The island of Phu Quoc is located in the Gulf of Thailand, located closer to the Cambodia border than the Vietnam border. It is an extremely popular and family friendly destination for tourists due to the fact that unlike mainland Vietnam which requires visas for many nationalities, Phu Quoc offers a visa exemption for citizens of numerous countries. And it is also appealing for its weather, beaches and affordable prices. From Bangkok its an easy 1 hour non stop flight to Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Passengers on my flight were […]

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Charles A. Ray is a retired U.S. diplomat and former ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe. Before joining the Foreign Service, he served 20 years in the U.S. Army. Over his diplomatic career, he held key positions including Deputy Consul General in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Deputy Chief of Mission in Sierra Leone, Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs. He is a prolific author of more than 400 fiction and non-fiction books, with genres spanning leadership, history, diplomacy etc., and […]

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This Cambodia trip was the most unexpected and unplanned trip I have ever been on. Although I had intended to travel there, I never anticipated it would happen so quickly because my 14-day visa-free had expired, and I had to leave Thailand urgently to avoid paying fines. This blog will follow my chaotic trip from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, along with some advice and tricks. I was informed that I could not extend my visa anymore, only a night before I would leave for Cambodia. So, I checked all possible […]

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On the last day of July in 2024, a gathering at the gorgeous Castellucci Estate in the heart of Napa Valley honored Roots of Peace founder and the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate and 2024 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Heidi Kuhn. Distinguished keynote speakers included Heidi Kuhn, Marcus Nobel of the Nobel Peace Prize Family and S.F. Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk. Guests were treated to stories of Kuhn’s work and were introduced to the new CEO Of Roots of Peace, her son, Tucker Kuhn. Another highlight was an inspirational performance […]

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Road Scholar Contest Winners Will Find “Golden Ticket” in 2025 Catalog Boston, Mass. (January 5, 2024) — Road Scholar, the nonprofit world leader in educational travel for older adults, is having an early kick-off of their 50th anniversary celebration with a contest called the “Great Global Giveaway.” Seven lucky winners will win one of seven educational adventures to seven continents, complete with airfare for two people. These seven trips, like all the programs Road Scholar offers, will have an emphasis on learning about the destination the winners are visiting through […]

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Most Vietnamese dishes are known for their fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, liberal use of herbs and vegetables, and a lightness of touch, with very little oil used in preparation. And they’re delicious! Vietnamese cuisine differs throughout the country, with proximity to other countries being relevant. Influences on southern Vietnamese food can be seen from countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Cham people, while Chinese influences can be seen more clearly in northern Vietnam. The French influence is widely seen throughout Vietnam with food items such as bread, cauliflower, artichokes, […]

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There is never a bad excuse for wanting to take a trip. Travel is an exciting way to see the world and take a break from one’s everyday routine. However, travel is also an excellent educational tool for a variety of reasons. Even though schooling, books, the internet and other resources exist to educate individuals, travel is still one of the best forms of learning because it incorporates personal experience into the mix. Continue reading to discover a few of the educational benefits of travel. You Learn History It seems […]

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“Ghost House” is one of the best horror movies I have seen in a long time. The horror elements are so original and raw  – the jump scare, the atmosphere, the soundtrack etc, everything is done completely right. The movie does not throw in excessive unnecessary special effects or follow the Hollywood’s formulaic scare tactics. It hit me in a way that most horror flicks hadn’t. I remember when the movie was over, I immediately pulled out my phone and looked up the director of this movie – Rich Ragsdale. […]

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Set to Debut in 2021, Viking Saigon Will Set a New Standard for Modern River Cruising in Southeast Asia Los Angeles (August, 2020) – Viking® (www.viking.com) announced it will launch a new ship next summer for its popular Magnificent Mekong cruisetour. Currently under construction, the 80-guest Viking Saigon℠ is scheduled to debut for the August 30, 2021, cruisetour departure; the river cruise portion of the itinerary sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. “For many of our guests, Vietnam and Cambodia remain top destinations because […]

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Ever since I’ve heard someone refer to Cambodia as the Kingdom of Wonder, visiting this country – and experiencing its beauty firsthand – was pretty high on my bucket list. If you’re anything like me, and you’re looking for a perfect combination of the old and the new, I promise Cambodia will leave you in awe. So, let’s take a look at the top five places to visit in Cambodia. Discovering The Hidden Wonders: Top 5 Places To Visit In Cambodia With nothing more than my standard backpacking equipment, and […]

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Phnom Penh, Cambodia Gray and gritty…these are the two words that rise to the surface when I reflect on our brief 4 days in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Pen. Gray in the truest sense of the word and color, in that it’s place that is in transition – moving from a dark and clouded past to perhaps a bright and emerging future. However, where the city lies on the gray scale spectrum is open to one’s perception. Some may see it as a place that is overwhelming, loud, dirty, […]

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In late 2013, I decided to ride a bicycle through Africa in an attempt to turn my life around. My parents had passed away back home in Ireland but, to tell the truth, it was not their memory that had dislodged my equilibrium, it was me indulging in self-destruction. It all seemed so impossible on the airplane as I sat reading a beginner’s manual about how to repair punctures, but after a year spent riding through deserts, mountains, remote wilderness, and wildlife corridors, I returned home to appear in a […]

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(WASHINGTON, DC)— It’s Plan a Cruise Month and the cruise industry is celebrating by unveiling some of the most amazing and unbelievable cruise destinations around the globe. A trip to the tropics may be the first destination that comes to mind for many. At the same time, cruise lines are continuously expanding itineraries to reach more exotic corners of the world and hidden gems for travelers. According to Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) 2016 State of the Cruise Industry report, there are nearly 1,000 cruise ports and destinations around the […]

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Cambodia immediately conjures up visions of the temples of Angkor Wat. OK, they are without argument, among the most awe-inspiring monuments ever built by man. But there are plenty of other things to see and experience in Cambodia.  There is so much more to this beautiful country. While Angkor Wat should be on your checklist of must-see places, let’s get off the main tourist track and take a look at 10 other amazing sites. This country has some best-kept and captivating secrets. First though, we’ll ease into this virtual tour […]

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Our property is located next to a tiny village about 2.5 hours east of Bangkok. In recent years there have been plenty of changes here. We now have running water, Internet access and most of the wooden homes in the village have been taken down and many of the villagers have moved nearby into western style buildings (especially as the nearby industrial park continues to experience rapid growth and starts to further exert its influence over this still surrounding rural landscape) – and it will for both good and bad. […]

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