests per year, mostly foreigners. Although some may find this a one-sided exhibit it does show in very real displays the atrocities of war. On the grounds there are various leftover U.S. military aircraft and equipment including tanks, bulldozers, and howitzers. As well as a large format black and white photograph of a mangrove appearing to have been destroyed by the use of chemicals. In another building on the grounds a display includes the infamous “tiger cages” used by the South Vietnamese to contain VC soldiers. Inside, the two floors, formerly the United States Information Agency Building, are various displays of weapons and bombs used during the Vietnam War.. There are also exhibits relating to the first Indochina War with French Colonists. And a poignant display of all of the international press photographers that were killed during the war. Although some will find many of the exhibits biased, the overall tone of this museum has softened over time. Once called the Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes, later the name changed to Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression and then once diplomatic relations with the U.S. were reestablished in 1995, the name changed again to The War Remnants Museum. On the other side of town a visit to The Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most atmospheric temple experiences in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s considered one of the five most important shrines of the area. Taoism was introduced to Vietnam by the Chinese during their thousand year-old occupation along with Buddhism and Confuciunism. By stats Vietnam is considered one of the least religious countries in the world. However those numbers could be deceiving as many Vietnamese will claim they are non-religious to be a member of the Communist party but in fact do visit temples and worship ancestors. Turtles are a sign of longevity. They are a symbol you will see frequently in temples throughout Vietnam. The Jade Emperor Temple has a pond full of live turtles, some with auspicious sayings painted on their shells. Feeding the turtles is considered part of a merit making visit to the temple. The new Chinese name of the temple translates to Lucky Sea Temple or Tortoise Pagoda. It is clearly a mixed denominational temple of Buddhism and Taoism. U.S. President Barack Obama paid a visit to the temple May 22nd, 2016 during his state visit to Vietnam. As you enter the main sanctuary Buddhist and Taoist deities surround you with two giant generals to the right and left. The combination of incense smoke and laser beams of light entering through the ceiling further enhances the power all of the deities seem to wield, especially the Jade Emperor himself. In another room through a corridor the Chief of Hell awaits you. On the walls there’s wood-carved depictions of the various punishments that evil doers will receive in The Ten Regions of Hell. The City God is also found in this room with many worshippers paying him a visit. His hat reads, “at one glance, money is given”. The final room, some refer to as the “women lounge” is where 12 female figures sit that represent the good and bad of human nature. The bad displayed in this figure drinking alcohol from a jug. The Goddess of fertility Kim Hua, presides overall. Childless couples visit here frequently to pray for offspring. Ho Chi Minh City is a megalopolis of contrasts, new and old, traditional culture and modern shopping, pleasant sites, friendly faces and reminders of the dark days of despair and war. In my opinion it’s one of the most vibrant, exciting, and rapidly changing cities in Asia and I can’t wait to share more.
Kagbeni is one of the most interesting villages in all of Nepal with it’s ancient Bonn Animist beliefs, statues and a picturesque location in the Kala Gandaki gorge. The Kag in Kagbeni was once Ghag, meaning center and it is, with the important Buddhist/Hindu pilgrimmage site Muktinath to the east and the town of Jomson to the south. The beni in Kagbeni means confluence of two rivers where the Kala Gandaki and Jhong Rivers meet is where the village sits. Before Tibetan Buddhism became the fabric of the culture of this region people followed Bon, another Tibetan religion. Bon is an ancient shamanist religion with rituals, exorcisms, and talismans. Kagbeni still integrates the beliefs of Bon in village life with these ghost eaters or Kennis that protect the town. I asked my friend Dara, the proprietor of YakDonald’s Hotel and Restaurant to explain what the statues do to protect Kagbeni and some of the other beliefs that Bon followers hold. I asked Dara who runs the famous restaurant and hotel of Kagbeni, why the name YakDonald’s? It was time to leave Kagbeni and head for Jomsom, the final stop for my Annapurna Circuit Trek. At roughly 3 hours it will be a light trekking day. The impressive Kali Ghandaki Gorge, some believe the deepest in the world has been an ancient trade route between Tibet and India for centuries. Kagbeni is one of my favorite villages in Nepal but we needed to get out of the gate by 8:30 so we can beat most of the winds that pick up by late morning. With a clear start to the day we were able to enjoy magnificent views of Nilgiri North at 7061 meters, the highest of the 3 peaks of the Nilgiri Himal. Horses are used for carrying loads as well as for tourist groups wanting to enjoy the Upper Mustang on horseback rather than by walking. Mountain biking has also become a popular way to see the region. Upper Mustang is considered one of the easier treks of Nepal. As we approached Jomsom the winds had started picking up. Flights from and to Jomsom airport are only scheduled in the early morning as the winds are too dangerous for air travel later in the day. The original Annapurna Circuit would take trekkers all the way back to Pokhara. Like most visitors these days, I’m ending my Annapurna trek at Jomsom, with a flight back to Pokhara. Jomsom is the gateway to Mustang and the Upper Mustang as well as Muktinath. Most people just pass through the village. There’s monasteries to visit and some wonderful views of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri to enjoy and little shops and markets. But for most people stopping here for the night, it’s a place to chill and rest after or before a trek. I was quiet happy having lunch, settling into my lodge, then going for a walk around the village later in the afternoon and enjoying the sunset over Nilgiri. The next morning a little traffic jam on the way to the airport. Then it’s time for checking in and ending my Annapurna Circuit Trek. There are more adventurous and challenging regions for trekking, but for an overall experience of walking through brilliant landscapes, appreciating the diverse culture and people of Nepal, and comfortable friendly lodges, the Annapurna Circuit won’t dissapoint . Even as the region develops with more roads and infrastructure I still believe it lives up to it’s reputation as one of the world’s greatest treks.
We arrived at Thorung Phedi just before dark. An 8 hour day with an elevation gain of over 1000 meters. Long, tiring, and risky before a summit of the Thorung La Pass. But I was fine other then feeling the long day on the trail. I’m not a huge fan of trekking in the dark. I feel more tired, frustrated, and generally uncomfortable, so sometimes these summit days don’t start out pleasant, but when the first light comes up in the sky my spirits are all of sudden lifted. I feel light, full of energy, and excited to reach our goal, in most cases, the hardest day of the journey. Yes there is a horse on the trek, some choose a horseback ride up to the top of the pass. For most it’s usually a 4-5 hour walk from Thorung Phedi. Some stay at Thorung high camp, just over 300 meters higher, which will slice an hour off your morning summit. Whenever you reach the summit of a pass, which inevitably is part of many treks in Nepal, the feeling of accomplishment, relief, elation, is mutual with all of your fellow trekkers. The Thorung La Pass at 5416 meters, is the widest mountain pass in the world. It’s always a place with dangerously high winds that start as early as 8am, so our time on the pass was limited to less than an hour before we started to descend. Just over a year ago this was the sight of one of the most tragic trekking accidents in the history of the Annapurna Circuit Trail. On October 14 2014, a snowstorm struck the Annapurna, Manang, and Mustang Districts of Nepal causing severe avalanches. In the end over 400 people were rescued from the area with at least 43 deaths, which included 21 trekkers. Because the previous few days brought fresh snowfall to the region, descending down to Muktinath and Ranipauwa, our next stop would be treacherous and tiring. Roughly 4 to 5 hours of carefully trying to keep from sliding on my butt was challenging and on more than a couple of occasions I was defeated by the conditions. Arriving at Muktinath, the religious site that is both sacred to Buddhists and Hindus and the neighboring Ranipauwa village where we would lodge, felt like Shangri La. We passed by Muktinath and headed straight for Ranipauwa, sometimes also referred to as Muktinath, to settle into our lodge and get acquainted with the village. After the long trek of summiting the Thorung La pass and the rough and tumble descent, gazing at Dauligiri, the 7th highest mountain in the world seemed like the perfect way to end the day. The next morning I had more time to walk through the village and enjoy the views of the Mustang region. This is one of the most wonderful settings in Nepal. The dry region filled with captivating views of Himalayan peaks, Buddhist monasteries, and pilgrims that have journeyed from all over South Asia to visit Muktinath. For some Hindus, the central shrine of Muktinath is considered one of the 8th most sacred shrines in Asia. This is a Vishnu temple, one of the oldest and most revered in South Asia. The prakaram or outer courtyard of the temple has 108 bull faces through which sacred water is poured. Many devotees will take baths, even in freezing temperatures in the pools at the complex. Buddhists revere Muktinath for the fact that the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche, meditated here on his way to Tibet. Their name for the temple complex is Chumig Gyatsa-Tibetan for a hundred waters. We all took a turn catching some of the holy water. Hari, being a Buddhist, was all in with his hat off and splashing the sacred water on his face. I took the conservative approach while running my hand through all 108 taps. Some will run under the spouts with nothing more than shorts or a bathing suit on in a total devotional effort to bring good kharma and luck to their life. I just wanted to stay warm while participating in my spiritual quest. You don’t need to be Hindu to have one of the priests on duty perform a puja or prayer for yo either. Just a donation which can be whatever you think is fair. Further away from the main temple complex is another holy site, The Goddess of Fire temple, where 3 eternal flames are located. The natural gas spouts are called the holy flame from rock, holy flame from soil, and holy flame from water. The close proximity of the flames, holy flowing water, and the earth which surrounds it, are the reasons for Muktinath’s prominence as an important pilgrimage site. As with many holy sites throughout Nepal and India, photography of the flames is not permitted. Hindus in particular will travel from as far away as South India to visit the site. Some even fly in from Kathmandu by helicopter, but due to the rapid rise in elevation can only stay for a short time. After crossing the Thorung La Pass many will travel through Muktinath and Ranipauwa only stopping for a short few hours before making their way to Kagbeni. I highly recommend at least staying one night in Ranipauwa. The village is simple, charming and friendly. You will receive attention from the local trinket sellers, but it’s usually just good-hearted. The views of the surrounding Mustang region are breathtaking and there is an heir of peace here that probably hasn’t changed much since Guru Rinpoche’s meditative stop. Mustang was once an independent kingdom, only fully coming into the fold of Nepal in 2008. Up until 1992 the Upper Mustang was completely closed off to the rest of the world. Having visited their myself to view this still preserved Tibetan culture and relatively untouched region I appreciated the similarities the lower Mustang offers. And there is no need for a special permit to trek here, other than a regular Annapurna Circuit trekking permit. Along with tourism animal husbandry is still one of the main sources of income, along with farming. Sea buckthorn grows in abundance here. The nutritious pulp from the berries is used to make syrups, tea, other drinks and is also used in cosmetic products. The most atmospheric of all of the villages is probably Jhong. With it’s ancient crumbling fortress and hilltop temple it feels like the setting of a fairy tale, or a Star Wars or Lord of The Rings shooting locale. We climbed up to the very top of the hill where the temple was located to enjoy some of the sweeping views of this side of the Himalaya. What seemed like an apple tree growing out of the roof was really rooted in the little courtyard below, where we met one of the young novices of the monastery. This region could be it’s own little trekking trip, with wonderful walks through these villages and comfortable stays in Jomsom, Kagbeni, and Ranipauwa Muktinath. One our way to Kagbeni we stopped to marvel at the peaks in the distance including The Thorung La. As wonderful a trekking day this can be it’s important for comfort to be done the majority of the walking for the day by the early afternoon, as the winds are quite strong through the Kali Gandaki Gorge. By the noon hour we reached the wonderful crossroads of the Annapurna Circuit and Upper Mustang regions Kagbeni. A town loaded with layers of Bon and Buddhist culture, Kennies, guardians or protector statues and an old fortressed village. Next time on Far East Adventure Travel, the ancient village of Kagbeni and the conclusion to Trekking The Great Annapurna Circuit.
