Thailandโs Loy Krathong or as itโs also known โfestival of lightsโ is a sight to behold. Find out about this colourful festival and when it takes place here.
Author
Tom Armstrong
Tom Armstrong
Tom Armstrong is one of the founding members of Asia specialist travel company Experience Travel Group, having first fallen in love with Sri Lanka in 1999. He was in the country at the time of the 2004 tsunami, which prompted him to found the Aid Sri Lanka Foundation. His other ventures have included lettuce-farming, beanbag-weaving and setting up The Mudhouse, an eco-resort in the Sri Lankan jungle. These days, he looks after our in-country experience, sourcing partners and trying all new product (i.e. visiting new hotels and sampling new experiences - it's a hard life). Tom is based in Sri Lanka and Thailand, but he is notorious for never staying in one place. Don't even try to keep up with where he is!
-
The food from Laos, a Southeast Asian country located between Thailand and Vietnam, is a cuisine we generally hear very little about. Laotian cuisine deserves to be appreciated for its …
-
There is a lot of choice when it comes to luxury hotels in Phuket. Here ETG Co-founder Tom details what he looks for in a luxury hotel and those that …
-
A natural phenomenon, learn all you need to know about The Elephant Gathering in Sri Lanka, from the Sri Lanka travel specialists.
-
Eco Lodges offer guests a much deeper insight into a destination and can make the difference between a good holiday and an unforgettable experience. From the inclusion of local communities, …
-
Curious to know when to try your favourite tropical fruits in Sri Lanka? Discover when you’ll get the best coconuts, mangoes, bananas and more, and how to best enjoy them.
-
As one of the co-founders of Experience Travel Group I have performed almost every role in the company at some point along our journey; from very simple beginnings in Sri …
-
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaThe Maldives
Culture in the Maldives: new flight route to Gan Island
If you thought that a visit to the Maldives meant sacrificing local culture, think again. Gan Island, the most southerly point in The Maldives, has recently become considerably more accessible …
-
Co-founder of Experience Travel Group, Tom Armstrong, discovered the hidden riches of Malaysia. On an in-depth research trip, he found some fantastic experiences you could include in your holiday, the …
-
Nestled in the dense forests of Ulu Muda forest, The Earth Lodge is one of the most unique and remote lodges in all of Southeast Asia. It provides an adventure …
-
A temporary checkpoint on the land border between Thailand and Burma is to be converted into a permanent border crossing this week. The crossing connects Sing Khon in Thailand (accessible …
-
Sad news from Vietnam, where the WWF and other wildlife and conservation organisations have announced that they believe the last remaining Vietnamese Rhino has been poached. The Javan Rhino had …
-
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Colombo – Matara Expressway & Highway open at last!
Sri Lanka has opened its first highway! We have reported the ongoing delays and complications a few times in this blog over the past 18 months, but now the time …
-
The grand opening of Sri Lanka’s first highway, between Colombo and Matara, has been postponed until December 2011. The highway (also known as the Southern Lanka Express Highway or simply …
-
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaSri Lanka
Sri Lankan Wild Elephant Population Larger Than Expected
A recent survey of Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population has revealed some welcome news concerning growth in numbers. Contrary to what many had expected, it is now thought that the …
-
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaSri Lanka
Pro Surfing event returns to Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay in August/September 2011
Sri Lankaโs eastern coastal resort Arugam Bay plays host for the second consecutive year, to the โSriLankan Pro Surf 2011โ – one of the worldโs top-rated surfing events, as part …
-
Renovations on the Galle-Matara section of Sri Lanka’s train line have been completed. This stretch of track had been closed since last August for the upgrades. February 16th is the …
-
Thailand has announced plans to temporarily close dozens of dive and marine park sites on the Andaman coast in a bid to halt coral bleaching. The seas around the Andaman …
-
Earlier this month villagers in Cambodia’s central Kandal province celebrated the wedding of two pythons in an unusual ceremony that saw large female python Chamroeun married to her smaller mate, …
-
Caroline Russell has just returned from a long-anticipated two week holiday in Sri Lanka. She very kindly put together the following account of her trip for us to add to …
-
We’re a bit late reporting on this one but it’s still worth mentioning for those of you visiting Thailand this week and next (and in the weeks following too). From …
-
Regular readers of this blog will have noticed that some of the contributors have a natural bias toward food-orientated stories. From the start of our very first adventures in Asia, …
-
The sprawling metropolis of urban Bangkok, with its crowded downtown skyline and sprawling, dense suburbs is best truly appreciated from above. Fortunately, many of the city’s taller buildings are home …
-
Latest Travel News and Views from AsiaSri LankaSustainable Travel
Dilemmas in the development of tourism in Sri Lanka
We reproduce here a letter which was published in the Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) concerning some of the challenges the government and tourism industry faces as it evolves in the …
-
The following articles were written by Somtow Sucharitkul, a well known writer, musician and social commentator, and offer an angle on Thailand’s recent troubles not widely reported in the mainstream …
There is a strong tipping culture in Sri Lanka; wages are low so itโs an important additional way of making money. Of course, tips should be earned for good service …
Coming off the back of a whirlwind few days in Kolkata city, my trip to Odisha in east India started through fatigued eyes and on achy legs. Landing at night …
Having lived in Bangkok on and off for the past 7 years, Iโve thought quite a bit about the current constitutional crisis within Thailand. Iโm not really qualified to offer …
The Sayaboury Elephant Festival will takes place between 17-19 February 2012. The town in approximately four hours drive from Luang Prabang but it is also possible to travel some of …
It was with some excitement that I returned to Vietnamโs Phu Quoc Island, four years after my only previous visit. Resting in the Gulf Of Thailand, Phu Quoc is, geographically …
Hanoi, one of Asia’s most iconic and enigmatic cities will celebrate its 1000th birthday in October 2010. Visitors will be treated to an array of performance and festivities across the …