Posts by: James D

After my first few trips to Laos, I walked away with the impression that Lao food was far less tasty than food in neighboring Thailand, and Thailand certainly has a reputation that is hard to compete with. But now having spent a little bit more time in the country, I find myself gaining a healthy …

The first time I came to Vientiane, Laos, it seemed a boring place, not to mention a bit pricy compared to the rest of Southeast Asia. And I couldn’t wait to move on. Now, after four years of life in Thailand and having spent a total of a month in a half in this city …

While traveling in Thailand or Laos, you may very well have come across the famous photo of a large group of American soldiers holding up what is supposed to be a dead specimen of a giant snake. Rumor has it the picture is a hoax; to locals, it is photographic evidence of the Naga, a …

As an American-born individual, the most interesting part of traveling in Vietnam, for me, was the history between my country and this one. It’s no secret to most that there was a long, bloody, and extremely controversial war fought between our countries, and to many Americans, especially the ones that grew up during that era, …

By far one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth can be savored while sitting on the deck of a boat in “Descending Dragon Bay,” otherwise known as Halong Bay, off the coast of North Vietnam. A beautiful ocean landscape, Halong Bay is riddled with the kind of limestone karsts you find jutting out of …

If you read our recent article about what seems to many to be a cultural propensity for scamming foreigners in Vietnam, you already know that if you do plan to go there you can expect to be cheated, overcharged, constantly touted, and possible even intimidated and abused. I personally still think a visit to Vietnam …

Talk to people who have visited Vietnam and you often get mixed reviews. Even some of the most seasoned of travelers come to spend time in this fascinating country and report harsher treatment than in any other Southeast Asian country. So, what’s really going on? Are those who have issues just sensitive travelers used to …

If you’re new on the traveling circuit, particularly in Southeast Asia, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to hit you when you get off the plane and charge up your bowels with some out of this world spices is the toilet situation. And believe me, after your first couple dishes of the delicious food from …

If you’ve read a lot of my articles, you probably know that I am big on getting off the tourist track and seeing some “authentic” local living—because in my experience, a lot of travelers see a candied up, worn out, and expensive side of the countries they visit. I could go on all day with …

In one of my recent articles, I talked about the Thai taboo of touching people’s heads, and today I want to talk about the complete opposite—the human foot. While the head is considered a sacred part of the human body, the foot is considered the dirtiest (as it probably is) and also the least sacred. …