Wanderlust Tips Team, Author at WANDERLUST TIPS • Page 131 of 191

Conversation with Lee Pearce: General Manager of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] Mr. Lee Pearce, general manager of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort shared his thoughts and views with Wanderlust Tips travel magazine on the development potential of Phu Quoc in general and Novotel Phu Quoc Resort in particular.

[rpi]

Have you enjoyed living in Phu Quoc for the last year since you took the position of the GM of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort? What do you like or dislike about this island? Do you live here with your family? Do you think Phu Quoc is a good place for family travel?

I have very much enjoyed living in Phu Quoc. Prior to arriving here, I had never heard about the island, and had no idea of what to expect. This was in February 2016, and at that time, the information about Phu Quoc on the Internet was minimum and not very detailed. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive and find the island not just a tourist destination, but also a thriving local community that is rich and diverse. While language is a bit of a barrier for me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of living here is the warm and genuine nature of local people. I love the food and the scenery; the outdoor lifestyle is amazing, and there are so many things to see and enjoy on this island.

I am here alone, yet I would say, without doubt, that Phu Quoc is a great place for families to visit. It is safe, affordable, and the weather is lovely year round. Unlike some other Asian cuisine, the food in Phu Quoc isn’t really spicy or strong in flavour, which means people of all ages can enjoy. And local people love children, which makes it much more enjoyable from family aspect.

What are your biggest challenges when being a General Manager of a newly opened resort in Phu Quoc?

There are many challenges that I have to face. Experienced staff are difficult to find, and even though we have taken on some great people who have developed our core team in the last two years, the development of the destination and the rise in business levels have become new challenges. We work closely with several hospitality schools to help recruiting people; however, in reality, it will be a couple of years before this issue can be tackled. Furthermore, the business performance fluctuates by seasons, and this can put pressure on the resort for many reasons. Nevertheless, as the destination finds its way to the flight schedules of major international airlines, the situation will improve. Besides, since the infrastructure and activities planned for the island are completed, the types of visitors will diversify, and this will also assist the business performance.

What have you done to keep Novotel Phu Quoc Resort distinctive among other competitors, especially in the situation of the quick development of hospitality industry on the island?

We listen to our guests’ and our partners’ expectations. We try to focus on the direction of the business to meet these expectations. We are very fortunate to have such supportive owners in the CEO Group who understand and are willing to support and invest when required. We invest a lot of time and energy in our team with constant training in many aspects of various roles to ensure that we deliver the best experiences to our guests. At the end of the day, our reputation is established by what our guests say about us. Therefore, in 2017, we have achieved great success in the hotel over the main travel seasons, both domestically and internationally.

What is the balance of the local and international guests at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort?

As far as Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is concerned, in 2017, more than 60% of the number of guests were Vietnamese. In reality, the international tourist season starts from the Northern Hemisphere Winter, so we usually see a large volume of international visitors in just a few months each year. For the remainder of this year, we will see the majority of visitors within Vietnam and a few neighboring countries. We are fortunate to have a strong reputation in the domestic market and a great relationship with many local agents and companies which is built from either their past experience in our resort or family members, friends and colleagues. Vietnamese people love spending holidays with their families to enjoy quality time together, and family vacation is a large part of our business. We make efforts in developing this section to ensure that we not only maintain but also expand our share of business in the months and years ahead.

There are two separate types of tourists in Phu Quoc including domestic and international ones. Do you differentiate your hotel’s service to cater for these two different types of guests?

Yes, we do in certain aspects. Two differences I would like to emphasize are the food to offer and the activities in the resort. The food would seem quite obvious, yet most international tourists are looking forward to trying local food when staying here, therefore the A la carte menu slightly varies to include some additional options such as sandwiches at lunchtime and western style dishes on the dinner menu. For breakfast, however, the taste and style of dishes will vary considerably; Pho will always be available but dishes like Xoi, Banh Khoai Mi, and Bo Kho will be replaced with Western breakfast food such as grilled tomato and beans.

The demand for coffee also changes seasonally as international tourists are willing to try iced milk coffee; however, they do generally go back to their favorite espresso style after time. From the activity perspective, we have to take seasons and visitors’ countries into consideration. Domestic travelers come here in the summer to match their holiday with the break from schools. During this time of the year, the weather is hot and can be wet, therefore local travellers prefer to avoid the sun and the heat of the day. Our activity schedule features more indoor offerings particularly to entertain children. During the winter, international guests love the sun and the sea, so we offer beach games and other outdoor activities, many of which can be enjoyed with a cold drink in hand!

It is common that when a destination becomes well-known, it can lead to many problems including pollution and the loss of its own characters. What has the resort done to maintain Phu Quoc’s primary beauty when the island is getting more and more popular? What are you doing to contribute to the local community and environment?

It is a true and sad fact that rapid tourism development also brings about an equally rapid change in the environment, the community and the economy which provide to it, and the most unfortunate one would be the changes to the culture of the people. We can see this in some of established tourism destinations around the region. We continue working with local farmers, fisherman and other traders to fulfill our role in contributing to the local economy, where possible we employ locals as I have already mentioned above. We also have a close relationship with the local government and partners to foster this. In an environmental aspect, we actively work to reduce and diligently sort our waste. Our teams take part in many community initiatives organized by volunteer groups from the industry to work on litter eradication via both clean-up days and awareness campaigns to educate local youth.

What do you think about Phu Quoc compared to other South East Asia’s islands such as Phuket or Bali which are very well-known?

Phuket and Bali are overdeveloped, and they are in the lists of many regular travelers as “avoid if possible” destinations. Both are so geared to cater for tourists, so there is little of local people or destinations left to show. In Bali, you can avoid this by travelling away from main tourist attractions, but in Phuket you cannot do much. Phu Quoc, on the other hand, still has the primitive natural beauty of the landscape, and the people still live their lives. I would choose Phu Quoc over the other two, and this is one of the key messages we are delivering to the Western markets, which is part of the success the resort has achieved currently.Phu Quoc is a favourite destination for many kinds of tourists: family tourists, adventurers, couples, solo travellers and even businessmen.

How can you assure that they all find Novotel Phu Quoc Resort a good place to stay?

As I mention earlier, we actively collect feedbacks from all of our guests, of all nationalities and purposes of staying. We use a complex system that collates the feedbacks, along with comments on social media, booking sites, and other online channels that we have received. These feedbacks are analyzed, and reports are generated which give us specific information of what our guests enjoy during their stay with us, and in what areas they would like to see changes or improvement. We gather the information, and this allows us to build the strategies to ensure that the resort remains focused on continuous improvement.

Another method is a carefully planned, executed, and ongoing maintenance program. Regular maintenance will ensure the effective operation of all plants and equipment, and just as important are the furniture and fittings in the hotel rooms and around the property, the wall and floor coverings, and the vehicles we use to transport our guests. And once again, I would appreciate our very supportive and fully invested owners in the CEO Group, and it is a pleasure of both mine and AccorHotels to be here in the resort on their behalf.

Thank you for sharing your time with us, and wish a great journey for you with Novotel Phu Quoc Resort.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips

Claire Chiang: Co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts

[rpi]

Born in 1951 in Singapore, Mrs. Claire Chiang is the co-founder of renowned Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. Through more than twenty years of development, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has grown into a leading international operator and developer of premium resorts, hotels, residences, and spas, with 43 hotels and resorts, 62 spas, 75 retail galleries, and three golf courses in 25 countries. Currently, it operates four hotel brands, award-winning Banyan Tree and Angsana, as well as the newly established Cassia and Dhawa which offer different experiences to various target groups. In addition, it also operates Asia’s first and most awarded integrated resort in Laguna Phuket, Thailand – transformed from an abandoned and polluted tin mine purchased in 1983, as well as Laguna Bintan, Indonesia and Laguna Lăng Cô, Central Vietnam. Since the launch of the first Banyan Tree resort, Banyan Tree Phuket in 1994, the Group has also received recognition for its commitment to the overarching focus on sustainability towards environmental protection and developing communities where it plants its flags.

