Far East Travels Podcast

I finally decided last year that the Annapurna Circuit would be the next big trek I would attempt. It's the busiest trail in the world, even busier than the popular route to Everest Base Camp. It's also probably the most convenient trek as well with the highest concentration of guesthouses and facilities. Even flush toilets are found in most guesthouses throughout the region-with the exception of...

2015 will go down as one of the most challenging if not the most disastrous year ever for Nepal. From the worst earthquakes in over 80 years to a fuel crisis that literally turned the country upside down with line-ups at the pump that lasted for days to a lack of basic cooking and heating fuel for the majority of the population. I visited the country twice in 2015. My second visit was in October a...

  2015 will go down as one of the most challenging if not the most disastrous year ever for Nepal. From the worst earthquakes in over 80 years to a fuel crisis that literally turned the country upside down with line-ups at the pump that lasted for days to a lack of basic cooking and heating fuel for the majority of the population. I visited the country twice in 2015. The first time was just after...

OK, I don’t want to mislead you, this is not the busiest street in Chiang Rai and there is lots of traffic in the city  but it’s easy to feel like it’s not busy in this town and surrounding area with a population of around 200,000.  To start your exploration of the town there are at least half a dozen temples  worth visiting in Chiang Rai including Wat Jed Yod built in 1844.  Jed Yod means 7 peaks...

Robert Kelly is a Lonely Planet author and freelance writer who for the past 20 years has been living in Taiwan and most recently Malaysia. Robert has written for the BBC, The Wall Street Journal, Taiwan Review, The South China Morning Post as well as several other travel publications. He has extensive knowledge of the culture, customs and diversity of East and Southeast Asia.  His most recent pro...

First I better check the map to make sure I take the right turn off. OK I think I’m ready to go. Wait a minute, one more look at the map just to be sure. What was I thinking, maybe if I hold it this way I’ll remember? Well let’s just get  going and figure out on the road.  Hmmm, this just somehow  doesn’t look right…..Better pull over and check the map again.  Finally on the right track to Wat Ron...

Out of all of the capitals in Southeast Asia Vientiane takes the prize as the most laid back. You’d never believe it was the center of commerce, government and transportation. It’s a testament to the attitude of the people of Laos. Not taking anything too seriously and having little or no sense of urgency. They do appreciate their leisure time  and even though the Mekong River is the center of soc...

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is one of the most popular Lunar New Year Celebrations in Taiwan. People will travel from all over the island just for this event which starts about two weeks before the end of Lunar New Year festivities. A few years ago The Discovery Channel called it the second best New Year’s festival in the world. It’s caught on so it’s no surprise when I visit to  see more West...

Robert Kelly is a Lonely Planet author and freelance writer who for the past 20 years has been living in Taiwan and most recently Malaysia. His insights and knowledge of the culture, customs and diversity of East and Southeast Asia is vast.  His most recent project is the audio podcast Travel Tape, a documentary style travel guide that dives deep into the cultures, history and stories of some of t...

It's easy to fall under India's spell of history, spirituality, culture and amazing food. I'm currently on the road and staying in the country's largest and richest city, Mumbai, and once again I've been seduced by India's sensory overload. Mumbai has been a different experience for me compared with other cities in the country I've traveled through and spent a considerable amount of time getting t...

Experiencing the  culture of Mumbai is as easy as hopping on a bus. Daily activities like riding the bus or local trains can be just as interesting and exciting as visiting an important landmark or museum. Once you’re familiar with the numbers of the buses you’ll find they  are frequent and easy to use with usually an  English speaking ticket attendant on board. The waters of Chowpatty Beach are h...

Kanyakumari India sits at the southern tip of the subcontinent. Technically it’s not the Republic of India’s extreme southern point, that title goes to Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island. It is however a popular tourist destination and important pilgrimage for many Indians. My first look at the area was from it’s most visited sites, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue, both lo...

Nepal faced some of it’s most challenging days following the earthquakes of 2015. When I arrived on May 12 another earthquake measuring 7.3 had just shook the country this time killing 153 people, injuring over 3,000 and sending fear and panic throughout the rest of the population, many forced outside due to damage or the loss of their home. Some opting to sleep outdoors fearing more earthquakes a...

