Originally from Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, Howard first came to Sabah in 1995 as the pre-opening recreation manager of a new Shangri-La hotel in Sabah. He was there for 3 years and fell in love with the diversity of the state - mountain, jungle, stunning beaches and its awesome people “It was the gentle, humble and hospitable nature of the people that captivated me, such great people surrounded by such a beautiful natural environment. I … [Read more...]
A Whirlwind Week in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Nang, Vietnam
Vietnam was a country I was both excited about and scared of. I was afraid of what its citizens would think of me, having read one too many blog posts about American tourists getting cheated out of their pocket change as a time-delayed revenge move for the American War. I should have known better. For the most part, to most of the people with whom we interacted, our nationality didn’t matter. Our American accents didn’t matter. Neither the … [Read more...]
Sailing The Philippine Islands: The Pearl Of The Orient
(From the August/September 2005 issue of "Escape From America Magazine" Vol. 8 No. 1 - EscapeArtist.com Inc. 832-1245 World Trade Center Panama, Republic of Panama) The alluring beauty of the Far East is seen through its contrasts of culture, lifestyle, and climate. Everyone has a desire to live and settle in a paradise of ease and quiet enjoyment. To many, the east provides such a place: an environment that satisfies every transient and … [Read more...]
Have Thirst, Will Travel, Part 1: Southeast Asia
Call it what you want: The Craft Cocktail Boom. The Mixology Movement. The Mainstreaming of the Fancy Manhattan. The Rise of the Instagrammable Drink. Just remember it’s not exclusive to the West. Around the world, cunning drinkers, thinkers, moonshiners and entrepreneurs do all sorts things to stand out from the crowd. Sometimes that means live animals with your mango juice, others it means dead animals in your whiskey. Over the course … [Read more...]
From Dawn to Dusk, a Day in the Life in The Last Shangri-La
At the crack of dawn, the distant crow of a rooster forms a natural symphony with the mantra chanting from a nearby monastery, waking Dorji from his blissful dream. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he is grateful to be blessed with another brand new day in life. He heads to the kitchen to make himself his favorite breakfast - Akha, Suja, and Azey. Akha is a dough made from roasted whole wheat flour. Suja is a tea made by churning tea with butter and salt … [Read more...]
A Stroll Down Memory Lane in George Town, Penang
Spending a day or two soaking in the colonial charm and beauty of George Town is the best way to discover this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors will be certainly mesmerized by the vivid and colorful murals and will be tempted by the delicious local foods. However, its character and heritage lie in its diversity of neighborhoods - one should also spend time wandering these streets. Once a free port under British rule, George Town was at its … [Read more...]
A Beach Paradise in less than 10 Minutes from the Mainland – Kapas Island
Less than 4 nautical miles from the shore of Marang – a sleepy fishing town on the east coast of peninsula Malaysia, lies a beautiful marine park island surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and pristine sandy beaches. The sand is powdery soft and the texture is very much cotton-like; this is how the name of this island came about – Kapas, a Malay word for cotton. The island can be reached in less than 10 minutes by a speed boat from the … [Read more...]
The Taste At Koi Garden Cafe
KOI GARDEN CAFÉ came into existence after Australian-Filipino couple Clive and Sally began the restaurant in February of 2020. Situated in the heart of the small town of Clarin in the province of Misamis Occidental, Southern Philippines, the restaurant provides a cozy place to dine in for families, couples, circles of friends, or simply individuals from neighboring cities or municipalities looking for a relaxing hangout. The restaurant is also an … [Read more...]
Discovering Bambang
The journey began as I and several friends arrived and converged at Manila Airport. Our shuttle van waited to fetch us, ready to set off for Bambang - site of a special gathering for a poetry circle we would be attending. It was, indeed, a tedious long land journey. However, the enjoyable company of my friends and the vibrant view outside the car window somehow comforted me during the ongoing long hours of travel. I noticed ourselves getting … [Read more...]
The 10 Best Things to do in Sikkim
Step out of your comfort zone and view the delights of the world around you. Here we take you on a tour of Sikkim, a small state in the northeast of India that is bordered with Tibet. Sikkim is a visual pleasure that marries mountainous terrains with the simple life. This place is more than a window to the Himalayas as you are about to discover. We share with you the Top 10 Best Things to do in Sikkim. You will discover new lands, culture, … [Read more...]
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