asia

All Asia-bound travelers need some guidance before tackling the largest and most populous continent on Earth.

A Trip to Japan: A Guide for the First Timer
I came to the conclusion that I wanted to make a guide for navigating the fast-paced, exuberant, and often times peculiar world of Japan after my visit in May of 2018. It was not my first time stepping foot in the country, but it was the first time I visited Honshu, the most populous island. I traveled to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto with four of my friends, with only one of us being fluent in Japanese. For anyone who's thinking about visiting Japan, has previously been, or is just plain curious, here's my take on the trip.
By joanna liu8 years ago in Wander
Fresh Off the Plane
I still can't believe that I'm in Japan! Everything feels so surreal. Today is my first full day in Japan. I woke up at 4 o'clock, and having slept six hours, I was ready to start my day. The sun had yet to rise, but because I wanted a fresh start here in Japan, I decided to begin with a new sleep schedule. Thus, during the four hours I had before meeting Mr. Kamata (my supervisor) to got to the bank to do more paperwork, I unpacked all my belongings, exercised, showered, read parts of a couple books, and wrote this post. Being told that there were no affordable, decent weight lifting gyms in Japan, I brought Casey's pull-up bar that hangs on door frames. However, because Japan's doors are slightly wider and protrudes from the walls less, the pull-up bar is basically useless to me. Thus, I was forced to improvise. For today's exercise, I jump roped (yes, I FINALLY used the jump rope I bought three years ago) for cardio, and afterwards, I did sets of regular pushups and sit-ups until the total reps equaled 75 for each exercise. Afterwards, I proceeded to shower and do the laundry that I hadn't gotten a chance to do while I was in Arizona. Thankfully, most of the machines are either intuitive on how to use them or have English notes indicating what each buttons does. Thus, doing laundry was fairly straightforward; there is only a washing machine, so when the clothes were done washing, I took them to the outside patio and hung them on racks. Lucky for me, I had moved into an apartment that was fully furnished, buying all the furniture and household items from the past teacher who lived here.
By An Tran8 years ago in Wander
28 Days in Nepal
Namaste, (The Divine In Me Bows To The Divine In You). This was the word that regardless of the inter-continental language barrier, got us through our 28-day expedition in Nepal. Our school presented us with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 18 months before our proposed departure date and myself along with nine others snatched up the chance to go to this beautiful country. We fund-raised the required amount to pay for our expenses (flights, kit, vaccinations, food, accommodation, trekking permits etc) and after a highly-anticipated wait, on the 10th July we set off for Nepal.
By Kieron Parkinson8 years ago in Wander
The Aftermath: Thailand (Part 2)
This stage of my journey begins (for anecdotal purposes) in the queue for passport control in Bangkok, Thailand. I had planned to meet a friend who had been travelling for the previous six months. We worked together back in the UK and are pretty good mates. Though as everyone knows, they say holidays with friends are the ultimate test of friendship. And this certainly was.
By Kirstyn Brook8 years ago in Wander
Mini Guide to Vacationing in Phuket
If you need a reason to travel to and explore the glorious Phuket, well, there sure are many more than just one. The most infamous party island in Thailand has a lot to offer – starting with great weather, friendly people, the amazing food; and you will be surprised with how many more hidden gems are there, waiting for you to explore, and all of this - without breaking a bank.
By Victoria Lim8 years ago in Wander
2 Friends in Tokyo...
I remember always fast-walking through the tunnels of the Paris subway, plunging into a run, slowing down, then sprinting out and twirling to avoid unnecessary contacts as I ended up fast-walking again. Once in front of the metro doors, I would shamelessly elbow people, looking straight ahead and very high above my nose like the truly disdainful Parisian I was. I sometimes wondered why people made such a fuss about French elegance, it was nothing more than a quick recipe of three: never care, always be in a hurry, and above all never queue!
By The European Experiment8 years ago in Wander
Ancient Civilization Within a Modern World
First some advice prior to departing your hometown; If you happen to be a social media addict like myself make sure and download a VPN so that while in China you can access your social media. Also, I would advise you look into downloading a translator app for your phone so that communication will be made a lot easier.
By Charmaine Harris Dunn8 years ago in Wander
Top 4 Places to Visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is not a place you want to skip when visiting Vietnam. The culture, food and people make this city a unique and exciting destination for all tourists. The sheer size and chaos of the city make it hard to choose the top locations to maximize your time. With this list you can explore the best this city has to offer based on your travel interests. The list has been broken down by top market, museum, pagoda and day trip.
By Amy Yes8 years ago in Wander
The Flying Kind
Ella Mason remembered how the world looked from the plane window thirty thousand feet above Korea’s capital. Looking back, she supposed she would always remember how the city lights had been carved into the darkness, running like veins. A low hum drifted through the dim light of the cabin. She remembered how the sound and the air coming from the vents above her head pressed into her skin. She was a small thing and the cold was beginning to reach her bones, it felt. Only, she wished that was the only thing that sent a shiver down her spine.
By Charlotte Humphrey8 years ago in Wander
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
“That twat Harry Kane is facking shit! If I were in charge I’d leave him behind. And that twat Alli ‘nd all!” By the time I arrived in Jagtial, John had been walking alone for almost 4 weeks and hadn’t told anyone how much he hated Harry Kane in that time. Poor fella must’ve been about to blow. It was plain to see his opinions on striker hadn’t changed since the last time I saw him. I had flown to Amsterdam on my own last summer to meet up with some friends but this was my first proper solo travelling experience. Jagtial is 4,858 miles away from Southport and it felt it after my first encounter with a couple of Indian blokes in broken English outside the room.
By Johnny Ball8 years ago in Wander
South Korea Living
When I Lived in South Korea For two years I lived in South Korea. As an American who never had been on a plane in her entire life (a whopping 21 years), it was culture shock. Luckily, because South Korea has many American military bases, the language barrier wasn't extreme, but it was still challenging. The Korean language is a beautiful language and as I attempted to educate myself on their language, I learned it was a difficult language as well.
By Nicole Owen8 years ago in Wander
The Autobiography of a Nobody Pt. 4
There was something strange about Thailand that stood out immediately to me, and once again it involved meal times. Every time we sat down to eat, whether it be at breakfast, lunch or dinner, we were never offered a knife. Everything we ate had to be with a fork and a spoon. I never did discover why this was, nor did I have a problem with it, but it was something odd worth noting. Imagine trying to eat your morning sausage and eggs with a spoon.
By Martyn Snow8 years ago in Wander