Ko Chang travel guide, Thailand

Sometimes called the "Beast of the East" thanks to its sheer mass and location in the eastern Gulf of Thailand near Cambodia, Ko Chang might just be the quintessential Thai island destination. From breathtaking mountains to idyllic beaches, hippy hangouts to salubrious resorts, and traditional fishing villages to neon nightlife, "Elephant Island" truly has something for everyone. Some say that Ko Chang's name derives from its shape on a map that somewhat resembles the head of an elephant. Others...

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Chiang Mai travel guide, Thailand

Thailand's northern capital, Chiang Mai is the country's second most-visited city, yet in terms of size it does not remotely compare to Bangkok. With its smaller size and population, Chiang Mai has a lot in its favour for tourists and travellers alike, with the centre of town packed with glittering wats, excellent restaurants and expansive shopping markets all of which are easily taken in on foot. If Thai temples are your thing, then Chiang Mai has a lot to offer -- the hill-top Wat Doi Suthep...

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Ko Tao travel guide, Thailand

Cashew shaped Ko Tao, or Turtle Island, is one of Thailand's top diving locations, with plenty of amazing dive sites within easy reach of the Gulf of Thailand destination. Whale sharks are seasonal visitors and this is probably one of the few places in the world where you can see these gentle giants while scuba diving. But Ko Tao also has plenty to offer non-divers, with an array of non-water based activities such as hiking and yoga. Those willing to escape from the congested diver hotspots are...

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Ko Samui travel guide, Thailand

Back in the days when backpackers to Southeast Asia were first discovering Ko Samui in the 1970s, a basic thatched hut with running water and electricity was considered luxury. Now Ko Samui is home to some of Thailand's best luxury resorts and in the popularity stakes is surpassed only by Phuket. With an international airport, a mass of ferry connections and close to 500 hotels and guesthouses, this is not somewhere to come to glimpse a corner of the Thai kingdom untouched by tourism development....

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Ko Pha Ngan travel guide, Thailand

Although best known for the monthly full moon parties, which attract thousands of travellers from all over the globe, there is a lot more to stunning Ko Pha Ngan than getting trashed and passing out in the powder-soft white sand. The mid-sized and quite mountainous island (it stretches over 168 sq km and 70% of its topography is mountainous jungle with the remainder beaches and coconut groves) is situated roughly a third of the way from Ko Samui to Ko Tao. The island's original inhabitants are...

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Bangkok travel guide, Thailand

Set astride the majestic, churning Chao Phraya River, the Thai capital Bangkok represents all that is good and bad about an Asian megalopolis. Loved or loathed, it's a city with everything for some and nothing for others, and a place that almost every visitor to Thailand will find themselves in at some stage. For many travellers, Bangkok, or Krungthep to most Thais (Krungthep mahanakhon amonratanakosin mahintara ayuthaya mahadilok, popnopharat ratchathani burirom ubonratchaniwet mahasathan amonpiman...

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Thailand_Temples and beaches

People say Thailand simply offers it all to travellers in a neat, great-value package -- whether you're an independent budget backpacker wanting to explore off the beaten track, or a well-heeled tourist looking for an exclusive slice of paradise. Rough it while trekking through mist-shrouded mountains; be astounded by teeming aquatic life as you plunge into turquoise waters for a dip; or savour a romantic pool villa for a perfect luxury honeymoon -- you can do it all in the Land of Smiles. Thailand...

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Greater Singapore travel guide, Singapore

For the purposes of our little guide, Greater Singapore includes anywhere in this city-state that we don't cover elsewhere. For most casual and first time visitors to Singapore, the main drawcards outside of downtown are the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari in the northern part of Singapore and Jurong Bird Park to the west. All three of these are absolutely world-class attractions and well worth the trip to the island's outer limits. Greater Singapore is also home to many lesser-known but worthwhile...

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Kangar travel guide, Malaysia

The capital of the strictly Muslim state of Perlis, Kangar isn't the bustling city most would expect of a state capital but instead has a countryside town feel to it, and is surrounded by fields and farms. The province is Malaysia's tiniest and is home to a variety of natural attractions as well as being culturally intriguing thanks to its location bordering Buddhist-majority Thailand to its north, Malaysia's Kedah state to its south and a small stretch of the Andaman coastline to its west. The...

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Johor Bahru travel guide, Malaysia

The story of Malaysia's Johor state picks up when Melaka was lost to the Portuguese in the early 1500s. Fleeing from the conquistadors, the royal family of Melaka led by Sultan Mahmud Shah, embarked on a circuitous journey, including a stint on Bintan Island which, albeit briefly, became the first capital of the Johor Sultanate. From Bintan, Sultan Mahmud led a number of forays against the Portuguese in an attempt to retake Melaka, but the Portuguese had none of it and destroyed the Bintan base...

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Kuala Perlis travel guide, Malaysia

The port town of Kuala Perlis is wedged on a strip of Andaman coast backed by mangroves and sheltered at the foothills of the Nakawan limestone range, a one-hour journey by boat from Langkawi or a 15-minute ride from Kangar. The small port in town is mainly used for fishing and loading or unloading small-scale cargo arriving from Thailand and Indonesia. There are also customs and immigration offices here, where those going further on into Thailand via Satun province can stamp out before embarking...

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Kuala Kedah travel guide, Malaysia

If you thought Sungai Petani was small Kuala Kedah is practically non existent! Apart from the jetty terminal where boats for Langkawi depart, there are only fishing boats and warehouses in the immediate village centre. Its locals earn their main income from fishing, which is made apparent from the strong fishy smell along the riverside. Historically though the town was once a major stronghold and defended the state from sea invasions. Today its main attraction is Kota Kuala Kedah, the old fortress...

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Beaches and islands of Melaka travel guide, Malaysia

Even though Melaka is a coastal province, its beaches and islands are nothing to write home about. If you're after a Malaysian beach holiday, you're better off travelling to the east coast or Langkawi. Tanjung Kling & Pantai Puteri If you're looking for a beach, Tanjung Kling is the nearest at about 12 kilometres from downtown Melaka. Rather than for swimming, most people come here to feast at one of the open-air seafood restaurants. Try Bert's Garden or The Seafarer for a meal of grilled...

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Melaka travel guide, Malaysia

Midway between the capital cities of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and at the mouth of the Strait of Melaka, a crucial shipping route connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, Melaka has been a centre of trade and cultural exchange for more than 600 years. Established at the beginning of the 14th century, Melaka (also spelt Malacca) was set up by a renagade Hindu Prince by the name of Parameswara (also known as Iskandar Shah). He originally hailed from Palembang on Sumatra, which, at the time was...

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Kuala Lumpur travel guide, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is the modern, bustling and lush-green capital of Malaysia, a testament to the Southeast Asian nation clawing its way in recent decades out of the developing world and into the WiFi-enabled modern one. At the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, and lying just over 30 kilometres from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, KL, as it is commonly known, is not as old as some other Southeast Asian capitals. But it still lays claim to some historical sites of interest, such as mosques,...

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Penang travel guide, Malaysia

Malaysia's second largest island, Penang is also its most developed, with the eastern coast dotted with high-rises and crammed with holiday resorts. Travellers who have experienced beaches elsewhere in Asia will probably be unimpressed with the most popular beach spots, but the island's real attraction lies in its culture, history and cuisine. The main city of Georgetown boasts a meld of interesting architecture stretching from the British colonial era to the colourful multicultural present,...

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