Written by Ron Gluckman Photos by Erik Almas

The 19th-century French naturalist Henri Mouhot was among the first explorers in the modern era to marvel at the majestic temples of the ancient Khmer empire (802–1431), some of which he found crumbling beneath a dense canopy of banyan trees and tropical vines in northern Cambodia. Mouhot is credited with discovering Angkor, which 900 years ago may have been inhabited by half a million people.

Of course the 1,160-square-mile Angkor, which contains more than 90 major temples and other buildings, was never totally lost, and several Europeans carved paths to the remote shrines before Mouhot. Yet the young French explorer did much to popularize what is widely regarded as an ancient world wonder.

In recent years, millions of travelers have followed in Mouhot’s footsteps, cameras in hand to shoot Angkor Wat at sunset, touring temples, libraries, and fields still sustained by 900-year-old moats. Visitors still travel on the very same stone roads and bridges that once linked this Khmer capital to an empire that stretched to Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Many fly directly to the international airport in nearby Siem Reap, a riverside town featuring fine Cambodian cuisine, which is often likened to Thai food but tends to be more sour than spicy. Scores of restaurants like Abacus Café and Madame Butterfly, set in renovated traditional wooden houses, have revived traditional recipes, as well as concocted daring Khmer fusion dishes.

Siem Reap also lays claim to considerable sophistication, evidenced by the presence of the 24-suite Amansara, a member of Amanresorts. Fashioned from King Norodom Sihanouk’s guesthouse, Amansara features a spa and one of the chain’s signature slate-surfaced pools.

Siem Reap has emerged as a bustling regional arts center. A dozen local galleries have created art walks. Free guides to the various walks are available from the McDermott Gallery, run by John McDermott, a local photographer regarded as the Ansel Adams of Angkor.

Picking out the star photographer from the crowds at the Angkor Photography Festival, held amid the locale’s ancient temples, is surprisingly easy. The six-foot, five-inch Gary Knight would stand out in any crowd. Famous for his fearless coverage of the world’s worst conflicts, from Bosnia to Darfur, Knight helped found the festival.

The event was born in 2004, during a reunion of photographers who covered the decades of fighting in Cambodia dating back to the Vietnam War. “What really sets this festival apart is its noble spirit, its unique outreach,” says Roland Eng, a festival director. “It’s not just about photography and arts, but about humanity and compassion. This is like a gathering of old friends, all coming together to help Cambodia.”

For scores of young photographers like Bangkok’s Satirat Dam-ampai, the Angkor Photography Festival offers them the rare chance to mingle with and be mentored by their idols. “I came here because these are legends, and you can learn so much from them,” she says.

Growth of Siem Reap has come only in the last decade or so, according to Richard Yap, former manager of the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, a dazzling colonial-era property that played host to the early temple explorers of the 1930s. “The airport opened in 1997,” he recalls, “and it really took off.” Convenient to Angkor are more ruins, which are mostly blanketed in jungle.

Tom Marchant, the founder of travel website Black Tomato, can organize a four-day itinerary that includes a sunrise tour of Angkor Wat; micro-lighting (motorized hang gliding) over the jungle; and a tour of Koh Ker, an ancient Khmer capital, that ends with an overnight stay in a private camp.

Didier Faraud, who has been a fixture in Cambodia since 1993, runs Siem Reap’s idyllic Heritage Suites Hotel, as well as Heritage Adventures. “Angkor is a magical destination that can be as luxurious or rustic as anyone desires,” he says. “Most visitors want to do something no one has ever done.”

That’s exactly what Knight wanted to accomplish when he first gathered here with some cherished colleagues: to experience something rare and distinctive in a mystical place, which is still as mystical as the site Mouhot came upon a century ago.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

> Angkor Photography Festival
> Amansara resort
> Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor
> Heritage Suites Hotel
> Abacus Café
> Madame Butterfly
> Heritage Adventures

This guest post was orignally published in Lexus Magazine.

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Lexus Magazine’s man in Singapore swaps the heat of the city for a remote Malaysian hill town with a few unsettling stories to tell.  

Written by Rod Mackenzie Photos by Tom Salt

THE ROUTE

This journey begins with Singapore native Rod Mackenzie stuck in the city’s rush-hour gridlock and fading fast. The only thing keeping him awake behind the wheel is his fevered daydream about a purportedly enchanted hill-station-turned-resort located 280 miles to the north, on the spine of Peninsular Malaysia. It’s called Fraser’s Hill, and it’s the kind of retreat you’d expect to find on an old, rolled-up map with burnt edges. 