There are two routes to Manang from Pisang. A lower trail that’s a little easier with less climbing and the upper route, slightly more challenging but also helpful for acclimating with bonus mountain views. We chose the route north of the Marsyangdi and headed for Upper Pisang. Annapurna 11 is part of the Annapurna chain but is an independent peak. It was first summited by a team made up of British/Indian/and Nepalese nationals in 1960. It is the second highest peak of the range at 7937 meters. The highest, Annapurna 1, is 8091 meters making it the 10th highest mountain in the world. Fantastic views of Lower Pisang from Upper Pisang, a much more traditional village of the region. Look for lots of opportunity to spread good kharma with the many prayer wheels at the village’s entrance. We saw a few signs of earthquake damage. These traditional village buildings saw the worst devastation in Nepal but this area was not as affected by quake damage as other regions. Our trekking for the day would include one stop for lunch at Ghyaru before settling into to the wonderful little traditional Tibetan style village of Gnawal. More suspension bridge crossings with amazing views of this drier region of the Annapurna Circuit that some feel is the most scenic. Climbing higher now at 3600 meters it’s time to slow the pace down slightly to allow for proper acclimatization. This side of the valley, although a little more challenging to trek will help you get used to the conditions of the higher altitude. Most trekkers will rest two days in Manang before attempting to cross the Thorung La Pass to help with adjusting to the higher elevation. This is the Disyang Valley. Syang is a village in Upper Mustang, Nepal. Disyang means the people who migrated from Upper Mustang to Manang. We arrived at the village of Ghyaru in time for a lunch break. Most all the villages resemble this style seen in the Mustang and Upper Mustang regions. The walled lanes help to shield visitors and residents from the harsh winds. In my opinion this trail is one of the most enjoyable in Nepal, for it’s incredible views of the Annapurna range and the stunning high Tibetan plateau landscape. It’s been an important route for yak and salt traders for centuries. You’re constantly reminded of the deep Tibetan Buddhist roots with stupas and mani walls almost around every corner. We arrived in Gnawal late in the afternoon with a shadow on the village and some cold winds to endure on the approach. With some of the best lodges in the country it was nice to arrive in Gnawal to find some wonderful rooms available for the night. After checking into my room I headed out to the upper part of the village where the sun was still shining to check out the gompa or temple. Sending out good kharma with a spin of the prayer wheels I headed back to the lodge to warm up by the kitchen fire and watch one of the porters entertain us with some improvisational dance. Later in the evening we were lucky enough to see a local performing artist group from Pokhara that specializes in traditional Tibetan and Gurung song and dance at the temple. Back on the trail the next morning for a trek of less than 4 hours to Manang, where we had a planned extra rest day for acclimatization. Should you develop any symptoms of high altitude sickness there’s a medical center that specializes in A.M.S. in the town. By road Manang has become more accessible in recent years allowing for more efficient transport of goods to the village and for the opportunity for some to enjoy this trekking region with a limited amount of time. There’s also a small airport that serves the whole area. There’s cultivation on terraces nearby the village and of course yak herding is popular here. Still with the new access it feels remote, and sublimely Tibetan. About 45 minutes before we reached Manang we walked through the little village of Braga with one of the nicest Buddhist monasteries in the region. The monks had left for Nepal for higher learning leaving the monastery vacant through the winter. Finally we arrived at our stop and rest before pursuing the hardest part of the trek, reaching the summit of the Thorung La Pass. Manang's main source of revenue is the trekking business but some still support themselves with crops and yak herding. After lunch and a break in our lodge I started exploring the village to discover we had a surprise for our itinerary. With one of the biggest trekking disasters in the history of the trail in the previous year we weren’t about to take any chances. We prepared ourselves for at least one extra day on top of the two we had already planned to spend in Manang. I spent the morning on day two wandering through the village watching everyday life in the snow. While some trekkers were disappointed abandoning the rest of their trip due to time constraints everyone else in the village just seemed to be going about life like it was just another day. Except the day’s chores included clearing roofs, catching animals, and building snowmen. In the afternoon to get some walking in and help acclimate we hiked back to the village of Braga to climb up to the monastery. Unfortunately unable to find the caretaker who had the key to the Buddhist monastery that’s vacant in the winter we had about the same access as these guys we crossed paths with. The next day, was brilliant. Bright sunny, a bluebird day. Time for the classic acclimatization hike in Manang overlooking Gangapurna Lake. After spending two nights in Manang with a planned third night we decided we would head straight for Thorung Phedi the next day, leaving out another acclimatization stop in Yak Kharka. This would mean a summit of the Thorung La Pass, the toughest day of the trek after a 8-9 hour day on the trail. Everything felt right, like this was the way the trek was meant to unfold. Even a herd of goats couldn’t stop us on our push to summit the pass the next day, but they did delay us by a few minutes. The snow backed up the village of Manang so there were alot of trekkers eager to move on with the change in weather. Pushing on right to Phedi would put us ahead of most who would make a stop for the night before the summit base camp. Along the way, some of the clearest best views of the Annapurna range. This was the longest day of the trek so a few stops en route for tea and rest were in order. Another stop at Khenjang Khola for some tea and more spectacular views of the Annapurna range. What originally was our stop for the night,Yak Kharka, has become our lunch break with our adjusted itinerary. We had to take a short lunch and move on so we can reach Phedi before dark. For now it feels like we’re leaving the Annapurnas behind as we make the last few kilometers to Phedi. I was very conscious of ensuring I was properly acclimating to this sever jump in elevation. Technically the rule of thumb is not to ascend and sleep at more than 500 meters from the previous day once you are above 3000 meters. The jump in altitude we were attempting in one day was over 1000 meters from Manang to Phedi. One precaution I took was to hire an extra porter to take the rest of the gear I was packing all the way to the top of the Thorung La, keeping my load light with minimal stress on my system. One last bridge over the Jargeng Khola river and we were on the same side of the valley as Phedi. We stopped one last time for a tea break before reaching our destination for the night. I spoke with Naris, one of the porters on our team about Yarsagumba, the lucrative crop that locals harvest in these hills every year. Next time on Far East Adventure Travel-Trekking the Great Annapurna Circuit continues with The toughest day of the trek. Summiting the Thorung La Pass. Yarsagumba Photo Credit-By The original uploader was Rafti Institute at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Lvova using CommonsHelper., CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5088245
It’s a shame that many drive through this part of the circuit for upper Annapurna trekking and stays missing the epic river and waterfall views in this portion of the trail. The suspension bridge crossings that put you right in the middle of the energy path of the mighty Marshyangdi are breathtaking. This is now the third day of trekking and the mornings are feeling a little colder and crisper, so it’s important to get out right after the sun has risen so there’s plenty of time to walk in the warmer temps. In keeping with the original trail, which does take a little longer to walk, we have the opportunity to trek through more little villages for leisurely breaks. Across the valley what looks like a thin ledge carved out of the mountainside is the road that transports people and goods. From a distance the jeeps traveling the road almost appear to be literally on the edge of the cliff as they meander along. Another epic suspension bridge crossing with sweeping views of the Marshyangdi and surrounding valley. If you’re scared of heights you’ll eventually get used to these crossings-you have too! There’s no other way! After reaching Dhranapani, an important crossroads and trekking permit check-in office we agreed to just make this a lunch stop rather than an overnight stay and move a little further up the valley to Danaqyu village where we’d spend the night. This an important crossroads where the Manaslu trail meets up with the Annapurna Circuit. The Mansalu area was affected by the earthquakes of 2015 but things have since normalized. The Nepalese army along with help from locals and NGO’s have cleared away the fallen rocks from the trails over the past year. Prince Harry was even seen in this region in 2016 trekking and pitching in to help rebuild a school that had been damaged. Horses and goats on the side of the road and crossing paths with other herd animals was a sign we were nearing our stop for the night-Danaqyu. Dhranapani is a major crossroads for trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit and the Mansalu trail so it’s nice to kick back in a little village that has less traffic. Because there so many spots like Danaqyu on the Annapurna Circuit with great lodges you could trek this trail a few times and have a completely experience. This season following the devastating earthquakes was quiet to begin with. It would be another night in a lodge as the only guests. The next day’s destination was Chame, the administration center of Manang District. We had some climbing to tackle as our first challenge of the day, over 450 meters up to Timang. The promise of views of Manaslu and Annapurna II was motivating and helpful on a climb first thing in the morning. More bridges to cross, and animals like big yaks to yield to. It’s hit or miss whether you’ll see any of the Manaslu massif. On this day we missed. Mansalu is the 8th highest mountain in the world, first summited by Japanese mountaineers in 1956. Just as the British have claimed Everest as their mountain, the Japanese consider Mansalu a Japanese mountain. But just before our lunch stop at Koto on the way to Chame we caught the first glimpse of Annapurna II, at 7937 meters, the second highest peak in the 6 mountain range. It was a magnificent site and a wonderful welcome to this part of the region. The Annapurna translation from Sanskrit means “full of food” which makes sense as the normal translation is Goddess of the Harvests or the kitchen Goddess, the mother who feeds. Chame is the headquarters of Manang District, which is the least populated district in all of Nepal, with a total count of over 6500. Many Manangies are also traders having been given special permission by King Mahendra in the 1970’s to trade in Southeast Asia. Customs duties were waived and many now reside mostly in the Kathmandu Valley. They import electronics, watches, and other items and are allowed to export goods like precious stones, metals, and herbs among other things. The largest ethnic group in Manang District are the Gurung people, who over centuries have adopted Tibetan Buddhism, the signs of this are evident in the village with Buddhist stupas that hold relics and the remains sometimes of lamas, and mani walls for prayer. The next day we left with Lower Pisang village as our next destination. Not far outside of Chame we came across what I had been observing especially in this part of Nepal-signs of a new era of tourism, with young Nepali entrepreneurs bringing new ideas from the outside. Like this Apple Orchard using the latest strains in apple production. I spoke with the owner of this large orchard, Samraj Gurung about his inspiration for this new breed of apple orchard. After a tea and some fresh crisp golden delicious apples from Samraj’s orchard we were back on the trail. Hari my guide, who is Gurung himself joins in with a local senior for a mid-morning Buddhist chant. We’re now at Dhukurpokhary, home of the Paunga Danda rock wall, or gateway to heaven. A massive mountain of stone thatt literally looks like a giant wall reaching towards the sky. Locals believe that all souls of the deceased must ascend Paunga Danda after leaving their bodies. Our stop for the night Pisang. The area consists of a lower village at 3200 meters and an upper more traditional old Tibetan style walled village at 3300 meters. The lower village has more lodge choices and shops so we opted for a night there. Mani walls, the stone walls made of tablets with the inscription om mani padme hum, meaning “jewel in the lotus” are found everywhere here. Pisang reminds me of Nepal’s Upper Mustang Tibetan/Buddhist region and Tibet itself, environmentally and culturally. Many residents leave for the Kathmandu Valley or other places during the winter months but we’re still able to see some traditional village life, spinning prayer wheels, and the smell of juniper burning as Buddhist offerings. Next time on Far East Adventure Travel Trekking The Great Annapurna Circuit, Nepal continues.
