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Cabbages and Condoms, Bangkok
Cabbages and Condoms. Not exactly the most appetizing name for a restaurant, but upon learning about it from fellow travelers I was intrigued. The restaurant was located a little out of the way along a dark side street. Considering its name I became slightly suspicious, until a concentration of fairy lights eventually appeared like an oasis in a desert and I was walking into the most atmospheric restaurant in Bangkok. Cabbages and Condoms is a project set up to promote better understanding of family planning and to raise funds to support...
read moreUpdate: Compassion in Cambodia
Water Deprived Villages in Cambodia A few years Christine and I traveled through Southeast Asia and met a very compassionate man, Nu Tarth. On our return we posted a story on In The Know Traveler about how he survived the genocide of the 70’s “Killing Fields” to start the Angkor Charity Organization, a non-profit devoted to providing clean water and schools. We were so inspired by his work that along with friends, family, and co-workers, we pooled our funds several times to drill wells. Cambodia Lacks Clean Water The World Health...
read moreThailand Splash and Spice Festival
Thailand Splash and Spice Returns: Bigger and Better than Before Bangkok, Thailand – 11 April, 2013: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Visa International (VISA), drawing on the success of last year’s first Thailand Splash and Spice festival, have teamed up again to offer visitors an expanded promotion for 2013. The campaign for this year, running from now until 31 May, has grown beyond Bangkok to include Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. An attractive and tasty variety of dining and accommodation specials are being offered...
read more10-Day China Tour
China’s Best Deal: The Highlights in 10 Days Bellevue, WA, March 21, 2013—Here’s an unbeatable deal: China Spree’s quickie tour that’s affordable, provides all flights, deluxe hotels, good meals, and extensive guided sightseeing in China’s three major tourist attractions. To be more specific, the Golden Triangle Tour, which costs $1,859 in April, includes round-trip transpacific air from San Francisco, all intra-China transportation, 4-star accommodations like the stunning Traders Hotel by Shangri La in Beijing, 8 American...
read moreKuching’s Cat Museum, Malaysia
Discovering a Different Kind of Kuching Through the Cat Museum I am finally happy. I have found the place where I am no longer ashamed of who I am, and where I am surrounded by the furry creatures that I love without the fear of being branded ‘the crazy cat lady’. The attraction of Kuching for me was not so much its Malay culture and British heritage, its beautiful mosques and temples, its colorful street fare of Jalan India and the excellent fresh produce at the Sunday Market. No, the foundation of my visit is much more feline in...
read moreThe 101 ways to travel Taipei
There are many ways to explore and travel Taipei Those who have been to Taipei would unanimously agree that it is one of the easiest cities to travel in. “If you get lost, just look for the 101 and start again,” advised the policeman I had stopped to ask for directions. “The building is the centre of Taipei!” And he had been right. I rotate my map a few rounds to get my bearing, aligning the little picture to the tall, bamboo like building on my right, I knew instantly where I should be going next. Taipei 101 Taipei 101, what used to...
read moreJapan Week Festival at Grand Central Terminal
NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – Japan Week, a public-private partnership that promotes Japanese culture, food and beverages to encourage tourism to Japan, today announced its 2013 program that will take place at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall on March 19-21, 2013. The multi-day festival will showcase Japan as an incomparable travel destination by celebrating its diverse local and regional foods, beverages, music, art and culture. “Through our Japan Week program this year, we want to showcase Japan’s...
read moreTsukiji Market Tuna Auction Observation Area to Be Reopened Mid-January
Tsukiji Market Tuna Auction Observation Area has Reopened The tuna auction observation area of the Tsukiji Market, which has been temporarily closed to visitors to help ensure greater safety and efficiency for those working over the busy New Year season, has resumed on January 21, 2013. The regulations concerning observation are the same as...
read moreTrain Station Turns Entertainment Hotspot in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM’S HISTORIC OTTOMAN-ERA TRAIN STATION TO REOPEN AS ENTERTAINMENT HOTSPOT THIS APRIL Jerusalem’s historic Ottoman-era train station will reopen as a major entertainment hotspot this April, boasting restaurants, art galleries and concert spaces. The 1.7-acre complex will include seven restaurants, four ice cream and coffee stands, an expansive art gallery, a farmers’ market and a 2,000-person concert space. Much care has been taken in the preservation of the original building — enlarged and beautified in...
read moreBackyard Travel Release New China Tour: Hong Kong and Beijing Discovery
JOIN BACKYARD TRAVEL ON NEW CHINA TOUR THROUGH HONG KONG AND BEIJING Bangkok, Thailand (February 5, 2013) – Backyard Travel, Asia’s most innovative travel company, has today released details of a new tailor-made tour: ‘Hong Kong and Beijing Discovery’ taking travelers to see two of the most majestic cities in Asia. Utilizing the new 72-hour visa waiver for tourists in mainland China, travelers on the tour will be able to take in the best of Beijing (such as the Great Wall of China and Forbidden Palace) before seeing the highlights of...
read moreKep the Crabs Coming
A visit to the seaside town of Kep I visited the crab market in Kep with the intention of ‘just looking’ before grabbing a couple of baguettes for a late breakfast. Following the steps of the locals I found myself surrounded by bamboo baskets hoisted out of the sea by ladies in gum boots and thick gloves, bargaining for my breakfast. Crabs for breakfast may seem a bit odd, but by the size of the crowd gathered here on the promenade, I am not the only one with the appetite. Kep, a small seaside town in Cambodia, is famous for its...
read moreHow to Stay in Japan’s Ryokan
A View of the Ryokan Ryokan Basics Traditional Japanese inns, or ryokans, originated in the Edo period (1603-1868), but are still alive and well today in the island nation, allowing modern day travelers to experience centuries-old customs, like sleeping on a futon on the floor of a tatami (straw mat) guestroom, changing into a typical Yukata robe while enjoying fresh matcha tea upon arrival, and soaking in the luxury of an ancient onsen (hot springs) after an authentic Japanese dinner. Japanophiles are extremely well versed in...
read moreRed Sea Winter Jazz Festival in Israel
Jazz Festival Returns to Eilat The dates are set for the third annual Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival in Eilat, Israel and this year’s event is sure to be a hit, starting on January 17th and ending on the 19th. “The Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival is one of Israel’s most dynamic annual music events, and will provide some additional excitement for travelers vacationing in Eilat this winter” said Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America. Festival Jazz Artists With a fabulous lineup of jazz musicians from around...
read moreBeyond Angkor Wat: the stilt village of Kampong Khleang
“Want tuk tuk? We go to Angkor Wat!” touts a few enthusiastic tuk tuk drivers as we strolled out of our hotel. It is assumed here that Angkor Wat is the sole purpose of all tourists who come to Siem Reap, after all, the town has been receiving foreign visitors for 120 years, acting as a gateway to the Angkor temples. We had different ideas however, and stayed in Siem Reap a little longer to get a sense of what else there is to see beyond the famous temples, for with such a scenic town with such lively people, there had to be...
read moreFive Fun Facts About the Maldives
What you did not know about the Maldives An Island Paradise worth exploring The Maldives. An archipelago of islands off the southernmost tip of India is for many an idyllic vision of tropical paradise. Small islands, lush with palm trees and fringed by powder white sand, it’s little wonder they’ve been attracting hordes of tourists. Yes, there are plenty of hammocks and cocktails, but there is so much more to these islands than meets the eye. Here are 5 things about the Maldives you might not have heard about in the travel...
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