An Enthralling Bike Ride to The Land of Blue Dragons

“We will have to take the bikes on our shoulders, and cross the stream”-

announced one of our biking-tour coordinators, as we reached a shallow river canal which is actually a branch of the mighty Mekong River. We had only scraps of perceptions about how our biking trip in Vietnam was going to be, however, nowhere in our wildest of dreams did we ever imagine that after crossing the canal, we had to ride for almost 7 to 8 Kilometres being half drenched almost up to our waists. This might seem to be quite challenging for the ones who seek luxury, but, several instances like these, work as catalysts that spice up a biking trip and make it enthralling in a true sense.

As a true adventure lover, I have always considered biking as a major reason of my happiness. For me, nothing can be comparable with the joy of seeing the world from the saddle because it not only gives me an opportunity to perceive the nature from a different viewpoint, but it also makes me feel energized and liberated. This is what has persuaded me to go on cycling expeditions around several popular biking trails of the world.

 With serene countryside and spectacular riverside landscapes, Vietnam has always worked as an ideal destination for bikers. Thus, when one of my friends came up with a suggestion to head off to Vietnam, I did not think twice and started packing for the trip which later turned out to be a valuable chapter in my bicycle diary.

Owing to the language barriers, we decided to opt for Vietnam Bike Tours offered by a renowned tour operator of the country. Our journey was about to start from Hanoi and nothing could have been better than pedalling through the busy streets of the Capital city.

Hanoi

Image by Leon_Ting from Pixabay

We wanted to travel as much as we could on the first day and this is why we started off early. As we went past the busy streets of the city, we came across several three wheel cabs which are popularly known as “cyclos”. The streets were full of French mansions and restaurants where people were busy cooking in their courtyards. The hustle of the streets was one of a kind and the best thing about Hanoi was that it never wanted to take rest.

Hue

Image by ThanhNamNguyen from Pixabay

Unlike Hanoi, Hue is comparatively quite and it provides the bikers entire scope to free their arms and enjoy the breeze. As we rode past the countryside, we took a stop near a school where all the kids were dancing to some popular native tune. Later, we came to know that it was a part of the local festival and the thing that caught our attention at the first go was the smiling faces of the small kids. Travelling along the serene rice fields of the region was a jaw dropping experience for all of us.

Saigon and Can Tho

Image by Haynie C. from Pixabay

The best part of the entire trip was the time that we spent while biking from Saigon to Can Tho. Along the way, we came across picturesque landscapes which were worth witnessing. And as far as Can Tho is concerned, it is undoubtedly one of the best locations where a bikers dream is sure to come true. Amazing riverside lifestyle, beautiful floating markets on the Mekong River and diverse cultures are few things that make Can Tho, a biker’s paradise.

My entire biking experience of Vietnam was largely different from the ones I gained in other parts of the world. With unmatched simplicity and colourful customs, it managed to portray the true Asian charm in front of eyes. I hope to return to this nation again someday, with a desire to fulfil my lust for adventure, yet again. 

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A Journey to the Exquisite Halong Bay Revived the Spirit

When the spree of young age madness started haunting my nerves, I started alone a journey to feel the real thrill of life by getting a luxury tour to Halong bay. Though my main concern of traveling alone was to subdue the lust for traveling around the world but when I reached the land of descending dragon, I realized that life has a greater meaning than just to breathe. The emerald water of this place has helped me understand a better meaning of living.

Image by Đoàn Tiến from Pixabay

The vision of breathtaking beauty of the islands of Halong Bay draws thousands of travelers every year. The meaning of the term Halong is ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’. I had a few research done on this cruise trip and contacted with an expert operator to have a Halong bay luxury cruise. My trip lasted only a two days. I was highly excited about this trip and carried my travel apparatus which are my camera, tab, and diary.