Da Lat is located in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam. It was established by the French during their occupation as a hill town resort in 1907. It’s temperate climate at an elevation of 1500 meters provided French settlers with a cool retreat from the hot tropical climate below. The railway was established to provide daily transport for passengers from Saigon and the coastal town of Nha Trang, which would further connect travellers to the north. The Da Lat Railway Station was designed in 1932 and opened in 1938. It is a unique building in that it incorporates an art deco style with traditional native Cao Nguyen highland communal house elements. Considering the railway shut down during the Vietnam war years due to military activity it’s surprisingly in pretty good shape. The railway and the Da Lat station laid dormant for many years until it was finally resurrected as a tourist attraction in 1991. The 7km ride takes passengers to Trai Mat with a 40 minute stop before heading back to the station. There’s an original steam locomotive on display but these days the train is pulled by a diesel engine. Service runs 5 times a day with the first train at 7:45 and the last one at 4pm. A ticket costs about $5 for foreigners. When this was a full service railway operating from Saigon and Nha Trang there would be three cars for passengers and one for cargo. Look for the carriage with the padded seats for a little extra comfort. There’s just something about train travel that sets it apart with other forms of transportation. The sound of the engine and the wheels clicking on the tracks, the whistle from the conductor, it’s a true adventure ride. As the train pulls away from the station the landscape opens up to reveal the little enclaves and rural landscape along with the reminders of Da Lat’s colonial heritage. The tradition of flower and vegetable growing in Da Lat goes as far back as the 1930’s. The train takes you past today’s latest technology in agriculture including greenhouses and aquatic farming. After 20 minutes we arrived at Trai Mat and are given 40 minutes to wander around the village. Most head for the Linh Phuoc or Dragon Pagoda about a 10-15 walk from the train station. The most unique aspect of this pagoda is the building material used to construct it. Made up of debris of glass, porcelain, and pottery. The pillars at the front of the Buddhist temple are in the shape of dragons, all made from glass. Another dragon is found near a pond next to the temple. It’s total winding length measures 49 meters, with scales made completely from 12,000 empty glass bottles. Across from the pond and dragon sits the temple’s most prominent structure, a 37 meter high seven storey tower. The first floor houses a bell that weighs 8.5 tons. The building is adorned with ceramic mosaics of dragons and phoenixes. This stop before getting back on the train for the return to Da Lat is a great opportunity to get a few quiet moments in the countryside. Surrounding yourself with the greenhouses and fields completes your experience in the southern highlands. Then it’s back on the train for the 20 minute ride to Da Lat station. This is a unique train travel experience, very different from a ride on Vietnam’s regular service. The sounds of rail travel on the Da Lat line are louder, deeper. The rocking cars and overall motion and sensation of the train perhaps would be tiring and uncomfortable on a long journey, but for a short tourist ride, it’s a sensational window into the history of Vietnam’s early tourism days.
I was truly looking forward to live streaming much of my recent trek of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. This of course is one of the most popular hiking trails in the world with stunning views of the Annapurna range of the Himalaya. An opportunity to walk through a subtropical region, forest, and the outer edges of the Tibetan Plateau. One of the most varied landscapes to trek in the world topped off with authentic true villages, not merely trekking enclaves, with a chance to experience Nepal's rich culture of Hinduism and Buddhism. Unfortunately due to lack of infrastructure and technology it may be still awhile before live streaming in most of the regions becomes a reality. Armed with two sim cards and knowledge of which areas would have the best opportunity to broadcast live from I was disappointed when I arrived to find out there was just not enough bandwidth needed to stream via cellular data in almost all of these villages. The opportunity to show others a place that makes my heart sing, like Nepal's Himalaya and the Annapurna Circuit will for now will remain mostly a dream. I am happy to share the few rare moments where it was possible to stream via Periscope. In this episode of Far East Adventure Travel some highlights from the last stop on my Annapurna Circuit Trek from the town of Jomsom, Nepal.
I've have been very fortunate to have trekked some of the greatest trails in the world. Everest Base Camp in Nepal and Tibet, the once forbidden Upper Mustang region of Nepal, and India's Singalila Ridge trek among others. I finally decided last year that the Annapurna Circuit would be the next big trek I would attempt. It's the busiest trail in the world, even busier than the popular route to Everest Base Camp. It's also probably the most convenient trek as well with the highest concentration of guesthouses and facilities. Even flush toilets are found in most guesthouses throughout the region-with the exception of just before the Thorong La Pass, at 5416 meters the highest point on the trek. Sadly for the owners and operators of guesthouses and trekking companies, the Annapurna Circuit may have seen it's worse year ever in for visits in 2015 due to the drop off of tourism after the devastating earthquakes and the fuel crisis. The region also saw one of the worst trekking tragedies ever, with the death of 39 people following a freak storm in October 2014. One of the reasons why the Annapurna Circuit has been at the top of trekker's favorite trails is it's varied landscape and climate. You begin in Besisahar, a subtropical region filled with rice terraces, citrus and papaya trees. Gradually your lead into the high Himalaya and the far reaches of the Tibetan Plateau. The plethora of the country's best guesthouses and facilities has also contributed to the trail's popularity. Nicknamed the "apple pie" trek almost every guesthouse has a version of the dessert they serve. Hot showers abound as well as Western style flush toilets. In recent years due to the development of a road system in the region, some have even opted for a jeep drive through the lower valley skipping the first few days of foot travel to spend more time in the higher altitude and manage most of the trek with a shorter vacation. This trek would also be the first time I would attempt live streaming on Periscope. Following research of the potential for 3G connectivity I brought two sim cards from the country's cellular service providers, Nepal Telecom and N Cell. Even with the highest probability for live streaming out of any trekking region in Nepal disappointingly at best I was only able to connect in 3 locations. It was still exciting to be one of the first "scopers" to live stream from the Himalaya and one of the greatest trekking regions in the world. I hope you enjoy the best of Far East Adventure Travel "Live" from Nepal's Annapurna Circuit.
I always get asked when is the best time to visit Taiwan. I always respond with almost anytime if you don't mind hot weather, rain, or an occasional typhoon. For most the idea of spending their vacation in a place where typhoons regularly develop between May and November is a scary proposition. If you do ever find yourself traveling in Taiwan during those months, and I've met many people who have found themselves in that position, consider yourself lucky to be in one of the safest and most well equipped places in the world where typhoons, hurricanes, cyclones, all the same thing, occur. Because of the country's history and experience with typhoons they have become one of the best prepared nations in the world to minimize injury and fatalities. If you ask most Taiwanese about typhoons most will shrug them off as a regular occurrence that only requires staying put inside, watching TV or renting a karaoke room with friends and waiting until the typhoon is no longer a threat, usually only a few hours. So if you should ever find yourself in Taiwan when a typhoon warning has been announced, just make sure you have some extra food, snacks or water, something to keep you entertained in your hotel room, a flashlight and a battery pack for your phone, in case of a power outage, and a little patience to wait out the storm. Perhaps even an expectation that you might be delayed a day while transportation around the island gets back to normal. Unless you happen to be on one of the outer islands where tourists are often evacuated off of before a typhoon approaches the area, you'll at the most be inconvenienced. If you can carry the same attitude that Taiwanese do, you'll just sit back, appreciate the force of mother nature, and let the typhoon pass by. You'll also take away a unique travel experience and a story that you'll never get tired of telling. In this episode some highlights of my live streams and coverage of two recent typhoons in Taiwan, Meranti and Melakas.
In this episode of The Best Of Far East Adventure Travel "Live" highlights from two great spots to visit in Southern Vietnam. The hill station town of Dalat and Vietnam's largest beach resort, Nha Trang. Two completely different experiences both filled with adventure activities and beautiful scenery. Dalat is a wonderful break from the tropics, especially on an extended stay in the country. At 1500 meters elevation Dalat offers relief from the heat and humidity, but you'll need a sweater or jacket for the evening. It's Vietnam's honeymoon capital with lots of French colonial buildings and even a replica of the Eiffel Tower. I found the local people extremely outgoing and friendly. Dalat's streets reminded me of Nepal and hill stations in India. Nha Trang has a beautiful 6km beach overlooking picturesque outer islands, lots of restaurants, cafes, and day outing options including a huge amusement park with the world's longest over the ocean gondola. Nha Trang attracts Russian tour groups, evident with the language on many restaurant menus, and the speedo bathing suits patrolling the beach. It's obviously touristy but the mood of being "on vacation" is infectious. I hope you enjoy these highlights of what I believe are some must see destinations in Southern Vietnam.
