Standing tall and overlooking Da Nang, Marble Mountain is one of five marble and limestone peaks in central Vietnam. Each is named for one of the five elements of the ancient Chinese philosophy: metal (Kim), water (Thuy), wood (Moc), fire (Hoa), and earth (Tho). We went to the top of Thuy Son, the one most …
Asia is a huge continent with heavy population centres and rural areas that are completely different from each other. Travelling here is a fascinating cultural experience. This section includes both East and Southeast Asia.
What I really like best about travelling this part of the world is the colourful and intricate architecture and the generally welcoming attitude towards visitors and strangers.
To explore, we went to a mix of big cities like Singapore, Beijing, and Kuala Lumpur, and off the beaten path destinations.
To date, we have visited: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. There is plenty more to explore and write about here.
Enjoy our articles featuring travel planning and tips:
Bali Itinerary: Cruise Port Adventure in Ubud Indonesia
One day in exotic Bali is not enough, but as a cruise port, that was all we had. There are two basic choices for a Bali itinerary. We could head inland to Ubud and see the rice terraces, monkey forest, and markets. Or we could simplify our Bali itinerary to a day at the beach. …
One Day Xian Itinerary: Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda
Our one day Xian itinerary looks better on paper than in practice. Flying in and out of the former capital city of China on the same day left no room for error. A city with over 3,000 years of history, it is the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road. Our Xian itinerary allowed for …
Mutianyu or Badaling: How to walk China’s Great Wall
“Shall we head to Mutianyu or Badaling?” Initially, the question meant little. I just wanted to walk the wall, to stand on the Great Wall of China and entangle my thoughts on its history, mystery, and beauty. Being there was surreal, a moment I fantasised about for years. Some say the wall reminds them of a massive …
Batu Caves: Monkeys, Statues, and Hindu Shrines
As we stepped out of the car at Batu Caves, monkeys were the first thing to catch my eye. Just beyond a troop of long-tailed macaques (wild monkeys) stood the largest Batu Cave statue, the 43-metre tall golden figure of Lord Murugan. Behind Lord Murugan are the Batu Caves steps leading to this Malaysian temple, just …
20 Photos of Shanghai China: Juxtaposition of Traditional and Modern
Shanghai is a city of contrasts, a juxtaposition of the traditional and modern. It was our entry city as we travelled in China. Despite its dense population, we fell in love with Shanghai. Let’s see if these photos will do the same for you: See Shangai with a Tour Additional Information On Visiting Shanghai: …
Observing Everyday Life in Suzhou China
With just one day to visit, we only got a glimpse of life in Suzhou China. Sitting about 100km west of the big city of Shanghai, we could sense the more relaxed lifestyle the instant we got off the train. Life in Suzhou had an almost tranquil atmosphere despite being one of China’s most affluent cities. …
Your Guide to 5 Great Palawan Beaches, Philippines
Palawan, an island region west of the Philippine archipelago, is a popular travel destination for many reasons. One of the things that sets this island from all other tropical spots, though, is how it is filled with so many beautiful shorelines and stunning Palawan beaches. The island is said to have more than 50 pristine …
Travel Tips on China – Know Before You Go
We loved China (most of the time), and have come up with a list of our best travel tips on China. Vising this Asian nation was interesting, frustrating, exciting, dirty, crowded, historic, loud, colorful, stinky, inexpensive, polluted, multi-cultural, modern and ancient all at the same time. If you are headed to Asia, here are. . …
More Beijing Photos – Meeting Locals, Drumming, Olympics, Temples
There is just so much to capture in Beijing photos that I just can’t do it justice in a reasonable amount of posts. So hang on to your hat and get ready for a whirlwind photo tour of Beijing – the rest of our favorite sites (although I did save a few for tomorrows China …
OMG – Beijing Street Food from the Weird to the Bizarre
Beijing Street Food was really beyond my imagination, even more, bizarre than I had expected. Right outside our Beijing apartment, on Wangfujing Street, we can get the most interesting Street Food. Simply select your favourite and they will boil, BBQ, fry or steam it right on the spot . . . Beijing Street Food There …
Photo Tour: Beijing’s Summer Palace
There is so much to see in Beijing. Yesterday the Forbidden City, today we visited the Summer Palace, where the Emperor used to live from April until the weather turned cold. It’s bigger and I found it more striking than the Forbidden City. Actually, it is a lot bigger, covering an expanse of 2.9 square …
Inside the Forbidden City, Beijing China
Right in the center of Beijing, and walking distance from the apartment we are staying at, is the walled Forbidden City. Aptly named as the Emperors and Empresses lived here for over 600 years and it was forbidden to commoners. Obviously all that has changed, and now it is a beautiful museum in the center …
Giant Buddha and an Ancient Town – Leshan and Haunglongxi, China
Today we took a two hour drive, boarded a boat and went to see the world’s largest buddha carved in a mountain. We were really excited about the giant buddha, but I have to say it was rather a let down. Unlike most of the other things I have written about, in this case I …
Sichuan Opera, Sichuan Food – More China Fun
Sichuan (English spelling Szechuan) used to only conjure up images of food which was too hot and spicy food for me to eat. Last night that all changed as we went to a traditional Sichuan Opera. It’s a mix of styles, each act being completely different than the one before. There was drumming, comedy, acrobatics, …