Image by cat7397 from Pixabay

Day 1:

When the cruise finally plunged into the sea that time was early in the morning. It was an alluring scene from the cruise. Only the peaks of islands visible. It was a pleasurable start for my voyage. It was a perfect day full of innumerable landscape views. The mystical landscapes of limestone islets were like a view of heavenly beauty. The sunset scene from cruise was the most eye soothing panoramic view to me. Finally, a sleep at night within the mildly swaying yacht reminded me of my childhood days where I spent numerous such nights swinging in my mother’s lap.

Day 2:

It was a day to cherish the real world in a cruise with full of entertainment and exotic cuisine of Vietnam. As I have chosen the luxury tour, it was rightly as grand as a perfect luxury tour should be. Several kinds of folk dance and orchestra party were organized by the tour operating agency for us. We had enjoyed our fullest. Vietnam cuisines are a mixture of entire Indochina delicacy. So the entire itinerary was full with delicious cuisines. I have made immense connection with my co-tourists and tried to know much about this place.

Image by Todd Kay from Pixabay

In a nutshell, it was a jaw-dropping experience for me. From adventure to relaxation, I have enjoyed all on this trip. This trip has made me crave for having a grand trip to entire Vietnam. All the Halong bay cruises are crafted with all the unforgettable experiences. All I can say is this old or young, a cruise trip can make you feel the real meaning of life.

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In a Food Expedition in and Around Cambodia

Around six months from now, I stepped in Cambodia with an aim to complete my internship. I accomplished my goal, and along with that, I came in acquaintance with a person who is highly passionate about food. Fortunately or unfortunately cannot specify, but this person was none other than my boss.

Image by Heike Hartmann from Pixabay

Quite lucky to have a boss like him because it was he for whom I got the opportunity to experience the varied dishes of Cambodian cuisine. For me, Cambodia is like land of Love, Pray and Eat. Last week, I went to a meeting with my foodie boss with a solo aim and that is food. I could feel my face getting fuller and trousers getting tighter as the day passed. In that short time span, I have tasted numerous dishes and could not say which one I loved the most and which I didn’t.

Mouthwatering smell of the fiery wood fills the air of Cambodia. The smell will definitely remind you the coziest bonfire and barbecues you have ever participated in. The smell comes from the charcoal, which smolders and flames all day long in clay stoves.

Salmon machu Trey:

Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay

Our first dish in one of the most luxurious Cambodian restaurant was salmon macho trey. To most Cambodian people, Salmon machu trey is one of the most popular dishes. It is very light, but works as a great appetizer. Its taste was so lovely that I couldn’t stop myself and went to the chef to know its ingredients. To my surprise, the soup had no special ingredient in it.  It had simple fish sauce, bean sprouts, tamarind juice, celery, lemongrass and garlic.

Char KroeungSachKo:

Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay

To keep it simple, you can also call it “Stir-fried lemongrass beef”. This is also a common dish found all over the country but works as a great starter, when you are out for a grand dinner along with your boss. The golden color beef are sure to take away you heart.

The sweet and sour sauce made with lemongrass works as icing on the cake. You can also add some red peppers with the sauce to tickle your taste buds.

Fish Amok:

Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay

It was steamed fish in coconut leaves. In all these six months; I never had such a delicious dish. Amok is one of the most traditional dishes and is cooked in a banana leaf by mixing fish, coconut milk, and curry. Hot rice along with this dish is a terrific combination.

These three dishes were enough to make my tummy full. I couldn’t wait any more for a sweet desert. But will surely have one in my next food expedition. My travel to Cambodiawas for the internship, but the delicious and tasty dishes of the country forced me to fall in love with it. 

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Exploring Myanmar with My Parents: The Sacred Land Of Buddhist Monks

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing.'

Daniel J. Boorstin

As I am a travel freak, I love to explore new countries. During my childhood, my father used to organize family tours in holidays. Three years ago, my parents celebrated their 30 years of marriage. At that time, I felt that taking my parents to a religious country like Myanmar can be the best gift from me in their 30th anniversary. My parents like the Buddhist culture; thus my choice for taking them to Myanmar was the best decision.