BORDER CROSSING

One thing to be said for Singapore’s gridlock: it allows ample time for my imagination to run riot. For years, I’ve fantasized about penetrating Malaysia’s dense jungle interior on a modern-day Heart of Darkness journey, complete with creeping tigers. This exotic road trip, however, comes with a major perk: after crossing the Singapore/Malaysian border, my chief rest stop will be the urban jungle of intriguing Kuala Lumpur.

DOUBLING EFFECT

Once upon a pretty recent time, 1998 to 2004, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. They still dwarf the city—even their signature, the world’s tallest two-story sky bridge, is vertiginously high. It’s open to the public. I wouldn’t mind driving across it.

THE SCENE 

Clinging to the 33rd floor of Traders Hotel, SkyBar isn’t only the choicest watering hole in Kuala Lumpur (complete with its own swimming pool); it also has the finest photo op of the Petronas Towers. The hip young things I see tapping their feet to the DJ’s 80s tunes are here less to admire the architecture than to eye up the glossy parade of revelers emerging from the elevators.

FASHION SENSE

I spot an array of styles—Hollywood to Hong Kong via Paris—that’s almost as dizzying as the view from the bar’s windows. Which makes sense. Style mavens should take note: Kuala Lumpur has one of Asia’s most impressive high-end fashion districts. KLCC, right under the Petronas Towers, has attracted most of the usual suspects: Choo, Vuitton, and Ferragamo; Cartier, Rolex, and Bulgari.

BAND OF BROTHERS

No, it’s not a boy band. It’s a representative sampling of Kuala Lumpur’s hipster kids, who aren’t shy about striking a pose. Translated, Kuala Lumpur means “muddy city.” That was before skinny vests and hair gel.

THE FINAL LEG

My excitement builds on the drive to Fraser’s Hill. The drive isn’t long (64 miles), but it feels like a road trip to Avatar’s deep-space Pandora. The road gets twisty, and the scenery, which is growing ever more dense, couldn’t offer a more striking contrast to Kuala Lumpur’s glass and neon playground. The farther I drive, the more I feel myself disappearing into the jungle’s 20 shades of green.

FRINGE CHARACTER

It was Louis James Fraser, a Scottish prospector, who had the bright idea of founding Fraser’s Hill. Back in the 1890s, he discovered deposits of tin in the hillsides outside Kuala Lumpur (shown here). Fraser went native, cutting himself off from the constraints of “civilized” society, and reports spread that he ran opium and gambling dens for his Chinese workers—until the day in 1916 when he disappeared without a trace.

ENTER ONLY

Two hours after leaving Kuala Lumpur’s suburbs, I’ve climbed steadily through the foothills of the Titiwangsa Mountains to reach the guardhouse for the Gap. Completed in the 1920s, this pass marks the snaking approach to my final destination. Too narrow for two-way traffic, the road direction switches every hour or so.

NATURAL A/C

A century ago, the search parties that came looking for Fraser were impressed by the cooler hill climate and it didn’t take long for the British to establish a colonial hill station for government bigwigs. Perched 5,000 feet above sea level, up in the lush Titiwangsa mountain range, the site commands nearly 7,000 acres.

SO “CIVILISED”

Much of Fraser’s Hill retains a surreal Olde England appearance, with a stone-clad post office and police station built in 1919 overlooking a neat little clock tower. You’ll also find shops, restaurants, markets, modest hotels, and even two golf courses, one dating back to 1925. It could all be chocolate-box quaint and touristy—yet England this ain’t.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

I hit the trails with a guide. The calls of birds and insects are intense, and now that I’m seeing the forest up close, the biological diversity is extraordinary. My guide says the area is home to everything from tigers to spider monkeys. Thinking of the former, it’s at this climax that I ask the obvious (or maybe smart) question, “Anything likely to eat me?” Doesn’t matter. Nothing beats a great road trip, especially over unknown roads.

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 Written by Keiya Utsumi 

 The quintessential eastern capital, Tokyo is overwhelming, and first-time visitors expecting an Asian version of New York City are in for a surprise. There’s a kind of commercial energy and enthusiasm here that you won’t find anywhere else, and it’s best to just surrender yourself to the smash high fashion, neon lights and pop culture that pervade the central districts.  

