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
Even though Marco Polo once called it the most splendid city in the world, Hangzhou remains a relatively obscure destination for foreign visitors to Asia. The city has been beloved by Chinese for
Lopburi, one of Thailand’s oldest cities, is also one of its most unique. It’s been continually inhabited for thousands of years by cultures like the Dvaravati and the Khmer. A king of Ayutthaya
The city of Ayutthaya, at one time, was among the most populated cities in the world. It was also one of the most luxurious and cosmopolitan, with traders and diplomats from around Europe
After the destruction of Ayutthaya and before the founding of Bangkok, the city of Thonburi functioned for a short time as the Siamese capital. Today, Thonburi is merely a suburb of its younger
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.
As I began my walk along the rocky trail, I couldn’t hear anything but the sounds of the birds. It had been a long journey to get here, requiring both a shared and
Nong Khai tends to be a place that people merely pass through. Just across the river from Vientiane, Laos, the town is perhaps most known for its bridge and its immigration checkpoint. Foreign
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
Nonstop traffic. Pollution. Scams. Aggressive Touts. Intoxicated backpackers. As much as Southeast Asia has to offer, there’s also a lot to get stressed out about, too. And that’s likely why more and more
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
Not a whole lot of visitors to Thailand have heard of Lampang, even if it’s just a 90 minute drive from Chiang Mai. Once home to a thriving teak trade in the 19th and 20th centuries,
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
It’s said that in Bali, there are more temples than there are houses. Some estimates are even as high as 50,000, in fact. While this may be hard to believe at first, it
The beautiful island of Nusa Penida, home to some of the region’s most idyllic beaches and diving spots, also happens to be Bali’s island of exile. Around 30km from the main island of
The towns along the periphery of Ubud are home to some of Bali’s most significant temples and fascinating legends. Bedulu, Pejeng and Tampaksiring were all once royal capitals and are where you can
There’s no denying that Ubud is a touristy place, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Most of Ubud’s well-known spots are famous for a reason. From its gorgeous rice paddies to cultural
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
When most people from the West hear the word Mandalay, they picture casinos, neon lights or even an aquarium. Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, it turns out, was actually named after Myanmar’s former
The image of hot air balloons floating over the ancient, picturesque city of Bagan has become an icon of Myanmar and its tourism industry. Who wouldn’t want to view Bagan’s unique landscape, with
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