If
your looking for an outdoors adventure in Northern Vietnam then look no further
than Ba Be National Park. Ba Be boasts a
pristine lake, beautiful rivers, scenic waterfalls, and prehistoric caves set
amid towering forest shrouded mountains.
The national park offers rich biodiversity, unique landscapes, and at
its heart, Ba Be Lake, which is the largest and highest natural freshwater lake
in Vietnam. The park can be explored on
foot by trail, bicycle/motorcycle by road, or kayak/boat. Offering great and welcoming homestays, Ba Be
National Park is a great place to get way from the hustle of Vietnam.
Ban Gioc, Vietnam
Located
in the northeastern province of Cao Bang, Ban Gioc is home to Vietnam’s
best-known waterfall. Surrounded by tree
covered limestone mountains that stick out of the ground like spear tips, the
Quay Son River ambles through green rice fields and bamboo groves till it pours
in a torrent over the three tiers of the Ban Gioc Waterfall. This off the beaten track location sees very
few foreign tourists so its waterfall and cave are left mostly empty, and the
area still has its countryside feel. Due
to this, this area is a great get away for those wanting to get away and
experience the Vietnamese way of life first hand.
Yen Tu: A Pilgrimage to Vietnamese Buddhism
Yen Tu
has been referred to as the center of Vietnamese Buddhism and, like most of the
sacred Buddhist temples, the magic of Yen Tu lies in the journey. Consisting of a series of temples following
the monk king’s pilgrimage to enlightenment, Yen Tu
stretches 6000 meters (about 6 hours of walking) from the valley floor all the
way up to the cloud-wrapped, mountain top Dong Pagoda, 1,068 m above sea level.
Ha Long Bay
Ha
Long Bay is easily Vietnam’s top tourist destination and brings in thousands of
tourists daily during the peak season. There
are many cruise companies that offer 2 day/1 night or 3 day/2 night cruises
through the bay and this is by far the most popular way to tour this area. Known for its beauty, Ha Long Bay is
scattered with thousands of forest-topped, karst limestone islands that reach out
of its blue waters into the heavens. Its
ethereal beauty is something you would only expect to see on a movie screen and
it in fact has been featured in a small handful of movies; namely the recent King
Kong: Skull Island. It has also been
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding geological and
geomorphological value, as well as its aesthetic value.
Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba
is a beautiful island set of the coast of Vietnam in the heart of Ha Long Bay. Many tourists only get to see a small piece
of this island when they come ashore as part of their Ha Long Bay cruise, but
there is so much more to be had here.
For those independent travelers, Cat Ba is a great place to get away
from the normal tourist grind and spend a day or two, or more, to enjoy the
amazing views, history, and natural reserves Cat Ba Island has to offer.
Hanoi
Hanoi,
the capital of Vietnam, is also its second largest city. Unlike its larger cousin, Ho Chi Minh City,
Hanoi seems to be more in touch with its roots and exhibits a more intimate
appeal. Amidst its cultural and historic
background, Hanoi seems to be slowly and grudgingly modernizing. The streets hum, with drones of motorcycles
whizzing through, while between them the buildings still show the historic past
of colonization; a charming blend of East and West.
Top 7: Taiwan
1. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial easily tops the list as my #1 tourist destination in
Taiwan. This temple complex is the
largest in Taiwan and houses, amongst many other things, a Buddha tooth
relic. The whole temple complex is huge and
anyone who sets foot in it will find themselves hard pressed not to be amazed
and awe inspired by the size and grandeur of it all. Not only are there numerous temples and statues
throughout the complex, but there are also many shows and festivals practiced
on a daily basis in the many areas throughout.
Finishing Up Taiwan
Having
finished up our tour of the west coast of Taiwan and getting to see the
spectacular Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, it was time to move on eastward to our
final piece of Taiwan. During what we
thought would be our final week (it wasn’t) we hiked through the beautiful
Taroko Gorge, almost lost my drone a few times, had the worst day of our
vacation thus far in the most beautiful place in Taiwan, and got stuck in
Taipei for a while due to a visa snafu.
Green Island
Green
Island might not be a lot of people’s to-do list when visiting Taiwan, but it
is certainly deserving of a top spot as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful
places. It’s great for a short get away
from Taiwan’s hustle and bustle and offers some great attractions and sights
that you will find no where else in the country. Some strong words seeing that the first day
there was possibly the worst experience I’ve had since being in Taiwan (more about that here).
Taroko Gorge
If you
enjoy nature, hiking, sightseeing, or just want a way to get out and about,
then look no further than Taroko Gorge. Taroko
Gorge is one of those places whose sheer beauty and grandness has caused it to
be touted as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful places.
Finally Leaving Taipei
My
first two weeks in Taiwan having been spent in the capital of Taipei, it was
time to leave the big city and start our tour of the country. Spoiler Alert: This ended up being a huge
scheduling mess due to fixed dates for interviews and festivals we had to meet
and a tentative date for leaving that we came no where close to meeting. Our tour of Taiwan was great though and had
its highlights, like the largest temple in Taiwan, the most popular festival in
the world, and me getting the worst rash ever and having to go to the hospital.