Views of the Saigon River and District 1 in the rapidly changing Ho Chi Minh City from the 49th floor of the city's tallest building, the Bitexco Financial Tower[/caption] Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is a rapidly changing urban landscape. On my recent visit I was surprised to still find some iconic sites left over from the Vietnam war days despite all of the new construction including a underground metro system. The roof of the Pittman building located at 22 Ly Tu Trong was the scene of a helicopter evacuation of U.S. nationals including C.I.A. personnel on April 29, 1975, the day before the fall of Saigon. It was captured by a Dutch photographer Hubert Van Es and for years was mistaken for the U.S. Embassy, another evacuation site. Across the street from the historic building is the Vincom Shopping Center. A few blocks away the newly opened Saigon Shopping Center. It was amazing to still find the Pittman building and one of the locations of a burning image from the fall of Saigon amidst a changing city. There were still many traditional neighborhoods to discover including Cholon in District 5. This is considered the largest Chinatown in the world and it's massive Binh Tay Market is worth a trip to experience the trade and tradition of this mostly wholesale market. Visiting the rooftop bars that were once frequented by the international press, military and C.I.A. was another fantastic experience-for the history and the wonderful views over the heart of Saigon-District 1. The Saigon Deck located on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower, Ho Chi Minh City's tallest building was also a wonderful experience, even with cloudy skies and heavy rains. I hope you enjoy these highlights from live broadcasts during my recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Watch out from brand new podcasts featuring exclusive footage from my recent 6 week visit to Vietnam on Far East Adventure Travel. I'm always live streaming from Asia on Periscope and Facebook. You can watch live broadcasts right from the Far East Adventure Travel website or Follow me at:https://www.periscope.tv/fareastadvtravl Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel
The ancient Unesco World Heritage site of Hoi An, Vietnam is high on almost everyone's list of places to visit during their stay. So it goes that the place is crowded, actually over run with tourists, especially in the summer months! So how does one enjoy the quieter charms of this beautifully preserved town filled with wonderfully mixed architectural styles of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, British and French colonial? Wake up early like I did, on my recent visit. At 6am it's still possible to feel like you are truly in an ancient port town with merchant houses and quiet streets. The t-shirt stalls and tailor shops are boarded up so it's easy to imagine a different time with gorgeous facades and historic buildings that can be viewed with a ancient town book of tickets starting as early as 7am. The temples are some of my favorite sites to visit this early in the morning with usually only local people worshipping before their work day begins. It's also wonderfully pleasurable to just stroll up and down the streets, without the calls of "please come in and buy something from me". You can visit the morning market where you'll find the most activity in town, with usually only local people shopping, including restaurants and cafes buying their supplies of herbs, vegetables, fruit, meat and fish for the day. By 8:30 the tour groups start to arrive to begin their cooking school class and introduction to the vast array of fresh produce and other ingredients that go into some of the best dishes of Vietnam. Please join me for an early morning walk in the wonderfully atmospheric town of Hoi An, Vietnam-the latest Far East Adventure Travel Best of "Live" Podcast.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, or Saigon a name still used by many of it's residents is full of history, culture, amazing nightlife, and a city that's modernizing rapidly. On my most recent visit the skyline was noticeably filled with cranes atop new buildings and an underground subway under construction. With shopping malls everywhere including a brand new "Saigon Center" and a flagship Japanese department store as it's main tenant, you might conclude that the city is losing some of it's historic charm. Not the case at all. There are still plenty of beautiful French colonial buildings, palaces and historic sites to satisfy the fiercest culture vulture. Cholon in District 5, the largest "Chinatown" in the world is full of atmospheric pagodas, outdoor markets and old streets selling traditional Chinese medicine remedies. District 1 is where most of the historic and iconic landmarks and buildings that Ho Chi Minh City is famous for, including the General Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House. In disrict 1 bordering District 3 you'll find one of the city's most treasured temples, The Jade Emperor Pagoda. In Taoism, the Jade Emperor is the God of Gods, the King of Heaven, or Ngoc Hoang. The pagoda is set on some very humble grounds, with a pool filled with carp or koi and a turtle pond. I made a trip to the Jade Emperor Pagoda on my most recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City and was thoroughly taken in by it's wonderful interior with sun rays casting beautiful light onto the many dieties worshipped by followers. Join me for a tour through HCMC's Jade Emperor Pagoda from a previous Far East Adventure Travel "live" broadcast. Getting there:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor_Pagoda
Once the home to the kings of Siam and Thailand The Grand Palace is the number one tourist attraction in Bangkok[/caption] The Grand Palace is the busiest tourist attraction in Bangkok. It has been home to the Kings of Siam and Thailand since 1782. It is not one building as the name implies but a series of buildings, halls, and pavilions set around courtyards, open lawns, and gardens. On first approach to the complex you are literally assaulted by it’s stunning array of colors, shapes, textures and symmetry, overwhelming in it’s sense of beauty. The gold statues and chedis gleam in the intense sun and are almost a distraction from the massive crowds. Arrive early to see the top sight of the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha. Carved from a single piece of jade the Emerald Buddha has been on an interesting adventure in the past few centuries. Said to have been discovered by the Abbot of a monastery in Chiang Rai Northern Thailand in the 15 century, the emerald buddha has spend time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Luang Prabang, Laos before moving to a shrine near Wat Arun in Thonburi before it’s final home at the Grand Palace. The Emerald Buddha is considered the palladium of the Kingdom of Thailand. Perhaps it’s for this reason that photographs are not allowed inside the chapel. The building is considered a personal chapel of the royal family and not a temple as monks do not reside there. The emerald Buddha statue is 19 inches wide and 26 inches high and is adorned with 3 gold seasonal costumes, one for the rainy season, summer, and cool season. They are exchanged by the King in a ceremony at the change of each season. A duplicate of the emerald Buddha can be seen a photographed in Chiang Rai. The Grand Palace is filled with adornments including the gold mythical Aponsi, half-woman, half lion, demon guardians supporting the gilded chedi and the Kinnon, half-human, half-bird. Phra Mondop, at the base of which sit stone carved Buddhas in the Javanese style. Sixteen twelve corner columns support the multi-tiered roof that houses the Buddhist Canon, or sacred texts. The gold gilded chedis are among the most striking structures of the Grand Palace especially on a bright day with a blue sky. The star creatures of the grounds are the giant Yaksha of the Thai Ramakian , Thailand’s version of the Ramayana, an epic Hindu poem. Many murals inside the walls of the Grand Palace feature images of the Thai Ramakian, the story of Rama, whose wife, Sita is abducted by Ravana, the King of Lanka, or Sri Lanka. The Ramayana or Thai Ramakan explores human values and the concept of dharma. On most days the Grand Palace will seem like the hottest place on the planet. So pace yourself. The extra clothing you will have to wear to cover your shoulders and legs as part of the dress code will add to the discomfort. Drink lots of water, wear a wide brimmed hat and do as the Asians do, use an umbrella as a barrier to the intense sun. At the east wall of the Wat Phra Kaew sits eight Phra Atsada Maha Chedis. Each chedi is decorated with a different shade of Chinese porcelain representing the eight elements of Buddhism, Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Concentration and Right Mindfulness. The porcelain creates a glowing effect fitting for their significance. There are still many buildings to admire and visit outside the walls of the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha including the Central Court. Here is where the king resided and where all state business was conducted. The Phra Maha Monthien Group are a series of buildings near the eastern edge of the central court that were the main residence and audience hall for the king. During the week you can visit inside and see the gilded thrones used by the kings. Next to the Dusit Group is the Chakra Maha Prasat, nicknamed the westerner with the Thai hat due to it’s mixed styles of architecture. Today Chakra Maha Prasat is mainly used for state banquets and receptions for foreign ambassadors. It’s closed to the public but there is a weapons collection on the ground level that can be viewed on weekdays. The base of the Chakra Maha Prasat houses the royal guards who you can see standing at attention throughout the day in front of it’s VIP main entrance. And yes you can take pictures with them, just don’t expect any conversation or engagement as they are on duty. Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall is the only building that is open to the public within it’s group. No photographs are permitted inside but you can enjoy the features including a mother of pearl throne and a large mother of pearl throne bed which was used by the king for relaxing between audiences. Today the throne hall is used for lying in state for kings, queens, and favored members of the royal family. Thai kings stopped living in the palace full time at around the beginning of the 20th century but the Grand Palace is still considered the spiritual center of the Thai Kingdom. The inner court where the Thai kings resided and their royal consorts and daughters lived is no longer used but is still closed off to the public. Most of the important sites of the Grand Palace can be seen in one visit. This is probably not a full day trip as the heat and crowds can be overwhelming to most and the exhibits that can be viewed and open to the public are easily seen during a morning or afternoon . If you arrive at the main entrance gate by the 8:30 opening you have plenty of time to see The Chapel of The Emerald Buddha and the buildings of the Central Court with time for breaks in the shade and be finished before lunch. You might be able to squeeze in a visit to one of the on sight museums as well. Like the Taj Mahal and Angkor Wat the Grand Palace is a tourist bus magnet. Though worth every bit of patience to quickly immerse yourself in the history of Siam and Thailand and understand the importance of the King, the royal family, and Buddhism to the Thai people.
Bangkok, Thailand is full of history, exciting street life, notorious red-light districts, fantastic food and enough stimulation to call it one of the most exciting cities to visit on the planet! It's actually the second most visited city in the world following by London as the top spot and preceding Paris in third place. On my most recent whirlwind visit through the city I took in the top sites including The Grand Palace where Thailand's palladium, the Emerald Buddha, can be found as well as Wat Arun, and Wat Pho, two other top temples that shouldn't be missed on a stay in Bangkok. Because I'm a travel broadcaster it's hard to overlook a backpacking center like the legendary Khao San Road, even if just for watching the street entertainment of joyous travellers pushing the partying limit. Check out the latest Far East Adventure Travel Podcast for highlights of live streams this year from Bangkok, Thailand.
Chiang Rai, Thailand is one of the those places you end up staying longer than planned. Even though it's the largest city in the most northern part of the country there is a wonderful "chill vibe", evident in the slow place, the numerous cafes, wonderful Buddhist temples, including the original home of the Emerald Buddha. It's so easy to settle in to the slow place over coffees, beers, and lazy walks to the day market, the "Gold Clock Tower", and the walking streets that take place on Saturday and Sunday. There's lots of tasty local dishes to try, you may even sample your first cricket like I did at one of the "walking street" markets. If you get the urge to venture a little ways out of town you can visit Chiang Rai's two top attractions, The "White Temple" and "Black Temple", more art exhibits and artistic interpretations of Buddhism, then true temples, they are usually swarmed by tourist buses loaded with travellers and their selfie sticks. Go early in the day and you'll have more room to wander and enjoy the settings, especially at the "Black Temple". I definitely plan to spend more time in Chiang Rai on my next visit, and like my last stay, I'll probably end up extending it by a few more days. Check out the latest Far East Adventure Travel "Live" and highlights of my recent trip to Chiang Rai, Thailand.
2015 will go down as one of the most challenging if not the most disastrous year ever for Nepal. From the worst earthquakes in over 80 years to a fuel crisis that literally turned the country upside down with line-ups at the pump that lasted for days to a lack of basic cooking and heating fuel for the majority of the population. I visited the country twice in 2015. The first time was just after the devastating earthquakes and tremors that started April 25th. My flight was actually denied clearance for landing for over 90 minutes on May 12 while crews checked the runway for safety after the second biggest earthquake struck the country that day. My second visit was in October and November when I returned to trek the Annapurna Circuit and check up on the conditions of recovery from the earthquakes. As I had heard reports before I arrived that virtually no reconstruction had begun I was not shocked to see things, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, had not changed other then some rubble had been cleared away. The fuel crisis had created food shortages and delayed plans for rebuilding. From a tourist's point of view this could be easily seen by shortened menus in popular restaurants to some establishments even closing their doors frustrated by the lack of ingredients available and the extreme costs and shortages of cooking fuel. As well as some landmarks and monument still noticeably in need of repair or reconstruction. Nepalis were frustrated with their festival plans either from the lack of reliable transportation getting to a from their home village to the shortage of special food for celebrations cooking fuel. Still despite the politics that created the fuel crisis, an unofficial Indian embargo as a result from a new constitution which did not favour ethnic groups in the south, Nepalis seemed to carry on as they usually do through adversity. After spending a few days in Pokhara following my trek of the Annapurna Circuit I returned to Nepal in time for the Tihar Festival, otherwise called "the festival of lights". In other South Asian countries and communities around the world it's known as Diwali. It's one of the most exciting times to visit Kathmandu. Marigold garlands are available everywhere to help celebrate the festival and everyone is in a joyous mood. It's also a unique introduction for many into the Hindu religion and culture. To see the various days celebrated in the festival including Kukhar Tihar, the day of the dog, when dogs are decorated with garlands and tikas is enlightening. It's part of the lead up to the most important day of the festival Lakshmi Puja. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and it's believed she will visit your home or business on this night and you will be blessed with a prosperous year-if it's cleaned and decorated with flowers, lights, and rangoli art, the street or courtyard designs made of colored sand, flower petals and dry flour. I hope you enjoy the latest episode of Far East Adventure Travel "Live" Best of Nepal 2015 and the exciting days of Kathmandu's Tihar Festival.
