Asia

An Itchy Feet on the Cheap Takeover

When I started this site over 6 years ago, I hadn’t even been to Asia. Now, I’ve been to over 10 Asian countries and lived in 2 of them. I love Asia. There is so much to see and do, so many attractions for travelers. The culture is incredibly unique from country to country. There was a time I thought Vietnam and China were similar. Not even close. If you are looking for an alternate view of Asia, this collection of tips and articles will help you plan a trip, or learn about the largest and most populous continent in the world.

Gwangjang Market: South Korea’s Oldest Market is Filled with Incredible Food

I’ll admit, I’m a little confused about Korea’s market scene. Gwangjang Market (광장시장) is located in what I believe is the oldest market building in Korea. It opened in 1905, when it was called Dongdaemun Market, which was the name of an older market that was destroyed in the Korean War and rebuilt in 1959. Meanwhile, Namdaemun Market was around since like 1414, but the Japanese took control of it and it was eventually burnt to the ground… a few times. Gwangjang actually was created because of the Japanese take-over of Namdaemun Market. Several Korean investors and business men didn’t like the fact that their largest market was controlled by the Japanese, so they spent a whopping 100,000 Won (like $88) and bought some land to build what is now the 10 acre Gwangjang Market.

Gwangjang Market in Seoul, South Korea

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Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour of Dalat, Vietnam – A Perfect Day in Dalat

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The mountain road that runs between Dalat and Phan Rang
The road to Dalat

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The first time I took Chopper Suey (my Chinese-made American cruiser bike) on a road trip, was to the sexy hills of Dalat. As we pulled into town, surrounded by pines and fresh cool air, I knew I was going to love the place.

Formerly a retreat town for the French, today Dalat is filled with a lot of very touristy attractions — some of them too touristy to stomach. However, this self-guided walking tour will show you exactly what’s worth seeing. You’ll get a bit of history, some culture, a glimpse into the fertility of the area, and some of that Dalat tackiness that’s worthy of a selfie or two.

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2 Days in Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A Guide and Itinerary for 48 hours in Can Tho

Tan An Market and river in Can Tho, Vietnam
Tan An Market and the Can Tho River

Can Tho (pronounced ‘can tuh’) is the largest city in the Mekong Delta area. The area’s uniqueness makes it one of my favorite places in the country. Thailand and the Philippines may have better beaches than Vietnam, Laos has a peacefulness that is difficult to find in Vietnam, Myanmar has the friendliest people, but none of those places have the Mekong Delta.

This guide and itinerary will give you step-by-step directions to making the most out of your 2 days in Can Tho.

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Walking Tour of Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown

Cho lon walking tour - Saigon's Chinatown

A lot of people are quick to write-off Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown.

Why would I go to Chinatown in Vietnam?

Those same people are probably staying in the backpacker district. In Vietnamese, this area is called Khu Tây Balô, which basically means Westerner Backpack District. It’s the equivalent to Chinatown but for backpacking westerners.

In Vietnamese, the Chinatown area is called Cho Lon, which means great market. This is because it’s the home to the largest market in Saigon, Binh Tay. Cho Lon sort of straddles district 5 and 6. It was once its own city, settled by the Hoa people in 1778. Eventually, Saigon expanded and the two cities merged.

I seriously love Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, so I hope you take the time to visit it, and I hope this walking tour helps you appreciate this unique area of Saigon.

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Do-it-yourself Eating and Walking Tour – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tourist Day in Saigon

Saigon Market Banana Lady
A mobile banana vendor on the streets of Saigon.

This self-guided walking tour covers the main tourist attractions in Saigon. The actual walking time is only about 90 minutes, but it should take you the better part of a day with the all the stops. There are 4 meals on the tour, as well as plenty of opportunities for coffee breaks.

Saigon is hot and the sidewalks are broken, cluttered, or non-existent. Be careful and take breaks regularly, especially if you are doing this in the hotter times of the year (March-June).

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Mount Emei: How to Get the Most out of your Visit

Emei Mountain: Why is it so Sacred?

Emei Mountain - China's Largest Sacred Mountain Explained

As far as sacred mountains go in China, Emei is one of the most important. In fact, it’s the largest of the 4 Sacred Mountains of Buddhism in China. Emei means high and lofty. At 3099 meters, it’s an appropriate name. You’ll sometimes see the name Emeishan or Emei Shan (峨眉山) – shan simply means mountain. The proper pronunciation of Emei is something like uh-may, as in uh-mazing! The mountain combines nature and culture with its many temples and monasteries that dot the mountain-side. Even if you aren’t a Buddhist, you’ll enjoy their mystical beauty.

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A Guide to Visiting Wenshu Monastery // This is Chengdu, China

One of Chengdu’s Top Tourist Attractions

Wenshu Monastery | This is Chengdu, China

Wenshu Monastery (文殊院 – Wen Shu Yuan) is the best preserved ancient monastery in Chengdu. It’s the home to 80 monks, and is frequently visited by both tourists and locals. The locals come to relax in the gardens, sip tea at the tea house, or worship at one of the many sacred halls. Tourist often come for the amazing stone and wood architecture, or to peruse the art and relics that can be found throughout the grounds. Wenshu monastery is a great way to spend a couple hours if you are in Chengdu.

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Tibet in China: An Alternate Way to Experience Tibet

From the Kampa Cafe patio in Tagong, Sichuan, China.

1 Week in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture – Tibet in Western Sichuan

Don’t let the overly wordy title scare you. The Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, may sound like a medical injury, but it’s actually an invigorating place. It is an area in western Sichuan that is mainly inhabited by Tibetans. An autonomous prefecture is a territory in China that has a population of 50% or more ethnic minorities. In Garze, there are around 880,000 people and around 78% of them are Tibetan. When my bus rolled into Kangding, the capital of the Garze region, it felt like I had entered another country. This isn’t your typical China. The Tibetan culture is here, which makes it a great alternative to traveling Tibet.

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Chengdu’s Art and Antique Market
Song Xian Qiao

Record Shopping at Chengdu Antique Market

Record Shopping at Chengdu's Art & Antique Market

Chengdu is a shopper’s paradise. Malls seem to be popping up weekly across the city. There are plenty of shopping streets and specific product shopping areas. Of course, that means plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs, but if you’re looking for something truly unique Chengdu’s Art and Antique Market is the place to go. Song Xian Qiao (送仙桥古玩市场) not only has cool gifts, but it’s also an amazing experience.

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Computer City: Shopping for Electronics in Chengdu, China

Chengdu’s Electronic District

Directly to the east of the Sichuan Gymnasium metro stop is a short stretch of road that is a haven for electronic shoppers. While ‘Computer City’ is the name of just one of the many giant electronic department stores (likely the first one) on the street, the block itself is often referred to as Computer City. It’s the place to go for electronic shopping in Chengdu. If you’re looking for a computer, camera, tablet, speakers, smartphone, security device, office furniture, or almost any type of electronic accessory – there’s probably a vendor in Computer City that has what you’re looking for.

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Xinnanmen Bus Station // This is Chengdu, China

Buying Bus Tickets in Chengdu: Xinnanman Bus Station

Buying Bus Tickets at Xinnanmen Bus Station, Chengdu, China

Officially, the Xinnanmen Bus Station is the Chengdu Tourist Bus Center, but most locals will know it by its Chinese name Xīnnánmén qì chē zhàn. The majority of their buses go to tourist sites. If you’re looking to hike (Mount Qingcheng), ski (Xiling Snow Mountain), or take in some culture (Leshan Giant Buddha) you’re likely to leave from Xinnanmen.

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