Do you think you can do 7,000 islands in 100 days, and for only $1,250 all-in? Considering that airfare and accommodations alone can bust budgets, that challenge seems a tall order. But of course, in the Philippines, a US dollar can go 40 (pesos) ways. It hasn’t been done before (and if it has been, […]

Pattaya is a popular seaside resort in Thailand, approximately 150 kilometers from Bangkok. It is quite easy to go to Pattaya, as it is conveniently connected to Bangkok via the Bang Na-Trat Highway (Highway 34), and through the Bangkok-Chon Buri-Pattaya Motorway (Highway 7). If your travel plans include going to Pattaya from Bangkok, you have […]

To understand any language, it would help to get a picture of the geography of the country it is spoken in. You must already know by now that the Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands spread over three major island groups – Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao (Northern, Central and Southern Philippines, respectively).  So […]

The Christmas holiday celebrations in Southeast Asian countries may be a little different from the festivities that are observed in other parts of the world. The way this festive occasion is observed will depend on the religion/s of a given country – you can expect to see more Christmas celebrations and decorations in countries where […]

Constitution Day is celebrated every year on the 10th of December in Thailand, and commemorates the advent of the country’s Constitutional Monarchy. This public holiday dates back to 1932 – a time when Thailand (then called Siam) experienced great upheaval that ultimately resulted to the end of the absolute power of the monarchy. The start […]

Filipino cuisine is influenced by more than 300 years of Spanish colonization, and the country’s long-established trade relations with China before the arrival of Spaniards. In Southern Philippines, the choice of food is dictated by faith and nuanced by spices from neighboring countries. Filipino dishes are also characterized by sometimes huge regional variation in preferences […]

There are only two ways to describe the Philippines weather: wet and dry. The location of the Philippines relative to the equator makes it a tropical country, an asset to any destination that is blessed with world-class beaches. The county’s weather pattern is also influenced by the prevailing winds, which makes weather forecasting a sometimes […]

The Chinese New Year celebrations are considered to be the most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays and festivities. This event starts on the first day of the first month according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar (a calendar where dates indicate both the moon phase, and the time of the solar year); the celebration […]

Malaysia has numerous public holidays, which are divided into two categories: national and state. National holidays are applicable to, and observed by, by all the states in the country; state holidays may apply to just one or a few states. In addition, school holidays and weekends may be observed differently in the conservatively Muslim states […]

Malacanang, the seat of the Philippine government, has announced this early that there are 16 holidays to look forward to in 2013. There are 10 regular holidays and 6 special non-working holidays. One special (working) holiday was announced for schools. Because the Philippines also has a significant Muslim population in Mindanao, the observance of Eid’l […]

Every year on November 30th, Filipinos celebrate the birth anniversary of Andrés Bonifacio, the plebeian revolutionary who led the Philippines’ war for independence against Spanish colonial rule. For reasons deeply rooted in history, Andrés Bonifacio’s heroic contribution to the revolution is celebrated on his birthday rather than on the day of his death, as in the […]

Preparing for your trip to Malaysia should include making sure that you have all of the necessary entry requirements and visas (where applicable). This preparation will prevent you from encountering any difficulties as you arrive in Malaysia. The information given below came from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, and should be used as a guide […]