Rainy Day Reads

If you need a reason to put Bangkok on your itinerary I have some good ones right here. Although it is hardly possible to avoid the capitol city of Thailand on any Asia trip, seeing as it is a major hub of transportation, with connections far and wide in the world. If you need convincing to brave the sweltering streets rather than enjoy the air-con in your hotel (provided you coughed up enough money to get an air-con room), have a look at these pictures and I think you will find yourself hitting the streets in no time! Bombard your senses with the colorful scenery around the city. No point in trying to make an easy transition when you first land, the city is full on from the get go, but you can find peaceful moments, espcially on the longs (canals) and at orchid farms.  While you're at it enjoy the local wildlife which is to be found everywhere, including your room sometimes! If you prefer animals without legs you can feed the local trouts...

In 2009 on my big Asia trip we also went to Halong Bay in Vietnam. It is situated in the north of Vietnam 160 km east of Hanoi. We went on a day trip from Hanoi. It should be easy to find an agency to book you a trip. As always watch out for tourist traps. It is of course hard to know until you are stuck in said trap whether or not a specific agency has conned you. But ask other travelers for recommendations and check reputable guide books/websites for reviews.   Halong Bay was according to legend created by a dragon coming from the mountains. It moved towards the ocean and along the way it carved out valleys and gouges with its tail and as it plunged into the sea, the area behind it filled up with water leaving only the tips of the gouged out landscape visible. These tips are what you see rising from the water today.  The bay was named a World Heritage Site in 1994, and the limestone islands, called karsts, dotted with grottoes fully deserve this designation....