The perfect travel companion for Japan. The Kyoto Fun podcast is filled with tips, insights and fun stories from a professional tour guide based in Kyoto, Japan. Learn all about what makes Japan such a fascinating place. We talk about how to order in restaurants, how to find great sushi, table manners, public baths, geisha culture, samurai, current events and much much more. We also interview local experts of food culture, zen Buddhism, tea ceremony and more. Enjoy learning all about Japan b ...
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Far East Travels-Inspired by Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Anthony Bourdain and National Geographic.-Informative, enlightening, entertaining. Let John Saboe take you on journeys filled with spiritual celebrations and rituals, ancient festivals thrilling wildlife safaris, trekking and climbing quests and a vast array of food cultures. Learn about cultural differences, village life, urban exploration, street food, history and architecture in places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, Kor ...
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THAILAND NEW 60 DAY VISA EXEMPTION FOR 93 COUNTRIES
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In this episode a brief overview of Thailand's new offer of a 60 day visa exemption for citizens of 93 countries. Plus how to deal with needing an onward ticket when you don't have one! Thanks again for your support! If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways: Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels Donat…
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I am back after a much too long hiatus from the podcast! In this episode I run through what it takes currently to stay long term in Danang, Vietnam. I am meeting more people everyday who are deciding to come here and either retire or live long term. But is it right for you? In this episode I review the current rules involved in securing evisas for …
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Hoi An, Vietnam Travel Advice From The "Ancient Town"
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17:34
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Hoi An, the Unesco World Heritage Site's streets are busting at the seams with visitors. It certainly appears that the old town has returned to the days of packed streets prior to the pandemic. I'm in Hoi An with an up-to-date report on the ancient town, its sites, and what it's like to visit one of Vietnam's top destinations. I have some tips on w…
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5 More Annoyances To Watch Out For In Vietnam
20:32
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In this episode I discuss 5 more typical annoyances or things tourists should be aware of when visiting Vietnam, especially for the first time. Once you master these and the last 5 in a previous episode you'll be much better prepared. As a disclaimer, there are similiar things to watch out for in other countries in the region and beyond. In some ca…
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Vietnam Will Introduce 90 Day eVisas Beginning August 15
14:16
14:16
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It's finally happening! Vietnam's National Assembly agreed to extend the current 30 day tourist eVisa to 90 days for 80 countries. This will be the first time 90 day visas will be available to tourists since early 2020. This is welcome news to the tourism industry and thousands of people who in the past enjoyed long-term stays in Vietnam. Nha Trang…
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5 Annoyances Or Scams You Can Avoid In Vietnam
24:49
24:49
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24:49
In this episode I run down 5 common mistakes or uncomfortable situations you can avoid on your first trip to Vietnam. Some could be considered scams or overcharging, in other cases just minor uncomfortable situtations that can be easily avoided. We've all been scammed or overcharged at least once on our travels. I remember I was overcharged for a s…
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Vietnam-Upcoming Changes To The Current Visa Policy?
18:16
18:16
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I'm back! Thanks so much for your patience. A long needed hiatus from the podcast was due and I"m now delighted to return to regular podcasting of The Far East Travels Podcast in it's 8th year! In this episode I'll review the current visas that are offered in Vietnam and the upcoming proposal to return to 90 day visas as well as the extending of vi…
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Taiwan Is Open To The World! With Guest Photographer Bruno Black-Taipei
32:49
32:49
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In October Taiwan eased restrictions once again welcoming visitors to "The Beautiful Island". My friend and longtime guest of the podcast photographer Bruno Black gives us an update on what's new and what to expect when you arrive. Bruno has toured many people around the island and is an expert on the best places to see as well as knowing where to …
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Our Man In Kyoto, Japan [Tour Operator/Podcaster Niall Gibson]
43:18
43:18
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A pleasure as always to have Kyoto based Niall Gibson, an expat Canadian, tour operator and host of the Kyoto Fun Podcast on the Far East Travels Podcast. Niall gives us an update on the current travel landscape of Kyoto and the rest of Japan. With the yen currently at a record low and travel restrictions lifted this could be one of the best times …
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Hiroshima: a day trip from Kyoto exploring the Peace Memorial and Miyajima Island
35:11
35:11
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Listen to this episode which takes you on a day trip to Hiroshima, one of our favourite cities in West Japan. We visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and then head over to Miyajima to see the sacred deer and the torii gate floating in the sea.By Niall Gibson
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Japan And Taiwan Are Fully Open To Independant Travelers!