Mrs. Chiang was one of the first two women to be elected to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1995. She also holds directorships in the Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund and Mandai Park Holdings. In 2015, she was promoted to be a member of Board of Directors for Denmark based ISS A/S. In the same year, she was voted as an Advisory Board Member of Academy of Chinese Medicine, Singapore (CMS), and most recently in April 2016, she was appointed a new Board member for Dufry AG, Switzerland.Besides focusing on business, she is also an active advocate for women’s rights, family life and the disadvantaged in society.

Were you born in a wealthy family that could back up your great success?

There are many children from great families who do not become leaders, and there are many who do not have great families but still become great leaders. Therefore, I always think leadership is a composition of personality, competence through training and experience from the journey you have.

I do not come from a rich family. There were 10 people in my family, all living in a two-bedroom flat and I had not had a bed to sleep in until I was 16. However, I never felt poor because I was lucky to have a mother who always believed in education and sent me to two very good schools. That was the early training, and I have to thank my parents who set the basis for my journey of learning. I love reading and I used to read at the libraries when I was young. For me, learning is a very important and endless process. I am still learning now at the age of 66. When I went to university, I met a very good mentor who gave me a good perspective: what development was about and what business was for besides money making which was obvious. They taught me that besides making profits, business is about creating values for the community and making the society resilient and strong. Since then, I have been involved with a lot of community services.

You are now a mother of two boys and one girl, how did you educate your children?

It cannot be denied that they were born into a wealthy family; what I could do is to teach them that wealth does not define a person but values do. Therefore, they started working since they were 14. They worked in the hotels, stayed in the dormitory and ate in the canteen. They took the bus to school. By the age of 16, they went to do community service – one of my sons went to Northern Vietnam, my younger son went to Burma while my daughter went to Brazil. It was not a day’s job. Since young, as a parent, I had to teach them about values as I believe in the foundation – Values. They were born in a wealthy family, but never lived wealthily. I had a budget for them.

They had to learn early about self-management and value management. I am very happy that my children have grown up to be good people. My eldest son is a good father to his 2-year-old boy. He does not mind doing little things such as bathing and feeding the baby. He is a responsible new father and the CEO of our food company in Thailand. More importantly, for me, values define a person and values strengthen the character, not wealth.

You are a successful woman, so do your children bond with you as a mother at home or do they feel pressured to live under the shadow of an overachieving parent?

It is overwhelming for children when their parents are successful because they have a lot to look up to and to follow. It is a matter of time, because the values that we gave them and taught them would help their confidence grow. They will gain their own experiences that they will be proud of as they grow older, and the journey with us as parents become closer. When they mature, I think they will appreciate what we do. We are a very close-knit family because we communicate a lot. Since they were young, we had established the meal of the day when we would all share what was going on that day – a daily discussion to be put on the table. We understand each other more, talk a lot and we can share life issues together.

We are a very verbal family and share our days via WhatsApp and calls. While travelling, I send them photos of places I go to and share with them my thoughts. We also go for three holidays a year as a family. With this communication, they learn, watch and feel what we, as the parents, are doing.

Yes, there will always be pressure as they will want to be successful like their parents, but it is constructive enough. As parents, we have to be mindful of that and give them enough space to be themselves. So we let them experiment and live their own life, try and do their own things. We must be there but not to “grab” them. It is about mutual respect – to give them the space to grow, something we need to be conscious of.

How can you describe your leadership style?

One word I would use to describe my leadership style is Adaptive. I am able to navigate. And I think women, in general, are good at it because they have to deal with so many things – they are good at multi-tasking. Adaptability and flexibility are what I learned from very early, which helps me prepare myself well to perform many different roles in politics, business, social and community activities, or in the family. On empowering the associates, it is important to exemplify my values to show what corporate culture means and the values we stand for through taskforce projects, where I get to work and coach the associates.

You are fulfilling many roles. How can you balance between private life and working life?

Women are like octopuses – the smartest creature in the ocean. An octopus has eight strong arms that can move in any direction, allowing it to take up many tasks at the same time. Women are good at that. An octopus’s brain spreads out over the whole body, making it sensorial. I am a multi-tasker, and the sensorial part of me enables me to have the insight and intuition to do things smarter.

With its soft body featuring 300 suction pads, the octopus is adaptable and can fit into many different environments. These are the qualities that I admire and aspire to be. An octopus is not good-looking. I think the good look is not what women should go for. If we are good-looking, we are lucky. However, beauty needs to be from the inside. When being attacked, the octopus will strike with its two hidden teeth to fight back. Thus, it is smart, adaptable and courageous.

The balancing act is a blend of reasons and experience, a blend of creativity and being smart. That is the composition you might learn in your journey when you have to work so much and with many things. More importantly, you need to know what is important to you, what to add in or take away, and how to do it because you cherish what you want and defend it. However, it could be the time when you do not know and do not have the values needed to drive you, and you might get confused. The balancing act is easy when you are very clear. You will not see Claire Chiang shopping in Singapore, I have no time for that. I can buy what I need along the way. You have to set priorities and trade-off because everyone has only 24 hours a day. As for me, I divide my time into small parts for work, for my family and for myself. My year plan is fixed for the year 2018.

Furthermore, I plan ahead all the important occasions for my family, with a notice to all members that I need them to be home at that time. No matter how busy we are, we still have family trips three times per year. I plan for my family, my business and the community. Planning skills are very important in order to prioritize what is important to you. I think I work hard and also play hard. For me, I enjoy my work from starting the Banyan Tree Gallery where I do merchandise shopping, to now looking at lifestyle programmes to bring people together so as to compose the Banyan Tree lifestyle community. There is no separation between working and playing; they are all integrated. That’s what I like about it.

Being a businesswoman and a leader, do you think that women need to try harder to get to the same position as men?

Yes, women do have to work harder. The world and reality are male-dominated. There are a lot of prejudices. The system is still not positive for women. Do you want to change this fact? Yes. Can you change that? Not fast enough. So what can you change? You change yourself, change your mind and change your spirit. You choose the place you play, the company you work for that is pro-woman and pro-family. You have a choice. Don’t wait for people to change their mind. Don’t wait for the government to change their policies. For thousands of years, the situation has been like that. Change yourself. Choose an area you are passionate about, and choose the people you like to work with.

You get positive influence and you act. People are motivated because there are meaning and purposes. If you do not have that, I will tell you to walk out. Hope, motivation, and changes can happen. If each one of us does that bit and vocalize our wishes, the world will listen and change. Nowadays, more women are getting education, but the wages are still low. If we walk out and set up our own companies, the labour market will have fewer working women, which will lead to the demand for them. Maybe those positive changes are not for our generation but for our daughter’s generation. The labour market will then have to pay attention to our daughters. If it’s not for our daughter’s generation, it will be for our granddaughter’s generation. So each of us can continue to make changes.

Being an inspiring woman, what message would you like to send to all the girls and women who admire you and would like to thrive for success?

Do not just think of all the obstacles around you; get over them. Look at what you have. Polish what you have, and look for solutions to handle the problem. If you cannot handle the obstacles by yourself, find help from your partner, family or friends. Don’t struggle with the issues alone. Don’t feel that you are alone. However, being yourself is still the first step to change.

When you are young at the age of 30, go and work for a company as you might not know what you want. You should work until you know what values and what matters to you, and you make a decision. Stick with that company for three to five years to really know.

Most importantly, ask yourself every day – “what do you want in life?” The purpose defines it. For me, the power of the mind is what is going to sustain me. Learning, reading and using the mind to think of the values that can guide us – especially the Asian values that befit us. Finding the ‘I’ within the society and family, and the ‘I’ within myself, negotiate the conflicts of “what do I want?”

In the end, who will define the purpose of life for you? It’s yourself. Your own mind to yourself – you own the strongest resource that no one can take away. Cherish, defend and polish – The solution to the world in this century lies with women. The woman power has to be the change-maker. We can create new values for the next generation if we seize the opportunity. Women have to respect themselves, love themselves and other women, love what we want to do and believe in all that so as to create that change. I feel that Vietnamese women are learners – they are desperate for a new order, with incredible energy and grit for life. I hope you do not take values from the West; embrace your heritage and use it as a base to grow.

