Vietnam is one of the hottest travel destinations in the world these days. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism travelers from all over the world helped tourism grow there by an astonishing 34.8% in 2010! Its wonderful natural beauty, ancient traditions, and historical attractions are getting more and more attention of world travelers….
Last October while traveling in Cambodia my girlfriend and I met an extraordinary woman named Ponheary Ly. During the 1970’s the Khmer Rouge killed many of the country’s intellectuals and educators, including her father and thirteen other members of her family. Ponheary somehow miraculously survived, and later on she became a teacher herself, knowing that…
Of course no trip to Cambodia would be complete without visiting Siem Reap and the nearby temples of Angkor, but if travelers have the time they really shouldn’t overlook the capital city Phnom Penh, once known as the “Pearl of Asia”. And even though it has risen from the darkened ashes of war that took…
One of the reasons why so many people enjoy traveling to Southeast Asia as much as they do is because it truly is a photographer’s paradise. Even an amateur photographer armed with a decent point and shoot camera can easily get some great shots, because there are so many fascinating people, places and things to…
Myanmar is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and intriguing places in the world to visit. However, there is no denying that the military junta which has been in power since 1962 has committed countless human rights violations against its people and has prevented, at times through violent suppression, any sort of real political change…
Swamped with finishing up the last details for my upcoming and soon to be announced tour to Cambodia this coming February, I am re-posting this piece for those who might have missed it last year. Enjoy! I read George Orwell’s Burmese Days several years ago and remember it being a great albeit somewhat sad novel….
Bangkok is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to me. I love the food that Thailand is of course so famous for, the smiling people, the fantastic markets, the stunning Buddhist temples, and the fact that it is such a great travel hub for getting to just about anywhere else in Southeast…
I often hear through friends of mine who travel a fair amount and read in various travel industry articles that certain places in Vietnam and Cambodia are more and more becoming favored destinations for independent and small-group travelers to Southeast Asia. And I can certainly understand why they are gaining more attention from the well-traveled…
Some of Thailand’s southern islands have been premiere destinations for world travelers for decades now. And there are plenty of good reasons for that: beautiful, white sand beaches, friendly and hospitable locals, great diving and snorkeling, tasty cuisine, warm, clear waters, relative easy access from Bangkok, and a laid back atmosphere, all at reasonable prices…
As a kid whenever I thumbed through the collection of National Geographic magazines that my family had I was always amazed at how different and exotic so many of the other places in the world were. But the set of pictures that made the biggest, longest lasting impression on me during my childhood were the…
Several people have asked me for advice on travelling to Myanmar and what to expect, so given the recent announcement of my Discover Myanmar Tour I thought this would be a great time to write about a few of these things. Yes, Myanmar is definitely one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world…
I am very pleased to announce that TravelSherpaKeith.com is now officially a personalized, small group tour operator specializing in Southeast Asia along with being a full-service travel agency. As many of you already know I have been an avid traveler for decades, and I am a firm believer that travel can be a very positive,…
I read George Orwell’s Burmese Days several years ago and remember it being a great albeit somewhat sad novel. Other than that though the only thoughts and ideas that I had about Myanmar, which had officially been called Burma until 1989, were based on my limited knowledge of the very unfortunate political situation there and…
Well, Shelley and I arrived in Bangkok late Sunday night, and it’s been really great getting reacquainted with one of my favorite cities in the world. It was pretty much my home base for the two years that I spent vagabonding around Asia because of its charms and the fact that it is such an…
Ever have someone mention a travel destination that sounded really interesting, and you immediately wondered where in the world you could easily find some quick and dirty travel info on that place? Or perhaps you already have some places in mind that you would like to learn a little more about without having to go…