What is a legitimate reason to visit a country? My initial motivation in visiting Taiwan was as simple as my dream of seeing the Taipei 101, which used to be the World’s tallest building until 2010. Being only a hop-over away from around South-East Asia, I decided to spend a week on the island known... Continue Reading →

In March, I have taken a small break from motorcycle traveling and visited the Philippines. So many islands -- 7,600 in total, thereof 2,000 inhabited ones -- made it seem less practical to bring a motorcycle along. So I decided to leave the R on Borneo at a friend's place and took a very affordable... Continue Reading →

Malaysia is a developed, mixed-religion country of great hospitality. Within almost two months, I had the chance to experience its a beautiful seaside, fresh mountains, colonial architecture, delicious food and equatorial climate. Entering from Thailand and in the north of the Peninsula, I took the route: Penang Island — Cameron Highlands — Kuala Lumpur —... Continue Reading →

Bhutan makes it difficult for foreigners to enter their country — except for Indian nationals, a visa is required and usually bound to the obligation of spending a minimum of 200 US-dollars a day. That’s far above what I would usually spend in a day, and while traveling the North of India, Bhutan was not... Continue Reading →

As I came back into Thailand from the East, I heard about a famous English-speaking forest monastery, Wat Pah Nanachat, near the city of Ubon Ratchathani. Having completed a meditation retreat when in India and finding it useful, I was happy to hear about ‘spiritual’ places like this, where guests usually can stay for free.... Continue Reading →

"One of the World's Largest River Caves" is what Xe Bang Fai Cave in Central Laos is sometimes referred to. Having passages as large as 120 metres in width and 200 metres in height, while covering the Xe Bang Fai river for seven kilometres, is pretty big indeed — in fact, it’s so big that... Continue Reading →

  Only few did I know about Laos before coming there. “Buddha and Mountains” is the slogan you sometimes hear, alongside with the fact that Laotians are even more relaxed than other South-East Asian nationalities. Since I was in North Thailand already, I was planning to hop over to see the neighbouring country and to... Continue Reading →

  I have been lucky to come to Laos in October at the time of "Awk Phansa", the end of the three-month Buddhist lent. Somewhere between mid and end of October, on full-moon, there is celebrations all over the country, with people sending candles and little boats down the river (if available) and lanterns to... Continue Reading →

  Coming from East Myanmar, entering Thailand felt like a travel in time: Finding perfect-tarmac roads, highways, huge gas stations, Seven-Eleven supermarkets and bigger cities was something new after crossing the hilly areas of Myanmar, where population is less dense, and road conditions were challenging at times. Within the next few days, the major part... Continue Reading →

Connecting India and South-East Asia, Myanmar should be the next stop on my world trip. Since there have been military activities going on in some of the northern parts of the country, Myanmar has set some regulations that oblige you to book a guided tour when overlanding with a foreign vehicle. It was due to... Continue Reading →