Have you had any common principles that affect whatever you do in different roles?

I am holding many positions but there is always the thread that ties all various sectors I am involved in, including politics, business, society and community as well as women’s groups. Those are my commitments to creating a better community, and my value in having a responsible business to support community resilience. Those are also what helps me keep a balance between business profits and community benefits. I have to face a chain of endless decisions to make every day. I am in the business so I have to take efficiency, accountability and the return on investment into consideration. However, it is not always one thing over another. It is about finding a solution where people’s values will always be enhanced.To give an example, I think Banyan Tree Group is the only hospitality business in the world where all service charges are given to the staff. One third will be used for service recovery in the case where staff members make a mistake. Another one third will be used for training and welfare. The rest is distributed equally.

We don’t make profits over people, we choose fairness for all. Empowering people is not just giving money. We have our staff do mentoring on young people. Besides giving scholarships, we also make efforts to figure out what the youths are doing and why they are doing it. We actually do, not just talk.In order to show how we conserve the environment, I can provide another example. Banyan Tree Group is also the first hotel that actually employs a full-time marine scientist – a conservation specialist – in Maldives to look at how to protect corals, conduct research, collect data and share with government and UN agencies. We are happy that with our championing of the cause, the Maldives government now requires all hotels to have CSR champions and researchers. In this situation, we choose environment over profit.

Those two examples are to tell more about the mission we are pursuing: “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”. The empowerment enables our staff to engage and participate actively in doing good deeds for the society. Our hotels will also map out what the community needs are – with specific sustainability projects in their destinations.

Could you share with our readers about Banyan Tree Group’s expanding plan?

We will be expanding our company’s footprints globally. In the next three years, ten hotels will be opened in China. By 2025, we will have had another ten in the rest of the world. Tourism has a lot of potential, especially in Vietnam, a country with 19 million young people and many beautiful, undiscovered destinations. There are many things that we, as an international hospitality group, can do to let the world know more about Vietnam and let Vietnam connect with the rest of the world. With this continual expansion, we hope Banyan Tree’s valued guests can easily find Banyan Tree Group’s existence everywhere they go around the world.

Thank you so much for this inspiring talk. I wish you good health and great success in any role you will perform in the future.

Wanderlust Tips

Must-see shows when travelling to Southeast Asia

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] If you have been fascinated by the sunset in manila sea or marveled at the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, you should not miss the masterpieces on stage that harmonize the past and the present. These performances are the historical essence of thousands of years filtered and demonstrated in ninety minutes, amidst the exciting and fascinating dances and music of the most special shows in Southeast Asia.

[rpi]

THE QUINTESSENCE OF TONKIN – THOUSAND YEARS OF CIVILIZATION

Located in Tuan Chau Cultural Park, with a huge lake in the Southwest of Thay Mountain, the art show named “The Quintessence of Tonkin” is performed amidst nature, harmonizing with the charming mountains and rivers of the Northern Vietnam, bringing the spirit of a sacred dragon through thousand years.

Taking a step towards the performing arts, The Quintessence of Tonkin recreates the Capital Moving of King Ly Thai To and the process of the building and naming the new Capital, Thang Long, as well as the mysterious story of monk Tu Dao Hanh who had reincarnated three times to help the human beings. The show also recreates the village culture with the activities of wet rice cultivation, examinations, festivals, singing and dancing with traditional musical genres such as Cheo, Xoan singing, and Quan ho singing.

The main stage of the show is the lake in front of the grandstand where an underground passage was built for the actors. All performances are staged and rehearsed meticulously for amateur actors to perform excellently. The floating stage in the middle of the lake is a special highlight, which is also the place for traditional water puppet shows. The sound, lighting and 3D mapping performances create outstanding and dreamy scenes during the show. Behind the stage, there is an image of Thay Mountain magically lit, so the stage seems to be a real life scene.

Like many shows in Southeast Asia, this show emphasizes on the elements of heroic historical epics, using traditional music and dances to tell the stories, reducing the language barrier. This is particularly true for The Quintessence of Tonkin, which is also performed by amateur actors, farmers, and students studying in music departments in Sai Son, Quoc Oai. They are the people that have created the spirit and soul of the performance featuring Vietnamese culture.

Schedule: Every day from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, except Tuesdays.
Duration: 90 minutes
Ticket price: From VND800,000 to VND1,600,000
Venue: Da Phuc Village, Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, Vietnam.

SIAM NIRAMIT – THE DREAM OF THAI PEOPLE

With over 700 years of modern history, Thailand is one of the most fascinating countries in Southeast Asia. Siam Niramit celebrates the glorious space of Siam hundreds of years ago with three main acts: “Journey Back into History”, “Journey Beyond Imagination: The Three Realms” and “Journey Through Joyous Festivals”.

The sparkling and fantastic scenes appear in turn on the main 11.95-meter-long stage, in the theater with the capacity of more than 2,000 seats. The show begins with the scene of the magnificent and splendor of Lanna dynasty and a parade of the Lanna King and Queen; the bustling and crowded scene at a trading port; the poetic plain scenery in Ayutthaya, and the Klong River winding, being performed on stage. Cultural festivals, local traditions, and festivals such as bamboo dances, folk songs, wet rice civilization and Thai boxing are all reconstructed lively on the stage. The next two scenes give way to the mysterious setting explained with the images of Hell, the gateway between Heaven and the Himmapan, and Blissful Heaven. The Siam Niramit show ends with bustling scenes of festivals including Ordination Ceremonies, the Phitakhon Ghost Parade, and Loy Krathong.

When you arrive in Thailand, Siam Niramit is a must-see show for you to understand Thai culture, and relive the most majestic historical scenes of Thailand’s formation and development. And do not forget to arrive at the show a little early to take photos around the stand. There will be a small-scale model of Thai village for visitors to play with elephants and take pictures with the characters on the show.

Schedule: Every day at 8pm, the theater welcomes guests 30 minutes in advance.
Duration: 80 minutes.
Ticket price: From THB1,500 to THB2,710 (about VND667,000 – VND1,674,000)
Venue: Siam Niramit Theater – 19 Tiamruammit Road, Khwaeng Huai Khwang, Khet Huai Khwang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10310, ThaiLand.

DEVDAN – THE GRACE OF GOD

Devdan is the combination of two words “Deva” and “Dhana”, which means “the Grace of God” in Sanskrit. This is a unique show in Bali, Indonesia. Devdan tells the formation as well as the unique and distinctive culture of Indonesian islands such as Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua.

Devdan tells the story of two visitors travelling to Indonesia and discovering a magical treasure that helped them to travel through Indonesia’s islands. Then, each island appears in a variety of different art forms such as Bali’s traditional dance named Lesung, the puppetry in Java island’s performance, the smooth rhythmic Saman dance of Sumatra island, the Papua’s body painting art, and the aerial circus performance of Borneo Island. Each performance appears with skillful combinations of sound, lighting, fire, water, smoke effects and techniques. The dancers on stage wear delicate traditional attires.

Devdan introduces Indonesian culture to visitors who travel to the country but do not have much time to go outside Bali. Devdan is performed at Bali Nusa Dua Theater with its capacity of over 700 seats. This is an indispensable leisure activity when you visit Bali.

Schedule: 7.30pm every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
Duration: 90 minutes
Ticket price: From IDR520,000 to IDR1,560,000 (about VND850,000 – VND2,300,000)
Venue: Bali Dusa Nua Theater – Kompleks ITDC, Nusa Dua, Kuta Selatan, Badung, Bali 80363, Indonesia.

Mai Dong | Wanderlust Tips

154 days cycling through 8 countries in Southeast Asia

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] Just one year after two journeys of cycling from Vietnam to London for 10 months and traveling around Scotland during the cold winter, i yearned for traveling again. After many trials and hardships, i completed my 154-day trip through 8 Southeast Asian countries in mid-2017, the journey of finding happiness with my companion, who is also my lifetime partner.

