John Saboe's Far East Travels

Live From The CNY Market in Taipei, Taiwan! More background on the festivities of Lunar New Year in Taiwan and Taipei, This past week many people received their Chinese New Year bonus, which can be up to the equivalent of 30% of a person's yearly salary. Needless to say the stores have been busy and of course were ready. But many will also wait until after the New Year before they start spending. Young people look forward to Chinese New Year and the hong bao they will receive, "lucky money", in red envelopes from parents and senior people of the family. Thanks so much for listening! If you missed the live broadcast and have questions about travel in Asia feel free to forward them to me at john@fareasttravels.com or follow and message me on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/ or https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/. This podcast relies on listeners just like you for support! Unlock exclusive content by becoming a patron of Far East Travels! Visit my Patreon page to find out more:ht

A recent viewer from my YouTube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/c/JohnSaboefareastadventuretravel, asked about eating at food carts in Vietnam versus eating establishments or restaurants. I think food carts can be just as safe to eat at as restaurants, in some cases even better! Especially if you think about the restaurants that have huge menus with dishes that might not be ordered as frequently as other items, upping the possibility of bad or spoiled food. In this episode I give suggestions on what to look for when choosing which food cart to eat from. But I should also mention those restaurants you should be careful of that have an endless list of menu items, and buffets, be very careful of buffets. As I live in Asia and travel frequently here I personally rarely get sick, in fact I'v e only been sick 2-3 times in 10 years and those incidents all took place in South Asia. I also don't eat meat or dairy products. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy those things. You just need to be more cautious being aw

What cities should I include on my trip to Vietnam is the most common question I’m asked when discussing traveling in the country, especially when people are planning their south to north or north to south trip. This itinerary is from my 2016 six week trip. There may be some areas or cities you would want to add or subtract based on your interests. For example there aren’t really any opportunities to visit caves on this itinerary like Son Doong cave in Quang Bing Province or Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park where you can not only see some impressive caves but also have a chance at wildlife encounters with Gibbons and Macques. But this itinerary could easily be condensed to approximately 2-3 weeks. Hope you find the suggestions helpful and if you have any other questions send me an email to john@fareastravels.com and I will do my best to answer them. You can also connect with me on Facebook either with the Far East Adventure Travel or John Saboe Official pages. Help others discover the podcast by writing a revi

Dihua Street Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year Market is the biggest one of it's kind in Taipei, Taiwan. The street is closed off to pedestrian traffic exclusively and each side of the street is lined with stalls selling speciality food items for the holiday. This market starts 2 weeks prior to CNY every year-this year the Lunar New Year falls on February 5th-The Year Of The Pig. Chinese New Year in The People's Republic Of China can be extremely hectic and exhausting for it's citizens with an estimated 2.9 billion trips taking place during CNY and The Spring Festival. It's the biggest migration of humans on the planet! Taiwanese are very lucky with traveling back to their hometown usually lasting no more than a few hours. Taipei itself becomes quiet during the holidays with the the exception of the main temples, which are visited by the thousands hourly, especially on the first day of the New Year. One listener asked the question are there expats in Taiwan? Yes of course, I mentioned that many expats in Ta

Continuing short form podcasts that answer your travel questions. I was asked by a loyal listener from Park City, Utah what are some activities to do that would be off the tourist trail in the Taiwan cities of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taipei. Here are the links for resources that will give you further descriptions of where I recommended. Included here are the Hayashi Department Store, Tainan Martial Arts Building, and Sicao Green Tunnel For Tainan:https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3272288Tainan-Wushantou Reservoirhttps://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002119&id=R106Kaohsiung-Monkey Mountain-Soushan National Park,Qishan:https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3272288Love River Kaohsiung:https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sno=0002121&id=625Taipei-Songshan Cultural Park:https://www.songshanculturalpark.org/cms/en/index.aspxZhongshan Chifeng Street:https://english.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=4FF938C7E036410F&sms=A03DD346DED13796&s=8FE674D8E78D4A1ADongmen(Qintian Street/Japanese Houses-https://ud

I'm starting a short-form version of the podcast with a question/answer format. Send me your questions about travel in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. Whether it's ziplining in Laos, trekking in Nepal, finding a place for great pad thai in Bangkok, or where to go for awesome (shui jian bao, dumpling buns), in Taipei. Send me your questions to either john@fareasttravels.com, johnsaboesfareasttravels on Instagram, or Far East Adventure Travel or John Saboe Official on Facebook.This week's question comes from Orange via Instagram and Orange wanted to more about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal, especially what it would be like to trek in June. Thanks so much for listening! You can help others discover the podcast by writing a positive review in the iTunes Store. Follow this link to get started:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2