17:02
17:02
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17:02
After 2.5 years both Taiwan and Japan are fully open to independant tourism. In this episode I share more details about requirements upon arrival, particularily for the more complicated procedures for Taiwan. As someone who lived in Taiwan I am very happy for the many businesses who relied and of course benefited from foreign visitors. Taipei was a…
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Pot Smoking Tourists Not Welcome In Thailand
26:42
26:42
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26:42
The quote "Pot Smoking Tourists Not Welcom In Thailand"recently comes from the Thai Health Minister. Updates and a throwback to a walkabout in the shopping districts during a visit in 2017. Bangkok is coming back with an estimated 7-8 million visitors expected in 2022. Still a far cry from the 40 million visitors it saw in 2019. Things are improvin…
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I've Got Covid + 3 Vietnam Cities In Travel + Leisure's Top 10 SEA Cities
21:18
21:18
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21:18
This past summer was not the experience I was hoping for. What was to be outings and short visits around the country has turned into weeks of nursing colds, sinus infections, and now Covid. Fortunately I've been lucky to have only experienced cold symptoms with C19. But my isolation has taken me back to the feelings experienced a year ago when we w…
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I've Been Sick, But Not With COVID! Back With A Travel Update For Asia
24:56
24:56
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24:56
It's so glad to be back after a long break due to a cold and sinus infection. In the episode I'll discuss dealing with a common flu or cold after not having one for 2 years. Also more importantly what travel is currently like and the most recent updates for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. It still looks like it may be still some time bef…
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All you need to know to ride the "shinkansen" bullet train in Japan
31:32
31:32
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31:32
Learn all about the Shinkansen bullet train of Japan. We talk about the history, interesting facts, and design as well as tips on how to buy tickets and what to expect on board. Enjoy the ride!By Niall Gibson
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Walking Through A Tourist Friendly Market In Vietnam
12:44
12:44
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12:44
In this episode I take you for a walk through the Han Market in Da Nang, Vietnam. You'll immediately notice lots of interaction with local sellers as this market is geared a little more tourists than the Con Market in the last episode. These markets are always alot of fun to visit and in terms of food they really give you insight into what people e…
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Thailand Pass Is Finished July 1st/Visiting A Wholesale Market in Vietnam
24:33
24:33
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24:33
It's official as of July 1st, no more uploading documents for a Thailand Pass. Proof of vaccination or for the unvaccinated a negative PCR test is all that's needed now to visit the country. This should further open up travel in the region expanding flights to Thailand and from Thai airports to other destinations in Southeast Asia. I will also disc…
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Tara Air Crash Nepal & Travel Updates From The Beach-Da Nang
24:02
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24:02
Very tragic news out of Nepal this past week with another Tara Air crash on the Pokhara Jomsom route. The last crash on this flight, another Tara Air plane was in 2016. Although this route doesn't get as much attention as the the Kathmandu/Lukla flight in the Everest region it is still a very dangerous airport. I'll share my experience and thoughts…
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Vietnam Drops Pretests + More Travel News from Asia!
12:37
12:37
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12:37
Vietnam along with several other countries have decided to drop pretests for fully vaccinated visitors. That makes entry to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam relativeily easy to enter now with no required pretests for fully vaccinated travelers. It's now possible to have an extended stay in Southeast Asia with the least amount of…
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Traveling To Cambodia-First Border Crossing In Over 2 Years!
20:23
20:23
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A short two night trip was the perfect way to transition into travel in pandemic, and perhaps soon to be endemic times. Cambodia currently is the easiest country to enter in Southeast Asia with no pre-uploading of info and no pre-arrival or arrival testing. In this episode I'll run through this recent experience and share with you the highlights. A…
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Cambodia Lifts PCR/Antigen Test Entry Requirements
29:49
29:49
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29:49
Cambodia has taken the biggest step in lifting requirements for entry with the elimination of a negative test result upon arrival as well as the dropping of the antigen test. This will not only make an entry into Cambodia easier but will also allow for less restrictive movements back and forth between Vietnam and Thailand. Also in this episode, the…
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Vietnam opens to tourists for the first time in 2 years this week. Rules, protocols, and visa availabiltiy are still unclear at the time of broadcast. Officially citizens from 13 countries have been granted 15 day visa exemptions valid until 2025. Unverified reports of people receiving visas through Vietnamese embassies or consulates are slowly sur…
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Vietnam Reopens To Tourists Beginning March 15
33:00
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33:00
It's official, Vietnam closed to tourists since March 2020, will reopen it's borders starting March 15th. Details as to what visas will be available and their validity length are still unknown but will most likely be made public in the next few days. Vietnam is one of the last countries in Southeast Asia to open it's doors to tourism since the COVI…
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Vietnam's Minister Of Culture, Sports, Tourism Recommends March Reopening
29:11
29:11
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29:11
Vietnam could reopen to international travelers as soon as by the end of March. The Prime Minister has also expressed that Vietnam should be prepared to reopen by the end of March and no later than the end of April. Also news from Thailand, Indonesia, The Philipines, and Laos. We'll also spin back the clock to January 2018 with a visit in a part 2 …
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Test And Go Thailand Resumes February 1st(Plus travel news from Vietnam)
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After a Omicron spike across Thailand the country will resume their Test And Go program beginning February 1st. Also new "sealed" flights from Bangkok to Phuket will allow international travelers to now transit through Bangkok onward to the Phuket "Sandbox" scheme. It feels despite the Omicron factor that Southeast Asia will be moving ahead with re…
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Vietnam-Visitors On Free Extensions Must Exit By January 15 Plus Other Updates
18:39
18:39