[rpi]

VIETNAM – RETURN TO LEAVE

In 2015, we cycled through Vietnam for a month on the journey to Paris, departing from An Giang to Mong Cai border gate (Quang Ninh) bordering China. We rode bikes through the Mekong Delta with its vast rice paddy fields filled with fresh scent, bustling Saigon, and Central Vietnam where we admired the ancient Hoi An and the shadow of Hindu temples in My Son sanctuary. We enjoyed peaceful moments, biking on the hills with hidden caves along the rivers in Quang Binh, as well as going across Trang An with poetic scenery, Hanoi with ancient buildings, and traditional villages in the North.

For this journey, we departed from Saigon in mid-January and headed to Tay Ninh in the direction of Dau Tieng Lake. Sometimes the wind blowing from the lake made me feel a strange excitement. Then we arrived at the dark green Ba Den mountain and crossed the endless green rubber forest. Saying goodbye to Vietnam, I knew that I return to Vietnam just to leave again, but wherever I go, someday I will yearn for returning.

CAMBODIA – THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE OVER

Cambodia’s dry season with the burning sun and dust sometimes made me downhearted. However, the moments when we slowly passed through the countryside helped me feel relieved. I loved Cambodia because of the happy smiles of the children on the way to school, their saying “arkoun” (thank you) while sincerely putting their hands together, and the boys – Khmer monks with golden umbrellas begging for food in the land of pagodas.

We bought a three-day ticket to explore Angkor, but for the first day, we hired a local tour guide to take us into the forest. In the forest, there were many narrow trails under the cool canopy; sometimes we had to carry the bicycles crossing a bridge to the other side of the trails where the scenery was lush green and beautiful. After cycling for more than 30 minutes, we stopped at a gate by giant trees where the Garuda statue was spreading its wings to the sky, and the Brahma with three faces was gazing into nothingness. After exploring Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm temples, we went to Preah Khan Temple to admire the immense lake. It was incredible that just with the huge number of rocks and their talent, the ancient Khmer created such marvelous works by stacking stones together firmly and artistically.

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city in the world at that time. The most eminent kings of the Angkorian period were Suryavarman I, II, VII who built Angkor Thom (Bayon), Angkor Wat and defeated the invasions of Cham and Champa. Angkor survived centuries until being invaded and affected by the climate change.

The empire with its brilliant civilization disappeared, but its vestiges still remained hidden in the silent old forest. From the outside, Bayon looked like a mess, but it was built with an extremely sensible arrangement. Giant stone faces eroded by time were said to be the faces of Brahma or King Suryavarman VII – who defeated the invaders, won the victory for the Khmer and gained the throne at the age of 50. I watched Angkor Wat in silence because at that time every word was powerless to express my feelings – a mixture of admiration to the predecessors and fear towards the mystery of the Khmer empire. People were rushing to leave the temple. You should come to Angkor before the final rocks fall because Angkor is being gradually destroyed over time.

LAOS – THE MAGICAL NATURE IN THE LAND OF A MILLION ELEPHANTS

My first stop in Laos was Si Phan Don, the water area with 4,000 islands, attracting visitors from all over the world. We chose to stay at Don Det, a peaceful island with roosters crowing behind bamboo trees in the village and the cool breezing from the river, away from bustling places where young Western backpackers had parties all the time. Visitors were lying on the sand to watch the golden sunset on the Mekong River, dancing barefoot to the lively music and enjoying wonderful moments at the end of the day.

Arriving in Vientiane, it is a must to visit Patuxai (Victory Gate). Patuxai was built to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Anti-French Resistance War. On the walls of Patuxai, the decorations feature Laos cultures such as the Kinari – a half-bird half-woman statue or the relief of Ram Epic. When going inside, you can see some clothing and jewelry stores. We left our bikes at the hotel and explored the streets. Vietnamese Lunar New Year’s atmosphere still lingering at the Bang Long pagoda suddenly made me feel homesick. When the darkness fell, we wandered to the river bank to watch the sun diving into the Mekong River. We sat down and looked at the afternoon shadow, discussing the future. Every silent moment in the journey helped both of us to have more time understanding each other, perhaps that’s why backpacking travel is a good way to develop or end a relationship. Life is a journey, and though knowing that we will encounter many unexpected circumstances, we need to arrange them together.

Vang Vieng town by the Nam Song River welcomed us on a hot and sunny afternoon. Wandering around for a while, we decided to stay at a hostel which was just a few kilometers away from the city center and would also save us money. Crossing the Nam Song River, we followed the riverside trail to look at the tourist town with visitors from all around the world sitting by the shore, drinking Laos beer and eating barbecue. Quite a lot of tourists went kayaking and went kayaking and drifted along the river flow on the tubes. Wild weeds were overgrown by the riverside, in some areas they were up to 2 metres high. Hot air balloons floated in the air like some highlights to the sky. The Nam Song River flowed sluggishly in the afternoon light, covering the dark green winding mountains. We had dinner at a restaurant right next to the river, while watching lanterns flying at night and breathing the cool air of this mountainous region. The next morning, the kayak floating on Nam Song River made our souls immerse into its flow, and although our skin was sunburned, we were really happy.

The most beautiful memory we had in Laos was a 4-day ride from Vang Vieng to the ancient capital Luang Prabang. The hills and mountains in Northern Laos were terrifying; however, thanks to that, the charm of this land left a special impression on tourists. Leaving Vang Vieng in the early morning when the moon was still shining in the sky, we rode in the freezing atmosphere of the mountain. Nature showed its beauty through white flowers blooming along the road.

Sunlight gave colour to fields and villages. The town is located halfway up the mountain, looking as a crossroad with the way up to leading to Luang Prabang and the way down leading to other regions. The cold seemed to swallow my little body. Vendors were still waiting for the final guests to buy fruit, vegetables, meat, and grilled fish before closing the stalls because of the darkness about to spill over the highlands. The next day, we cycled with a French couple in their travel around the world and stopped at the houses precariously lying on the slopes; they looked so fragile as if a strong wind could sweep them away. We went behind the houses to watch the sunset on mountain ranges. As the sun went down with the mysterious red-orange color giving way to the dark-blue color, everyone was silently watching the beautiful sunset in Laos. At that moment, I understood why Laos was so fascinating to visitors from all over the world. We successfully crossed the mountains to go to the world heritage town of Luang Prabang. The Mekong River and Nam Khan River embraced the ancient capital along with its multi-tiered curved roof pagodas, French colonial buildings, and traditional Lao stilt houses. Luang Prabang night market was bustling with tourists watching all kinds of unique items of Laos. However, the road became surprisingly different during the day. Walking in the old town of Luang Prabang, I felt like I was wandering in Hoi An, although the ancient town of Hoi An was smaller. That afternoon, I visited the wooden bridge on Nam Khan river, which made me reminisce about the ancient capital Luang Prabang.

We said goodbye to the land of a million elephants, and from Luang Prabang, our boat glided on the sparkling Mekong River to Thailand. On the way, woodlands appeared with all kinds of colors of nature including green, gray, and red. At about 6 pm, the boat arrived at Pakbeng, a tiny village filled with tourists even without any attractions. At about 8 am the next morning, the boat left the dock in the misty morning. Most of the visitors would go to Thailand, while others also intended to visit Vietnam. I looked over their shoulder to the stern, in that direction another ship was preparing to turn around the corner as if it was swallowed by the mountains in the fog over water and space. The Mekong River was like a scene from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

SEND MY GREETINGS TO THAILAND

Chiang Khong is a stopover for tourists from Laos to Thailand and vice versa. We walked to the pagoda as well as wandered through restaurants and bars on the road. Talking to middle-aged owners, I realized that they were the first people to adopt the Western culture when Hippie people came here to propagate in the 1960s. The landlady lived in a large wooden house; she was a supporter of the Red Shirts. Wearing Bohemian style attire, she welcomed me to Thailand with a warm smile and said “I thought you were a Thai person”. She was the second person who made me love this country, with the first person being the border police officer who said the same thing and wished me an interesting journey in his country.