Visitors are subject to the urge to do too much, but there’s a kind of sublime undercurrent in Tokyo for those who slow it down and absorb the entire scene in pieces. You’ll find Shinto down alleys behind your hotel; wood-block prints that hint at modern Manga; and, occasionally, a traditional wooden home stuck sideways into a side-street neighborhood. 

A Day in the Life 

It’s hard to do justice to this city of 12 million people in a single day. If you’re feeling ambitious, plan on getting up well before sunrise. 

Tsukiji Fish Market is a good place to start, in part because it’s teeming with life long before the rest of Tokyo has started the daily commute. Daily auctions start at 04:30. After you’ve seen enough, sample the freshest sushi you’ve ever had at an onsite restaurant like Daiwa Sushi or Sushi Dai. 

Later in the morning, you might embark on a Sumida River cruise or take a walk through the traditional neighborhoods of Nakamise Dori. Pick up a few inexpensive gifts at the pedestrian market and then walk on to Sensoji Temple. This 7^th-century temple welcomes 20 million devotees each year. 

From here, you’ll need to make use of Tokyo’s brilliant public transportation. You may visit the Imperial Palace or Meiji shrine, or skip the sightseeing altogether and head over to Ginza’s up-market shopping complexes. 

Best of the Rest  

Spend a few days in Tokyo, and the city really starts to open up. Part of the joy of living here is the occasional glimpse into traditional life. Begin this quest at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which follows the journey from 16^th-century Edo to 21^st-century Tokyo. 

After a day or two in Tokyo, a lot of visitors like to explore the surrounding area by day, retiring to the dining and clubbing districts of downtown Tokyo after dark. Kamakura was capital of feudal Japan the 12^th century, and its beaches, shrines and temples make for a great escape from the city. 

Mount Fuji

Another solid daytrip destination is Mt Fuji, looming more than 3,700 meters over the cityscape. Visit Hakone National Park and do some hiking around Fuji, whether it’s a leisurely stroll in the lowlands or an ambitious hike to higher ground. 

But you don’t have to scale Mt Fuji for sweeping panoramas of Tokyo. Tokyo Tower is 333 meters tall, and it operates two observation decks. Other buildings like the World Trade Centre have a similar setup. 

Hidden Gems 

Traditional Japanese bathhouses (sento) were once central to local communities. These days, private apartment units have their own baths, and community sentos have lost a little ground. If you have even the slightest interest in taking a traditional soak in a bathhouse, look around the community where you’re based, or ask the hotel staff. Some sentos separate genders, while a few allow mixed bathing. It’s supposed to be a soak, not a bath, so make sure you’re clean before getting in. You’re likely to need your own towel, too.  

Accommodation  

Hotels in Tokyo are clean and safe, and nearly all of them offer spot-on service. The trade-off, if one exists, is size. Rooms are necessarily small, especially those that are remotely affordable. 

Hotels in Tokyo are also universally new. You won’t find many historic inns housed in 16^th-century houses, though it’s possible to book a room in an atmospheric hotel that at least carries on those old-world traditions. This kind of colloquial atmosphere is available in mid-range hotels throughout the central districts.  

The cheapest hotels are in outlying districts and aren’t always convenient. In many cases, the money you save by taking yourself out of the city center isn’t worth the time (or added expense) of commuting to sightseeing districts everyday. 

First-time visitors are surprised to learn that ‘budget’ accommodation still costs a hundred dollars or more per night. Any indignation quickly wears off when you see the truly deluxe hotels in key districts like Shinjuku or Shibuya. With lots of space and a full set of five-star amenities, rooms in these giants cost three to four times as much. 

View from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Tokyo at Night  

If you arrived in Tokyo by day, you’re in for a surprise. What looks to be drab, urban jungle transforms into a wash of colors and neon lights after dark. One of the world’s most talked-about night scenes is here, but it’s not focused in any one district. Choose from every kind of themed bar you could imagine, along with dance clubs, swanky lounges, hostess and geisha clubs and beer gardens.  

Roppongi is the rowdiest night scene, popular with tourists and young Japanese. A few expatriate communities are located on the fringes of Roppongi, so there’s plenty of international restaurants and a few quieter pockets of activity where people that live here go for drinks and conversation. Tokyo’s red-light district is north of Shinjuku Station in Kabuki-cho. 