Starting in January 2019 I will be going live on Spreaker(app & desktop) and Periscope and opening up discussions on travel topics. This week discussing Lonely Planet's top 10 Destinations for Countries and Cities in 2019 and their Asian picks. I always look forward to seeing LP's destination picks every year and there was one surprise for me and one I'm so grateful they chose.For cities Shenzhen, China was a bit of a surprise being mostly a place to go to do tech business. Shenzhen is considered the Silicon Valley of Asia. Still according to LP they have a nightlife comparable to Hong Kong but less costly. Shenzhen is one of the easiest cities to visit in China now with a visa attainable at their port by most nationals , except USA and India, on arrival. Now that the high speed train from Hong Kong to Shenzhen is fully operational travel time is a mere 15 minutes. I was very happy to see Kathmandu on the list of recommended destinations for 2019 as the city and country still need alot of help in order to

I have been enjoying The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year for several years now in Asia. It has become my most looked forward to celebration just because that's what everyone else looks forward to here, at least in East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. I have seen so many wonderful festivals that take place around CNY and I have been fortunate enough to have had invitations for New Year's eve dinners so my experience of CNY is quite complete except for the fact that I didn't grow up with it so it is not naturally my instinctive holiday season. Nevertheless I have experienced great joy celebrating with others and seeing some of the best festivals and rituals on the planet. In the episode I listed several festivals I've attended in Taiwan including The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, and The Taiwan and Taipei Lantern Festivals. If you're coming to Asia during the Chinese New Year and you will be either in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong Macau, or Malaysia or Singapore, you will

Have you made New Year's resolutions that include new and exciting travel plans? Awesome! What's holding you back? I see so many people talking themselves out of traveling until one day when they come into a windfall then go overboard and are let down by the whole experience. In this episode I talk briefly about traveling in Asia, costs, options, and why it's so important when you first start traveling, or haven't traveled in awhile to bite off a little bit at a time. Maybe visit one city as part of a first time trip to Asia, or if you haven't traveled in a few years and are trying to get your travel legs back. Also in this episode, a few general travel questions from some of my Periscope followers. Thanks so much for listening. You can support the podcast for as little as $2/month by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content along with other offers. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

After spending a week in the rapidly growing Ho Chi Minh City more thoughts on the future of this megalopolis of Southern Vietnam. District 7 and 2 are expat enclaves with modern shopping facilities along with Western style restaurants and shopping. I think there are even more Western tourists along with visitors from across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. It has been just as interesting to watch the rapid growth of Saigon as it has to study the historical sites as well as getting to know the traditional markets and local food/restaurants. I'm hopeful the new MRT/train system will improve the traffic congestion and air quality in the area bringing a better quality of commute and lifestyle to locals. Thanks so much for listening! I would love to get your feedback on the podcast. What cities or countries are you most interested in? Send me an email to john@fareasttravels.com. Or connect with me on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/Help

In this latest broadcast from Ho Chi Minh City I’m coming to you from Cafe Vy near The Ben Thanh Market. I believe there is even a greater presence of Western tourists then 2 years ago. This city is definitely prepared with lots of amenities and a young workforce, one of the youngest and biggest on the planet per capita, that is capable of basic English speaking skills. The Vietnamese government recently reported their biggest year over year GDP growth in 11 years at 7.7%. When you look around this city, and I mean all of the districts, it’s pretty clear HCMC is growing at breakneck speed. I’m excited to be here and look forward to sharing at least one more episode before I depart.

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Christmas Eve not expecting as many Christmas decorations and a vibrant acknowledgement of the holiday as I’ve noticed. Most Vietnamese don’t view the holiday as anything more than a fun time of year. Tet is the most important holiday in Vietnam and in 2019 it falls on February 5th, which will be the Year Of The Pig. It’s Vietnam’s Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year. Of course being the holiday week there is a strong presence of foreigners, in particular Westerners in the city and I’m excited to be here and share some new discoveries with you.

People often ask me what it's celebrating Christmas is like in Asia. Depending on which part of Asia you are located in it can feel as exuburent as anywhere in the West or other than commercial displays that offer fancing lighting and gigantic trees quite alientating. Christmas if it, along with Christianity had a chance to be established by a Western nation like Great Britain during colonization, then you'll find a pretty spirited atmosphere of Christmas. If however you are located in a region or nation that was not colonized by a Western country at one time, there are exceptions, than you will feel nothing more than a recognition of the holiday similar to Halloween. Fun, but a lack of striving to be kinder, or more giving or compassionate with no religuous association to the season. As I said in this episode of the podcast, it's a matter of adjusting your expectations of the season and finding that spirit in the local cultural festivals that offer a similiar kind of atmosphere we Westerners associate with C

Continuing with tips and advice for finding accommodations in East/Southeast Asia. The biggest piece of advice I will pass on is to make sure you have your room booked at least a few days in advance of a weekend. This wasn't so much of a problem at one time but now with the huge emerging middle class of Southeast Asia it's best to have your weekend accomodations in place by midweek. Check in advance with your guesthouse, hostel, or hotel and let them know you'll be staying on through the weekend. In some cases the rates might be higher for the Saturday night, like in Sapa, Vietnam. Because so many people travel on the weekend in Taiwan you absolutely must have your accommodations prebooked, along with train tickets. In Japan, they don't like surprises so make sure all of your accommodations are booked ahead of your arrival. In Southeast Asia this isn't a problem and sometimes worth it so book on the spot.Support the podcast:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite A Review:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podca

