Most people have little sense of Polynesian and Micronesian geography, and thus little or no clue about where or even what the U.S.-associated Marshall Islands are (though maybe at least Bikini Atoll might ring a bell?), let alone this subset of the
Like many of the urban boom behemoths of Canton, China,Dongguan (pop. in city proper 8.2 million, greater metro 44.4 million) can be intimidating, its new architecture and cityscapes monumental, its traffic massive and chaotic. And yet, signs of trad
This Philippines' largest island, home to capital Manila, is also home to many far-flung, corner far less trodden by visitors, which I recently discovered on a bus trip north from Manila. Vigan (right), capital of the province of Ilocos Sur, with a U
It was a rainy autumn day in Tokyo as my companions and I shuffled out of the Toei Chikatetsu metro line at Asakusa Station. Emerging onto the street level, we quickly opened and raised our large, red paper umbrellas, on loan from our escorts, and ma
Of the more than 10 million visitors to Japan, destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima. and Okinawa obviously rank among the better-known names. But there are small cities and towns spread among the beautiful islands of this singular country off th
South Korea has come a long way, baby, in these past few decades, and may punch above its weight internationally (and even, these days, pop-culturally, thanks to its its government's strenuous promotion efforts), but as a travel destination it's stil
I don't get Hello Kitty. Well, I do get Hello Kitty - I get the merchandising, the appeal to pre-adolescent females and the cutesy factor that seems to adorn all young Asian girls and indeed little girls all over the shopping world. I get that it's
Mongolia strikes me as more than the sum of its individual parts. As we drive from capital Ulan Bataar westward across rolling plateauland to the small city of Tsetserleg, in a valley of the Khangai Mountains, I sometimes have to pinch myself to remi
The name “Narita” instantly brings to mind the huge airport that services the Tokyo metro area. But the city that’s home to the airport, as well as the one alongside it, are actually atmospheric, full of history, and well worth working in before or a
Midway along the long, narrow country that is Vietnam, the now provincial capital of Huế was once the capital of the Nguyen dynasty, then the entire country until 1945, when the emperor abdicated and the communists took over. Though largely heavily d
Admit it. It is tough to visualize an elephant orphanage. Visions of elephants in shorts like Oliver Twist asking “please sir may I have another” were short lived in my great expectations, however they were not replaced with anything very clear.
After a near panic-attack—or maybe it was claustrophobia, I’m not sure—from being in rooms without windows for six days straight, I get on the bus from Baguio to Sagada resolving to do better. I even find banana bread. That’s a good sign. “You ev
Tokyo is a city of many neighborhoods. In about one hour, you can take the above-the-ground, glass-windowed JR Yamanote line, on a 34.5 km (21.4 miles) loop around the center of the city. Some of the major station include Yūrakuchō (Ginza area), Shi
The most important Buddhist monastery outside Tibet’s capital Lhasa, Kumbum (also known in Chinese as Ta’er) in China's adjoining Qinghai province, was built in 1583 and is a spectacular repository of Tibetan art and culture as well as home to 400 m
Tucked into the northern coast of the world's third largest island, Borneo, and surrounded by the country of Malaysia, the diminutive absolute monarchy of Brunei, ruled by one of the world's richest men, is a fascinating mix of grandiose architectur
Having lived in India my entire life, in all those years, often had I heard tales of the Sunderbans. Stretching across more than 10,000 square kilometers (almost 4,000 square miles) in the state of West Bengal and into Bangladesh, this delta is the w
Astride the magnificent Himalayas and dotted with gently flowing rivers and serene lakes, Nepal is splendid not just for adventure but also spiritually and culturally. Lord Buddha's birthplace is filled with both numerous Buddhist gompas and ancien
The Shaolin Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China and the home of the famous Kung Fu practicing monks. The style of Buddhism developed here centered on martial arts training and meditation. The tradition was carried on through the ye
A world away from busy Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Lantau Island, located where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea, is forested with the few high-rise buildings located along the coast. It is home to Hong Kong International Airport, D
Nepal is undoubtedly a trekker's paradise. Home to the seven highest peaks of the world, the country has some of the most exciting trekking trails that offers excitement and adventure. It provides the backdrop for the most amazing adventure in some o
Most people have little sense of Polynesian and Micronesian geography, and thus little or no clue about where or even what the U.S.-associated Marshall Islands are (though maybe at least Bikini Atoll might ring a bell?), let alone this subset of the 