The other major night scene is Shibuya, where affordable watering holes attract office workers and students. The really posh scene is in Ginza, with its fine-dining restaurants, executive hostess clubs and sophisticated performance venues. 

Retail Therapy 

Cats, cats and more cats

If there is anywhere that could truly claim shopping as its ‘national pastime’, then there’s no question Tokyo would be at the helm. Cutting-edge electronics, up-to-the-minute fashions and traditional folk art are favorite purchases. Be advised that, while many of the gadgets you buy at home were conceived in this city, they’re not necessarily any cheaper here. Some of the best purchases for visitors are antiques and handicrafts at the Oriental Bazaar. 

Ginza is a dazzling and up-market commercial district. Dozens of department stores and designer boutiques are here. It’s popular with the moneyed and mature, especially on Sunday when the streets are only open to pedestrians. Harajuku caters to teenagers with its colorful, sometimes bizarre, fashions, while nearby Omotesando draws in their parents with designer boutiques.  

Getting There & Away  

Tokyo’s Narita International Airport is one of the most important transport junctions in the world. It operates two terminals and offers every traveler service imaginable. Haneda Airport is closer to town and only operates domestic services. 

Tokyo is connected to other cities in Japan by train. The network of railways and carriers is admittedly daunting for first-time users, but clear English signage takes some of the stress out of traveling. Shinjuku and Shibuya both have major railway stations. 

Getting Around 

Tokyo’s metro is an attraction in itself, and it covers more ground than any mass transit system in the world. The above-ground Yamanote Line circles the city center, while a labyrinth of subway lines connect to stations across the interior. If you plan to make the most of Tokyo’s excellent public transport, consider purchasing a discount ticket like the ‘Holiday Pass’. It’s only available on weekends and national holidays, but allows unlimited access to practically every mode of transport in the metropolitan area.  

Otherwise, passengers buy a prepaid card that can be recharged when needed. If your card runs out of credit while you’re in transit (i.e. the trip costs more than you thought), you can pay the difference when you exit. 

This article was originally published at Asian Correspondent.  

Keiya Utsumi works with remedial children in a specially designed school in Tokyo. He believes he and his colleagues make a big difference in the lives of the children and the parents. His spare time is taken up with his family, painting, writing and reading.

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Written by Johnny Ward Photo Johnny Ward

Now I was settled in Chiang Mai, Christmas came around and I had some time off from teaching so my two housemates (Max and Swede) decided to do a little hardcore backpacking… my first real adventure…

I wanted to go to China all my life but on 25,000 Baht per month teaching salary I couldn’t afford to fly from BKK to Beijing so another route must be found! I looked at a map and saw that the Mekong river runs from a little town in Thailand called Chaeng Saen and then the river ‘becomes’ the border between Burma (Myanmar) and Laos as it runs north until it reaches the Yunan province in Thailand. I hatched a plan.

“Right boys, I know how we can get to China and not spend shit loads of money.” – Me

“Awesome, hows that?” – Max

“We’re gonna hitch a ride on a Chinese cargo boat from some random town in Northern Thailand and get off on the first port in China.” – Me again

“Oh shit…” – Swede

And so we got our ‘plan’ underway. Quick trip to the embassy to get our Chinese visas, surprisingly easy but this was 2007 (i.e pre-olympics, so no forged documents needed for this trip to China, we saved that one for the next trip to China), a week later we were set.

Bags packed – Check

Chinese Visa – Check.

The vaguest idea of what we actually do when we get to Chiang Saen – SHIT

And we left early in the morning, got a public bus from Chiang Mai bus station to Chiang Saen near the golden triangle and 8 hours later we were at the skanky port town of Chiang Saen. We found the cheapest accommodation possible (around 100 Baht) and hit the sack. Next morning, we grabbed a tuk-tuk and got him to take us to the port where the real fun was about to start…

By this point I had been in Thailand for about 9 months and I had been studying Thai for about 4 of those so I could get by if and when I needed, and right now I needed, and needed and needed! We managed to discover that the boats were heading to China (result!) and that some of them were leaving today (another result!) and that the entire crew of every boat were Chinese, spoke zero English and pigeon Thai (not such a good result!) but we had come this far, so we gave it a crack.

The international port of Chiang Saen.

