Rotorua is known as the "little town" of New Zealand's North Island (though its population is nearly 60,000), and the country's "Sulphur City," world famous for the geothermal activity resulting the area's volcanic activity. There are no live volcan
Read more…
Recently I chose South Korea's capital (pop. 10 million, metro area nearly 26 million) for a vacation because of its mix of modernity with traditional - skycrapers and a dynamic urban scene on the one hand, sacred Buddhists temples,
A two-hour trip from Tokyo, the region of Oku-Nikko (Deep Nikko), near the small city of Nikko, lets travelers recharge amidst mountains, trees, water and sky; indulge in outdoor activities galore; and immerse themselves in history.
As the warmer
Read more…
Many voices in the civilized world have been speaking out in horrified outrage at Brunei's new edict decreeing death by stoning for gay sex, and numerous individuals and institutions joining a boycott. Should travelers and the travel industry/media
People told me that Bali was still special. “Just avoid Denpasar, or Kuta. Go into the remote valley's and you'll still see the villages, untouched.” That Hinduism still flourished on the island, and that the Balinese had a way of maintaining their
This singular island in Indonesia is a pocket-full-of-sunshine and a favorite destination for tourists. With more than ten huge cities and nine scenic destinations, Bali has something for everyone, including cultural and spiritual landmarks, the b
Happy Year of the Pig! One of the most visited destinations in the world, Hong Kong is known for its futuristic buildings including towering skyscrapers, lush mountain backdrops, vibrant lifestyle, splendid harbor, friendly people, traditional corn
Read more…
You may not have heard of South Korea's second largest city (pop. over 3.5 million), but Busan (about two hours 45 minutes by sleek train from Seoul) happens to be a cool metropolis where you can enjoy a mix of exciting and laid back. Big-city attra
Zao Onsen, one of Japan's premier ski and hot spring resorts, located in Yamagata Prefecture, in the northeastern Tohoku region of Japan's main island Honshu, officially opens today for the winter 2018-2019 ski/snowboard season. If there is not enou
Read more…
A mere one percent of Chinese profess Christianity, but as in Japan and indeed various other countries of non-Christian Asia, the festive trappings of Yuletide have been widely embraced in China, though for the time being mostly still in Shanghai, B
Read more…
Today I left Taiwan. For three weeks I was there, taking each day one by one. The reason, a wedding, a reason I turned into an excuse, an opportunity, to turn this trip to Asia into something far greater...
read complete post
.jpg)
The capital of Punjab province and Pakistan's second largest city is popular for its variety of attractions, from seeing priceless artifacts to historical sites to stimulating shopping and dining, the options are endless. Here are my top 10:
Nepal is a land of majestic peaks and the exotic landscapes. If you wish to visit Nepal you have many things to involve into. Alike many tourists, if you plan to go on mountainous treks then you have the bunch of choices. The peaks extending from th
Port Dickson is a town on the coast of south-central peninsular Malaysia, just over an hour south of Kuala Lumpur. The town used to produce charcoal, hence was also called "Arang" (charcoal) in the Malay language. There was also a carbon mine at P
Read more…
Come view spectacular ambers and ochers throughout Nikko, including Irohazaka Winding Road, setting of the popular road racing manga/anime series Initial D. And check-out the new Nikko Pass and Cycle Sharing Program!
Nikko, in the outer reaches of
When we first visited Cambodia, we knew that it is a poor country, and we expected to see poverty and beggars, mostly child beggars. However, we have lived in Angola and traveled through Africa so it shouldn't be worse or much different. Well, it
Read more…On the Han River, South Korea's capital is truly a global city and offers a wealth of places and experiences to delight any visitor. There are many things to do in Seoul. Here are some of the cool places you can visit:
Read more…