The city of Chiang Rai near the border was quite busy. The Mekong River has become an attractive destination that brings beauty to any cities it passes through. At 8 pm, visitors gathered at restaurants and stalls around the clock tower to listen to music and watch the water show. The next day, we rode more than 13 kilometers from the hostel to the suburbs to visit Baan Dam, the famous black house in Chiang Rai. The large area designed by artist Thawan attracted a large number of visitors. The interior design of traditional Thai stilt houses made me feel like it was a mixture of Thai and Mongolian Buddhism. We left Chiang Rai in the early morning. On the way, we visited Wat Rong Khun, the well-known White Temple designed by talented visual artist Chalermchai which had contributed to the reputation of this city since 1997. Looking from the outside, the White Temple reflecting shimmeringly on the lake overwhelmed everyone with its unique look, but from the first steps on the bridge over the lake, horrified hands and skulls appeared. Inside the temple, there was a huge Buddha image on the wall, Buddha statue and a statue of a Buddhist monk with a serious look on his face. The funny thing was that the decorations of heroes in Hollywood movies and manga such as Doraemon, Batman, Pikachu were hung everywhere. Yellow and white colors covered almost all of the architecture of the White Temple area. Tourists threw money in the lake and wrote their names to hang on the prayer tree.

Leaving Chiang Rai, we continued the journey to explore northern Thailand. Cars ran on the left lane. Green rice fields appeared to soothe away the dazzling sun. Each bunch of hand-sized yellow blooming flowers, hung on the trees like lanterns or were scattered on the road. The road was as beautiful as a picture with winding uphill and downhill bends. Yellow falling leaves gave color to the road, bringing the autumn beauty to the scenery in the middle of spring days. Every day we woke up quite early, departed at about 5 am, and took a rest for 15 minutes at about 9 am. That day we enjoyed a coffee in the garden at a large resort that featured English architecture surrounded by rows of giant shade trees.

Returning to Chiang Mai, we stayed with a family we become acquainted with through the Warmshower website developed only for cyclists. Biking helped us to connect with the tourist community, so we could minimize hotel costs and learn more about local life. Like most areas in Thailand, Chiang Mai was the city of pagodas. The pagodas around the ancient town with many types of architecture such as Prathat Doi Suthep, Pra Singh showed the creativity in Buddhist art of the Thai people.

Leaving Chiang Mai, we continued riding the route to Northern Thailand and set up tents overnight on the mountainside to enjoy the clear atmosphere of the highlands before cycling to Myanmar. After nearly a month of exploring a country with a closed economy, we returned to Thailand to continue the journey. On my arrival in Bangkok, the bustling city welcomed tourists flocking to walk on Khao San Road. I crossed the royal palace, wandered the streets of Bangkok, and then watched the sunset in Wat Arun Pagoda. Coming back to the beautiful bungalow, hidden in the green garden in the center of the capital, my heart sank when seeing the words on the wooden door “Do not allow Thai women to step in.”

The mid-April Songkran Festival became a popular festival that attracted a lot of tourists; however, this was not the ideal time for cycling on the road. We decided to go to Ko Chang, a small island in the north of Andaman coast near Ranong province, to spend a relaxing week reading, swimming, and climbing in order to make up for a hard time in Myanmar. Nevertheless, we could not avoid the children in the village splashing water and applying cool din sor pong powder on their faces.

We rested at the Ranyatavi resort on the way to the border of Malaysia. Compared with the excellent service of this resort, staying in cheap motels or setting up tents in pagodas or schools was so different. In the afternoon, we went to the beach, lying in the hammock dangling beneath coconut trees to enjoy the wind and listen to the waves telling the most loving words about Thailand.

W.TIPS

– Visa: Vietnamese citizens are not required to apply for a visa when entering Southeast Asia countries with the length of stay depending on each country.

– Trave budget for 5 months: USD35 per day for two people. Visitors should buy travel insurance against unforeseen circumstances.

– Preparation: When travelling by bicycle, it is recommended to take less stuff as it will help you ride faster and avoid wasting energy. You should also take the weather in the area into consideration and prepare thin clothes and raincoat.

– Explore a new land: I often spend time visiting museums to learn the history and culture of the region. Use offline maps like Google map or Maps. Me to search for walking trails without a tour guide.

– Eat & drink: Siem Reap Night Market, Luang Prabang and most of the cities in Thailand have local cuisine and specialities which always attract visitors. If Cambodia has grilled fish, then in Thailand, spicy Tom Yum and Som Tam green papaya salad will satisfy food lovers. Especially, when travelling to Laos, you will enjoy sticky rice everywhere; however, do not miss the noodles, which is quite delicious.

– Communication: When travelling to other countries, you should learn some basic words such as numbers, names of food, hotels for easy communication.

– Costumes: When travelling to religious countries, except for in large cities, you should not wear revealing clothes.

– Some places where females are forbidden: Some temples in Thailand and Myanmar have separate areas where females are forbidden, and women are not allowed to enter the temples when they are menstruating (such as in Bali island).

– Shopping: You should visit night markets on the weekends in Luang Prabang (Laos).

Nguyen Kim Ngan | Wanderlust Tips

8 reasons why you should go to Gangwon-do: The wonderland of the winter

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] Magnificent natural landscape, fresh air, world-class ski resorts and countless attractions for all ages, Gangwon-do has all the reasons to keep visitors coming back for more when the winter is knocking on the door of South Korea.

[rpi]

1. TAEBAEKSAN NATIONAL PARK – STUNNING PARADISE LIKE SCENERY

The sacred mountain of Taebaek (Thai Bach) attracts tourists with fantastic views of hoar frost as well as azaleas blooming in the spring. When the winter comes, visitors are also overwhelmed by the sight of a yew forest with 2,800 trees covered in pure white snowflakes, including the 500-year-old yew tree that symbolizes the stability and longevity of the mountain. The end of December is a perfect time to admire the breathtaking views of the Sea of Japan from the top of the mountain or to enjoy the excitement when sliding down the 30-metre long ski tube. There is also a Snow Festival that takes place every year around this time with many giant sculptures displayed on Danggol Square such as Russian palaces, guardian deities of the zodiac, and pumpkin carriages.

Add: 168 Cheonjedan-gil, Taebaek-si
Tel: +82-33-550-0000
Website: taebaek.knps.or.kr

2. YONGPYONG – THE MOST LONG-STANDING SKI RESORT IN SOUTH KOREA

Yongpyong Resort, which was opened in 1975, is one of the largest ski resorts in South Korea with 28 slopes, 14 lifts, and the longest slope called Rainbow Paradise with the length of 5,600 metres, offering utmost experiences. Equipped with outstanding facilities, Yongpyong resort has successfully hosted many international events, and it is currently preparing to host the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018. Those who have never skied do not need to worry because there are 10 easy slopes for beginners and 7 average slopes. In addition, visitors will find countless other ski resorts in Gangwon-do such as High 1 Resort, Apensia Resort, Vivaldi Park, Oak Valley, and Elysian Gangchon, which are all featured with excellent facilities and picturesque scenery.

Add: 715 Olympic-ro, Daegwanryeong- myeon, Pyeongchang-gun
Tel: +82-33-335-5757/+82-2-3270-1230~1233 for foreigners
Website: www.yongpyong.co.kr

3. DAEGWALLYEONG SAMYANG – THE LARGEST RANCH IN ASIA

This vast ranch with an area of over 60 million square metres is home to countless cows (in the winter), sheep, rabbits, and African ostriches. On clear days, from the ranch’s observatory, visitors can admire the magnificent views of the beautiful sea of Japan beyond the sparkling snow.

Add: 708-9 Kkotbat yangji-gil, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun
Tel: +82-33-335-5044
Website: www.samyangranch.co.kr
Entrance fee: 3-18 years old: KRW7,000/19-64 years old: KRW9,000/65 years old and over: KRW5,000.