I sauntered onto the nearest boat that was docked, receiving the strangest looks I had ever received (who the hell is this white guy and what’s he doing on our skanky boat?!). After a bit of coming and going between the tuk-tuk driver, who came back to see what was going on, the staff, the captain and me we came to an arrangement. What I understood was the boat was leaving in an hour, it would arrive in China tomorrow afternoon and if we gave them 1000 baht ($30AUD) we could go with them, sleep in a cabin and get fed — now that is cheap travel!

All we had to do was avoid the police during the whole journey, get off at the first available port and, before we leave, sign the register stating that we are fully fledged members of their crew in the Chinese-Thai sailor register in the port office. We obliged and I never laughed so hard when I saw the register… 3 columns which I guess said first name, last name and passport number  followed by pages upon pages of scrappy Chinese script and signatures with no English anywhere to be seen.. aside from our Johnny Ward, Thomas Edmunds, Max peters written amongst it all with our signatures beside, that must have made good reading when the immigration officer flicked through it next month!

With trepidation a plenty, we bought four bottles of whiskey at 7-11, loaded up on crisps and water and made our way down to boat, expecting to leave in the next hour or so.

We boarded, 5 hours later (and the realisation that we were low on the list of the crew’s priorities) we set off…

It was dark already and we made our way up the Mekong river at quite a slow pace but we were feeling very proud of ourselves at actually managing to sort the whole thing out and it looked as if we were going to be in China tomorrow and one of my childhood dreams would be fulfilled.

One thing we didn’t ask about was the toilet, or shower — which turned out to be the same thing in the end and it was a sight to behold. Around midnight, a few glasses of whiskey in, Max cracked and through a ridiculously funny attempt at some sort of charades/rudimentary sign language Max managed to find out where the toilet was, he probably wishes he hadn’t. I mean that in the most literal sense imaginable.

I mean who would have doubted that 8 multilingual, civilised, poetry reading, ballet watching, fine-dining Chinese sailors would have kept such a pristine area to piss, shit and shower in — it was certainly an experience.

We immediately decided to only use it to take a piss, anything else (showers included) could wait until we arrived in China tomorrow — wherever or whenever that would be…

Tomorrow came and all our pointing and shouting ‘China?’ was followed with ‘China, China, hahahahaha!’ by our Chinese friends which admittedly was pretty funny although the 3 bottles of whiskey that managed to disappear throughout the day may have added to the humour. The evening was upon us and as the sun began to set on the most beautiful backdrop I have ever seen with Burma to the left, Vietnam to the right, Thailand behind us and China (supposedly) in front of us it became obvious that the neither boat or crew ever had any intention on reaching China today… we were dismayed but holding onto hope that we’d get there tomorrow instead… to be continued.

Sunset on the cargo boat

Curious about what happens next? Read the second part of the story at Traveling Cheap – the boat from Thailand to China.

Johnny Ward left his home country Ireland at 18 and lived/studied/worked in the USA, Korea, Australia, England and Thailand. Follow his adventures at OneStep4Ward.com, where this guest post was originally published.

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Lyndsey in a lantern and decoration shop during Spring Festival.

Written by Lyndsey Biddle

China’s Spring Festival, which leads up to the much celebrated Chinese New Year, usually occurs in late January to mid February. The exact date depends on the Chinese lunar calendar. My three years spent in China gave me the pleasure of experiencing this amazing festival more than once. With decorations galore, countless delicious family dinners, and non-stop fire crackers to boot, this time of year is a real workout for the senses.

Lanterns hanging above Ancient Culture Street in Tianjin, China.

The Colors

The streets, houses, buildings, you name it, will be boldly decorated with red lanterns and red paper-cuts. These paper cuts are images and characters cut from thin paper and the designs are often quite intricate. Most of these red lanterns and wall decorations will have specials Chinese characters written on them in gold. Why so much red and gold? Red is considered a lucky color and gold signifies wealth. That’s what Chinese New Year is all about; out with the old, in with a new year, a new chance to find success, fortune, and happiness.

The Chinese hold a number of beliefs and superstitions about this time of year and about how to ensure their family’s good luck for the coming year. In many homes you will find red paper-cut decorations with characters for good luck and fortune written on them. They are placed up side down to bring the luck down into the home. Another superstition is that you shouldn’t clean your home on New Year’s Day. This will sweep out the luck. Also, all cooking for the family New Year’s Day meal should be done the night before and all cutlery should be stowed away, because if you have a knife out on the day of the new year it will cut your luck.