Kathmandu is at it's most colorful with the lead up to Tihar, the festival of lights-marigold garlands are available everywhere for worship and celebration.2015 will go down as one of the most challenging if not the most disastrous year ever for Nepal. From the worst earthquakes in over 80 years to a fuel crisis that literally turned the country upside down with line-ups at the pump that lasted for days to a lack of basic cooking and heating fuel for the majority of the population. I visited the country twice in 2015. The first time was just after the devastating earthquakes and tremors that started April 25th. My flight was actually denied clearance for landing for over 90 minutes on May 12 while crews checked the runway for safety after the second biggest earthquake struck the country that day. My second visit was in October and November when I returned to trek the Annapurna Circuit and check up on the conditions of recovery from the earthquakes. As I had heard reports before I arrived that virtually no reconstruction had begun I was not shocked to see things, especially in the Kathmandu Valley, had not changed other then some rubble had been cleared away. The fuel crisis had created food shortages and delayed plans for rebuilding. From a tourist's point of view this could be easily seen by shortened menus in popular restaurants to some establishments even closing their doors frustrated by the lack of ingredients available and the extreme costs and shortages of cooking fuel. As well as some landmarks and monument still noticeably in need of repair or reconstruction. Nepalis were frustrated with their festival plans either from the lack of reliable transportation getting to a from their home village to the shortage of special food for celebrations cooking fuel. Still despite the politics that created the fuel crisis, an unofficial Indian embargo as a result from a new constitution which did not favour ethnic groups in the south, Nepalis seemed to carry on as they usually do through adversity. I spent time in Pokhara after my trek through Annapurna visiting the beautiful World Peace Pagoda as well as enjoying the celebrations of Tihar, the festival of lights in Kathmandu. In the latest episode of Far East Adventure Travel join me for "live" highlights from last November in Nepal.
An ancient Chinese fishing net and traditional fishing boats are still used to catch a variety of fish and creatures from the sea in Fort Cochin-Kerala, India[/caption] Kerala is one of my favorite states to travel through in India. It has an interesting history filled with some of the most varied culture and religion in all of the country. Fort Cochin at 35% has the highest per capital Christian population in India. Coupled with a smoothly assimilated remainder of mostly Hindu and Muslims, the feeling of harmony amongst the groups could be the highest than anywhere else in India. Kerala also boasts the highest literacy rate in the country, 93%, and the highest life expectancy, 77 years. Spices have been exported from the region since 3000 B.C. Walking through the streets and alleys of Matancherry next to Fort Cochin can still feel romantic and like a slice from another time with small warehouses piled high with sacks of nutmeg, mace, cumin and many other spices. Much of which is used in Ayurvedic medicine, one of the main reasons tourists visit the state. Ayurvedic clinics, yoga retreats, beach side resorts and backwater houseboat cruises are some of the most popular draws to Kerala. On my last visit to Kerala I spent a few weeks in the Fort Cochin area before traveling further south to the beach towns of Varkala and Kovalam, with stops in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram, or the older and easier name to pronounce, Trivandrum, as well as the backwater capital Alleppey. Join me in this episode of Far East Adventure Travel for live stream highlights of "God's Own Country"-Kerala, India.
Mumbai's most famous landmark, The Gateway of India is one of the most visited sites in the country's largest city. One of the highlights of Far East Adventure Travel-Best of "Live"[/caption] Mumbai, India is one of the most exciting destinations in South Asia. Easily the richest city in the region, the most expensive private home in the world is located there, it's a roller coaster ride of experiences from visiting neighborhoods filled with British "Raj" architecture, holy sites, crazy markets, and yes even long stretches of beaches, just don't go in for a swim. On my most recent visit I spent two weeks wandering the city streets, traveling on local buses, taxis, even taking a boat ride to Elephanta Island. It can be an overwhelming experience for those especially not accustomed to such a huge population, over 22 million in the greater Mumbai area. On top of that there are areas with high security due to past terrorist attacks, photography prohibited in some places, seriously determined professional beggars working the streets, not just targeting tourists, and crazy traffic. Still it's a must visit if you consider yourself a serious traveler. This past year Lonely Planet named it one of their top 10 cities to visit in 2016. Join me in a Far East Adventure Travel Best of "Live" for moments on the streets of Mumbai. From the famous stretch of beach known as Chowpatty to one of the busiest train stations in the world, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus. You'll see why they call Mumbai the "Maximum City".
Views of the Taipei 101 skyscraper and surrounding area from Elephant Mountain, Xiangshan (象山). For an island that stretches only 144 kilometers(90 miles) wide, and 394 kms(245 miles) north to south Taiwan packs alot of culture, life, along with a wide variety of activities into a compact area. Smaller than Switzerland, slightly larger than Belgium this past June and July I covered a few of the many activities and events one can enjoy on a vacation or family visit to the island. From hiking up Elephant Mountain, Xiangshan (象山) and checking out the views of Taipei and the developing skyline to the lovely hot springs district of Beitou, a 25 minute MRT ride from the center of the city. Many people ask me, "is it difficult to travel in Taiwan because of the language barrier"? My reply is always, not really. Most people, especially in the larger cities all have post-secondary education and have studied English for several years. Because of the shy nature of Taiwanese people though, some may be a little reluctant to speak. If you can learn a few words or a couple of simple phrases, it's always a helpful icebreaker. When people see that you're Chinese(mandarin)is no better than their English they will feel more comfortable speaking with you. Even in the smaller towns and villages you can get by with little or no mandarin skills. Calculators, for showing prices are readily used and with all of the various translation apps available now you won't find it difficult to communicate. If you are a seasoned travel you will find Taiwan a refreshing change from some of the more visited cities of East and Southeast Asia. You will see far less Western people in Taiwan than almost anywhere else in this part of the world. Modern in every way but still retaining it's ancient culture of Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, and Taoism, one of the best times to visit the country is during Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year festivities, usually in February or March. This is also a great time to visit if you don't travel well in the heat and humidity that lasts from April through to mid December. Here is just a small sample of what to expect on a visit to Taiwan from the best of my live streams from this June/July.
OK, I don’t want to mislead you, this is not the busiest street in Chiang Rai and there is lots of traffic in the city but it’s easy to feel like it’s not busy in this town and surrounding area with a population of around 200,000. To start your exploration of the town there are at least half a dozen temples worth visiting in Chiang Rai including Wat Jed Yod built in 1844. Jed Yod means 7 peaks represented by 7 chedis on the site. In keeping pace with the town the gatekeeper is pretty laid back and once you get past him you are greeted by an impressive giant Buddha in the main hall. Wat Jed Yod is probably the least visited of Chiang Rai’s most significant temples so you usually have lots of space to yourself. The temple is a copy of one by the same name in Chiang Mai which is a copy of an Indian temple, Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the very same spot where the Buddha found enlightenment. You will find some of the traditional features of Thai temples including the typical red and gold colors and naga serpents, above all a quiet spot for peace and reflection. The favorite part of my visit? Seeing the glowing sunset shine directly on an ornate window at Wat Jed Yod. Chiang Rai sees many people extend their stay in the town I think because there’s such a huge selection of cafes and places to eat for a town of this size. Once you’re done having a coffee, which could be from beans grown in Northern Thailand move on to the market which pretty much operates all day and through the evening. Perfect for self-catering you can get everything from seafood to cheap noodle dishes. This market is located close by Chiang Rai’s most famous landmark, the gold clock tower. This tower was designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the same man who created the White Temple. Check out the special show of music and lights every evening on the hour from 7 to 9pm. Wat Phra Kaew is Chiang Rai’s most important temple, the place where Thailand’s Emerald Buddha was discovered. Now and since 1784 Thailand’s palladium, the Emerald Buddha has been kept at Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. In the last almost 600 years the Emerald Buddha has been on a epic trip with stays in Lampang, Northern Thailand, Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Laos before eventually ending up in the Royal family’s private chapel at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The one here was carved out of Canadian jade in China in 1990 in honor of the princess mother’s 90th birthday. It’s an exact replica of the original. Wat Phra Kaew is a tranquil spot and only a short walk from the clock tower, worth setting aside a hour or so to enjoy the many statues, ponds, and buildings that are in the complex. Within the Wat Phra Kaew site is it’s museum which houses many gifts from it’s followers seeking merit over the past few hundred years. Being one of the most important temples in Chiang Rai province it owns many significant religious art works, some of which are on display in the museum. Each item is labeled in English, Thai, and Lanna, the language of Northern Thailand. Chiang Rai is charming, laid back and full of friendly Thai people. If you do decide to linger around the town a bit longer than your stay, try to plan it around the Saturday Walking Street Market. A chance to get up close to the locals who love to visit the market, see some of the hill tribe goods on display for sale and enjoy the music of Northern Thailand. How about a snack of bugs? Insects are very much apart of the diet in Southeast Asia, I’m actually a non-meat eater, but I’m not really an insectivore, but I guess I’ll try it. Didn’t taste like chicken, just kind of crunchy and salty, but they do have chicken if that’s what you’re craving. Maybe something sweet to kill the cricket taste. These Thai doughnuts look tasty! You’ll find the Chiang Rai Saturday and Sunday Walking Street markets are far less crowded than the ones in Chiang Mai and other large cities so there’s lots of places to stop and eat and listen to the birds, thousands in this park. Head back for the light show at the clock tower and you’ve completed your day in Northern Thailand’s haven and retreat from the speedier pace of the rest of the world, charming Chiang Rai.