On April 25, 2015 a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8  shook Nepal triggering one of the worst catastrophes in the history of the country. Many aftershocks followed, thousands were killed, more were injured and left homeless.  The country was shaken by another serious tremor registering 7.3 on May 12th right about the time I was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu. I was there to documen...

In this latest episode on the road in Cambodia my first look at the Angkor ruins. We left in the late afternoon to pick up my pass for The Angkor temples and get a free sneak peak of the park. When you purchase your ticket after 5pm for the next day you are allowed into the park until closing for free! The sites close at 5:30 so it doesn’t give you a lot  of time but you could easily catch a sunse...

Kagbeni is one of the most interesting villages in all of Nepal with it’s take on Western shopping and food culture. But it’s much more than that. Ancient Bonn Animist beliefs, statues and a picturesque location in the Kala Gandaki, the world’s deepest gorge, .  Join me John Saboe for a special edition of Far East Adventure Travel Podcast on the Buddhist trail to the Upper Mustang-The Medieval vil...

Chiang Mai, Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations of Southeast Asia easily accessible by plane, train or bus.  A historic old town filled with Buddhist Temples, restaurants, and cafes along with markets, bazaars and modern shopping malls Chiang Mai has something for everyone.  Chiang Mai has also become an attractive base for digital nomads and entrepeneurs to live, with it's inexpensive...

Another beehive is finished. The palanquins are directed away from the middle of the street so oncoming emergency vehicles can pass through the crowds and the piles of fireworks remnants. Appearing to be cruising the area,  when someone truly is in need of emergency care I’ve seen these vehicles swiftly moving through the streets of Yanshui with the help of volunteers. Despite the elaborate firewo...

We get the signal, their ready to go. The men at the front of the palanquins quickly turn their backs to the wall, and brace for the  barrage of piercing rockets. And the cacophony of the beehive began with roaring tides of bottle rocket streaks  fired off in all directions. Exploding in mid air, sometimes right in front of my mask and tiny explosions at my feet.  The giant God overseeing it soon...

The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival is held every year in Yanshui District in Southern Taiwan. Locally known as the Feng Pao it  is considered one of the most dangerous festivals in the world as well as being the third largest folk celebration.  Why do they blow off millions of bottle rockets and firecrackers you ask?  It all started with a cholera epidemic in the late 19th century. Due to the...

Phnom Penh has been the capital of Cambodia since French colonization. It is the country’s largest city with a population of over 2 million. It’s the center of commerce, the arts, cultural heritage and diplomacy. Once called “the pearl of Asia” it was one of the most beautiful French built cities in Southeast Asia. It’s riverside stretches along the Mekong River converging with the Tonle Sap.  Phn...

Cochin, or Kochi is the second largest Westcoast Indian city after Mumbai with a total population of just over 2 million. Ernakulum District encompassing the townships and total urban area has the highest percentage of Christians in all of India. It’s not surprising to see so many churches and a strong Christian local culture and why it’s so busy in the village of Fort Cochin on a Sunday.  Syrian...

Nepal is one of the world’s most diverse countries for traveller experiences and engagement. Bordered by the great Himalayan range boasting the highest mountains in the world including Mt. Everest, Nepal also offers a rich culture  with over 100 ethnic groups largely following Hinduism, Buddhism, or a combination of both.  Martin Zinggl is an Austrian born journalist, photographer, writer and docu...

Tihar is one of my favorite festivals to see in Nepal. Each day of the festival either an animal, a Goddess or a brother/sister relationship are honored. The biggest night, Lakshmi Puja, is the most important night of the festival when houses and businesses are cleaned, decorated with Rangoli art(flower, colored sand) and candles. Prayers are also performed in hopes that the Goddess of Wealth, Lak...

  It’s called shitamachi, the old town ambience of Tokyo’s past that has survived and in fact flourishes today in the Yanaka neighborhood, within walking distance of Tokyo’s expansive Ueno Park. You’ll find streets and alleys lined with old style merchant housing. Typically a shop on the ground floor with a living space above.  This neighborhood was virtually unaffected by World War ll bombings an...