An Outline of Myanmar

Image by sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay

Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is the sacred place of the Buddhist with golden temples, monks wearing orange robes, ancient monasteries and also it has wonderful natural landscapes. This country is not only a pilgrimage land, but it also hides a lot of adventurous things for backpackers and family tourists.

 As soon as we reached the Yangon airport, we smelled the real essence of Buddhist culture. We did not spend much time in unpacking our luggage in the hotel. We decided to explore Yangon from the very the first day.

Yangon: Garden of the East

Image by Alistair McLellan from Pixabay

This city is the former capital of the country. It is the most attractive place of Myanmar. My parents were completely impressed by the beautiful lakes, shady green parks, and temples. We had our lunch in a restaurant. The food was delicious. Our first visit was to the Shwedagon pagoda. It is one of the sacred sites of Yangon. This pagoda stands on the Singuttara Hill, northern side of the city. It is the golden symbol of the country and is 2500 years old. We took many pictures of the pagoda.

 My parents enjoyed visiting this pagoda. We explored the surrounding place of this shrine. During our stay in Yangon, we also visited other religious sites like Sule Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, Shri Kali Hindu Temple and St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, the largest church in the country. Our next visit was to Bagan.

Bagan: The Temple City

Image by Martine Auvray from Pixabay

This city is the heart of ancient architecture. It is located in the upper regions of Myanmar. I was mesmerized by the beautiful ancient temples of this place. There are more than 2000 temples in Bagan, and we wanted to see each of them, but we decided to visit some of the important ones like Shwezigon Temple, Ananda Temple, and Mahabodhi Temple. We spent more than two days in Bagan and explored the entire place in the hot air balloons. Viewing the temples was thrilling. Our next destination was Mandalay.

Mandalay: The Economic Hub

Image by Matthew Hulland from Pixabay

We reached this town by plane from Bagan. It took only 30 minutes. Though, this city is full of chaos, dust, people and smoke everywhere but the natural scenic beauty of this place attracted us. We visited the Ubein Bridge in Amarapura village; it is the largest teak bridge of the world. We also visited the Maha Muni Buddha Temple and offered our prayers.

Puta-O: The Gateway to Himalayas

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Though this place is famous for climbing, the travelers can experience the natural beauty also. We spend last two days of our tour in this peaceful town. We explored the forests and enjoyed the delicious food and cocktail in the restaurants. As my father love adventures, he enjoyed this place. We again went back to Yangon from where we started our journey and took flight to our homeland.

I am thankful to the Myanmar travel agency for the custom tour plan they made for us. We enjoyed Myanmar in our way, and I had made my parents happy. A big smile on their face is a great satisfaction for me. This journey will always remain in our mind forever.

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Down The Memory Lane with Friends in Myanmar

“I've always enjoyed traveling and having experience with different cultures and different people. But it's also a wonderful thing to be able to benefit and enable research, not only in our country but around the world.” - Laurel Clark

Being a travel freak, I always craved for unspoiled destinations in the world. And when it comes to taking a trip with old buddies, I have offered my best effort to get a well-planned trip to Myanmar. It was certainly the best part of my life to take a trip with the old group of school in the heavenly place like Myanmar. This country has offered its best to make our trip truly memorable for us.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

We were five in our group and chosen the luxury holiday package for our trip. The Myanmar travel agency lent their hand in our every need throughout our journey. The first place that we stopped at was the most dazzling city of this country, Yangon. People say traveling makes a man a better friend, and that has created a magic upon my monotonous daily life. Being a businessman in my personal life, I forgot to spend time with my friends. That is why when life has offered me the chance to relish the old friendship in the land of opportunities; I thrashed all the barriers and got indulged in partying hard with my friends.

Hustle And Bustle of Yangon:

Image by Myo Min Kyaw from Pixabay
Certainly, Yangon has offered us numerous opportunities to enjoy our life to the fullest having luxury accommodation and utterly delicious cuisine. Our lust for interesting cultures has ceased its venture reaching this place. Being the previous capital of Myanmar, Yangon has much to offer for the travelers. We enjoyed a ride on the old Chevrolet buses of this city. Traditionally dressed local people are enough friendly. We tasted the street foods and experienced the downtown life of this city.

