Destinations

The Ultimate Itinerary for Vientiane, Luangprabang and Champasak – Laos in One Week

June 27, 2018 by Bino Leave a Comment

Laos is no longer the undiscovered country that it once was. Sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, the Southeast Asian nation has benefited from tremendous growth in the region’s tourism sector. Visitors come here to experience a more relaxed pace of life – whether it be in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luangprabang, the laidback capital of Vientiane or in the ancient ruins of Champasak or the Plain of Jars.

Here is an itinerary for Laos that can be easily done in as little as 5 days to 1 week, depending on your pace.

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Why You Should Add Kazan, Tatarstan to Your Trip to Russia

June 1, 2018 by Bino Leave a Comment

Ironically enough, the city that excited me the most during my trip to Russia was neither St. Petersburg nor Moscow. Sure, I was really looking forward to seeing St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square with my own eyes and to wander around the exhibits in the Hermitage but there was something about the Tatars, a Turkic people that call parts of Russia home, that really piqued my interest.

Compared to the Orthodox Christian majority that define most of Russia, Tatarstan (a republic within the Russian Federation) has a Muslim majority. The result is a hodgepodge of cultures. You have Russian with a distinct Turkic blend and this is manifested in the bilingual signs and varied cuisine in Kazan, its capital.

As it is a bit out of the way relative to the typical Russian itinerary, most people don’t visit Tatarstan at all. But if you have a couple of extra days to spare, I wholeheartedly recommend taking the 1.5 hour or so flight to Kazan for a slice of Russia that you definitely don’t see in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Without further ado, here are the top things you can do in Kazan.

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The Perfect Itinerary for Russia – St. Petersburg to Moscow in One Week

May 31, 2018 by Bino 7 Comments

Given the vastness of Russia, a visitor can come here for any number of days and find that they’ve barely scratched the surface of what this northern country has to offer. A cross country trip would easily entail a medium-haul flight so it is perhaps not surprising that most visitors concentrate in the main touristic centers between St. Petersburg and Moscow, the capital. If you are visiting Russia and have around one week to spare, here is a suggested itinerary for you to follow.

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Mauritius or Seychelles – Which Country Should You Visit If You Can Pick Only One?

April 24, 2018 by Bino 6 Comments

The two countries of Mauritius and Seychelles share a lot more in common than just their West Indian Ocean location. Having been both under French and then British rule, the two archipelagic nations count on a unique creole culture, stunning beaches, exclusive resorts and plenty of sunshine as their main draws. Due to this overlap, many travelers often wonder if they should visit Mauritius or Seychelles. I have been to both and have noted the nuances of these two beautiful countries. If you are deciding on visiting just one of these countries – whether for a relaxing holiday, honeymoon or simply to experience a new culture; here are things to consider before going on that trip.

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The Perfect 2-Day Itinerary For Yangon (仰光自由行)

March 19, 2018 by Bino 1 Comment

Yangon may no longer be the capital of Myanmar but the city still remains to be its largest and its primary commercial center. In recent years, the face of the city has undergone a massive transformation as Myanmar opened up to the outside world. The dilapidated cars of yore have since been replaced with the latest models while chic speakeasies and specialty restaurants have popped up throughout the city. Whether you are here on a weekend trip or to get your bearings before heading out to Bagan or Mrauk U, here is a suggested itinerary for Yangon that you can easily follow. The city is worth at least two days with its plethora of temples, markets and host of colonial buildings.

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8 Off-the-Beaten Path & Unique Attractions in Osaka and Kyoto

November 7, 2017 by Bino 1 Comment

There is no shortage of off-the-beaten path attractions and unusual things to do in Osaka and Kyoto if you know where to look. Like in Japan’s other major cities, you can find just about every kind of diversion that you can think of while traveling here. What most don’t realize is that Osaka and Kyoto’s quirky attractions extend to much more than just the cosplay or maid cafe venues that foreign visitors often find intriguing. The attractions here are both modern and traditional – sometimes even coming straight out of the unexpected and mundane.

I visited the Kansai Region recently as part of a collaboration with Hotels.com to check out these relatively unknown places. If you are looking for something new during your first (or subsequent) trip to Osaka and Kyoto, make sure to include these sights into your itinerary.

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The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary For Hong Kong

August 22, 2017 by Bino 2 Comments

For someone looking to get out of the city rush, Hong Kong might come last in one’s travel list. This rings true among first time visitors to Asia’s World City. There is often a mistaken belief that Hong Kong is a highly urbanised territory with less to see apart from theme parks and shopping malls.

However, Hong Kong has so much to offer more beyond its reputation for being a cosmopolitan district. In fact beyond its famed skyscrapers, you may rediscover Hong Kong with new eyes as a place of natural wonder and a repository of memorable experiences.

Witness Hong Kong With New Eyes

There is a long list of things to do and places to visit in Hong Kong. The lineup spans from Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, alongside the other outlying islands including Lantau Island. Assuming that you prefer quality time with nature before hitting the Hong Kong metropolis, let’s start our 3-day Hong Kong itinerary at Lantau Island.

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Guide to Visiting Shirakawa-go (How to Get There, Travel Guide With Printable Map, Where to Eat)

August 6, 2017 by Bino 10 Comments

A few years back, I chanced upon a photo shared in Facebook of a village with thatched houses covered with snow. The fairy-tale scene piqued my interest and after a little research, I found out that it was in a place called Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which I never heard of until I came across that photo. Sometimes, all it takes is one photo to inspire me to visit a place. Such was the case with Hallstatt in Austria, Perast in Montenegro as well as the Italian Dolomites.

Fortunately, the village of Shirakawa-go is much nearer than any of those European towns I enumerated. The former’s also a lot easier to get to although non-Japanese folks may initially get intimidated with Japan’s transportation system. In this post, I shall explain how to visit Shirakawa-go as well as elucidate how you can do this picturesque visit as a day trip on the journey from Kanazawa to Takayama (or vice versa) if you so wish.

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