Mandalay is Myanmar’s second largest city and in terms of commerce, it’s most important. The population surpasses one million, and though it is a center of Burmese culture, immigrants from Yunnan Province are quickly bringing a Chinese counterculture as well. Just wait until that highway from China opens up. There’s enough to see here to spend a few days on your way north or as you are waiting to board a local boat for a full day’s journey south to Bagan. Mandalay Palace You’

I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures. A glorious sunrise over the plains of Bagan with balloons dotted over the horizon. You want to be the person in the balloon! And then you look up the price… shock and horror flood through your mind. You were promised a cheap holiday in South East Asia! Ballooning was far and away the most expensive thing we did in our week in Myanmar. We took domestic flights and stayed in beautiful hotels. It definitely wasn’t a budget trip and the balloon

Visiting Angkor Wat? Read my tips first to make the most of your trip.Visiting Angkor Wat is one of the very top things to do in all of Southeast Asia. The Temples of Angkor are undoubtedly one of the most incredible sights in the world and one of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen! But they are no longer a secret – these temples get pretty crowded which kind of ruins your idea of that perfect Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones moment!Angkor Wat is a magnificent sight, the cro

Visiting the Angkor Archaeological Site, or as more people call it, Angkor Wat, is the number one thing to do for travelers in Cambodia. Over 1,000 temples and ruins that are 1,000 years old cover the forest landscape. If you only have 1 or 2 days in Siem Reap to go and visit the temples, it is tough to know what temples to dedicate your precious time to. This article covers the 5 best temples see visit at Angkor Wat. There are numerous ways to navigate Angkor Wat. You can si

This majestic tomb is renowned for its architecture and sublime forest setting. The tomb was planned during Minh Mang’s reign (1820–40) but built by his successor, Thieu Tri. Minh Mang's tomb is in An Bang village, on the west bank of the Perfume River, 12km from Hue. The Honour Courtyard is reached via three gates on the eastern side of the wall. Three granite staircases lead from the courtyard to the square Stele Pavilion (Dinh Vuong).Sung An Temple, which is dedicated to

Getting around Hue We rented a car and driver to navigate the sights of Hue in one day – check out a private tour of Hue here!There are also some great group tours – check tour prices here! Thien Mu Pagoda The Thien Mu Pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River, is an iconic Hue backdrop and a symbol of the ancient city. The 7 story pagoda was originally built in 1601 but, as a site of political demonstrations, has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in the years since. The pago

Favorite spots in Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a very popular destination in Vietnam. This beautiful old town has survived the bombings during the war and is still authentic. Hoi An is no secret anymore. On the weekends, the small town is packed with tourists and feels like Disneyland, with coloured lights & luminous dragons in the river. But still, Hoi An is one of my favorite places in Vietnam. This bustling town, where scents of incense & bbq fill the air, has stolen my heart

Luang Prabang is one of those hidden treasures. It’s a place you may have read about in your Lonely Planet book or heard whispers of through the traveling community or via travel blogs, but it doesn’t seem to be on the main-stream tourist agenda quite yet. It’s getting there, I’m afraid. It’s hard to keep such a magical place a secret for very long. I think our Adventures Resource Guide sums up the city perfectly (therefor I need not change a single word): “Luang Prabang is t