• Travel Guide : The Big Three Secrets of Asia

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    December 21, 2011 /  Travel Guide In India, Travel Guide In Japan, Travel Guide In Laos


    The Big Three Secrets of Asia

    The large continent liked Asia, there are still many places that only a few of people could have been there. Where are mysterious and amazing in Asia? Where are the secrets of Asia?

    Kong Lo Cave in Laos

    Kong Lo Cave in Laos



    Sarun suggested Kong Lo Cave in Laos. It is a big cave which has a 17-kilometer-length river passed through a mountain. The other side of this cave is a village in limestone valley. It is a miracle that there are people living behind the cave for hundreds years. In the past these people never contacted with the rest of the world. People on the outside don’t know about this village. When rain season comes, water will increase until it covers the cave and the villagers have to climb across the mountain to go out. For now it is very convenient to go to this cave and village, but you should go in dry seasons. Contacting with Kong Lo Village headman and use a villager’s boat to pass through the cave. There will be a view spot on the way or you can see villagers transporting pig and beers for trading. This trip takes only five hours.

    Kaziranga National Park - India

    Kaziranga National Park - India



    The secret of Tirapab is Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India. It is a very abundant forest and a home of many nearly-distinct animals. Travelers can experience wild life closely, not only tiger, but also elephant, jungle donkey, the highlight is one-horn rhino which used to left just twelve in the world but right now there are about thousand of them. It is a magical moment that we can see a rare rhino soaking in a mud. There are many strict rules about travel to Kaziranga National Park because of its dangerous. For example You can’t get off a car because you can be attacked by wild animals all the time. Realize that you are a visitor, don’t go too far and do anything disturbing animals.

    Kotoku Temple - Japan

    Kotoku Temple - Japan



    Ploy keeps her Asia secret in Japan, a group of Zen temples in the northern of Kyoto. Normally, there will be a traditional every year and they don’t open for public to go inside. They will open for public to go inside the temple and the area around just once in a year in Gyonofuyunotobi festival which is in autumn. The highlight is Kotoku Temple with a famous tea room and a beautiful Zen garden. If you come in Fall, the red and yellow of leaves will make you feel like walking in heaven not a temple.

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  • Travel Guide : The Slow Travel

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    December 14, 2011 /  Travel Guide

    The Slow Travel

    After the popularity of slow food which was a trend against fast food in Italy in 1980, many people response to this slow lifestyle, agriculture and travelling which is called “slow travel” – travelling slowly that will bring you the real happiness in your holiday.

    Green Backpacker

    : Slow Travel starts from packing your luggage. The keyword is stop bringing trash or pollution to community. Use a fabric bag for shopping, bring a personal bottle for decreasing plastic bottle consumption. When staying at the hotel, use electricity cleverly for example, don’t change a towel every day.

    Open your heart

    : When your luggage is ready, you heart must ready too. For experience new things on the way, you should take off your headphone, turn off your mobile, stopping online, don’t chat on blackberry, talk to a stranger next to you and you will know how many things in this world to learn.

    Decrease your speed

    : Walking and riding bicycle will make you see those little things better. Using public transportation also make you learn about simple life and fun.

    Taste local food

    : To complete your slow travel, try slow food such as local food, seasonal food, organic fruits and vegetables. They don’t have to transport, reduce global warming, spread income and they all fresh and delicious food.

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  • Travel Guide : Prague‏

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    November 18, 2011 /  Travel Guide In Czech

    Prague‏

    What to see in Prague

    If you don’t go to these places, you don’t arrive Prague.

    Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral : Prague Castle is the biggest castle of the world in the middle age. It is called the gem of Prague. Saint Vitus Cathedral is also magnificent. The castle is exhibited of Czech history and Bohemian art collection. There are art center, toys museum, gunpowder tower and golden alley. All of them are the highlight of this place and take at least half a day to cover them all.

    Old Town Square and Astronomic Clock Tower : They are in the center of old town. They are surrounded by stunning baroque, gothic and rococo architects. Old Town Square is a lovely place to chill out. There are plenty of nice cafes. You can rent a horse, riding in a horse carriage or take a walk to a market. Astronomic Clock Tower is a must-see.

