Asia Travel Stories

Coping with Thailand's Tightened Visa Regulations A sudden tightening of Thailand's Tourist Visa regulations will send tens of thousands of long-term travelers out of its borders over the next four months, including Nola L. Kelsey.	Wat Pho in Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand Vasudev Murthy cleverly dodges several scam artists en route to various Buddhist temples in Bangkok.

Suntan Laotian - Laos John M. Edwards becomes bronzed as a Buddha in Laos.	Going to New Delhi: A Word to the Uninitiated...Particularly Female - New Delhi, India For a first-time international traveler, Debbie Sealey learns, diving into the chaotic madness of New Delhi, India, is probably not the most gentle of introductions to other forms of lifestyle and culture.
The Draw of India: Beauty and Ugliness - India Tom Muller discovers that in India, the people, not the sites, are the real draws.	Please Pass the Gonads - Vietnam Joe Reynolds describes his instant, easy relationship with Tong, his new, nineteen-year-old friend. He recalls the vivid memory he has when he turned to wave one last time as he said goodbye to Tong and his warm and generous Vietnamese family.
The Skyclad Jain Monks - India Manuela Pop and her husband experienced a spiritual event that turned out to be a very enriching and deeply spiritual experience. It changed their perception of Indian religions forever.	A Thai Tour Of The Simolan and Surin Islands - Thailand Craig Bullock is slightly unsure what the 100 odd people will think when three Farangs - the only Farangs - turn up for a tour advertised in a local Bangkok newspaper that includes scuba diving on some of the top dive sites in the world.
Imagining Bangladesh - Dhaka, Bangladesh Andrew Morris sees his relationship with Bangladesh as an arranged marriage, like the local custom in which, rather than falling in love at first sight, you are first introduced to your partner, get married, and then learn to love over the years	American Pilgrim - Jammu and Kashmir, India Months later, CM Brown still wonders what he saw in that cave, how he got there and whether he even liked it, but he knows he needs to figure it all out.

The Used Car Ferry - Sea of Japan Although Rowena Lambert initially questioned her decision to take a boat from Fushiki to Vladivostok based on the strange process involved and the sketchy travellers on board, she was glad she did.	Buses in Myanmar - Yangon to Mandalay, Myanmar Seth Bourget advises travelers to stay off the buses in Myanmar - for reasons that are not always obvious.
Eye Love Shopping - Beijing, China Can you see yourself getting excited about shopping for prescription glasses? Lynne Reynolds found a market that did just that.	Insane About a Dog - India Colin Todhunter's not-quite-canine travel companion, Chester, gets plenty of attention on a trip to India. Chester, however, couldn't care less.
Highest Road - Ladakh, India S. Spots journeys over the highest motorable pass in the world.	Morning walk on Silom - Bangkok, Thailand As a westerner, Barry Manners was taught at school and at home to understand, not just to learn. But that's not Thai.
In the Shadow of Progress - Kaifaqu, Yantai City, Shandong Province, China Colin Peters learns that as China advances, buoyed by the strength of its labour market, the futures of its children are systematically bull-dozed and buried beneath mounds of orange dirt.	Choose Your Own Adventure - Delhi, India Nicole Trilivas sees both sides of Delhi, and warns travelers to choose their adventures wisely - they just might find what they seek.

Escaping the City - Dhaka, Bangladesh Four more days of this before Andrew Morris heads home. But whoâ€™s counting?	The Buses of Rajasthan - Pushkar to Ajmer, India With eight months of long-distance public transport travel experience in India, Sheli Snir describes this particular ride as the one she will never, ever forget.