Paradise’s Garden- Putao:

Our next venture was Putao. It was a mesmerizing experience to reach there by private jets. We enjoyed a lot during this ride to Putao. At times, we felt blessed to choose the luxury tour package to Myanmar. It was certainly a worthwhile investment for us. The traditional beer of this place was a thing to remember for a lifetime. The western and eastern sides of Putao were truly amazing. We were supposed to travel in the paradise, and it was a great place to visit.

Mandalay in a Laid Back Style:

Image by Richard Todd from Pixabay

After having that much of fun, we opted to spend the rest of our holidays relaxing in the lap of nature at Mandalay. I just laid back on the riversides, kayaking and sipping the traditional wines of this destination. The historical Ayeyarwaddy Riverside was a something that has offered us few unforgettable panoramic views. This place is considered as the cultural center of this country. So we enjoyed spending time with the local Myanmar folks watching their traditional activities. We all have taken part with them in their folk dance.

In a nutshell, it was an amazing trip for us five. We enjoyed our best and Myanmar was astoundingly beautiful destination to take a trip with friends. The interesting activities in this country have made us feel enthralled throughout our journey. This entire trip has made us cherish our old memories. 

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Journey of a Mystery Hunter to the Plain Of Jars

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. - George A. Moore 

Mysteries have always attracted me, and I run to the places where I find something strange. As a solo traveler, I like to visit various destinations that are often not preferred by most of the travelers. Once I heard about the Plain Of Jars, a different and weird place in Laos. I started to read books and tour journals regarding this place and gathered all the information. I finally made my mind to visit this location and to solve the mystery behind its origin. 

My only interest was to explore Plain of Jars. So, I did not want to waste much of the time in visiting other places of Laos. From the Laos international airport, my journey was towards Phonsavan. I stayed there for one day and the next morning a voyaged towards the destination. Before going to that location, I collected information from the local people and guides. The history of this place attracted me. I was so excited that I could not sleep the previous night in my hotel room. I spend my time reading various journals of historians and archeologists who have previously visited the place. 

Image by einszweifrei from Pixabay

I traveled to that place by bus as I thought I could get the glimpse of the villages and nearby towns of Phonsavan from the window of the bus. There were many travelers with me in bus. I was so over-whelmed that I spend the entire time in a bus taking pictures of the surroundings and discussing and sharing my views regarding the formation of the Jars. 

After getting down from the bus, I walked with other tourists and finally reached the most awaited location, Plain of Jars. This destination combines both ancient and contemporary culture that reveals the history of Phuan, Hmong and Tai dam dynasties. 

History behind the Plain Of Jars 

I had heard many stories about the formation of these jars when I visited this place from the local guides. I want to share some of the local beliefs and legends with all the readers. Laos’s legendary stories tell that a race of giants once inhabited this area. The king, Khun Cheung fought a victorious battle against his enemies. He created these jars to ferment and store huge amounts of rice. According to this legend, these jars were made to store the rice wine, and the local people used to celebrate the king’s victory by drinking the wine. 

Another local legend is that these huge stone jars were constructed to store the monsoon water for the nomads who can drink water. Some of the archeologists have found artifacts and beads inside these jars. The local people believe that the nomads offered those beads to pray to God for rain. Later researches in the early 1930’s have explained that these stone jars made for burial practices. Many excavations of Japanese and Lao archeologists in the recent years have supported this explanation. According to them, this place is one of the dangerous and mysterious sites in the world. The history of this place is dates back to the Iron Age. 

These jars have the potential to throw light on the relationship between the complex modern societies and megalithic stone structures and provide the glimpse of the social organization of the Iron Age. 