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Welcome to 2022 and the first episode of the year! I have been traveling in Southern and Central Vietnam for the past 3 week happy to be back in Da Nanag with the latest update. I talk about the latest travel news from here including the final exit orders for all tourists and visitors on free visa extensions since March 2020. Thailand is ever chang…
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African Countries Shut Out From Entering Southeast Asia
38:08
38:08
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38:08
Up to 10 countries of South Africa have now been barred from entering Southeast Asian countries and South Korea. As well, anyone who has recently visited or transited through these countries have been barred from entering the region. South Korea requires it's citizens who are returning from those South African countries to quarantine in a governmen…
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Cambodia Opens To Fully Vaccinated Travelers/Vietnam-First Tourists Welcomed Back In 20 Months
34:03
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34:03
Cambodia surprised everyone recently abandoning their phasing in of tourism to fully reopening the country to travelers. They're even paying for the rapid test on arrival! That's two countries in Southeast Asia that are now fully opened to travelers. This week also saw the first tourists to arrive in Vietnam in 20 months. Nha Trang, Da Nang/Quan Am…
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Thailand, Bali, Japan, Hong Kong, Travel Updates & Patan's Durbar Square Part 2
36:42
36:42
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36:42
Navigating through the confusing Thailand Pass online registration as well as updates for travel openings for Bali, Japan, Hong Kong, and more. Although the odds are still in your favor you could end up ruining your vacation if you're traveling to Thailand for only a two week stay or less. It's happened to people that came in close contact with som…
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Cambodia Announces Reopening Plan, News From Vietnam, Thailand And More!
31:38
31:38
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Cambodia finally announces reopening plans set for the end of November. Thailand reopened this week to fully vaccinated tourists from select countries and Vietnam has more regions getting ready to open possibly in November along with Phu Quoc Island. Clearly there is urgency to get things rolling again with airlines on the verge of bankruptcy and h…
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Thailand, The Whole Thing, Reopens November 1st To Vaccinated Travelers
35:59
35:59
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Yes, Thailand plans to now reopen the whole country beginning November 1st. This will be the first country in Southeast Asia to open to fully vaccinated travellers quarantine free in 18 months. News also about openings in Bali, Indonesia, Boracay, Phillipines, Vietnam, and Singapore. In this episode I will also revisit the enchanting, charming city…
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Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia Updates Plus Revisiting Batu Caves & Georgetown, Malaysia
37:06
37:06
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37:06
It doesn't seem so long ago that I was living my dream traveling throughout this side of Asia. Things have drastically changed since the start of the pandemic but I still feel fortunate to be sharing life in Vietnam. The days of traveling again may still be a ways off but at least we have our past travels to treasure and share. In this episode I go…
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Thailand/Vietnam Opening Delayed Until November(Plus Revisitng Cebu, Philiipines)
35:00
35:00
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35:00
With supplies not meeting the demand for vaccines in Southeast Asia Thailand and Vietnam have postphoned reopening to tourists in specific locations until at least sometime in November now. Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island when opened will be only accepting package tourists with 14 4 to 5 star properties under the initial scheme. For Thailand their reopen…
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Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Reopening October 15th Plus Revisting Taipei's Huge Wholesale Market
36:54
36:54
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36:54
Everyone in the region I believe is monitoring the current results and success of the reopening of destinations in Thailand to fully vaccinated international travelers. With the recent outbreaks of Covid authorities have delayed the opening to tourists until October 15th. Other destinations in Thailand due to open in October are Chiang Mai, Hua Hin…
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Revisiting Chiang Rai, Thailand Plus A Travel Update And Vietnam News
19:25
19:25
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19:25
Chiang Mai is the start of Northern Thailand but don't miss that peaceful spot just a 3 hour drive north-Chiang Rai. Visiting both will increase your appreciation of both. Chiang Mai is bustling with nightmarkets/walking streets, bars, plenty of sites and comforts for foreigners. One of Southeast Asia's top expat communities. Chiang Rai is quieter,…
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Bangkok, Thailand-Revisiting God Of Love Shrine & Shopping Mall District
25:03
25:03
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25:03
No matter how you feel about shopping malls at some point during your visit to Bangkok you will most likely find yourself in Pathum Wan, the city's impressive shopping district with it's plethora of malls, food courts, and entertainment venues. In this episode I revisit the area Central World where you'll find the Trimurti God Of Love Shrine along …
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Hanoi, Vietnam Revisiting The Charming Capital
30:13
30:13
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30:13
Hanoi has always been one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. Charming, pedestrian friendly in many places, historic, vibrant, I miss visiting Hanoi very much. In this episode I return to Hanoi with audio from my 2017 visit around the Old Quarter and The Rising Sun Bridge at Hoan Kiem Lake. LIke many people in Vietnam I have been reluctant to …
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia Riverside Revisited Plus Updates From Vietnam
40:40
40:40
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40:40
In this latest episode I look back to a visit to Phnom Penh in 2019 with a morning walk through the markets and streets near the Riverside neighborhood tourist/backpacker area. This district of Phnom Penh is recommended for first time visits to the city. It's one of the most convenient spots for restaurants, sites, and of course near the boardwalk …
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Mumbia, India-Revisiting The Maximum City Plus Ho Chi Minh City Hard Lockdown Update
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24:00
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24:00
In this episode I take you along to revisit a little slice of my last visit to Mumbai. The Maximum City is not as extreme as you might imagine. At least that's what I found. You can walk around several areas and not feel like you're fighting crowds. Amazing street food, friendly locals, and a truly one of a kind travel experience. I also share with…
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Vending Machines in Japan: the unique things you can buy!