4. WOLJEONGSA – THE 1,000 YEAR OLD SACRED TEMPLE

Following the most beautiful trail in the pine forest of South Korea, crossing the road with brilliant lanterns, you will arrive at the 1,000-year-old Woljeongsa temple on Mount Odaesan, surrounded by an evergreen forest in the natural environment of the mountain. This is also the location of the Seongbo Museum that displays the artifacts and treasures inherited from Buddhist culture in the Goryeo Dynasty. Not only admiring the 9-storey stone tower and beautiful turquoise sculpture of the temple, visitors can also experience the life of a monk, practice yoga, witness the Buddhist rituals and practicewalking meditation through the forest to purify the body and the soul.

Add: 374-8 Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun
Tel: +82-33- 339-6800
Website: www.woljeongsa.org
Ticket price: KRW3,000 per adult/KRW1,500 per teenager/KRW500 per children.

5. NAMI ISLAND – WINTER SONATA

It was not surprising that the romantic scenes of South Korean drama Winter Sonata were filmed on this island. The best time to visit Nami is when the ginkgo tree canopies begin to change colors. The center of the island is a mesmerizing green lawn surrounded by chestnuts and birch trees. In addition, a zoo, a botanical garden, a large lake with small wooden boats and other amusement parks will bring you sweet and delightful moments with your loved ones.

Add: 1 Namiseom-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si
Tel: +82-31-580-8114
Website: www.namisum.com

6. SAMTAN ART MINE – A MUSEUM ON THE RUINS

The coal mine which had been abandoned since 2001 has now been restored to a cultural and arts center where artists can develop their passion. There are more than 100,000 works collected from over 150 countries, along with equipment and tools used by miners.

Add: 1445-44 Hambaeksan-ro, Gohan-eup, Jeongseon-gun
Tel: +82-33-591-3001
Website: www.samtanartmine.com
Ticket price: Adult: KRW13,000/high school students: KRW12,000/Elementary students: KRW12,000/Elderly people aged 65 and over: KRW11,000.

7. GANGWON-DO CUISINE – INDULGE IN THE FLAVOUR OF THE KIMCHI LAND

Sancheoneo Raw Cherry Salmon

There is an extremely unique winter festival in South Korea, which is called the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. The cherry salmon raised in the Hwacheon area is the freshest, softest and tastiest, so the raw cherry salmon dish is really good; especially, it tastes the best from December to February next year, after the spawning season.

Ogolgye – Marinated silkie chicken cooked over an open flame

Under the fluffy feathers, the black, sweet and fragrant chicken tastes the most delicious after being thoroughly marinated and grilled on hot coals. Eating this 20-year-old dish with wild vegetables and enjoying hot soup cooked from chicken bones will help you re-energize quickly.

Sundubu Spicy Soft Tofu Stew

The spicy soft tofu stew has been a very popular traditional dish in Gangwon-do since the 14th century. Being cooked in ark clam broth, the dish has a sweet taste and melts in the mouth with the spice of chili pepper and attractive aromas.

Dakgalbi – Spicy stir-fried chicken with vegetables

Boneless chicken is marinated in soy sauce, salt, and pepper. The vegetables including cabbages, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, radishes and perilla leaves are arranged in the pan. Then a special kind of spicy sauce made from finely ground garlic, ginger, hot chili, soy sauce, sugar is put on top. The chicken is cooked until it is soft and the vegetables are full of flavor oil. The taste of this dish will definitely make it impossible for you to stop eating. When there is a little sauce and vegetables left in the pan, you can mix it with rice and enjoy.

8. UNIQUE WINTER FESTIVALS

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival

It is considered the biggest snow festival in South Korea with countless interesting activities for families. Not only can you admire sculptures on the snow but also participate in a singing contest, semi-naked marathon contest, hiking, music and literature events, as well as some sports events such as snow skiing or ski motor driving.
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Add: 135-6, Daegwallyeong-ro, Pyeongchang-gun
Time: The 21st Daegwallyeong Snow Festival is held from January 19th to February 5th at Dagwallyeong

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival

It is considered one of the biggest winter festivals in the in South Korea. Sancheoneo, a species of salmon, is an endemic fish kind in Gangwon-do province. This fish can only live in fresh and clean water with an average temperature of under 20°C. After buying tickets, each visitor will be given a fishing rod to find an available ice hole and set the hook. In addition, visitors can also take part in fun activities such as noodling, ice-skating or playing soccer on ice.

Add: Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun
Time: This festival will take place from 6thto 28th, January 2018.
Ticket price: The fishing cost ranges from KRW8,000 to KRW12,000.

W.TIPS

VISA

To apply for a visa to South Korea, you need to prepare some important documents such as passport, visa application in Korean or English, proof of employment and financial capacity (such as Certificates of land use rights with you as the owner, a minimum savings account of USD5,000 or VND100 million), and some other personal identification including your ID card.

FEES

– USD20 for visa application with a under-90-day period (usually in tourist visa form). USD50 with single entry visa application for a more-than-90-day period. The processing time is usually about 8 working days from the date of application.
– Note: From February to April of 2018, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Filipinos tourists entering South Korea through Yangyang Airport, Gangwon-do Province near the site of the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games will be temporarily allowed visa-free entry.
– Where to apply for visa:
+ Hanoi: the Embassy of Korea (Republic) in Hanoi at 7th floor, Charmvit Building, 117 Tran Duy Hung.
+ HCMC: South Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City at 107 Nguyen Du Street, District 1.

WEATHER

Gangwon-do has the heaviest snowfall in South Korea, so the best time to travel to Gangwon-do is in the autumn and winter. The summer is from May to September with the highest temperature being around 21°C, the weather is very pleasant but particularly wet in July. When coming in winter from October to February, you can admire the forest changing leaves or covered in snow, and experience the fascinating winter sports here. The lowest temperature is in January, about -10°C at night.

VEHICLE

From Vietnam, the most popular choice is to take a flight to Seoul airport for an airfare of VND5 million, and then take another one from Incheon Seoul airport to Yang Yang airport in Gangwon-do province. Or from Incheon, you can take a train or a fast intercity bus to Gangwon-do (it takes from 1 hour to more than 3 hours depending on the type of transportation); it is more time-saving to take the fast intercity bus. For Elysian Gangchon Resort, you can get there by subway.

Hong Nhung | Wanderlust Tips

Taiwan: A different journey

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] When mentioning Taiwan, we often think of Yehliu Park, Jiufen Old Street, Sun Moon Lake or the National Palace Museum. However, there is a different Taiwan which brings you pleasant yet impressive experiences.

[rpi]

TAKE IN TROLL IN NEW TAIPEI CITY

When just arriving in Taiwan, with inexhaustible energy and full of eagerness, you should stay away from the centre of Taipei and go to Dadaocheng in New Taipei city to travel through time and return to Taiwan 150 years ago. In 1709, Taipei began to develop and attract immigrants from Southern Taiwan and Mainland China. The first development was concentrated on Bangka, a trade spot on the waterway on Tamsui River, connecting all cities in Northern Taiwan. In 1853, due to the internal territorial disputes, some people left the Bangka area to settle in Dadaocheng, about 1.5 kilometres to the north of Bangka. And then the story of Dadaocheng began.

From the 19th century, during the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945), Dadaocheng was still the most populated commercial port in Taiwan, where many rich merchants gathered and settled. Many merchants built their houses, which were also their own shops, following Japanese and Europe architectural details. In the post-war period (after 1945), Taipei entered a period of rapid population growth and the enormous expansion of the city in all directions. Though still being the wholesale trade area of tea, dried goods, and Chinese herbs, Dadaocheng at this time was no longer the center of the city.

The name of Dadaocheng means “a big rice-drying field”. Over years, Dadaocheng has become an ancient long-standing urban area that has many ancient architectural works such as tube houses, offices, and religious works. To discover the whole area, you should prepare a good pair of shoes and take a stroll. You can pass by shops selling all sorts of eye-catching items like dry goods, candy, clothing, and souvenirs; crossing the old street corner full of hot food aromas, and going over the Taipei Xia Hai City God temple with clouds of incense from swinging censers. Dadaocheng appears more diverse with the mixed culture of Chinese, European and Japanese. Each building on the streets will have its own architectural style such as Southern Fujian style, Western style, Baroque style and modern style.