My Exploration of This Place 

There are about 90 archeological sites in the entire area. Most of the jars are suitable for taking pictures. I came across some of the sites that were excavated very recently and animal dead bodies, skeletons, and jewelries are found inside the jars. I walked the entire place with other travelers and examined every Jar. Each jar varies in shape and size. Some are massive whereas some are very small. I climbed up to the top of one big jar with lid. I took some of the pictures of the surrounding sites and with other travelers. I hiked from one site to another and felt the real mystery. Seriously, if anyone visits this place at night, it will surely be a dangerous experience. I felt goose bumps in my body while hoping from one jar to another. Evening came down, and my heart sank a little. I have to return to Phonsavan. 

My next few days spend by visiting some of the other popular landmarks of Phonsavan. After ten-day trip, I came back to my homeland. Still my heart longs for tours to Laos and mainly the Plain of Jars. It was a strange place indeed.

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Found Our Love in Laos- The Magical Destination

“That honeymoon phase is so much fun in real life, when you meet and discover somebody new and fall in love and chase them. The pursuit. And that climactic final moment of ultimate togetherness.”

- Lucas Neff

When we were planning our honeymoon destination, we came to know about the attractive destinations of Laos. Then we decided to start our journey of love to this destination. We opted for this country out of the fact that the country is a secluded and peaceful place for traveling. And obviously this country has some instances of sheer natural bounty.

Laos- Strengthening the Bond of Our Love

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Being an isolated country without a sea beach, the country has no trace of deficiency in natural beauty. It was an unbelievable experience for both of us. Laos has done magic in our love life. Though we opted for customized tour, we have got much privacy to enjoy with ourselves. The country is like a honeymoon heaven with stunningly pleasurable destinations.

Warm Welcome of Luang Prabang

Image by bluebird666 from Pixabay

If beaches are not the prime priority as a honeymoon destination, then Laos is a stunning honeymoon contender. It offers one of its kind experience to the love birds. We landed on Luang Prabang first, and it was an awesome welcome destination for us. We became close in enjoying this place’s attractive activities. The widest smiles of Lao people made us happier than ever. We spent some unforgettable time in exotic boutique style lodges here. For us, Luang Prabang is the ideal place to unwind after wedding. We have shared some magical moments of our life in Kayaking to Vang Vieng.

The Serenity of Vang Vieng

Image by zigang liu from Pixabay

This place is like a rural panorama from an Oriental Silk Painting. It was a true place for us to get closer. It made us crave for more. The experience of vivid, lush greenery to the adventurous cliffs was awesome. We enjoyed trekking together in this destination. Here we have enjoyed shopping in the rural market places. It was a place of ‘bargain, bargain and bargain’. We also enjoyed the drive in a rented scooter in the streets of Laos. We have gone crazy for tubing in the Mekong River. The jaw-dropping picturesque beauty of Nam Khan will make you go crave for more thrills.

Image by kolibri5 from Pixabay
The stunningly picturesque spots have made our entire honeymoon worthwhile. The charismatic accommodations have made our trip a special one of our life. We have enjoyed a slow and relaxed pace of life through residing in these fantastic destinations of Laos. Laos Holiday had helped us to find our true love and made the bond of love stronger.

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Surrealism Draws Me Back To The Land Of Blue Dragons

 “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” -T. S. Eliot

If someone asks me to travel again and again to any of my previously traveled destinations, the one and only place will be Vietnam, the Land of Blue Dragons. I have visited this country few years back with my family and that experience managed to give me a hangover so strong that I decided to pack my bags and head for Vietnam once again. And this time with the group of my travel freak friends, I have traveled this country for a second time, and it was a jaw-dropping experience for me.

Image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay
The entire scenario of that interesting country got changed with the development of its tourism sectors. The grandeur of this country was not unknown to me, but this time it reached the utmost level of ecstasy. We thought about choosing Vietnam travel packages, but later we decided to go by ourselves without following any guidebook.

 Perfect Thrill Seekers Destination!

Image by Sue Todd from Pixabay

I have always been interested about this country since I have read about the Vietnam Wars. I was always curious about the underground Cu Chi Tunnels, where Vietnam armies used to hide during the war. It was our first destination after we reached that country. Descending the steep, narrow path, I crawled through the tunnels with my friends. This moment was great; I had goose bumps during this crawling session. The tunnels have mesmerized me with the sculpted art on the walls. Visiting the Cu Chi tunnel was like a start with a bang to my journey!

