Destination: Asia
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VISITORS to Santa Fe, N.M., can spirit home a bit of Indian tradition in the palms of their hands.
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A few hundred miles -- and a few hundred years in ambience -- from the churning megalopolis of Tokyo, the city of Takayama reminds visitors of a gentler time.
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Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most respected haiku poet, embarked on a pilgrimage to Tohoku in the spring of 1689, much to the amazement of his 17-syllable-spinning contemporaries.
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MANY people who see China do so from a tour bus.
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The writer’s mother and other former prisoners confront memories as they visit World War II sites.
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The timing of the Indian Ocean tsunami was particularly cruel for Sri Lanka: A truce in effect for more than two years between the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers had ended years of violence and finally started to make a difference to the island nation.
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The Nga Phe Kyaung monks and their 15 hoop-jumping felines are becoming Inle Lake’s biggest attraction, with about 200 visitors a day.
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Location isn’t the draw for the storied Atlanta Hotel. Guests enjoy its uncommon grace -- and budget prices.
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Marco Polo glimpsed the exotic Champa in the 13th century. Today ruins, amid lush scenery, hint at a violent but highly developed empire.
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Few canceled trips after the tsunami. U.S. issues advisories on visiting hard-hit areas.
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In the south Indian city of Chennai, feast like the locals on inexpensive but sublime meals of rice, vegetables, lentils, coconut and spices.
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The British expatriate, who has lived in India for nearly six decades, leads tours of the capital. He takes two Americans to places they might not see on their own.
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I woke with a start about 5 a.m., my elbow knocking against a plastic wall as I turned over.
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India’s Taj Mahal, built by a grieving emperor to honor his wife, marks its 350th birthday. From it, a writer drew inspiration for a book.
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For a reasonable price, revelers can rock the night away at 10 bars during Club Day in the Asian capital.
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Washington -- by night as well as day -- is bolder and better, with some fresh revelations.
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Between Kyoto and Tokyo, the Nakasendo cuts a swath through ancient towns and into the time of the shogun.
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A haunting forest of vertical crags has long drawn backpackers. Now the area in Guangxi province has more visitors and development.
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Where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet is a trove of jewelry, silks and crafts. Three countries in a single day? No problem.
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Emperors built the ancient site on a scale too grand to maintain. What’s left is a tranquil place that echoes and honors its past.
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The road to Mandalay isn’t easy -- unless you’re aboard this natty vessel, where access to the past comes with modern comforts.
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Life in Hangzhou, three hours southwest of Shanghai, is steeped in all aspects of West Lake Dragon Well, the area’s legendary curative.
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Louangphrabang, the former royal capital, has great Southeast Asian cuisine and culture that is still unspoiled by tourist trappings.
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A former football player combines an outdoor adventure with luxury hotels.
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The southern Thai coast offers a mix of sea, sand and spires to climb.
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In the northwestern state, former palaces and hunting lodges turned hotels give a taste of the rich life without paying a king’s ransom.
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Typhoon alerts in Hong Kong aren’t unusual. There was no cause for alarm -- until the cabs stopped running.
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A bevy of bargains is luring visitors back to Hong Kong and Singapore. It’s not too late to benefit from it.
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Approaching Hong Kong by air in the daytime is unforgettable.
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Approaching Hong Kong by air in the daytime is unforgettable.
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Boom! “What was that?” I asked as the needle-nosed long-tail boat shuddered.
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GETTING THERE: From LAX, connecting service to Ho Chi Minh City is available on Asiana, Korean, JAL, Philippine, China, Thai, EVA, Cathay Pacific, All Nippon and Malaysian airlines.
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Forget those unflattering stereotypes. The colorful, multicultural nation is a civilized haven with much to offer visitors.
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It isn’t what you’d call undiscovered, but the island and its sister islets have pockets of rare beauty -- if you know where to look.
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Too much of a good thing is wonderful on a low-cost airline pass trip to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Taiwan.
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Actual expenses for this trip: AccessAsia Passes (includes taxes and some airport fees) $1,972.30 Other flights (Chiang Mai and Siem Reap) $437.86 Airport fees not covered by pass $77.80 Visas (Cambodia only) $40.00 Travel insurance $185.00 Immunizations and malaria pills $835.00 Cooking school, Chiang Mai $43.22 Meals, snacks, bottled water $660.00 Lodging $1,094.07 Local transportation $175.30 Tours, admissions, guides $358.78 Photo expenses $175.39 Miscellaneous $274.88 Total $6,329.60
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AIR PASSES: Malaysia’s AccessAsia Pass (30 days; up to 25 cities) starts at $899 for 2003.
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The country’s southernmost province is a tropical retreat with some upscale resorts but unpolished charm -- not to mention a monkey paradise.
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It seemed like a great idea: Take a budget winter tour of China by flying to England and joining a British group.
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Which was the more painful part of her Indian desert safari: getting ripped off or being all but ripped in half by her thong underwear?
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At the northern end of the main island, Honshu, is a remote, mountainous region called Tohoku, infused with the spirit of the samurai.
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A six-city ‘highlights’ tour of China gives a glimpse of the country’s riches -- and changes -- to the frugal traveler.
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TOURS TO CHINA: Among those offering China packages are the following.
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At the northern end of the main island, Honshu, is a remote, mountainous region called Tohoku, infused with the spirit of the samurai.