EAT IN MIAOLI

After many hours of walking, you can spend time exploring the Taiwanese cuisine. Besides famous and familiar Taiwanese food such as stinky tofu, egg oyster omelet, bubble tea, you can travel by car to Miaoli to experience Hakka’s food flavours which is also a part of Taiwanese cuisine.

On the island of Taiwan, Hakka people migrated to Taiwan from the 17th century and occupied only about 15% of the population. Particularly in Miaoli district, Hakka is the main group of people here. Therefore, Miaoli is an ideal place to discover dishes which feature Hakka’s flavour and culture.Playing an important role in Hakka’s cuisine are dried foods and pickles. In the past, in order to adapt to the frequent migration resulting from wars or other circumstances, Hakka people focused on drying or souring agricultural products such as Chinese radish, monochoria, mustard, bamboo shoots, wax gourd to preserve food.

Hakka dishes are always featured by three elements including rich, greasy and aromatic. It could be the attractive stewed pork in soy sauce, soft and aromatic tofu, fried duck with luscious leek, or fried pork with spicy ginger. Most of the food is greasy, but tthe guests can still enjoy it because the Hakka has artfully combined greasy food with pickles. The mild sour taste of vegetables helps to balance the taste of fish and meat so that tourists can enjoy the meal with a maximum satisfaction of taste.

“Ban”, which is the name for all cakes made from rice, is also an important feature of the cuisine there. Rice cakes are often prepared by the Hakka on the New Year or special holidays. Besides keeping the traditional flavor, in recent years, the Hakkas have creatively added more interesting ingredients such as taro, sweet potato, pork, lotus, and squash into the cakes, making it extremely good for health with low fat, low sugar and salt.

SHOPPING IN TAIPEI

After eating and visiting famous places in Taiwan, you should take time to explore the shopping paradise in Taipei. There are always shopping activities from luxury commercial centers to colorful night markets.

Do not leave yourself exhausted while strolling around flashy shopping centers because Taiwan also has famous shopping streets (Zhongxiao East, Ximending) or colorful night markets (Shilin Night Market, night market of Raohe street). There you can take a walk and look at a series of shops that sell items such as souvenirs, bonsai trees, books, phone accessories, and of course fashion items like clothing, footwear or handbags. Although the products are not of famous make, their quality is quite good and the style follows latest trends; and the prices are very cheap. After shopping leaves you with countless bags, you can stop along the way to enjoy delicious food or drink a cool glass of sweet bubble milk tea.

Besides fashion items, visitors also favour cosmetic products. Cosmetics chain stores such as Watsons, Cosmed, and Sa Sa sell products from cheap to luxury brands, or from imported to Taiwanese products. In general, Taiwanese are very fond of Japanese products, so you can easily find cosmetics imported from Japan. However, the most popular products are still “made in Taiwan” because the quality is as excellent as any famous brands, and the prices are very reasonable.

Visitors to Taiwan can also buy traditional biscuits or famous hot roasted tea as gifts. Supermarkets are always the ideal place to choose these items, and Taiwan’s supermarket chains are open 24/7 so you can shop at any time. Besides, candy stores or tea shops on the streets and in the night markets are also an interesting choice to buy more unique and high-quality items.

ATTRACTIONS

1. Dadaocheng Harbor: This harbor marks the golden age of Dadaocheng in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with bustling trading activities taking place day and night.

2. Taipei Xiahai City God Temple : Located in Dihua Street, the temple was built in 1859 with its ancient Chinese architecture. People and tourists often come here to burn incense and pray for love.

3. Taiyuan Asian Puppet Theater Museum: It is home to a large collection of unique puppets from Taiwan and Asia. Coming here, you can learn and enjoy the extremely interesting art of puppetry.

4. Wang-tea: Located in Chongqing N. Road, Wang Tea is a tea shop which has existed for a century. This place sells the famous roasted tea of Taiwan.

RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS

1. Crescent Phoenix: It serves dishes featuring Hakka style, and especially prioritizes the experiment of new dishes. In addition, the restaurant also hascooking class area for students who love cuisine.
Add: No. 1-3, Shengxing, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County.
Tel: +886 3 787 5570

2. New Sun Restaurant: The 50-year-old restaurant specializes in serving traditional Hakka cuisine, and use local ingredients only to make dishes with natural flavour.
Add: No. 101, Lot 9, New Village, Shitan Township, Miaoli District.
Tel: +886 3 793 1338

3. Shitan Peanut Ginger Candy Shop: This small grocery store is famous for crunchy peanuts. Over the past three decades, the shop owner has preserved the most traditional processing method to create the unique flavor of crunchy peanuts.
Add: No. 354, Shitan Township, Miaoli District.
Tel: +886 3 793 1308

4. Shokolake: Within 7 years, this brand has built up its reputation as the chocolate manufacturing facility with the best taste. There is also a small museum where you can learn everything about chocolate as well as how it is made.
Add: No. 49/2 Shuimei, Fuxing Village, Dahu Township, Miaoli District.

SHOPPING PLACES

1. Bellavita Shopping Mall: Bellavita is home to the most luxurious brands such as Gucci, Bvlgari, Bottega Veneta, Tiffany, Tod’s, and many high-class restaurants.
Add: No.28, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei.
Open time: 10.30am – 10pm
Tel: + 886 2 8729 2271

2. ATT 4 Fun Shopping Center: This is an 11-storey shopping mall that brings together affordable brands like Forever21, H & M, Bershka, Gap, Gu.

Add: No. 12, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei.
Open time: 11am – 10pm
Tel: +886 80 006 588

3. Ximending Walking Street: This street is considered an outdoor shopping center with countless shops shops located close together , from fashion brands such as H&M, Gu, The Face Shop to small shops along the road, and stalls selling all kinds of delicious Taiwanese food.
Add: Wanhua District, Taipei.

4. Guanghua Electronic Center: This is the largest electronics supplier in Taiwan. In addition to electronic devices, visitors can easily find components with reasonable prices.
Add: No. 8, Section 3, Civic Blvd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei.
Open time: 10am – 9pm
Tel: +886 2 2391 7105

Van Ly | Wanderlust Tips

Family travel with Ford Everest

[Wanderlust Tips December 2017] In the graceful weather and warm sunshine of late autumn, the delighted laughter of children beneath the green canopy fully brings a relaxing and joyful day for everyone to enjoy with their beloved family. Just by preparing a canvas tent and some food, you can leave behind the city life to light up your little family with an exciting picnic.

[rpi]

The latest Ford Everest Titanium 2017 – a premium 7-seat SUV segment helps Phan Anh, his wife and their 3 little angels have a more pleasant journey than ever. Passing through challenging terrains with steep hills and deep rivers, the family enjoys good and safe fun on the move.

The Ford Everest is equipped with a lot of new innovative technologies such as, Cruise Control, Auto Rain Sensor, Auto Headlamp, SYNC 3, Blind Spot Information System. With a strong and dynamic exterior design, alongside smart and modern features, this outstanding SUV is being widely favoured by many young families nowadays.

After the long yet comfortable ride thanks to the Ford Everest and its fuel-efficient 2.2L Diesel Engine, the family is still full of energy to enjoy various fun outdoor activities such as walking, blowing bubbles, spraying water or playing with dogs.

By the flickering fire, little girls and boys with sparkling eyes telling the stories of the day with excitement, those will be priceless moments of a journey in which the whole family goes on a trip, experiences things and grows together.

Producer: MINH HIEU, PHUONG CHI
Photographer: GIANG VU
Make-up: CHERRY PHAM
Model: MC PHAN ANH & FAMILY
Costume: GAP
Stylist: TRAN TRUNG
Location: VINH PHUC, VIETNAM

Wanderlust Tips

Wanderlust Tips travel magazine’s December issue 2017: Family voyages

Wanderlust Tips magazine’s December issue 2017 will be about family travel, they travel together to explore the land of dreams and create unforgettable memories.