Mt.Everest(Sagarmatha)8848m, view from Kala Patthar-5545m in Nepal's Khumbu Valley region[/caption] It’s one of the most coveted treks in the world. Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Far East Adventure Travel is proud to present two podcasts completely devoted to the magic of trekking this region. From crossing the sometimes trecherous Chola Pass to the final steps arriving at Everest Base Camp. And an early morning ascent of Kala Patthar for one of the best views of Everest in all of Nepal. Join me John Saboe for one of Asia’s great adventures. Trekking to Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Right from the start I was in for a hair raising experience. The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, rated as one of the most dangerous airports in the world is often canceled in October, the busy season due to weather conditions. If it’s not cloudy or windy in Lukla, it is in Kathmandu, making it extremely tricky to complete scheduled flights. You can be stranded in Lukla for days waiting for a weather window. Same this goes in Kathmandu. Days! You can avoid the whole worry of flight delays and dangerous weather conditions by trekking all the way to Lukla. Take a bus from Kathmandu to Jiri, about 9 hours. Then just walk for a week! For me, I was extremely lucky to be on one of the first flights that day from Kathmandu to the start of the trek with favorable weather conditions. Previously I had trekked in a couple of regions in Nepal and had been to Everest Base Camp in Tibet. Up until now I had avoided the EBC trek for more remote and quieter trails in Nepal’s Himalaya. But this was the same ground that many mountaineers had trampled including the first two to summit the world’s highest mountain, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. My curiousity with the trails, the lore of the region and the super friendly Sherpa people that make up the largest ethnic group in the Khumbu Valley could no longer be suppressed because of some crowded trails and teahouses with wine bars. As we approached Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla I couldn’t help but think about the History Channel show Most Extreme Airports. In 2010 it rated Tenzing/Hillary the most dangerous airport in the world. There’s no chance for a go around, meaning an aborted landing on final approach due to the high terrain beyond the northern end of the runway. At the southern end, a steeply angled drop into the valley. A safe landing, and an exciting start to one of the world’s great treks! Just have to dodge a few yak before we started. Good practise for the crowded trails we were about to enter. Lukla actually means place of goat or sheep, but all I ever saw were yak, and maybe some horses. As this town is the start and finish for trekking in the Khumbu and Gokyo Valleys there are many lodges, guesthouses, restaurants and even an Irish Pub here! One last stop at the police station for permit checks and we were on our way. At Thadakoshi the first of many steel suspension bridges over the Dud Khosi River we would cross. We took a rest and lunch at Phakding, where most stay the night before trekking onward the next day to Namache Bazaar. The porters with boundless energy take a break for a game of volleyball. I had heard that the trails in the Khumbu Valley were crowded in the peak season in October but I was not prepared for the constant herds of yaks used for moving in camping and supplies for the big trekking groups as well as just bringing goods into the valley for many guesthouses and lodges here. Always remember to move to the side when you see caravans coming. These creatures can get quite nasty. It’s always a great experience to hike through different landscapes and geography on a single trek. The lower Khumbu Dud Khosi valley is full of grazing animals, rich forests and waterfalls. We arrived at our lodgings for the night in the village of Monjo at an altitude of 2835 meters. The guesthouses at these lower elevations are quite luxurious compared to the high altitude. So it’s a good time to appreciate an attached bathroom with a flush toilet and hot water. The next morning we were heading to the gate of Sagarmatha National Park, Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Mt. Everest. Including Everest, the park is home to 8 peaks over 7000 meters high. It’s also where rare species like the Snow Leopard and Lesser or red panda reside. This is also another police station where permits are checked and trekkers registered. The next stop would be Namche Bazaar, the second largest village in the Khumbu Valley that also has the claim of being the most expensive town in Nepal. Most everything transported into Namche Bazaar must come in on the back of a horse or yak. Sorry though no Mr. Doughnut here, and one piece might cost up to $3. It’s also an acclimatization stop with most staying over two nights before heading into the high Himalaya. More steel suspension bridge crossings and busy trails before a brief rest stop. This one with special prominence as the first chance to gaze at the top of the highest mountain in the world, Everest. One last checkpoint before arriving in Namche Bazaar and a customary kora of the Buddhist stupa that greets you at the entrance to the village. It’s a good place for a two night stay with lots of shops where you can pick up last minute trekking supplies. There’s also plenty of cafes and souvenir stalls. The next morning we walked up the steep steps of the village for an acclimatization hike and to fix our eyes on the most famous peaks on the planet. Just an everyday place for these kids from the Home Away from Home School, where children in the Khumbu Valley can get a solid education without being separated from their families. The snow-capped peak to the left-Mt. Everest 8848meters. The highest surface point on the planet, the roof of the world. The weather can change without warning at high altitude. Within minutes our views of some of the most prominent peaks of the Khumbu Valley disappeared. Ama Dablam, not the highest but certainly one of the most beautiful mountains in the world at first thickly veiled, eventually vanishing in the clouds. The hundreds of trekkers continued to move up from the village,views or no views, putting in their necessary acclimatization time to ensure a successful Everest Base Camp trek. We had finished our work for the day and were back to the crowds, traffic jams and gridlock of Namche Bazaar. The next morning we returned to the trail with the spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam joined by the hundreds of others who were on EBC itineraries. Nearly 10,000 tourists will visit the Khumbu Valley or Everest region on average in October, the busiest time of the year. You really must pay attention when trekking these trails especially when so many others are walking both ways. Not to mention the hundreds of horses and yak used to pack in gear, food and other supplies. Stopping on the trail and stepping out of the way of trekkers and animals is the best way to enjoy the breathtaking views. You must! It was time to move off this trail at Sanasa and head for the Gokyo Valley. Later to rejoin the trail to Everest Base Camp after crossing the Chola La Pass. The Gokyo valley’s trails are much quieter even in the busy month of October compared to the Khumbu Valley. Adding a few days to an Everest Base Camp trek will send you into a Shangri La of high altitude lakes, the highest in the world, and breathtaking views of the Himalaya. Arriving at Gokyo Village with Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world and a sunrise view of Everest and sister peaks from the top of Gokyo Ri was challenging with rewards few ever get. Returning to the Khumbu Valley and resuming the trek to Everest Base Camp would take us across the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in Nepal and possibly the whole Himalaya before arriving at Thangnak for an overnight rest. The next morning we would rise early for a summit of the Chola Pass at 5420 meters. This is a challenging portion of the trek with a required early 4am rise and the first hour or so in complete darkness with only a headlamp for light. I personally struggled a little on this day with a slower pace due to a strong cold I was fighting off. This can be a dangerous pass to cross with an unstable glacier at the top and slippery sections. The approach is steep and perhaps even more dangerous if you are coming from the other direction and the Khumbu Valley. A favorable weather window is important as the pass is almost impossible to cross after a heavy snowfall. Success and overwhelming joy was shared by all that day under sunny skies. There was still a few trekking hours to log in before arriving at our next stop, Dzhong lha. The views while crossing back into the Khumbu Valley were heart-stopping with Ama Dablam at 6170 meters commanding our attention as we descended into the valley. Ama Dablam means mother’s necklace, the long ridges on either side like a mother’s arms cradling a child. The hanging glacier like the double pendant worn by Sherpa women. It felt especially rewarding when we arrived in Dzhong lha after the longest and hardest day of the trek. The accomplishment of crossing the Cho La pass felt like a big check mark ticked off. It was now time to rest in the dining hall and warm up by the yak dung fuelled fire. Some of the most exciting days of the Everest Base Camp trek were still ahead. So pile on the dung my friend, we need to stay warm! Next time on Far East Adventure Travel Podcast heart stopping views of the Himalaya and the conclusion to The Ultimate Trekking Adventure-Everest Base Camp. Please like the Far East Adventure Travel Facebook page. You can also follow me on Instagram, Google+, Twitter and Periscope, with live streams from Asia. All of the links are at fareastadventuretravel.com. That’s it for this week’s episode, thanks so much for joining me, until next time this is John Saboe, safe travels and Namaste!
A view of the conical-shaped Adam's Peak - Sri Pada, from the town of Dalhousie[/caption] Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada is located in Central Sri Lanka and is a 2200 meter conical shaped mountain. All religious faiths on the island consider a hike to the top the holiest pilgrimage. Most will make their ascent in the early in the morning to reach the peak for sunrise. I had left Dalhousine, the small village at the base of the main route just after 2am. Plenty of time I thought to enjoy the sunrise. Sri Pada actually means sacred foot- print. Near the summit lies a rock formation in the shape of a footprint. For Buddhists it represents the buddha’s footprint. Hindus regard it as Shiva’s. In the Muslim and Christian world it is Adam’s. If you ever go you will wonder how I ever got off course. The route is well marked and lit through the night but I did take a wrong turn and ended up in the nearby tea plantation hills for awhile... Finally I found my way down and got Sri Pada really has a special feel. As you walk up the steps you will come across many rest stops and tea and snack shops open all night. As well as plenty of places for prayer and worship. While I was heading up a small group were carrying a man down on a stretch- er. Later I was told an elderly couple were making their way to the top when the man collapsed from exhaustion. He was carried down while his distraught wife followed. It is a strenuous hike. Plan on anywhere from two and a half to four hours depending on your fitness level and the amount of rest stops you make. Leaving Dalhousie between 2 and 2:30 should give you enough time to reach the top for sunrise. As incredible as the views were I was most overwhelmed with the hospitality and friendliness of the Sri Lankans. There are simply no better people on the planet. Finally at the top and the prized view of the triangular shadow of Sri Pada seen only at sunrise. A meaningful hike with amazing views amongst the spirit of the Sri Lanka people. For Far East Adventure Travel.com this is John Saboe. The post Sri Lanka’s Greatest Pilgrimage-Sunrise Climb To Adam’s Peak appeared first on Far East Adventure Travel.
First I better check the map to make sure I take the right turn off. OK I think I’m ready to go. Wait a minute, one more look at the map just to be sure. What was I thinking, maybe if I hold it this way I’ll remember? Well let’s just get going and figure out on the road.
Hmmm, this just somehow doesn’t look right. Better pull over and check the map again.
Finally on the right track to Wat Rong Khun or “The White Temple”. Even though people refer to it as a temple it’s not really that at all. More exhibit than temple the artist who created and funded it’s completion, Chalermchai Kositpipat, believes the white temple is an offering to Lord Buddha and we’ll ensure him an immortal life.
When you first enter the area where the main building or ubosot is located you are immediately confronted with the weakness of human desire, greed and temptation symbolized by hundreds of outreaching hands. Crossing the bridge over the small lake takes you to the gate of heaven where you are met by two creatures who decide the fate of the dead. Make it past there and the countless tourists with selfie sticks and you arrive at the ubosot made with fragments of glass in the style of a traditional Thai 3 tiered roof temple.
Photography is prohibited inside the main building which features murals with cultural icons like Michael Jackson, and fictitious characters including Freddy Kruger, Harry Potter and Hello Kitty. As well as scenes depicting nuclear war and terrorist attacks. If the intent is to highlight what’s wrong with the world the artist has made his point with this exhibit.
The gardens and surrounding grounds of Wat Rong Khun are filled with small white pagodas styled in the same theme. Allow yourself enough time to stroll through the many walkways but keep in mind they take a lunch break at the white temple and close off the site.
