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Self-catering on Samui

Published 1:05 am, 18 May 2013
Though Ko Samui has loads of great restaurants and very affordable food, if you’re a traveller who prefers to self-cater, perhaps because you’re travelling with young children or health or religious reasons make it preferable, it’s easy to do during your stay. Ko Samui is no longer the undeveloped backwater it once was; several supermarket chains are ... read the full post
Review: Saint Honore, Hanoi

Published 10:23 pm, 17 May 2013
Saint Honore is a bakery, deli and restaurant in Hanoi’s West Lake area which offers the best cakes in Hanoi and is an excellent choice for a delicious breakfast, a bistro-style lunch or dinner, or an indulgent afternoon tea. Let’s start with breakfast. If the array of sweet and savoury pastries isn’t enough to tempt you ... read the full post
Siem Reap restaurants: Reservations recommended

Published 10:03 pm, 17 May 2013
For a long time one of the joys of Siem Reap was that with so many choices of places to dine, the thought of booking anywhere was almost unimaginable except, perhaps, at some of the classier hotel bistros, and even then that would mostly be for form rather than necessity. It added to the sense of ... read the full post
Review: Korbua House, Bangkok

Published 9:38 pm, 17 May 2013
Year-old Korbua House is one of a few midrange hotels to have recently materialised in Bangkok’s Samsen area, just north of Khao San Road. Tucked beside Khlong Lamphu canal, the hotel offers fully kitted out rooms with more charm than some of its larger new counterparts. For flashpackers seeking a comfortable stay in the city’s ... read the full post
Review: Albert Court Village Hotel, Singapore

Published 8:20 pm, 16 May 2013
Singapore’s Little India is a favourite haunt of backpackers and budget travellers when visiting this expensive city, but it’s also home to some excellent midrange options. If your budget is S$200-300 per night, consider the Albert Court Village Hotel which offers a touch of colonial charm amid the chaos and curry. The Albert Court Village ... read the full post
Free diving on Ko Tao

Published 8:05 pm, 16 May 2013
If scuba isn’t your thing but you love the simplicity of snorkelling then free diving might just be for you. Free diving or breath-hold diving had been around for eons — it existed long, long before scuba. Traditionally it was a way of collecting sponge and fishing, but free diving has evolved into a competition sport ... read the full post
Review: Privilege Restaurant and Bar, Langkawi

Published 2:09 am, 16 May 2013
Malaysian fusion restaurant Privilege offers a unique Langkawi culinary experience, with five-star dining at three-star prices. The ambiance of this small, intimate restaurant is a refreshing change from the local norm. The interior is contemporary, accented by touches of traditional Malay, with elegant but simple furniture and a view of Telaga Harbour below and distant jungles. A ... read the full post
Hoi An street food: Bun bo Hue

Published 1:15 am, 16 May 2013
Bun bo: it’s the pho lovers Marmite, a rich combination of spicy, sour, salty and sweet flavours with a predominant lemongrass hit. Pho in comparison is the soother, an altogether sweeter, more delicate dish in its pure form, with flavour enhancers (in Central Vietnam at least), bowls of sweet chilli paste, hoisin sauce, lime and herbs ... read the full post
River transport in Laos

Published 9:32 pm, 15 May 2013
Laos is a mountainous, land-locked country making it time consuming to traverse despite a road network that’s improving every year. Historically, the primary mode of transport around the country was via boat with most of the country’s major towns linked by a network of rivers. To this day, many smaller towns are serviced by passenger ... read the full post
What to buy at Vientiane’s Talaat Sao (Morning Market)

Published 4:26 am, 15 May 2013
Every Southeast Asian city has a market that’s a treasure trove of exotic bits and pieces; while Laos cannot rival the markets of Chiang Mai and Bangkok, in Vientiane Talaat Sao, or the morning market, offers a great selection of local offerings, mostly of the fabric-based kind. The name is a bit of a misnomer, however, ... read the full post
Thailand’s Wat Bang Phra tattoo temple

Published 1:33 am, 15 May 2013
Ever since Buddhism arrived in Thailand, it has mingled with a complex, pre-existing tapestry of Hinduism, spirit worship, superstition and black magic. One aspect of these traditions is sak yant, or magical tattoos believed to grant health, protection, power, wealth and luck to those who receive them. The most famous place to get a sak yant tattoo ... read the full post
Buses in Penang

Published 9:37 pm, 14 May 2013
It would be fair to say that Penang is not known for the efficiency or convenience of its transport, and if you want to venture out of central Georgetown, it’s not quite as easy as jumping in the nearest rickshaw. Car taxis are expensive relative to the cost of living, and unlike other Southeast Asian ... read the full post
Review: The Sanctuary, Haad Thian, Ko Pha Ngan