The Sounds

Spring Festival is one the best and one of the worst times to visit China. The sights and sounds of the holiday are enough to keep any person mesmerized but, in the Chinese fashion, the sounds in particular tend to be over done. The Chinese are mighty proud of their invention, firecrackers and fireworks. They set them off with gusto during the entirety of the Spring Festival and a number of devoted fireworks enthusiasts set them off a week before through a week following the Festival. That would be my neighbors. They set off firecrackers night and day. Mostly at night. But nobody else seemed to be bothered by it. That’s just what you do during the Spring Festival, you make a lot of racket and everyone approves. It hurts my ears to recall how loud the streets get with blasts and bangs.

The Chinese go gung-ho over firecrackers for a reason. They believe that during the New Year evil spirits try to come down to earth. The firecrackers are a way to frighten off the spirits. I think my neighbors must have been very afraid of these evil spirits considering the amount of industrial sized firecrackers and fireworks they invested in.

The Tastes

The Chinese Spring Festival is a time for family. It seems the whole country drops what it is doing to head home. I would highly advise that you do not plan to travel around the country during this time. If you are in China then you will want to stick to one location for the holiday season. Trains will be packed and plane ticket prices will sky-rocket. But no matter the difficulty in getting ticket, the Chinese find a way to get together with their families. Together, the ritual is to gather for lavish family dinners and eat your fill of traditional dishes.

Jiaozi, or boiled dumplings, are always on the New Year menu as are Nian Gao. These sweet cakes are made as a tribute to the kitchen god Zao Wang who is said to visit each family during the New Year. He takes an evaluation of the family’s actions over the past year and returns to heaven where he reports his findings. The Nian Gao is said to make Zao Wang happy so that he will give a good report on the family.

Lyndsey writes for briefcase, a website that offers luxury briefcases direct from the manufacturer. Lyndsey currently lives in Kolkata, India, where she is studying the Bengali language.

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Village Scene © Aschwin Prein

Written by Nick Steele

For many people looking to visit China, traveling along the Yangtze River can be a good way to discover China for the first time or it can give you greater insight into the country if you’ve visited once before. It is the longest river in Asia and only the third longest behind the Nile and Amazon Rivers. It is nearly 4,000 miles long and runs along small villages and major cities. Because of the variety of attractions along the river, many travelers like to embark on a Yangtze River cruise for their smaller size, comfort and convenience.

If you think you don’t like cruises, you may very well like river cruises because they differ greatly with traditional ocean liners. In a matter of a week or so, you’re able to visit dozens of sites along the river without any additional planning on your part and you always have a secure place to sleep at night. Plus you enjoy guided tours, value, and many itineraries varying in length and price to choose from.Many people prefer to travel on the Yangtze River than on foot alone because you get to visit the smaller villages along the river that you wouldn’t have otherwise discovered. Plus, as travelers go from one place to another on a vessel like a river cruise ship, you can enjoy the scenery and relax, not having to worry about which bus or train you are taking next.

Shanghai and Beijing

Sitting on the Yangtze River Delta is Shanghai, the largest city in China which is known for its metropolitan and cosmopolitan feel. Aside from the endless shopping and restaurant options that large cities offer, Shanghai is filled with rich historical sites and stunning architecture. Beijing, the second largest city in China, is home to the famous Tiananmen Square, known to be the largest public gathering place in the world with a history that spans centuries, along with what is known as The Forbidden City (called Gu Gong in Chinese) — the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty up until around the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is currently the site of the Palace Museum. Construction of this massive site of 800 buildings started in 1407 and 24 emperors resided there. Other sites worth visiting are the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, and parts of the Great Wall of China.

Ghost King overlooking the Ghost City and the Yangtze River near Fengdu, China. © Aschwin Prein

Three Gorges and Fengdu

Among the most scenic areas of the Yangtze are the Three Gorges. It is in the Hubei province and the region is home to the Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest hydropower plant in the world. For those fascinated with ghosts and the afterlife, Fengdu is known as the “Ghost City.” There are more than 40 temples here. It is known as the resting place of the spirits of the dead. One of the most well-known attractions is Snow Jade Cave, which is about 1,000 miles long of stone formations and breathtaking natural structures.

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Crosswalk © Andres Ojeda

Tokyo’s most famous crosswalk.

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Nepal Kids © Peter Hermeling

Three friends somewhere in Nepal.

