SE 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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	Of Gentle Giants and Lights - Donsol, Sorsogon, Philippines Christine Wuthrich finds that swimming with whale sharks and being surrounded by fireflies make for some pretty amazing travel memories.
Hanoi Heaven - Hanoi, Vietnam Christine Wuthrich takes a girls' holiday with four friends in Hanoi, and it surpasses all her expectations.	Bangkok Blues - Bangkok, Thailand John M. Edwards finds no bang for the baht.

Misery in Bangkok - Chatachuk and Banglamphu - Bangkok, Thailand Vasudev Murthy survives a guesthouse room full of dead bees, several wrong turns, closed markets and long walks through the rain in Bangkok - all with remarkably good humor.	Ghost Lights in the Mangroves - Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, Malaysia All conditions had aligned to make the night perfect, to make this small trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Juha Uitto.
The 'Real Thai Experience' and All That Comes With It - Thailand Iona Hansell learns that sometimes, the 'real' experience isn't the one you are actually looking for.	Creeping Loneliness in Thailand - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand A random act of kindness changes Ellen Peneski delicate balance of alone versus lonely in Thailand.
My Vietnam - Vietnam Victoria Adams heads to Vietnam to meet the child she has sponsored for years.	Manila Music - Paosig, Metro Manila, Philippines Juha Uitto speculates on why the Filipinos are possibly the most musically talented people on the planet.
The Bangkok Gem Shock - Bangkok, Thailand Dave Holcroft relives his gem scam experience in the hope that no other backpacker makes the same mistake, plus it is an interesting tale.	How I Got My Voice (and My Groove) Back - Ubud, Bali, Indonesia Ubud remains a magnet of creativity, attracting not only painters, sculptors, musicians and dancers but also yoginis, healers, priestesses, goddess worshippers and writers from all over the world.

The Bamboo Train in Battambang - Cambodia Joe Ehrlich gets a ride on a Bamboo Train and hopes a "real" train doesn't come the other way.	Romance and Retirement - Chiang Mai, Thailand According to George Dowhan, Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular retirement destinations in all of South Asia.