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
The
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been ranked highly on global must visit lists
by numerous sources like CNN, Discovery Channel, and Foder’s; just to name a
few. This ancient Chinese festival has
been reimagined for the modern age with live music and dance shows, coupled
with vendors selling all sorts of food and souvenirs.
Rainbow Village
Rainbow
Village is more than just a painted neighborhood; it’s one of those places that
is beyond ordinary. It is a home, unique
art gallery, historical landmark, and showcases the accomplishment of a
peaceful protest done right.
Kaohsiung
Koahsiung might be the Heart of southern Taiwan, but it
doesn’t have a lot to offer to a would-be tourist. That being said it is worth a visit if only
to go see the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Complex.
Teapot Mountain
Teapot
Mountain, a four-hour hike, is by far one of my favorite hikes in Taiwan. Only 1.5 hours from Taipei, it can easily be
done as a day trip. Being located so
close to Taipei, many Taiwanese get up early to make the trek up and around the
mountain range. You will often come
across older Taiwanese people that will put you in their dust as they walk past
as if the trail is no trouble at all.
How to Travel from Hanoi to Hai Phong
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Gia Lam Bus Station |
Travel
in Vietnam is much easier than you might expect. If your traveling to Hai Phong, the jump off
point for Cát Bà Island and cruises into Ha Long Bay, you most likely
are coming from the Old Quarter in Hanoi.
The best mode of transportation from Hanoi to Hai Phong is by bus. The most convenient option for a bus is to talk
to your hotel/hostel and have them arrange for a bus to pick you up, which will
cost 250,000 VND/11 USD. If your trying
to travel cheaper, then the public bus is your best bet.
Houdongkeng Waterfall
Yilan,
in northeastern Taiwan, doesn’t have much to offer a passing tourist and you
won’t find many that stop there. But if
you are making your way down the east coast and looking for a quick and
rewarding hike, look no further than Houdongkeng Waterfall.
Must Try Food in Taipei
Taiwan
is full of amazing food, and there is no place better to try it all than
Taipei. Taipei is a city that never
sleeps, with bustling streets and lively night markets, the sheer variety of
amazing food here is a foodie’s dream. Everything
in Taipei is delicious, but if you want to make sure to hit the best food
Taipei has to offer, there are a few things that you must have on your eating
checklist. From sleepless night markets
to must try restaurants, I have scoured the streets of Taipei to experience the
best Taipei has to offer, bite to bite. Here
are a few of my personal favorites.
Top 10 Things To Do: Taipei
Taipei,
the sprawling capital city in northern Taiwan, is well worth a visit for any
traveler wishing to take an amazing city vacation in a far away land. Taipei offers world renowned food,
transportation, hospitality, and experiences and should be on anyone’s bucket
list of cities to visit. Whether you
have only a few days or weeks to spare, you can easily fill your time with
awesome experiences, great sites, and amazing food. If you are looking for what to do here is my
list of the top 10 things to do in Taipei.
First Two Weeks in Taiwan
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Taipei 101 and downtown Taipei from the top of Elephant Mountain |
Having finished our tour of the Philippines, we boarded an Air Asia flight and jumped across to Taiwan; the second country in our Southeast Asia tour. Since Taiwan is a fairly small island we had planned on only spending two weeks there, but of course that didn’t happen (currently on day 18 and still have about a week of things to do). The trip was going to be quick and easy we thought. Since having a friend that lives in Taipei, the capital, we had planned to stay with him and use his house as a base of operations to go out into the rest of the country.
Top Cities in the Philippines
During
my one-month tour of the Philippines I traveled across a lot of the country,
visited many of the islands, and stayed in a lot of its major towns. Some of the towns were simply stop overs to
other things, but others demanded my attention.
Here is a list of my top 7 favorite cities in the Philippines and how
they rank.
Top 10 Things to Do: Philippines
The
Philippines is full of fun and exciting things to do; so many it’s hard to do
them all in just one trip. So, to help
you decide on where you should focus your vacation time, I have compiled a list
of my personal top 10 favorite things I did while in the Philippines.
Philippines Promo
My tour of Southeast Asia started off strong with a month-long trip to the Philippines. The Philippines might have been one of my favorite places I have visited. A country made of 7,641 islands, the Philippines has something to offer for everyone. Whether you want to relax on the beach in Coron, island hop in El Nido, party in Boracay, swim with sea turtles in Dumaguete, or make an adventure in Bohol, the Philippines has it all. To celebrate the completion of our tour of the Philippines, I wanted to share this video posted by my girlfriend from 'The Jade Parade.'
Bohol
Tarsier monkey |
Bohol, an island located in south
central Philippines, may not be as famous as some of the other islands in the
Philippines, but it is well worth a visit.
Most famous for its Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers, Bohol also offers an
array of other highlights for those wanting either an adventurous or beach
vacation. This tropical paradise has it
all from white sandy beaches to tropical forest covered mountains.
