South Korea Knowing less about South Korea than either Japan or China made for some wonderful surprises. A rich, colorful culture and curious, helpful people made our visit here one of true discovery. China Size and numbers, that’s China. Too…
Returning to Bangkok after a month in Vietnam (and several more in Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos) was a bit of a shock. Everything seemed so modern and cosmopolitan, fashionable and brightly-lit. We spent Christmas eve (thanks to more points) in…
Hanoi is frantic and frenetic, unnerving and uncompromising, but it grows on you quickly. Hassles and scams can surely be found here, but so can unexpected kindness and unbridled energy. Hanoi gets under your skin, and it doesn’t take long…
Halong Bay is for many travelers the #1 must-see destination in Vietnam. With jagged limestone peaks that rise from the blue-green waters of Tonkin Bay and countless spiky rock islands with hidden grottoes and swooping birds dotting the horizon as…
Sometimes travel is a struggle. Everyone suffers moments of discouragement and frustration, times when everything seems to be working against you. But it’s often these times that turn out to be the most memorable, when you learn something about yourself…
With the exception of some chilly nights at high altitude on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau in Western Sichuan Province, we had been sweating since leaving South Korea at the end of June. The streets of urban China offered many reasons…
Designated a World Cultural Heritage town, Hoi An thrived in the 16th and 17th centuries as an international trading port. Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Indian traders arrived, and in many cases established businesses and residences here. The town has some…
The tourist strip of Pham Ngu Lao was our first introduction to Saigon (renamed Ho Chi Minh City after the fall/liberation of Saigon in 1975). Just off the bus from Phnom Penh, we checked into one of the multitude of…
We realized after we’d arrived how little we knew about Cambodian history, and during our visit attempted to soak up whatever knowledge we could. This five-part article called The Banyan Tree gives a thorough, objective account of recent events (last…
Small-Town Cambodia along the Mekong The Mekong River is the main focus of activity in many parts of Cambodia, and exploring the small towns along the river is richly rewarding. The rhythm of life is slow and quiet. The atmosphere…