    Male Namesti : A few steps from the Old Town Square, there is a place which Franz Kafka used to live. Don’t miss Church of Our Lady Before Týn, Kinsky Palace which is a rococo style, Stone Bell House which was built in the middle age and the baroque Saint Nicholas Church.

    Charles Bridge : This bridge was built in 1357 to replace Judith Bridge. Charles Bridge is one of the popular tourist attractions in Prague. There were some merchants and actors. It is beautiful day and night, the most beautiful moment are at sunrise and sunset.

    Jewish Community : This is the oldest Jewish community in Europe. It was named after King Joseph II. It is consisted of six Jewish churchs. You can learn about the sad history of Jewish in the Jewish museum.

    Municipal House : This art nouveau castle was built in between 1905 -1912. There is the largest concert hall in Prague (Smetanova Hall). And don’t miss a cup of coffee at Municipal House Kavárna

    Lesser Town (Mala Strana) : This beautiful place was developed from 13th century by merchants who worked at the ground floor of the castle. Now It is full of restaurants, shops and embassies. You have to stop by at Saint Nicholas Church which is created in the baroque age or you can go a concert that will start at 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

    Petrin Hill : Escape to the green and peaceful Petrin Hill. Visit the Petrin Tower to watch stars or just watch the beautiful scenery of the city.

    Václavské náměstí : the new symbol of Prague today. There are shops, Evropa Café in art nouveau style, and Saint Wenceslas Monument.

    Strahov Ecclesia : This gorgeous ecclesia was built in 1340 for Premonstratensians priests. The library, the philosophy tower and Strahov Art Center are the spots that everyone should stop by. Not far from Strahov Ecclesia, there is Loreto Ecclesia which was built by Katherina von Lobkwicz in 1926.

    Church of Our Lady Before Týn : The inside of the church was decorated in gothic style from 14th century. It is at the Old Town Square.

    Vysehrad : the former castle which no one want to come, now it is the popular park for people in the weekend. You can enjoy taking a walk in the park. Moreover you should visit Saint Martin Church, Saint Peter Church and Saint Paul Church.

    National Museum : The most oldest museum in Czech. There is the great nature history exhibition from 1891 until now. It is decorated beautifully. And don’t miss a wonderful view point of Wnceslas Square from the top.

    Rudolfinum : another concert hall in Czech. It was built in Neorenaissance. Orchestra concerts, shows and ceremonies are organized here.

    Don’t miss : Vltava river cruise, the scenery of Prague from the river is a different experience. You will see historic place in a stunningly beautiful way.

    Romantic Trip : The most romantic place next to Charles Bridge is Vysehrad. It is a quiet place, not many tourist around here. You can walk to a graveyard, a church or just walk and enjoy the beautiful surrounding. For the romantic night, you should go to see a show at The Estates theater, which is a fantastic theater and well conserved. With a little size of this theater, you will fell like sitting in a music box.

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  • Travel Guide : The last stop at Uji‏

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    November 14, 2011 /  Travel Guide In Japan

    The last stop at Uji‏

    It was the last day of finding Sakura in Kyoto. It was my second time of travelling in Kyoto and I almost traveled thoroughly. Uji was the only one that left. It was on the south of Kyoto and I took trains passed it many times but never stopped by once. My friend commanded me that I couldn’t miss this town, so Uji was my last stop in this trip.

    I sat opposite to two women on a train. When I asked them about Uji, she seems so proud of this town and showed me her ten yen coin. The picture of temple at the back of the coin is Byodo-In Temple, the famous temple of Uji. This temple is famous about the bird of paradise and the beautiful statue of Buddha in a wooden temple. Weather forecast in website showed that no rains that day, so I didn’t bring an umbrella which was a mistake because it was raining when I got there.