In this episode I talk about finding accommodations in East Asia And Southeast Asia. First off the couple of oddities that you may not be used to, one of which are hotels or hostels that only occupy one or two floors of a building. Secondly the Capsule Hotels, which became famous in Japan but are now seen in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. If you're not familiar with them they are basically an elongated large cubby hole that can fit an average size person. Stacked on top of each other to maximize space and the amount of travellers a place can accommodate. Not ideal for couples or families but singles will find them easy on the budget compared with regular hotels, especially in Japan. Agoda.com and Air BnB are my two favorite apps to help me with booking along with Lonely Planet Guides. LP Guides are very helpful for finding an area where I will find similar accommodations to their recommendations. Southeast Asia is still one of the best places in the world for finding reasonably priced accommodations making it a h

The Gibbon Project in my opinion is one of the most exciting adventure and wildlife experiences in Asia. It's not like Laos's Gibbon Experience, where you zipline through the forest and stay in treehouses for a completely immersive jungle adventure, with an opportunity to hear wild gibbon singing and the off chance of seeing one at a distance. The Gibbon Project of Ratanakiri Province gets you up close to wild gibbon in their natural environment. The closest anywhere on the planet! In this episode I explain how do get to Banlung, where you can book your Gibbon Project adventure and interview one of the researchers who was one of the first of the team that habituated this wild family of gibbon to human activity. Find out more about The Gibbon Project:http://www.gibbonspottingcambodia.comSupport The Far East Travels Podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content, live chat, and more! Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsHelp others discover the podc

Phnom Penh is changing rapidly with modern development and investment taking over some neighborhoods. In this podcast I wanted to share briefly the Russian Market or Toul Tom Poung area as many visiting foreigners may find it interesting. Although the neighborhood is becoming gentrified there are still lots of signs of traditional Khmer culture and you must go say hi to Mr. Bounnerath at his Best Coffee in Phnom Penh coffee shop inside the Russian Market. Trendy bars, restaurants, the"hipster" area will probably give you a sense of comfort with lots of expats that live in the area hanging out at the local establishments. Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to pack up and move to Phnom Penh. I also forgot to mention that you must visit the National Museum Of Cambodia when during your stay in the capital. This is where they keep alot of artifacts that were found in the Angkor Wat Temples and the buildings themselves are beautiful. As I mentioned in the podcast it's really easy to walk away from Cambodia with

This podcast relies on support from listeners like you! Become a patron and get access to exclusive while supporting production and travel expenses. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsHappy Thanksgiving to everyone in the USA! Other than expats you won't find anyone celebrating Thanksgiving in Asia but you will see signs of Christmas almost everywhere at this time of year. In this episode of the podcast I run through the regions letting you know what to expect in the way of Christmas celebrations. Many travelers often ask me if they will see Christmas trees, decorations, etc. while they're on holidays in Asia over the Christmas season. Depending on where you land it will be either celebrated only in a commercial way, like at hotels or shopping malls. Or a true religious holiday like in The Philippines or parts of India, like Kerala or Goa. Mostly in East Asia and Southeast Asia you will be exposed to a Christmas season although it won't have the same holiday s

My apologies for being silent over the last couple of weeks. I have been knee-deep in video editing of my Everst Base Camp Trek which as well encompasses processing the experience of the trip. I said to my friends who had accompanied me on the trek that it would take some time, weeks or months to fully process the experience. Especially since it was their first trip to Asia and trekking in the Himalaya. For me, even though I have trekked to Everest Base Camp before and visited the country multiple times it is still a process to relive those amazing moments. Realizing, especially with how video can make you appreciate the context of it all, what you've just seen and accomplished can be overwhelming. It's like that for any trip or adventure, especially so if there is a huge contrast in culture and geography from where you live. That is what I wanted to touch on briefly in this podcast. It's important to allow yourself time to accept what you've just experienced. This is why travel is such an amazing mechanism

Typhoons can have a devastating impact on Taiwan and other countries in Asia/Pacific. As I record this podcast Typhoon Yutu having had a devastating effect on Northern Philippines was leaving the region but leaving lots of precipitation behind in Taiwan. For Taiwanese, typhoons are a normal part of life, during the season between June and November. I talk about some of my past typhoon experiences. For travellers as long as you stay indoors and take advice from locals you'll usually be only inconvenienced for anywhere from a few hours to maybe a day depending on the severity of the typhoon. Hundreds of flights can be cancelled so it could cost you a day or two on your way out, or possibly a delay arriving.Thanks so much for listening to the podcast. You can help others discover the podcast by simply writing a positive review in the iTunes Store! Go the the Far East Travels page, click Ratings and Reviews, rate the podcast out of 5 starts then click Write A Review. Once you've done that send me a message to joh