The dry season has passed in Asia, and the monsoon months have drenched the eastern nations in torrential rains. But instead of letting rain ruin your parade, why not make rain the center of the parade? This is the idea behind the Yilan Rain Festival, one of Taiwan’s biggest annual events. A showcase of the east coast county’s beauty and culture, the festival is held at 3 locations: Dongshan River Park, Wulaokeng Scenic Area and Toucheng-Suao Area, focusing on the mountain, river and ocean vistas all present in Yilan. The festival attracted over 890,000 visitors last year, and this year’s event is planned to be even bigger, with more goings-on to keep the celebration at full blast for two whole months.

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Posted in Events, Taiwan |

BANTEAY SREI, SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) – We were still floating in cloud 9 from our visit to Angkor Wat when we realized that we spent several hours exploring the majestic temple.

We checked the brochures and travel book that we just bought from a persistent young boy. We were trying to figure out where to head next. Mr. Sambo, our English speaking guide, suggested that we visit another temple which is located far from the city center. He was referring to Banteay Srei. Given that Banteay Srei is located about an hour away from Angkor Wat, we were asked to pay an additional US$ 10.00 for the tuk-tuk’s gasoline consumption. My partner and I were game for anything so we decided to go for it. If you plan to visit any of the far temples, make sure that you settle the fee first and expect to pay additional because of the distance.

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Posted in Attractions, Cambodia |

Japan outdoes its Asian neighbors when it comes to bizarre snacks. While Korea has its canned silkworms and the Philippines has salted duck embryos, the high-tech Land of the Rising Sun emphasizes on processed food, coming up with outlandish ideas.

Here are 10 bizarre Japanese snacks just daring you to try them on your visit.  Look for them in convenience stores, groceries, or vending machines.

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Posted in Food, Japan |

Finding decent cuisine in a foreign country need not be difficult. Throughout your travels you’ll find that most major cities and towns feature not only local cuisine but foreign and international fare as well. This means finding a food you enjoy should be relatively easy.

So where in Vietnam will go for the best meals? We’ve got an astounding variety of restaurants for you to choose from in cities all over the country. Check out some of these amazing Vietnamese eateries for decadent cuisine you’ll never forget.

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Posted in Food |

ANGKOR WAT, SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) - We simply cannot believe that we have only been in Siem Reap a day having been able to visit two unforgettable temples, Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom. If it were not for the rain, we would have hiked or rode an elephant uphill to catch the famous sunset at Phnom Bakheng. Since the sunset was covered by gray colored clouds, we decided to skip that and just head back to our hotel for an early dinner. We needed all the rest that we can get most especially since our second day would have to start extra early for our sunrise tour of Angkor Wat. This is why it is also important to book a room in any of the nice hotels in Siem Reap like the Angkor Miracle Resort and Spa Siem Reap Hotel.

We woke up at 4:00 am so that we can be at Angkor Wat by 5:00 pm in time for the sunrise. We rode the tuk-tuk of Mr. Rith and we were accompanied again by Mr. Sambo. It was a very chilly and calm morning. The skies have already started to lighten in color.

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Posted in Attractions, Cambodia |

The Korean Wave, dubbed Hallyu by Chinese journalists, is the export boom of Korean pop culture to Asia and the rest of the world. From TV dramas to music, video games and fashion, a substantial audience for Korean-made entertainment is deliberately being courted in countries like China, Japan, the South-East Asian nations, and even in North America, enabling South Korea to be one of the top ten cultural exporters in the world.

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Posted in Guides, Korea |

TA PHROM, SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) – It rained so hard while we were still walking around Angkor Thom and exploring the other towers of The Bayon. Mr. Sambo, our English speaking tour guide, told us that we arrived in the middle of the rainy season. But it was not all bad. Just like today, we arrived in extremely sunny Siem Reap with the sun almost scorching our skin and melting us alive. The weather suddenly changed after twelve noon when the clear skies were suddenly enveloped by dark gray rain clouds that brought the rain which drenched us to the bones.

After the rain stopped, Mr. Sambo asked Mr. Rith to drive us to our next destination. It was time for us to go to the next temple on our list, Ta Phrom.

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Posted in Attractions, Cambodia |

The town of Hoi An in Vietnam is known for three things: its beaches, its festivals, and its shopping opportunities. The beaches, to be honest, are very nice but they’re not necessarily as popular as they might be in a full-fledged resort town.

Image credit: jmhullot

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Posted in Vietnam |

Living in Osaka but your landlord won’t let you own a cat? Or you have to give up cats because your roommate/partner is allergic to them? Then head on down to a cat café. For USD 5, this specialty shop will let you play, cuddle, and stroke cats all you want for an hour.

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Posted in Attractions, Japan |

The city of Guilin, named after the scent produced by the Osmanthus tree, has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful and most picturesque areas in China. Two sparkling rivers cut straight through the center of the city which is also surrounded by magnificent rock formations, mountains, and simply breathtaking landscape.

Guilin sprang into existence more than 2,000 years ago and has been fortunate enough to survive through not only the Qin Dynasty but through the Tang, Qing, and several others. The city is now home to over 1.26 million people including those from at least a dozen different nationalities.

Considered one of the best tourist destinations in China, Guilin has much to offer. Make sure you adhere to local customs and visit some of the following local attractions while you’re there. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in China |