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Fatehpuri Library © Madhur Verma

A street scene by the entrance to a library in Old Dehli.

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Bangkok China Town © Rob Barham

Food market in Bangkok shot by Rob Barham.

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Written by The Adventure Company

After recently having had such a great time in the Himalayan foothills of India, I decided along with a couple of my new friends to do a more strenuous trek in the Annapurna circuit, Nepal. I was aware that this would be a great challenge, and I could not wait to hop on the plane and get started; I have previously had the exhilarating experience of white water rafting on the Kali gandaki river and fell in love with this beautiful country. Without a doubt Nepal holidays offer something really unique.

This particular trip was good because it concentrates on the actual trekking; a full 16 days are spent on the circuit. I had been searching for something of a challenge and activity holidays like these also enabled me to raise some money for charity; a double feel good factor!

So we started in the lively vibrant capital of Kathmandu. On arrival here I literally felt on top of the world; at 4400 ft above sea level the scenery is breath taking. The mountains surrounding the city are incredible as are the views from the temples; my favourite being World Heritage sites Swayambhu and Pashupati. I revisited to some of the wonderful buzzing teahouses and ate mouth watering Tibetan dishes in my favourite guesthouse, Las kus at the Kathmandu Guesthouse. This had to be the best place in the world to chill out before the challenge began.

By the time we reached the small village of Besisahar, spirits were high and our group was buzzing with excitement. Everybody on the trek had had some previous experience of trekking and was relatively fit. Our guide, Raj was really informative and extremely supportive; his general knowledge of Nepal was brilliant. He explained that we would be walking up to 8 hours a day and that this particular trek would allow us to acclimatise safely; rest days were built in to help adjust to the altitude. The trek would take us through many different eco systems and we would be hiking through sub tropical forests, rice fields and crossing suspension bridges as well as climbing up the mountains; this was adventure travel at its best!

I do suffer from slight vertigo however, and on our way to Bahudanda one of the first suspension bridges proved a little tricky; these were not the most solidly constructed bridges I had ever seen and there were holes in between the runners which allowed glimpses of land way below. To my great relief I ended up blundering across quickly with my eyes fixed on the other side! By the end of the first few days I thankfully realised that although this was a tough trek, it was fully supported. Our friendly Sherpa carried all the heavy baggage whilst we only needed to carry day packs with the essentials; water, cameras and sunscreen. Generally the meals consisted of simple local produce but they were delicious and we did not want for a thing; great coffee to get us out of our beds in the mornings and mouth watering cakes and biscuits after a long day hiking. The atmosphere in the evening was cheerful; we were all tired and slept soundly.

On our way between the villages Pisang and Manang one guy got the symptoms of altitude sickness, luckily and we were able to spend a day in Manang (3540m) relaxing while he adjusted before moving on. I was completely shattered at this point and aware that the hardest part was yet to come, so I spent time chilling out and chatting with the local people and playing with the friendly children. One of the best things about this trip was climbing the many paths and stone staircases and arriving in the remote villages and small tea houses; they seemed as if they hadn’t changed in hundreds of years. The locals were all so welcoming and interesting with their different religious beliefs; there were many Hindus in the lower villages but as we ascended the religion became predominantly Buddhist.

The scenery of course was totally stunning and changed on an almost daily basis; it seemed that one minute we were trekking through the forests and a few days later on our way to Yak Kharka (4018m) with its harsh open terrain, frozen waterfalls and boulders littering the path ahead. I was really finding the going tough at this point and breathing was becoming more laboured. So it was amazing when we did eventually cross the Thorung La pass to Muktinath. We had started at dawn and after a five and a half hour climb we reached the summit (5416), luckily in the sunshine!

I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement. The views of the Annapurna range surrounding us were fabulous; we could also see the Gangapurna and the Dhaulagiri mountains. We spent a while here taking photos, it was the highest point most of us had ever set foot and I felt light headed with happiness. After this the steep descent was much easier as we were pretty fit by this point. The highlight on our descent was at Tatopani (1160m) where we soaked in the spring fed thermal pools, what a treat for our tired muscles! This was one of the best holiday experiences I have ever had, and has given me the incentive to do lots more similar trips.

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Written by JAPANiCAN – Book Japan Hotels

Japan can be a land of great culinary adventures. Japanese cuisine is so distinctive and unique that you should absolutely experience an authentic Japanese dish while in country. Here are seven recommendations.

