Asia is home to many superstitions and beliefs, some of which date back centuries. Whilst many Westerners may scoff at the rituals that supposedly bring health, wealth and happiness, millions of people continue to follow traditions to bring luck that have been handed down through generations. We take a look at some of the rituals you’ll likely come across in the coming months.
The most economical way to travel in Cambodia is by bus. It’s cheap and provides an opportunity to see parts of the country that would be missed when travelling by air. But sometimes a ticket sold for what you expect to be a journey in a comfortable coach might turn out to be a cramped seat in a minivan. It’s important to research in advance what the mode of transport will be before buying tickets to avoid unpleasant surprises.
The hamam is the Turkish version of a Roman bathhouse, but the modern-day hamam offers so much more than bathing for both men and woman. It provides the opportunity to enjoy a unique cleansing ritual in beautiful historic buildings. With massages available to supplement the traditional services, a session in a hamam might well be the most relaxing experience you can enjoy on a visit to Turkey. The pampering you will receive is guaranteed to sooth the soul.
Northern Thailand has two excellent botanic gardens that are within an easy hour’s drive of the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. They can provide a relaxing nature break from a busy touring schedule and are highly recommended to anyone interested in tropical or sub-tropical gardening, or to travellers who want a safe place to exercise that is cooler than the cities of the provinces in which they are located.
The Erawan Waterfall in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province is well known as one of the country’s most picturesque waterfalls and for its 1.75 km forest trail to the top level of its seven tiers. For older travellers, that hike can be quite challenging unless they are very fit because the seventh tier is 800 metres above the bottom tier. This detailed illustrated guide to the hike will assist you to decide whether it is something you should tackle when visiting the Erawan Waterfall.
Booking train, bus and ferry tickets in Asia can be difficult if you are not familiar with the routes and transport operators, but online booking apps and websites can make the task much easier. But with hundreds of such online ticketing platforms vying for your business, how can you tell which are the best ones to use. We take a look at reviews of these sites to determine which are the most reliable.
Myanmar’s brutal military junta have reopened the country to tourists because they need foreign currency. Tourism Myanmar is paying travel magazines and social media influencers to produce content to attract tourists back to the country despite most governments advising citizens that it is not safe to travel there. Niko Samaras was a regular traveller to Myanmar and offers his take on whether you should visit or boycott Myanmar.
Kanchanaburi is a province in Thailand that is best known for its World War 2 memorial sites and national parks. But it also has many hot springs along the valley of the River Kwai which may help you to ease any aches and pains that you may acquire on your travels. This comprehensive guide to all of the hot springs in the valley and their mineral water pools recommends the best ones for international travellers to visit and which ones to avoid.
Many older travellers to Cambodia like to understand what local life is like off the usual tourist track. Finding an English-speaking tuk-tuk driver who is prepared to take you to places that tourists normally don’t visit can be a rewarding experience. It’s a relaxing way to learn about the local culture and discover daily life in rural communities.
If you are one of those travellers who likes to get away from the tourist crowds and enjoys a tropical beach holiday where you can have a golden sandy beach all to yourself, then Koh Phra Thong on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast might just be the destination you are looking for. Not only is it quiet, but there are some unusual sights of nature in its interior to see as well.
Turkey is an ideal country in which to embark on a road trip. The highways are good, you can travel at times that suit you, and see popular places before the tour groups arrive or after they’ve left. Here’s an easy-to-drive itinerary that you can do over 10-14 days and see all the best sights in Turkey at a leisurely pace.
If you like getting off the beaten track and exploring hidden corners of cities that have an interesting history, then you’ll enjoy visiting the Talad Noi district of Bangkok. This riverside neighbourhood is an ancient area of unique gritty streets, and multicultural heritage, and is distinctly different from other parts of Thailand’s capital.
Asia has many destinations that often exceed our expectations, and when we leave, we lament that we did not spend more time there. Here are seven of those special places that draw travellers back and to which the xyzAsia travel writers believe are worth the time and money to go back in preference to travelling to somewhere new. They are all destinations worth revisiting.
If the theme parks, shopping malls and noisy bars of Phuket don’t appeal, but you want a tropical beach holiday in a quiet location that’s easy to reach with a good selection of accommodation options and restaurants, then you don’t have to travel far from Phuket to find it. Khao Lak fits the bill and offers the bonus of being a great base for a wide range of nature activities.
Kampot in southern Cambodia has gained a well-deserved reputation as a destination for foodies in Southeast Asia. But there is more to do in this laidback river town than just eating your way through the menus of the many excellent restaurants. It’s a great spot to unwind and enjoy some relaxing back-to-nature experiences.
If you are visiting Georgia, then it’s easy to do a side trip by overnight train from Tbilisi to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. This guide explains how to do that and suggests a three-day itinerary to see the best of Yerevan and some nearby places that are easy to reach by private taxi or on an organised day tour from the city.