On May 5, 2014 an earthquake struck the northern province of Chiang Rai damaging the white temple. At the time Chalermchai Kositpipat figuring the temple complex was too damaged to be safe again vowed to demolish it and not rebuild. After a May 7th safety inspection deemed that all buildings were safe and structurally unharmed Kositpipat said he would restore the temple and continue his life work.
A structure you won’t miss within the Wat Rong Khun complex is the gold building where you’ll find the restrooms and other services. Gold which is used to decorate many temples and stupas in Thailand in this case represents the body and symbolizes how people focus on money and worldly possessions.
While the gold building is a place to relieve and refresh yourself it’s also meant as a reminder to make merit and not focus on material things and instead to place focus on the mind, as represented by the white building.
I like Chiang Rai! The slow pace of the north and plenty of little cafes and a backpacker vibe Chiang Rai usually manages to squeeze an extra couple of days or more out of a traveller’s itinerary.
When the town clock tower, albeit a gold one becomes one of the main nightly attractions with it’s beautiful light display you know you’ve arrived in a charming place. A wonderful town market that opens early in the morning and carries on the rest of the day and night with ready made meals, snacks, and lots of fresh cut fruit is super convenient and super tasty!
You can also visit the night bazaar where there’s more food and nightly traditional entertainment.
Back out on the road I visited another Chiang Rai attraction, Baan Dam, Black House, nicknamed “The Black Temple”.
If you thought the white temple was over the top then be prepared to be truly shocked by some of the sites and exhibits of Baan Dam. Another museum or artistic vision created by national artist Thawan Duchanee this place is filled with everything from beautiful Northern Thai buildings and structures to animal skins, bones,
Patuxai, one of Vientiane, Laos' most important landmarks is dedicated to those who fought for independence from France
Out of all of the capitals in Southeast Asia Vientiane takes the prize as the most laid back. You’d never believe it was the center of commerce, government and transportation.
It’s a testament to the attitude of the people of Laos. Not taking anything too seriously and having little or no sense of urgency. They do appreciate their leisure time and even though the Mekong River is the center of social activity in the evening it never felt too crowded there-the population of Vientiane is less than 800,000. Hell, there’s even enough room for paragliding.
Vientiane became the capital of Laos in 1563 and was the administrative capital during French rule. Vientiane has seen it’s share of adversity from being burned completely to the ground in 1827 by Siamese armies, Thailand is right across the river, to passing over to French rule in 1893, Japanese occupation in World War 2., back to reoccupation by the French in 1945 to being established as the center of power for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975. Laos, and it is properly pronounced without the s, is a communist country.
Vientiane is a mix of French colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and the odd leftover Soviet style building.
A great place to get started on your exploration of the city is a visit to one of the country’s most impressive Buddhist temples, Wat Ho Phra Keo, otherwise known as the temple of the Emerald Buddha. Once the royal family of Lao’s personal chapel it was here where the precious emerald buddha statue was reclaimed by the Thai army in 1778 after being snatched by the Laotian king. Today the Emerald Buddha resides at the Grand Palace’s Emerald Buddha chapel in Bangkok.
The temple is adorned with carved features, Khmer stone carvings and several Buddha statues. Wat Ho Phra Keo is no longer in service as a place of worship but acts as a museum and monument.
Wat Si Muang is also another worthwhile temple visit for the fact that it’s where the city pillar is located and the guardian spirit of Vientiane. Wat Si Muang is considered the mother temple of the city.
Round out a temple run with a look in at Wat Si Saket believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Vientiane still standing after the sacking of the city by Siam in 1827. It’s also believed because the temple was built in the Siamese style rather than Laoation style it was spared by the army who used it as their headquarters and compound. You can check out more than 2000 silver and ceramic Buddhist images, there’s also a museum on site.
Take a break at one of the many cafes or French bakeries in town. This is really one of the highlights of a visit to Vientiane. A coffee, French pastry, and relaxing to the slow groove of this unique capital experience.
There’s tons of dining options in Vientiane as well. I love sticky rice and fish larb, a mix of fish, greens and herbs, there’s also meat and veg versions. But it’s nice to know there’s lots of options out there like sushi, western, I really do love sticky rice though.
Afterwards grab a bike from your hotel or guesthouse and head out for ride around the town, enjoying the buddhist temples, quieter charming tree-lined streets and their French colonial homes. Enjoy the slow pace, that’s what it’s all about in Vientiane.
OK, so that was too slow for you? Grab a motorbike then. I personally wouldn’t attempt this in most major cities in Southeast Asia but the streets of Vientiane are pretty quiet, even in the midday and you can cover alot of ground and sites in a short period of time. It gets pretty hot depending on the time of year pedalling around here so a motorbike is a good option if you’re comfortable driving a two wheeler.
After that it’s back to the cafe culture of Vientiane. Coffee is Laos’ 5th biggest export.
Note*I retired the Far East Adventure Travel Magazine in 2015.
The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is one of the most popular Lunar New Year Celebrations in Taiwan. People will travel from all over the island just for this event which starts about two weeks before the end of Lunar New Year festivities.
A few years ago The Discovery Channel called it the second best New Year’s festival in the world. It’s caught on so it’s no surprise when I visit to see more Westerners here than anywhere else at any time of year in Taiwan.
I’m checking out one of the first sky lantern releases of the season which is held in the town of Pingxi, less than an hour by car or bus east of the capital of Taipei.
People visit Pingxi and the neighbouring town of Shifin year round to release lanterns but Lunar New Year is the most popular time to come. Each person writes on one of the four sides of the lantern with their own new year’s prayers. You do the customary pose for pictures then release the lantern into the sky.
The first lanterns were used from 220-280 A.D. as a communication tool during war times in China. When the Hans people immigrated from China to Taiwan between 1820-50 the lantern was used to signal to family members that it was safe to return home. Robberies were common at the time in the mountain town of Pingxi.
Every year the festival is held here. The main releases take place on one of the local school grounds.
Pingxi is a beautiful little town and should be visited on a separate trip just to savour some of it’s authentic Taiwanese heritage. Many of the buildings were constructed in the 1930’s and 40’s along with wooden houses built during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. There’s lots of shops selling traditional crafts and gifts. Some of the most beautifully crafted silk lanterns are produced in Pingxi. Of course because it’s Taiwan, there’s lots of food, including local snacks.
If you have time it’s always fun to take a northbound train to Ruifang, then catch the tourist train to Pingxi. Along the way you can also stop in Shifin and walk to Shifin waterfall which some believe is the nicest one in all of Taiwan.
It is definitely a celebratory atmosphere here in Pingxi with everyone getting in on the new year’s fun. Many people release lanterns with their prayers and wishes from the train tracks which run right through the village.
There’s also a really cool film on the lantern traditions of Pingxi that plays through this lantern shape building throughout the day. OK I’m getting the gong so it’s time to head back to the school grounds and get ready for the first release of the night.
I wasn’t kidding when I said the PIngxi Sky Lantern Festival is a big deal, drawing dignitaries, celebrities and T.V. crews from around the island and the world. And guess what, it didn’t rain afterall-just a little mountain mist.
There’s introductions-then the first group hits the school grounds to get ready for the first sky lantern release of the night. But first, a little musical interlude…Then finally the spotlights are dimmed and the first release of the Lunar New Year begins.
Fodor’s Travel Guides named it one of 14 festivals a person must see in their lifetime. History, tradition and a joyful unique celebration in the hills of Northeastern Taiwan. I would agree this is a remarkable event one must see to complete their experience of Taiwan’s Lunar New Year celebrations! Xin Nian Kaui Le, Happy New Year from the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan.
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Tibet changed my life. I have never looked at the world the same since. If you want to touch the deepest part of your soul, visit this land. The roots of spirituality are here. The sites and landscape are breathtaking.
When I came many things were on my list to see. The temples and palaces of Lhasa, the once forbidden city. And a less travelled trek to Everest Base Camp to see the spectacular North Face of the highest mountain in the world.
We left Lhasa to travel to Old Tingri in Southern Tibet, where we would start the trek. Traveling through high passes, and the towns of Gyantse and Shigatse. Getting a real feel for the remoteness of this place. And the spiritual energy from its people.
The trek takes an average of four days from Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp. We were on a tight schedule with an overland trip to Western Tibet for the Saga Dawa Festival at Mt. Kailash afterwards. We would complete the trek in 3 and half days. Long, long days of walking on the roof of the world.
This is not like a trek to Everest Base Camp in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal. No rhodendrum forests, great lodges or hot showers. This is the high desert. A daily average altitude of 4500 meters. Little vegetation, and very few people. Some wildlife, which we had no luck spotting. But it’s beautiful. So quiet and peaceful. I think it’s still the quietest place I’ve ever been.
You can image being a Tibetan in another time. Crossing this plain with your goats, sheep or maybe yak. On a pilgrimage to Lhasa in hopes of seeing the Dalai Lama. Maybe running into a sheep herder or nomad camp like we did.
The road not paved at the time of filming continues right to base camp. You’ll see a motorcycle, supply truck or tour bus pass you by every so often. Sometimes a Chinese Army jeep.
After 3 days the first sighting of Everest. British explorer George Mallory attempted to reach the top in 1924. His body still remains near there at 8200 meters. His climbing partner Sandy Irvine was never found.
The north face. It’s the grandest view of Everest. And the last time I would see it.
Everest Base Camp Tibet, China. Originally established by the British for their expeditions in the 1920’s including Mallory’s last one. This is the non-climbers portion of the camp. Beyond the hill you see is reserved for Everest climbers with special permits.
Despite the snow this was an amazing adventure. Maybe because of the snow I have an even richer experience.
My favourite George Mallory quote about Mt. Everest is so appropriate to any dream of adventure and travel.
“So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won’t see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for.”
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The waiting room for the most exclusive tuna auction in the world-At Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Market-Tokyo, Japan. Home to the world famous tuna auction where wholesalers bid on blue fin tuna worth tens of thousands of dollars almost everyday. For the lucky few who brave the early morning hour like myself recently it’s a chance to get up close to this unique arena of high stakes bidding on the most prized fish in the world.
The lucky few? 120 to be exact. Some of the guidebooks and online blogs say to get to the information office at Tsukiji markets Kachidoki Bridge gate entrance by 4am. Well things have changed and now I wouldn’t recommend arriving any later than 3:30 to get a spot, I got there at 3:35 and I was one of the last few admitted.
Once in you’re given a map with instructions on conduct in the market and a colored vest to wear identifying you as a guest of one of two groups of 60. I was in the blue vest group, the last to visit the tuna auction that morning. The room is divided into two for each group. The first is led into the auction area at 5:25 and is allowed to watch for 25 minutes. My team, the blue group goes in last at 5:50.
OK, now the wait. For the blue team, almost 2 hours! Bring something to read or listen to because there’s not much to look at in this room.
The green team gets the signal to move to the auction area and my team is less than 30 minutes away from our visit.