Sushi

If there’s any food in Japan that is unmistakably Japanese, it is sushi. This rice roll with different types of fillings can be considered Japan’s national dish because it represents Japan in the culinary world. Forget about California rolls, sushi in Japan is different and you will find sushi types that you haven’t seen before.

Japanese Curry

Curry is a dish that you can find in many places but Japanese curry has a taste that is quite unique. There is a smokiness and sweetness to Japanese curry that makes it stand out. Try out their curry rice and many curry variants.

Sake

While not really a food but a liquor, Sake is nevertheless crucial in experiencing Japan through your taste buds. Sake is a rice based wine that, depending on the season, is served chilled, in room temperature or heated. This alcoholic beverage is the traditional drink for ceremonies and other celebrations.

Manju

Traditional desserts in Japan can be great unique experience. One of the more popular desserts is manju, a sweet bun made from flour, rice flour and buckwheat and with a delicious filling of red bean paste. The red bean paste is made from azuki beans and sugar. Other fillings are also put in the manju like orange cream fruit fillings. Sometimes the manju itself is flavored.

Natto

This food is not for those with delicate stomachs. Natto is fermenting bean paste that has a rotten smell. This food is usually eaten during breakfast. It may smell bad but many people say that it actually tastes quite good. A good tip when eating natto is to just eat it quickly before the smell gets in the way.

Ramen

The Japanese love noodles. Some people may say that you should try eating yakisoba, which is fried noodles. Yakisoba is indeed very tasty but for a wonderful noodle experience nothing can beat eating ramen. Ramen is noodles in soup. There are many variations of this popular dish, starting with the soup itself. For example, you can get a soy based, miso based, or salt based. Then you get different toppings depending on where you eat it.

Each prefecture, or region, actually has its own variation of ramen, which makes traveling to these places all the more exciting because you get to eat a regional ramen specialty.

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The Soul of India

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Written by Matthew Kepnes

Thailand is known for its great food. Thai food is tasty, spicy, delicious, and cheap. No matter where you go in the country, you’ll find food everywhere. From restaurants to street vendors selling everything imaginable, you could walk into the jungle and still find someone selling food. Next time you find yourself in Thailand, here are some delicious dishes you can’t leave the country without trying:

Spring Rolls – Whether fried or fresh, spring rolls make for a great snack. Street stalls sell these all over and they make a great quick meal. Make sure to add some chili sauce for added flavor.

Pad Thai – Probably Thailand’s most famous dish, this noodle dish is made with eggs, tofu, and green onions. You can find it everywhere but the place to eat it is from the street stalls in the Thai neighborhoods. It will be the best Pad Thai you ever eat.

Som Tam – This spicy salad is native to northeast Thailand but is one of the most commonly eaten dishes in all of the country.  Every Thai loves it.  It’s made from shredded papaya, tomatoes, lemon juice, peanuts, and a lot of chilies. It’s one of the spiciest dishes in the country and if you aren’t careful, it will burn your mouth off.

Pad Seeu – This is a thick noodle dish made with bok choy.  The thick sticky noodles are quickly cooked with bok choy and oyster sauce. It’s really tasty and one of the most flavorful dishes in Thailand. Though the portions are usually small, the noodles are thick and heavy and you can get easily filled up by this dish.

Curry – You can get a wide variety of curries here in Thailand from red to green to clear to peanut based. No matter what you get it will always be good. My favorite is Masuman curry which is made from peanuts and potatoes and is a yellow curry.

Fried Rice – This simple dish is found everywhere and while not exotic or special, the street vendors here make some excellent rice. It’s quickly fried with a few Thai spices and is really tasty.

Fruit – Thailand has many delicious fruits. The tropical weather here makes it easy to grow great and succulent fruits. On every street corner, you’ll find someone selling the freshest fruit around — all for 30 cents.

Thailand is a great country with great food.  So the next time you are there, make sure you try these dishes and make sure you eat frequently at the street vendors. They are safe to eat and have some of the best food around.

Matthew Kepnes has been blogging his way around the world for more than three years. You can read more about his adventures at his blog, Nomadic Matt as well about his recent ebook making money with your travel blog so you can have your travels pay for themselves!

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The cherry blossom season, the most beautiful time in Japan.

Tokyo at night.

Little did I know that Tokyo could be this serene.

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