In addition to its lush green landscapes, Chiang Rai has become famous throughout Thailand for its unique and unusual temples. Most notably, the White, Black and Blue Temples, which help put a brand
Chiang Mai is a city of over 300 temples. While not quite as many as Bangkok’s 400, consider the size difference. The capital has roughly 55 times more people than Chiang Mai! With
When most people think of ancient ruins in Thailand, they picture the old Siamese capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. But one of the country’s most impressive stone temples is also one of its
Built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, Banteay Chhmar was likely far more than just another temple. Scholars now believe, in fact, that it functioned as the Khmer Empire’s ‘second city’
The late 12th century Angkor temples of Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and Banteay Kdei make up what are known as Jayavarman VII’s ‘triad temples.’ Each temple, in fact, represents a member of the
Beyond the Imperial City and Royal Tombs, Hue has even more to offer those with a knack for exploration. While the imperial era of the Nguyen Dynasty is long gone, many of the
Looking for a break from the glitz and glamour of Saigon’s central District 1, I decided to spend a day in Cholon, one of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. Cholon is Saigon’s Chinatown.
Hangzhou’s Lingyin Scenic Area, with Lingyin Temple as its centerpiece, is said to be as old as 1,700 years. Legend has it that an Indian monk named Huili took a liking to the
Hangzhou’s West Lake, long considered by the Chinese to be a “paradise on earth,” has so much to offer that it takes more than one day to explore. In Part One, we went
Part Three of this chronicle takes us from Laos back again to Thailand. Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew, the current home of the Emerald Buddha, is the most visited temple in the entire country.
Entering the park, I gaped in awe at the towering, monolithic structures surrounding me. There weren’t only Buddhas, but giant Hindu deities and characters from the Indian epics as well. Not to mention
Arriving in Vientiane after a pleasant stay in the former capital of Luang Prabang, it was immediately clear that the two places couldn’t be more different. Instead of charming French colonial buildings, I
The Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang contain Buddha statues in the thousands, and have been used for sacred purposes by locals for hundreds of years. Over time, they’ve also become one of
When we last left the Emerald Buddha in Part One, it was residing relatively peacefully in Chiang Mai’s Wat Chedi Luang, a stay which lasted over 80 years. A few kings ruled over
Battles have been fought over it. Multiple temples have been named after it. Chronicles detailing the history of its journeys have been found on ancient palm leaf manuscripts in numerous languages. Today, it’s
The unassuming suburb of Samut Prakan, about 30 kilometers outside of Bangkok, is home to one of Central Thailand’s most unique and awe-inspiring attractions. Visible even from the highway is a 29-meter bronze
The ancient religious monuments of Borobudur and Prambanan are two of the most prominent landmarks in the Yogyakarta region, if not all of Indonesia. While both are relatively close to the city, the
The country of Myanmar (Burma) has had its fair share of royal capitals, the last of which was Mandalay. After the fall of the Kingdom of Pagan, the capital jumped from place to
The deep relationship between Burmese society and Theravada Buddhism is apparent just about everywhere you go in the country. Whether you’re in a big city or small town, you’re bound to come across
I bounce up and down in my seat as my yellow Chinese e-bike speeds over the bumpy and narrow dirt path. I try to keep my eyes on the large brown pagoda in
Chiang Rai, a small city of 70,000 people in the far north of Thailand, may not look especially unique at first glance. The city, however, happens to be the hometown of some of