Published 7:42 pm, 14 May 2013
The Sanctuary is something of a Ko Pha Ngan institution, with guests coming from all over the world specifically for their yoga and detox programs. Located on a beach reached only by boat or four-wheel drive, it’s a testament to The Sanctuary’s reputation that consistently attracts the crowds. The multi-level beachfront restaurant greets arriving guests, ... read the full post
Travel health clinics in Singapore

Published 9:29 am, 14 May 2013
Travel to Singapore poses minimal health risks, but if you’re using the city-state as a launching point for more exotic destinations you may want to pay a visit to one of its world-class travel health clinics for a vaccination or malaria tablets. Here’s a rundown. Singapore General Hospital, the city-state’s largest medical facility, has a ... read the full post
Samui Regatta 2013

Published 12:20 am, 14 May 2013
The Samui Regatta is the island’s biggest sporting event and brings in competitors and spectators from around the world. The regatta forms the final event of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix, and it’s a lot of fun, even for non-sailors. This year, the festivities and races start on 25 May, and end on 1 June, ... read the full post
Phuket Art Village

Published 9:10 pm, 13 May 2013
Phuket Art Village is a creative community tucked away down a small lane in Nai Harn at the southern end of Phuket. Home to a diverse and growing collection of home studios and galleries, the village was built from the ground up by the artists themselves. The village is set on a small plot of ... read the full post
Travelling to Komodo National Park with kids

Published 7:44 am, 12 May 2013
Flores is in general a very basic travelling experience and can be quite tough when it comes to travelling with children. One of its key attractions is Komodo National Park, usually visited on a day trip from Labuan Bajo, Kanawa or Seraya islands, or as a stop on the Lombok-Sumbawa-Flores liveaboards. Here’s a rundown of ... read the full post
Review: The Landing Point Villa Hotel, Siem Reap

Published 2:48 am, 12 May 2013
Describing itself as an intimate “boutique” villa, The Landing Point Villa Hotel is one of a handful of Siem Reap hotels whose size, service levels and visually pleasing design make it genuinely deserving of that now ubiquitous adjective. With rack rates from $90 a night for a double room – and online offers making it ... read the full post
Tan My Design, Hanoi

Published 1:28 am, 12 May 2013
Although Tan My Design stocks some of the same traditional items, as its parent Tan My Embroidery, it’s predominantly a showcase for stylish, modern designer items and makes for a unique and calming shopping experience amid the mayhem of the streets of Hanoi. Established in 1969 at 66 Hang Gai, Tan My Embroidery has spanned ... read the full post
Review: Thannatee Boutique Hotel, Chiang Mai

Published 7:23 am, 11 May 2013
Thannatee Boutique Hotel is one of the most interesting new spots we’ve looked at in a while in Chiang Mai city, or anywhere else for that matter. It boasts an excellent location and highly imaginative decor, and though firmly in the upper midrange, it’s good value for money and, we reckon, well worth a splash ... read the full post
Splurging in Kuching

Published 7:06 am, 11 May 2013
People often complain that Malaysian Borneo is expensive compared to the rest of Southeast Asia but you would be really hard-pressed to find things to splurge on in Kuching. Nonetheless, this intrepid writer splurged for a day so that you can save your pennies. Live vicariously! Ask Kuchingites for the best hotel in town and ... read the full post
Review: Kuppa Coffee House, Bangkok

Published 12:41 am, 11 May 2013
Do you enjoy really good coffee? A robust cup of northern Thai Arabica is readily available all over Bangkok, but sometimes a taste of Guatemala, Kenya or Brazil is in order. Located off Sukhumvit Road, Kuppa is a high-end coffee shop and restaurant that offers an array of house-roasted gourmet beans from several continents. Throw ... read the full post
Review: El Kabron, Bali

Published 10:48 pm, 10 May 2013
Seeking out cliffside El Kabron on Bali’s Bukit might take a bit of time, but the reward of incredible views, delicious classic Spanish cuisine, a chilled swimming pool and comfy bean bags makes the journey more than worthwhile. Beanbags and umbrellas are scattered around a curved pool that looks straight out to the Indian Ocean; ... read the full post
Cu Chi Tunnels day tour

Published 9:52 pm, 10 May 2013
As one of the most popular daytrips from HCMC, finding a way to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels is as easy as a walking through the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district. Almost every travel agent in Saigon offers a one-day tour of the tunnels but some are light on the details. If you’re considering ... read the full post
Review: Dolce Vita Restaurant, Ko Tao

Published 6:56 pm, 10 May 2013
If you need an Italian fix while on Ko Tao, then there’s no other place than Dolce Vita. While not the cheapest, if you love Italian food then it’s worth every baht as it’s a cut well above a run of the mill pizza joint. Dolce Vita is in Mae Haad, on what most locals, ... read the full post