Tag: Asia
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Group Tour to China
Contiki China Adventure Tour Review Well, my Contiki days are over now but after traveling with 8 Contiki Tours (Italian Espresso, Eastern Mediterranean Cruise, Greece & Italy, Middle Europe, Spanish Spree, Big Indochina, Thai Island Hopper, and China Adventure, whew!), I feel confident saying that the China Adventure is the very best Contiki has to…
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An overnight stay in Singapore
A lovely final 24 hours in Asia spent on the water with a Singapore Sling
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Listening to the call to prayer in Kuala Lumpur
Listening to the call to prayer over the urban sounds of Penang, Malaysia
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Like a Rolling Stone
The best thing about being a wanderer, or at times being consumed by wanderlust, is the stories you collect. In addition to collecting my own stories, I like to hear about other people’s adventures. I had a 7 hour delay at the Kathmandu airport – which worked out well because I wound up on a…
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Rhinos and Tigers and Bears!
Crossing the border from India to Nepal was like finding relief on a lush deserted island in a sea of humanity. Immediately, the streets were cleaner, the people were fewer, and the scenery was greener. Cows munching garbage were replaced by goats feasting on fresh grass. Aridity was replaced with humidity, and the smog gave…
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From British Columbia to Bangkok to Bali
One of the most magical things to me is standing in the international terminal of an airport and looking at all the departures on the screen, knowing the world is at my fingertips. Some of the cities I’ve been to, and others are on my list. I watch each name sparkle and think of the…
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Good Night Vietnam
Vietnam is absolutely beautiful. I have enjoyed parts of it immensely. It is more expensive than the other SE Asian countries, but it is still about half U.S. prices, and there are much more luxurious options than in Laos or Cambodia for spas, dining, etc. Vietnam has a strange contrast. Its beautiful beaches and wonderfully…
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What is it good for?: Stories of the Vietnam War
I remember the first time I truly understood what “war” meant. I was eight years old and went on a family trip to Washington, D.C. My mother was somewhat out of sorts and insisted that we visit the Vietnam War Memorial. I’m not sure what I was expecting of the memorial, but I was confused…
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A brand new day in Cambodia
Today was a brighter day as we spent it exploring temples. We left the hotel at 4:45 AM this morning to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. It was absolutely beautiful. This afternoon we explored two additional temples – Bayon and Ta Prohm, which was made famous by Angelia…
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It’s No Holiday in Cambodia
Until the last two days, our trek through Southeast Asia has been full of water-gun fights, blessings from Buddhist Monks, and cruises down the Mekong (and of course: cockroaches and squat toilets). Presently, our trip has taken a darker turn down the tumultuous road of this region’s violent past. This is a journey I have…