Surreal and Serene Ha Long Bay

Image by Oldjap from Pixabay
In the year 1992, movie “Indochine” depicted this place and popularized it to the outer world. Catherine Deneuve described this place "the most remote outpost of Indochina." And till now, it is regarded as "Lord-of-the-Rings" for its exotic water quality. We have traveled long and cherished each step in this amazingly versatile country. I cannot shed off the hangover of relaxing on the junk boat in the Ha Long Bay. I have floated amid the towering limestone cliffs even as dining on appetizing Vietnamese cuisine, together with fresh seafood.

Can’t forget Nha Trang - cocktails at the beach club

Image by Pham Hieu from Pixabay
Everyday was thrilling and exciting in that country, and the last party was at the beaches of Nha Trang. We are all travelers in that place, and we have gained the best possible happiness from that party. It was an unforgettable party. People here, are always in a mood of partying hard. I have enjoyed that part as it makes me forget about all my worries of my daily life. It was a perfectly rejuvenating part of my entire journey and deserves the proverb “All’s well that ends well”. We danced all night round and relished the exotic cocktails of the beach clubs.

The very next day was the day of our returning, but the entire trip had made me laid back to that tranquil ambiance of Vietnam. I can’t resist myself from seeing the sunset on the sea in a true Mediterranean climate. And yet again, I hope to revisit Vietnam with an aspiration to taste the old rum in a new bottle.

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Vietnam and Cambodia Offers Exotic Destinations of Indochina

People always crave for having well planned tour packages that include various attractive destinations. That is why, numerous travel lovers prefer to have a grand tour to South East Asian region. There are several countries in this region that offer most attractive tourist spots of the world. Vietnam and Cambodia are the two most preferred countries among the travelers. Here is some of the most attractive travel destinations of these countries discussed to make you get started.

Exotic Destinations of Vietnam:

Nha Trang:

Image by David Mark from Pixabay
If you are willing to have a grand holiday to the seaside destination, then Nha Trang will be the best option for you. This is one of the most beautiful beach destinations of this country. The mild temperature of this place attracts huge number of travelers every year. There are numerous attractive activities offered here for travelers. You can surely enjoy having fun with your loved ones by doing adventure activities like scuba diving. Vietnam travel packages include this exotic destination for its natural bounty.

Sa Pa Valley:

Image by trinhxuandao from Pixabay

This is an exotic hilly region which has several lush landscapes to drag the attention of travelers. Every year, the tourism industry offers special activities to the travel lovers.  There are various kinds of terraces in these valleys. The local mountain people in this region offer their best hospitality to the foreign travelers.

Cu Chi Tunnels:

Image by Sue Todd from Pixabay

Cu Chi Tunnels are an interesting place in this country. It is a huge network under the ground level connecting the tunnels. These tunnels were crafted during the historical Vietnam War period. People love to visit this place just to have a look over the grandeur of Vietnamese art works.

Exotic Destinations of Cambodia:

Preah Vihear:

Image by Igor Ovsyannykov from Pixabay

Preah Vihear is a beautiful place with multiple Khmer temples situated in the middle of this place. You can have a great view of sunrises and sunsets in this area. Most of the temples are dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. In this place, various historical wars were held, and army men were killed during the war.

Sihanoukville:

This place is regarded as the Gulf of Thailand. The white sand beaches of this destination offers panoramic views to the travelers. During the high seasons, thousands of travelers pour in this place. There are numerous attractive activities offered for travelers.

Bayon Temple:

Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay

Bayon is a part of the famous spot for Angkor. The temples of this place feature numerous rock structures that are sculpted faces looking in all directions. The curious faces of this place offer several attractions to the travelers.

So, if you are willing to have a grand holiday to South East Asian region, then you have to get Vietnam and Cambodia travel packages. It will surely offer you some memorable days of your life.

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