The blue fin tuna is the star of Tsukiji but it’s only one of over 400 species of fish and seafood including seaweed, expensive caviar and controversial whale species sold at the market. Almost 3000 tons of seafood is processed everyday-making Tsukiji the largest fish market in the world.
Finally after being in this holding tank for almost 2 hours we were escorted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government security to the auction room.
There is a planned move in 2017 of the market to a new site. Tsukiji has been operating in central Tokyo since 1935 after the original market was destroyed by the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. It’s an extremely hectic and busy place and we are warned by our escorts to be very careful as many forklifts and turret trucks are constantly on the move.
We pass by one tuna auction site before being lead into the public viewing area for our precious well-earned 25 minutes into this fascinating world of high stakes tuna. The first blue fin tuna auctioned at Tsukiji this year was sold to the highest bidder at over $37,000 US dollars. The same sushi restaurant chain owner who won this year’s bid paid over 1.76 million US for a slightly larger tuna in 2013.
Intermediate wholesalers are busy inspecting the tuna up for auction this morning. It’s a very tricky game, even with the knowledge these buyers accumulate over the years to always get the tuna your customers want for the right price. The best can spot a seemingly lower grade tuna and get essentially a high grade product at a bargain price. 80% of the global blue fin tuna catch is consumed in Japan.
Meanwhile in the rest of the Tsukiji Fish Market the other 400 species of fish and seafood, including processed blue fin tuna is being purchased by buyers from small restaurants to hotel chains. Many stalls specialize in one type of product like this shop which is busy processing live eels.
Anything you can think of that swims or lives in the sea is here including the star of the market, the blue fin tuna.
The outer market is where all of the retail shops and restaurants are located. Line-ups for some of these famous sushi restaurants start at 4:30am. It’s safe to say Tsukiji has Tokyo’s highest density of sushi restaurants all with their own unique personality.
Back at the tuna auction final notes and inspections are completed before the first bidding. The buyers are all seen wearing caps with their license allowing them to bid on the tuna up for auction.
The Khali Temple in the Khalighat section of Kolkata, India. I was here with my friend Subroto who was showing me the area. This is also where Mother Teresa’s home for the Dying Destitute is located. And it’s also where you can find Bhola The Goat. Yes, this goat is named Bhola, and he is cared for by the people of the temple.
Up until now I’ve never seen anything quite like Bhola. He seemed larger than your average goat with personality to go with his size.
He’s apparently well known around here. Not only for his size and presence, love the henna died coat, but also for his tricks. His handler wanted to show his moves to us.
We were told he is well cared for and is considered almost sacred by the temple. It’s a miracle in itself considering they sacrifice his brother goats there to the God Khali all the time.
He must be well cared for. What goat would want to do this unless there’s something in it for him. Oh and I was told he likes whisky. Maybe that’s why he’s so cooperative and also because he knows he’s always close to death’s door.
These men who came by know Bhola and some of his bad habits like smoking. Yes apparently he likes smoking too, at least someone taught him how to. But today it looks like he’s only interested in eating cigarettes not smoking them, which can’t be good either.
The whole point of this story? Only in India is it possible to see a very famous temple, a home for the dying started by a saint to be and a smoking, whisky drinking goat that can do tricks all in the same block.
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This is the Hindu pilgrimage town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. I came here for the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. When camel traders and animal herders ascend on this town with 50,000 horses, cattle, and the star attraction, the camels.
Pushkar is like no other town in India you will visit. The village area wraps around Pushkar Lake, considered one of the great Hindu pilgrimages of India. Some of Mahatma Ghandi’s mortal remains were scattered from a ghat or staircase at the lake. That ghat now bears his name.
The town itself, complete with wandering cows, pandas or Hindu priests offering flowers and pujas for big baksheesh centers around the main street or Sadar Bazaar. It’s a mix of traveler hippie food joints, cafes and shops and ghats to the lake. Just a great mix of travelers, pilgrims, and locals here.
It’s also where you’ll find one of the only Brahma temples in the world. They’re waiting to enter after the midday break. Brahma is the Hindu creator God and of the few of these temples that exist, this one is the most prominent.
And these are the fairgrounds, where all the business of camels takes place. I arrived about 5 days before the official start of the fair. This is the time when you’ll see the most camels and trading.
It’s a hot, dry dusty environment, filled with every sound a camel could possibly make. Camel herders discipling and training the younger ones, a scene you could find just a little disturbing. It’s pure India though, filled with constant movement, musicians and gypsies swirling around you for baksheesh and thousands of camels constantly on the move around the grounds. Sensory perception overload.
The fair takes place every year coinciding with Kartika poornima, sometimes called Devi-Diwali, the festival of lights of the gods. Pilgrims from all over India come to bath in the holy lake of Pushkar. When the business of camels concludes, the crazy fair begins with snake charmers, children balancing on tightropes and the giant bath in the lake.
What makes this gathering so special? For me it’s a window to nomadic life that still exists for these people, conducting business the same way for thousands of years. Maybe there’s cel phones and other modern aids used but a life centered around the movement of camels hasn’t changed.
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When I visited Nepal in May of 2015 the country was in the middle of one of the worst natural disasters in it's history. Fear was felt everywhere as the second biggest tremor registering 7.3 shook the country on May 12 followed by more aftershocks.
Despite the uncertain future and the constant fear of another big earthquake, including rumors of an even more devastating one, Nepalis continued their daily prayers and worship.
Tibetan refugees and other Buddhists were seen one their koras of Boudhanath stupa and Hindus prayed at their neighborhood temples and shrines.
In Patan the Bunga Dya Festival celebrating the rain God was delayed due to safety concerns with the two chariots that are pulled throughout the streets of Lalitpur District during the event.
In part 5 of My Beloved Nepal a look at some of the temples of Kathmandu that were damaged or destroyed during the earthquakes of 2015 along with scenes of continued daily worship in one the most significant spiritual centers on the planet.
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Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. It's historic name is Canton, recognizable for it's world-famous food, one of the eight culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine. It's also a busy important transportation hub and commercial center hosting the biannual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.
For many, like myself, it is a major transit stop for traveling to and from Asia. I have traveled through Guangzhou before, never stopping for more than a couple of hours.
On my latest trip through the massive city my itinerary included a 20 hour layover. In my mind not quite enough to get a really meaningful experience but also way too much time to linger around an airport hotel and terminal. Also for many passport holders an opportunity to be a guest for 24 hours in a country that normally requires a visa in advance of arrival.
So I decided to put the effort in and check out a couple of things in the city so I would at least have some memories and things to talk about other than a great hotel restaurant and Chinese television.
The effort was really in the getting back and forth from the hotel I was staying at that was an approximate 15 minute drive from the airport to the city. Almost an hour long MRT(subway) ride after a 15 cab ride from the hotel to the closet MRT stop.
Figuring out what to do with only a few hours combined over one evening and a portion of the early morning was another challenge. Not really enough time to devote to a significant museum or historic neighborhood tour I finally deciding on walks in a couple of spots.
Since I arrived in the late afternoon I would go to busy Beijing Road where there's shopping, restaurants a couple of sites I could take a peak at and lots of people watching opportunity. The next morning I would get up early, around 6:30, grab some breakfast and head back down to the city in the crush of rush hour and walk along the Pearl River, China's third largest river.
With traveling time back and forth into the heart of Guangzhou roughly between 4.5-5 hours over my layover this was a tiring schedule. A hotel closer in the heart of the city might have saved me another hour or two in transit time with a little more pressure to get back to the airport before my departure flight.
Regardless I have to say I'm glad I spent some time in Gaungzhou even with the lengthy train rides. I've got some wonderful little memories now of this megacity and inspiration/motivation to visit again.
Join me now for a quick peak of Guanghzhou, China on Far East Adventure Travel.
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Sankhu, is a historic town that sits on the old Tibetan salt trade route in the Kathmandu Valley, 17kmh away from the capital of Kathmandu.
I made a few trips to the village in May 2015 that had suffered severe damage and loss from the series of earthquakes and aftershocks that began on April 25.
This was a well-preserved traditional Newari town with many entrance gates to the village, and at least 100 different temples and shrines in the area.
I listened to many stories from villagers who had lost their loved ones-brothers, sisters, parents, and neighbours. Almost twelve hundred homes damaged, 200 completely destroyed and at least 2000 forced to live in nearby tents or move to another village or town. It was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences during my visit in May.
I also met some brave women and men from the Canadian Armed Forces on disaster relief and local people with more money than others willing to share their temporary shelter with other families of Sankhu. Truly the best of humanity.
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Soon after I arrived in Kathmandu on May 12, 2015, the day the 7.3 earthquake struck the country fear, like a virus, once again spread throughout cities, towns and villages everywhere.
People had just started to resume regular life, minimally their usual routines amid the crumbling buildings, destruction and homelessness that many faced. Tented camps and communities were seen around the Kathmandu Valley with many local volunteers helping their fellow Nepalis in time of need.
When the second biggest earthquake struck it sent many people back outside to sleep outdoors, fearing more collapsed buildings, injury or death.
I continued to wander the streets of Kathmandu and other towns in the Kathmandu Valley speaking with local people and seeing how their lives were affected by the earthquakes.
It was truly inspiring to see Nepalis, themselves affected in some way by the earthquakes helping their fellow citizens. At the same time the stories of fear, loss, death and destruction was overwhelming. I was humbled at the incredible strength and resilience these people demonstrated in circumstances that would be far too difficult for most.
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Patan's Durbar Square was closed for several weeks following the earthquakes of 2015. It is currently open to the public. Patan is one of three royal cities in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, the other two are Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. All three former kingdoms feature a Durbar(royal) Square that are made up of temples, idles, shrines, and a former palace where each royal family lived.
When I visited Patan in May 2015 I was saddened by the temporary closure, due to the recent earthquakes, of the beautiful square with it’s intricate carvings, glimmering deity statues and wonderfully restored Newari buildings. I was relieved however to see that many of the structures of the square were miraculously still in tact and overall although there was noticeable damage, it didn’t look as bleak as the first media reports of a tourism industry in ruins.
Patan’s official name is Lalitpur along with a number of small communities it’s included in Lalitpur District.
It could be argued that it’s Durbar Square is the prettiest of the three in the Kathmandu Valley. It was in the opening scene of the 1992 documentary “Baraka”, that featured scenes of religious and human life from around the world.
There is a refinement to the square, it’s fixtures, and buildings unlike the other two Durbar Squares. Perhaps that could be attributed to the community of artisans, and crafts people that have been based there for centuries.
Patan is one of my favorite places to visit in the valley. A 15 minute taxi ride from Kathmandu's Thamel section makes it a convenient morning, afternoon, or day trip.
Currently Patan's Durbar Square has been undergoing restoration and reconstruction and is open to the public. It's estimated it will take several years for the square to be fully restored to it's pre-earthquake state.
As part of the My Beloved Nepal Earthquake Stories series on Far East Adventure Travel part 2, a look at Patan’s Durbar Square, shortly seen after the last massive earthquake on May 12, 2015.
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