    Byodo-In Temple - Kyoto

    Byodo-In Temple - Kyoto

    After I got a map and recommendations from information counter at the station. I started walking along a little street. Houses were decorated beautifully with flowers, there were a lot of Japanese sweets along the street. It was one of the specialty of Uji, sweets and tea.

    I planned to have lunch with bento at the foot of the bridge, but because of the drizzle I changed to eat bento beside a river. It was a perfect place, the big Sakura tree became my umbrella when I was eating. Someone was fishing on the left, the opposite of me was many beautiful houses and Sakura trees. Whatever I ate at this place, it was definitely delicious.

    After finishing lunch, I went to Byodo-In Temple. The first owner of this temple was Mijinaka Fujiwara. When his son was an owner, he changed the resident to a temple. This temple was inspired by the bird of paradise. Two birds, Ho and O, were on the roof of the temple. Foreigners called them Phoenix, the immortal bird. They were a story from the other side of the world that had something in common. So many people knew the bird of paradise at Byodo-In Temple as the Phoenix.

    Ho and O - Phoenix

    Ho and O - Phoenix

    There was a museum near the temple. I impressed with the recording of the renovation of the temple most. The video presented the process of renovation, the old temple before it was renovated, all of them were very impressive. It showed when science of construction and imagination of the story in history combined.

    The staff allowed only 20 people per round to come into the temple and photograph prohibited. The beauty of the statue of Buddha was so worth the wait. It was speechless exquisite. I was so sorry that I couldn’t take photos so I bought a book instead. There were plenty of photos in it.

    That day ended fast. I could not go to all places that were recommended. It was a good thing, actually. I could have an excuse to come to this town again.

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  • Travel Guide : Many scenes in Hanoi‏

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    November 10, 2011 /  Travel Guide In Vietnam

    Many scenes in Hanoi‏

    I started exploring Hanoi under the moonlight. I didn’t go to hotel when I arrived. I and Hy did not go to West Lake which was surrounded by many luxurious hotels. We didn’t start with a romantic scene but with a historic one. We went to discover the history at Truc Bach. This was a famous lake in history. North Vietnam shot American soldier airplane down and one of American soldiers made a parachute jump to this lake and survived. He’s John MacCain. He maybe wanted to forget this memory but this story was portrayed at How Low Prison Museum. This photo showed a picture of a group of Vietnamese men help John MacCain up to the bank of the lake. He was in jail for five years and a half. All of his clothes and parachute still was exhibited in the museum.

    We continued to the next remain of the history at Huu Tiep Lake. Its nickname was B-52 Lake because there were some B-52 warplane components in this lake.

    Hoan Kiem Lake - Vietnam

    Hoan Kiem Lake - Vietnam

    Not only about history of war, but Hanoi also had a lot of shopping places, especially the northern of Hoan Kiem Lake. It was an old area which was very chaos. This was 36 Hang street of Hanoi. The streets names in this area would have started with Hang and what it sold after. For example Han Bun was a street which sold mung bean noodle , Hang ma sold paper, Hang Bac sold accessories and jewelries, Hang Dau sold shoes, some of streets still sold stuffs liked the name of them, some didn’t. However the street would have sold the same thing along that street which was the uniqueness of them.

    I lost and lost many times. The map that Hy gave me didn’t help that much. The weather was hot and humid. After I lost again and again, I started to understand the connection of those streets. Finally when I took a break by drinking orange juice at Tamarind Café,I found the old house which I intended to find across the street. That was what I learned from that day, what you intended to find, you wouldn’t. What you didn’t intend to find, you would.

    There were tons of crafts in Hanoi. They were all from villages around. Hanoi women still loved to wear tailor-made clothes, that’s why there were a lot of talented tailors in Hanoi. I found my favorite at Tan My. This shop made only nightgowns for three generations. There were satin gown, silk gown, and cotton one. This was the must shop for everyone who came to Hanoi. This price was high, but the quality was so worth the price.

    Not all Vietnamese food was European, but food in Hanoi was the most European in the country. I had the last dinner in Hanoi with a French meal. The taste and the atmosphere made me feel like I was in Paris, except for 90 degrees weather.

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