Dumaguete
Sea turtle at Apo Island |
Dumaguete
is a vibrant city in south central Philippines known as the “City of Gentle
People.” A university town, thousands of
students pour into the city everyday to attend one of its great
universities. Not only is Dumaguete a
jump off point for snorkeling and diving trips or travel to the eastern and
southern islands, but it offers up some great sightseeing, food, and
entertainment itself.
Bais
Bais
is a small town in south central Philippines known mainly for its large sandbar
and dolphin watching. Though the town
itself may not have a lot to offer tourists it is a good day trip town from
Dumaguete or to overnight in for an early morning excursion.
Tibiao
Kawa baths |
Tibiao
may not be on most people’s radar, but it’s truly a worthy addition to anyone’s
vacation. Known for their kawa hot
baths, Tibiao might be one of the most relaxing places in the Philippines. The kawa baths are large metal pots that are
heated from below by large wooden fires.
As the water heats they add herbs and flowers which, as they release
their oils into the water, creates essentially an herbal hot tub.
Boracay
I Love Boracay sandcastle on White Beach |
Boracay,
a small island in central Philippines, could possibly be the Philippines
largest tourist draw. The number of
tourist here could be a turn-off for those wanting a quite getaway. Hyped as the Philippines party capital, it
truly lives up to its name, but it has far more to offer than just its
nightlife.
Palawan: A Video Compilation
Palawan, the most beautiful island in the world, is truly a site to be seen. From the UNESCO subterranean river to the amazing beaches, Palawan is in a world of its own. Trying to capture all Palawan has to offer, I have compiled a short video to showcase this amazing place.
Top 5 Things You Must Do in Palawan
Palawan
has been rated the most beautiful island in the world and it is easy to see
why. With so many white sandy beaches,
crystal clear water, coral reefs, and tourist attractions it’s hard to decide
just what to do. So, I have put together
a short list of my personal ‘top 5 things you must do in Palawan.’
5. Street Food
Puerto Princesa
Puerto
Princesa, located in the center of Palawan Island, is known as the greenest (due
to the fact that they have four annual tree planting festivals) and cleanest city
in the Philippines. Whether you are in
the mood for floating down an underground river, having a chill night walking
the Bay Walk, or visiting a local craft brewery, Puerto Princesa should be your
port of call.
El Nido
Island hopping in El Nido |
El
Nido is one of the most visited towns in Palawan and possibly the Philippinesas a whole. It’s located on the northern
end of Palawan Island in western Philippines. Palawan Island has been rated the
most beautiful island in the world and El Nido is its defining city.
First Week: Philippines
Jade and I in the Twin Lagoon, Coron, Philippines |
I
started my new travels in the Philippines and have been at it for a little over
a week and this is my story. It’s a
simple story of the confusion of arrival in a new country, excursions on
tropical islands and beaches, and that one time we slept outside in the bottle
storage area on the porch of a ticket office (yea that happened).
Coron Island Hopping
Banul Beach from the drone |
The
town of Coron may be a sleepy little town for tourist’s standards, but the
islands that surround the area are far from it.
The most prominent of these islands is the island of Coron (not to be
confused with the city) just across the bay.
The island of Coron was the original site of the town till it was moved
to its current location for more space.
The Tagbanua tribe still inhabit the island and have a
title of Ancestral Domain over it, so all tourist that enter must pay a fee.
Coron
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Panoramic of the bay from my hotel |
Coron is located in the northern most island of the
Palawan island chain and is amongst the most visited areas by tourist in the
Philippines. The town itself is a sleepy
little town with not a whole lot to offer in the food/nightlife/tourist scenes,
but the tours outside of town are first-rate and are why Coron should be on
everyone’s to-do list.
Taal Volcano: Travel Guide
Tagaytay
and Taal Volcano are great options for a traveler looking for something to do
on their first day of arrival in the Philippines. They are a great introduction to this great
country and it is not every day that you can say you saw the smallest active
volcano in the world! Tagaytay’s most prominent point of interest
is the Taal Volcano. Sitting in the
middle of Lake Taal, Taal Volcano is the worlds smallest active volcano and the
Philippines second most active.
My Next Adventure: Southeast Asia
Planned trip through Southeast Asia |
Having
finished my Peace Corps services in Madagascar and having some down time with
family and friends during the holidays, I am now leaving for my next big
adventure. This trip will take me to the
other side of the world and through most of Southeast Asia. Equipped with what I could fit in a backpack
I have set out to chronicle the best of what Southeast Asia has to offer. Travel along with me to read about my
adventures to find out the top things to see and do and get travel tips for all of the places
I see.
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Charging our stuff and using wifi at the Manila airport |
I start this trip with a
three-leg flight to the Philippines, where I will spend one month (the extent a
regular travel visa will allow). Once I
leave the Philippines, and continuing through the rest of this trip, I do not
have any concrete plans on how long I will spend in each country but will stay
either till my visa expires or till I am ready to move on. Leaving the Philippines my plans are as
follows: Taiwan-Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia-Thailand-Myanmar-Bangladesh-Bhutan-Nepal-India-Sri
Lanka.
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