[rpi]

You do not have to become a solo traveller to successfully pursue your passion for travel. In December, when the winter is knocking on the doors of many countries in the planet and snow is falling on many lands, we can still hold warm hands of our beloved ones to create exciting vacations together.

Whether your companions are your parents or children, Taiwan is always a great destination. Experience a different Taiwan with the unique culture and cuisine of Hakka people with the article TAIWAN – A DIFFERENT JOURNEY at Destination Category.

Kim Ngan’s 154 DAYS CYCLING THROUGH EIGHT SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES with her partner would be a special honeymoon for two young people with the shared dream of creating a small family. Find the Discovery category to share their excitement and passion on each journey.

Asia always has amazing things to offer. If you have missed the golden autumn of South Korea, do not be discouraged because a land of snow is waiting for you to discover in Gangwon-do with countless interesting entertainment activities. The article 8 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO GANGWON-DO – THE WONDERLAND OF THE WINTER in Destination category will be a helpful guide for you to make plan for your upcoming Korean vacation.

If you are planning for a trip to the tropical sea area, do not miss the 1,300-kilometre journey with a stylish scooter of journalist Tran Giap with article SCOOTERING ALONG THE COASTLINE (Transportation Category).

The First Lady of the United States George W. Bush said that togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life. And the most amazing thing is that in those warm-hearted moments of being together, you are free to explore the vast world around you.

Wanderlust Tips

Johnny Ward: Man who’s just visited all 197 countries

Travelling around the world is the dream of many people. On this interview, we had the opportunity to talk with travel blogger Johnny Ward about his impressive journeys. From a student living on a tight budget in Ireland, now he has earned a total of USD1.5 million from online business and travelled to 197 countries on the planet.

[rpi]

Can you tell about yourself a little too? Where are you from? When were you born? Where did you study? What are your parents doing? What dreams do you have besides travelling?

I was born in Ireland, near Galway. Grew up in Northern Ireland until I was 18, most of my childhood we were poor, on welfare payments, with no father. I was happy but we were broke. My mum then got a job as a social worker, and the last couple of years were a bit easier. I went to university in England from 18-22 years old, and the day I finished University, I left the country, I have been traveling ever since.

From 2006 to 2012, traveling on a super tight budget, working jobs in USA, Thailand, South Korea, medical research testing in Ireland, so I could travel. Then from 2012 onwards I made good money online with my blog (onestep4ward.com), since then I have started my charity, the givebackgiveaway.com where we build schools for poor communities, and everything seems to be on the right track, until the next time I do something crazy – hopefully the north pole marathon in April.

What inspired you to travel around the world?

Growing up in Ireland, we couldn’t afford to go on holidays much, I think I went on 2 trips outside Ireland my whole childhood, from being born to 18. Watching my friends and their families going to USA, Spain, Italy on holidays made me feel so trapped. I remember deeply feeling than when I was old enough to be free, I’d make sure to use that freedom as much as possible, and I feel I’ve done just that.

You said that money was not that important. Did you mean between determination and money, the determination is more important?

I know the media loves to use my money making as part of my story, it’s sexy, it gains readers, I get it. And to be fair it is a big part of my story now, but for 29 years of my 33 years I was broke and still traveling all the time. Money isn’t a must, not at all. The choice is to be free or not, once you make that choice, with the courage that takes, the opportunities are endless.

Did you have a budget, a certain amount of money while traveling the world? How much did you spend a day on average? Or did you travel with no money at all?

It took me 10 years to visit every country in the world, averaging around 15 days per country. The first 5 years I was very poor, so my budget was USD10-USD20 per day max. Roughly USD5,000 per year! The last 4, 5 years have changed, as my profile and blog have grown, I’m more free. I’m always careful with my money, investing most of what I earn. I’m not a flash guy so I don’t need to worry about budget but generally speaking I spend as little as possible. When I first set out to travel, I had nothing. I taught English in Thailand then Korea to fund my trips. Now things are a little different.

Did you travel by leaving everything behind? Did you just pack your home one day, leave and never come back?

Kinda yes. But I didn’t really have anything to leave behind, only my family. I was single, I had just graduated from university, I had no job, no debts other than student debt, so that was the best time. But yes, I never moved back.

What kind of a plan did you come with before travelling the world? How was your route?

I worked in continents – 1 year in East Africa, 1 year in South America, 1 year in Central Asia/Middle East. The first 5 years I couldn’t afford to fly much so I had to work in regions like that so I could use public transport. For example I went from South Africa to Syria by public buses, also from China to Ireland by public transport too.

Did you always go travelling by yourself?

I also set out alone, but I love it when my close friends/family can join for little sections. I travel 9-12 months per year, so most people can only join for 2 weeks here or there, but it’s a nice break for us both when they come.

You have your mother with you in some of the photos. Which countries did you travel together? Did she come visit your or is she a traveller herself?

I have a goal to take my mum to 50 countries, and since I started this new lifestyle, I’ve taken her to 44! She supported me emotionally so much when I started this, when I had no money, so now I’ve been more successful I’m proud that I can give her all these amazing experiences. I’ve taken her to crazy places, she loves it from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, Togo, South Korea, Ecuador, Tibet, all over the globe!

In which country you stayed the shortest and the longest? How long did you stay there?

Shortest was probably the Vatican city, just 1 day. For the longest, I have spent 3,4,5,6+ months in China, Thailand, Australia, USA, South Africa, South Korea, lots of places I’ve stayed a month too. I ran out of money in 2009 and flew to Australia to find a job and make some cash. I stayed there for a year.

How did you travel to dangerous countries such as Central African Republic, Somali?

With a lot of difficulty! Car was a scary place, and Mogadishu, with mortar bombs flying in the city, was really terrifying. But I had my goal, so I had to suck it up and deal with it.

What was your biggest misfortune?

I’m quite a careless person, so I’ve been in hospitals in more than 10 countries! Broken shoulder and knee in Thailand, broken foot in Korea, skin graft in Australia, some African stomach thing in Burkina Faso, so many places! I have been mugged in Ecuador and Paraguay too, arrested in India, Ivory Coast and Ukraine, but it’s all part of the adventure and all’s well than ends well.

In which country you had the best memory?

So difficult to say, travel isn’t a trip for me, it’s my whole life. Of course I love my memories of finishing my 197th country, but finally reaching Yemen on an indian cargo ship was something truly special. It took me 6 attempts and 6 months to get to Yemen, thousands of dollars, so much time, and finally I got there, it was my 2nd last country and I knew finally I was almost there.

Did anyone support you after you started, as a sponsor?

Nope, it’s all self-funded from my blog and online business. I guess you could say some of that is ‘sponsored’; now I have a lot of readers and followers so hotels invite me etc, but that’s only been quite a recent thing.

Wanderlust Tips | Cinet

Party like a Parisian at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

The luxurious Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi played host to a ‘chic soirée’ that echoes the best of the Parisian nightlife. Party like a Parisian was the night’s motto, with the hotel’s signature ballrooms converted into high energy nightlife venues complete with dazzling lights and stage setups.

[rpi]

The show started with Love Songs – a private concert by the “Queen of Vietnamese showbiz” Ho Ngoc Ha. In the concert, the songtress was accompanied by pianist Hoai Sa and saxophonist Hoang Tung to perform her 20 hit songs, all rearranged in a more laid-back and intimate tone.

The evening’s highlights include a multi-sensory party at Angelina Lounge & Bar with trendy tunes from the top DJ in town and a sophisticated mixology experience featuring special La Nuit cocktails inspired by popular Parisian nightlife venues such as Champs Elysees, Bastille and Pigalle.

“Beyond the party is the experience. We hope La Nuit by Sofitel will set tone for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi to become the city’s most iconic venue for the ever growing nightlife of Hanoi”, said the Metropole’s General Manager, William J. Haandrikman.

With trendy party concept, magnifique glamour and innovative cocktail creations, the event has been organized and become a signature party of Sofitel Luxury Hotels & Resorts all over the world, from Los Angeles, Rio, Paris, Dubai to Marrakech.

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “art de vivre”.

SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE HANOI