14:19
14:19
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14:19
The vending machines of Japan are known around the world for their interesting offerings. But did you know there are more than 5 million of them in the country? Tune in to learn more from your local resident host in this episode of the Kyoto Fun podcast. Link to the video mentioned during the podcast. https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_weird_or…
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Revisiting Nepal's Adventure Capital-Pokhara Plus A Pandemic/Tourism Update
34:41
34:41
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34:41
Pokhara is considered the tourism capital of Nepal. There are countless treks that begin or end in Pokhara including the great Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Upper Mustang and Poonhill. Situated on beautiful Phewa Lake this is a much more relaxing experience than the capital of Kathmandu. In this episode I revisit the Peace Pagoda with vie…
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Revisiting Plus Update
37:23
37:23
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37:23
It's been a stopover for many years but whether it's just a one night or multiple day stay I've never been disapointed visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this episode I give a brief update on the pandemic situation and share some of the highlights of my trips to Malaysia over the years including Malaysian Borneo. From Brickfields, KL Sentral, KLCC…
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Siem Reap, Cambodia Revisited With Update
35:13
35:13
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35:13
Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor Wat and the Angkor Ruins and in my opinion is an absolute must-see on a multi-country visit of Southeast Asia. Yes, you'll compete with crowds including tour package groups for space, and sunrise draws hundreds of onlookers but it's all worth any kind of frustration you might experience. For those that look forwar…
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia Update +Revisiting The Central Market 2019
40:40
40:40
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40:40
Up until earlier this year Cambodia had a very good handle on controlling the pandemic but a series of outbreaks that originated from nightclubs and casinos changed the situation beginning in February. In this episode an update on the pandemic, future tourism in Cambodia. I will also revisit the iconic Central Market of the capital. This is a must …
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A guide to each season in Japan. Hear about the festivals of summer and the autumn colors. The winter "onsen" hot springs baths, and the spectacular spring with blossoms galore. Get tips on weather in Japan and much more on this special episode.By Niall Gibson
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Murder On Phuket, Thailand Plus More News From Asia
21:56
21:56
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21:56
A horrible human tragedy this week on Phuket Island, Thailand where a Swiss female tourist was found murdered. More on that and the possible impact on tourism as well as other news from Southeast Asia. Thanks again for your support of the podcast! Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podca…
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Okinawa, Japan Sand, Surf, Sun, Food, Fun Revisiting 2018
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31:49
I made a short visit to Okinawa in 2018, specifically Nha where I spent most of the 3 days I was there. It was enough to make me want to go back and explore this fascinating place that's considered the Hawaii of Japan. I've met many Japanese that actually have never visited any of the islands. It's not exactly a short flight from Tokyo, but if you'…
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Phuket Sealed Off From The Rest Of Thailand/Revisiting Bangkok's Erawan Shrine
27:30
27:30
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27:30
Phuket will be sealed off from the rest of Thailand in an effort to protect the island from the current wave of the pandemic. This is due to a record increases daily cases in the rest of the country. In this episode I will also revisit one of Bangkok's most famous attractions, The Erawan Shrine, in the heart of the commercial district. This is defi…
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Trekking Tips For Nepal/Revisiting The Annapurna Circuit
35:38
35:38
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It's still in my opinion one of the greatest treks on the planet, The Annapurna Circuit. The Best of Nepal and a lesson in the diversity of culture on top of amazing landscapes and breathtaking peaks of the Himalaya. In this episode I revisit the circuit and give a few introductory tips on trekking of perhaps special interest to those who are doing…
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