Prolonged exposure to the frenzied pace of Southeast Asia’s mega-metropolitan areas is perhaps best remedied by a detour to Hoi An in central Vietnam. In addition to the beautiful Cua Dai Beach showcasing views of the Cham Islands, the former port trading center offers a picturesque and historic, UNESCO-designated downtown featuring centuries-old Vietnamese homes, museums … Continued
The challenge posed by this site is to make sense of the scattered remains of a former strong Southeast Asian empire’s capital. The historic city of Ayutthaya gained global importance due to its strategic trading location and strong diplomatic networks that were highly prized by the Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, and even the British. … Continued
Over the last few years, I have been on tiger safaris in Corbett, Rajaji National Park, and Thekkadi but have never been fortunate enough to actually spot a tiger. This time, my husband, son and I decided to visit Bandhavgarh, the national reserve park in Madhya Pradesh known for maximum tiger sightings. The trip was … Continued
The world was black and far away as we waited on the summit of Mount Kinabalu; a ghostly memory suspended four thousand metres below. High up in the night-time sky we huddled for warmth against the bitter cold and watched for the sunrise, the murmurs of success and relief as climbers reached the summit mingling … Continued
Each city has its own story. Each has its own rich history. But not all of them have very interesting ones. Dumaguete is one of the very few cities with interesting stories behind them. Why? That is because it involves pirates, beautiful ladies, and even a living statue. The key words that gave birth to … Continued
According to “Nihon Kokujisekikou” (“Observations About the Remains of Japan’s Civil Affairs”), Confucian scholar Shunsai Hayashi’s painfully titled book chronicling his 17th century travels through Japan, Itsukushima ranks among the country’s three most scenic spots. Our own travels did not include the other two locations – Matsushima and Amanohashidate – but my husband and I … Continued
Thank you to TripWolf for listing We Said Go Travel as featured bloggers! tripwolf’s travel bloggers of the month March, Lisa and her husband George from We Said Go Travel, are writers, speakers, but most of all, they are travelers. Up until now, they have visited more than one hundred countries and Lisa herself has worked … Continued
WHEN TIME STANDS STILL Are you tired of driving down the dusty roads, tiring treacherous mountain treks, swooshing down the snow laden hills, cold night camping in the woods, watching historical monuments or flirting with disastrous waves? The best alternative is heading to the laid back, coastal village of Alleppey, Kerala in India for a … Continued
The evening sun – a vivid and striking shade of orange – descended behind a passel of skyscrapers, making way for the night that imperceptibly drew a blanket of darkness over the Hong Kong sky. As I stood there by the roadside, a lone figure cast in the shadow of dusk, I allowed the street … Continued
There is no donut headrest involved in a traditional Thai massage. No lullaby lavender-scented oil to lubricate your limbs. Forget the bathrobe and freshly laundered sheets as well. Instead, imagine the last painful neck rub your well-meaning significant other ground into your deltoids and add a pinch of wrestling and a dash of floor yoga. … Continued