Southeast Asia

Ipoh, Malaysia

Exploring art, religion, and Hakka heritage in Ipoh

Ipoh is an attractive city, especially its Old Town and its surroundings. The Malaysian city is ringed by limestone hills, some of which feature Chinese Buddhist cave temples, while the Kinta River runs through it, with the Old Town on the west bank...
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Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Exploring Kuala Lumpur further

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s political, business and commerce center as well as the nation’s air transportation hub. While I don’t rate it as highly as Bangkok, Singapore or Hanoi, it is still a decent major city. I have actually visited it twice...
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Bangkok

Five Bangkok attractions to check out

One of my most-visited cities in Asia is Bangkok, which I’ve been to numerous times both for travel and for short stopovers en route to other countries. But I actually hated Bangkok the first time I visited it, which was at the end of a 3-week...
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Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Visiting Cambodia’s Angkor Thom

Angkor Wat might be the most famous and impressive complex in Angkor, but it is far from the only building there, which includes Angkor Thom and various smaller temples. Angkor Thom was even more important, as it was the actual capital city where...
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Penang National Park

Trekking in Penang National Park

Malaysia’s island* state of Penang is rightfully known for being a food and heritage paradise, but there are a few other things to do besides eat and wander around historical neighborhoods. Hiking on Penang Hill is one, and trekking in Penang...
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Hanoi, Vietnam

Visiting Hanoi’s lakes, night market, and war museum

Like many travelers, I enjoy visiting Southeast Asia a lot. I’ve visited 6 countries and have been to the region numerous times, including twice this year. But the first country I ever visited in Southeast Asia was Vietnam and it remains my...
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Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

Visiting Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon

As Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon is a decent place to explore before you venture to the rest of the country. The city’s most famous landmark, Shwedagon Pagoda, a beautiful golden Buddhist stupa, is definitely worth a vist. However,...
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