Insight To Asia
Staying with hilltribess in Thailand
Staying with hilltribes in Thailand facebook twitter google+ pinterest Villages all over the world are starting to open their doors to tourists. Polly Pattullo meets the hilltribes of northern Thailand We were sitting on the floor of a house in Ja Bor in north west Thailand, a three-hour drive from Chang Mai on a road of endless hairpin bends, talking to village women about their traditional black coats. A supper of wild eggplant, pumpkin, pork, chilli paste, rice, omelette and sweet tea had been cleared away and these mountain people of the Lahu tribal group were explaining about the coloured […]
Staying with the locals in Thailand
Staying with the locals in Thailand facebook twitter google+ pinterest The thought of spending your hard-earned holiday in the home of an accountant is, perhaps, not the most inspiring. Locate that home on a tropical island, mix with beaches, sunsets, platefuls of seafood and some of the friendliest people, however, and it begins to sound more appealing. Then factor in that the accountant is a trained volunteer, working on the books of an award-winning community based tourist initiative, and it suddenly becomes an intriguing prospect. To reach this accountant’s home is easy enough. The small public ferry from Bangrong pier, […]
Community tourism in Thailand
Community tourism in Thailand facebook twitter google+ pinterest Community tourism often just means gawping at impoverished locals, but in northern Thailand, our writer visits two new retreats that make a real difference to the lives of the hill tribes, and takes a river cruise from Bangkok on a beautiful old rice barge We could hear the children’s excited voices as they approached through the darkened grounds of the lodge. Then they burst onto the terrace in a riot of bright colours and flashing silver, carrying a birthday cake. The candles were lit and everyone – men and women from local […]
Why You Shouldn’t Ride Elephants In Thailand
Why You Shouldn’t Ride Elephants In Thailand facebook twitter google+ pinterest Everyone wants to ride elephants in Thailand. Including me. That was until I spent the day at an elephant sanctuary and learned the disturbing truth about this popular activity. Just imagine how incredible it would be to sit atop a massive 9 foot tall, 4 ton beast while lumbering your way through deep rivers and pristine jungle. This is an experience many dream about when planning a visit to Thailand. I couldn’t wait to get my photo riding on top of a massive elephant. However there’s a dark side to elephant […]
The 20 Best Beaches in Vietnam
The 20 Best Beaches in Vietnam facebook twitter google+ pinterest With over 2000 miles of coastline, Vietnam has plenty of secluded coves with white sands and waters fit for snorkelling. For days spent sunbathing and evenings watching stunning sunsets, these are the best beaches in Vietnam: Long Beach, Phu Quoc Long Beach (Bai Trong), spanning the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, is a 20km stretch of largely deserted soft yellow sand and swaying coconut palms. Ideal for sunbathing, sunset watching and swimming, this beach is great for classic tropical beach views and is undoubtedly the best Phu Quoc has […]
The 10 Best Treks In Asia
The 10 Best Treks In Asia facebook twitter google+ pinterest Southeast Asia offers some wonderful treks, allowing you to spend days walking through dense rainforests, spotting spectacular wildlife, learning about the cultures of the many different tribes who live in the remoter areas, and often staying with them in their homes and sharing their meals. The following ten treks are highly recommended, and also ensure that any communities visited benefit from your presence. Taman Negara, Malaysia There are six observation hides in Taman Negara – one of the oldest rainforests on earth and pictured above – where you can stay […]
Join The Party At An Iban Longhouse in Borneo
Join The Party At An Iban Longhouse on Borneo facebook twitter google+ pinterest It’s always polite to bring gifts to your hosts’ house, but when visiting a Sarawak longhouse make sure it’s something that’s easily shared, as longhouses are communal, and nearly everything gets divvied up into equal parts. This isn’t always an easy task: typically, longhouses are home to around 150 people and contain at least thirty family apartments, each one’s front door opening on to the common gallery, hence the tag “a thirty-door longhouse” to describe the size. These days not everyone lives there full time, but the […]
Our Favorite Islands in Cambodia
Our Favorite Islands In Cambodia facebook twitter google+ pinterest No less than sixty Cambodian islands dot the azure Gulf of Thailand. Easily accessible from Sihanoukville, Kep and Koh Kong, a growing number house rustic bungalows for overnight stays. They may not have roads, cashpoints or mains electricity, but this is a small price to pay for squeaky-white beaches, warm translucent seas and an escapist, easy-going vibe. Controversially, a number of these islands have been leased to developers, mooted for super luxury resorts, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how long this rustic tranquility will remain. Time is of the essence if […]
Our Favorite Islands in Indonesia
Our Favorite Islands In Indonesia facebook twitter google+ pinterest There are over 13,000 islands in the 5200-kilometre-long archipelago of Indonesia. With so many to choose from, we’ve whittled it down to 20 of our favourites. Bali With its pounding surf, emerald-green rice terraces and exceptionally artistic culture, the small volcanic island of Bali – population 3.1 million and the only Hindu society in Southeast Asia – has long been Indonesia’s premier tourist destination. Although it suffers the predictable problems of congestion and commercialization, Bali’s original charm is still much in evidence, its distinctive temples and elaborate festivals set off by the […]
Our Favourite Islands In The Philippines
Our Favorite Islands In The Philippines facebook twitter google+ pinterest Graced by dazzling beaches, year-round sun and numerous opportunities for diving, island-hopping and surfing, the Philippines has long attracted a steady stream of foreign visitors. Yet there’s far more to these islands than sand and snorkelling. These are a few of our favourite islands in the Philippines. Olango Island Five kilometres east of Mactan Island, Olango Island supports the largest concentration of migratory birds in the country. About 77 species, including egrets, sandpipers, terns and black-bellied plovers, use the island as a rest stop on their annual migration from breeding […]