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SE Asia 2024

March - May 2024
  • Nancy and Doug Trips
Our DIY tour of this fascinating region introduced us to many cultures, diverse traditions and interesting, mostly delicious, foods. We visited Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines. Read more
  • Nancy and Doug Trips
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List of countries

  • Philippines Philippines
  • Singapore Singapore
  • Malaysia Malaysia
  • Indonesia Indonesia
  • Vietnam Vietnam
  • Cambodia Cambodia
  • Thailand Thailand
  • Show all (9)
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Couple, Culture, Sightseeing, Vacation
  • 42.7kkilometers traveled
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  • Flight39.9kkilometers
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  • 141footprints
  • 65days
  • 1.5kphotos
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  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Our customized guidebook

    Planning

    March 4, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    Knew we wanted our next big trip to be Asia and booked the points tickets outbound and return a year in advance. We did reading and research to narrow down the countries/cities to visit and then kicked into gear in the fall after coming back from our fall visit to Toronto . More research, then booking 20 flights or trains,, 19 hotels, etc. and we are now pretty well organized with a 200-page custom guidebook. Made a few bookings, especially for some cooking classes and food tours.
    Several visas applied for and received and advanced customs forms or phone apps to configure, so are all set for smooth encounters with officialdom, we hope!
    Have had to review our packing list as we insist on traveling carry-on only, but the regional airlines have standard carry-on limits of 7kg. We have purchased upgrades to 14kg combined carry-on and personal item where possible. I really hope we can avoid ever checking a bag.    Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Ready to board in YVR
    BA Terraces in SEAGate S15 in SEA for flight to NaritaNancy likes the high lifeAppetizers from the Japanese set menuSet entree of Black Cod and Ginger Beef

    On our way

    March 5, 2024, Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia ⋅ 🌙 2 °C

    We planned to spend two nights in Vancouver visiting with family but our initial WestJet flight was cancelled due to lack of crew and we were rebooked the next morning at 0700 hrs. Kelowna-Victoria-Vancouver. Fortunately for us mechanical concerns forced a stop in Vancouver and we were able to disembark. We helped Jan with some set up tasks in her new apartment, had a nice dinner at the Keg and Uber'ed to the Sandman Hotel at YVR (good value, quiet and comfortable). Their shuttle took us to the airport at 0430 hrs. for our 0600 hr. flight to SEA with Alaska Airlines. Any anxiety about only leaving 75 minutes before our flight was relieved by a virtually deserted airport. We had a smooth flight, and a 5 hour layover partly spent in the lounge before our Japan Airlines flight. JAL Business Class provided a exceptional and memorable experience with lay flat seats, highly attentive service and a gourmet menu. We arrived at 15:00 hrs. into Narita Airport, Tokyo. Clearing Immigration and customs took a few minutes requiring digital photos and fingerprinting. The train ticket office was pretty busy (cash only and withdrawal from a Seven Bank ATM was seamless). We caught a 16:47 Sky Access direct train and got to our hotel at 18:15 hrs.Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Arrival Narita Airport Tokyo
    View up road to Tokyo Tower1Food court under Tokyo Tower for 1st dinner in Japan 1280 yenSelect the meal and pay with cash

    Tokyo Layover

    March 6, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We stayed overnight at the Richmond Hotel a few blocks from Daimon train exit. Although we were rather tired and it was chilly out, it was not raining, so we took a walk up to see Zojo-Ji Temple and Tokyo Tower. We hoped to return to the temple the next morning as it was too dark to really see anything. Tokyo Tower had a basic food court, and we ordered a Ramen dish and paid through a vending machine, and then sat at a counter. Spice level 2/5 was certainly hot enough! Tasty, basic and did the trick. Tucked in 2100 hrs Tokyo time (0400 hrs PST).Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Zojo-ji Sange Datsumon Gate
    1Main Hall with Amida BuddhaAnkokudenCare Guardian Deities of Children

    Zojo-ji Temple

    March 7, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    We walked around the outside of Shiba Park last night on the way to Tokyo Tower, so we went back to see the temples this morning. Impressive, at one time home to 48 temples, grammar schools and 3,000 Buddhist monks. We took the nearby Monorail 20 minutes to Tokyo's main airport, Haneda, and went to the airport lounge for breakfast in preparation for our 6 hour flight to Bangkok.Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024

    Haneda airport to Bangkok

    March 7, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Haneda Airport is very nice and more updated than Narita. Washrooms at the airport were quite deluxe …., in fact Nancy overheard English speaking women in booths adjacent trying to figure out the multitude of signs in the booth. Waterfall and bird sounds played as you approached the toilet! This was the first of many interesting observations about public toilets in SE Asia. There was also a urinal booth and squat toilet booth.

    Another enjoyable flight on JAL Business Class with an amazing set Japanese appetizer tray. Arrival in BKK was actually a few minutes early. On approach into BKK one could see agricultural land almost all the way to the airport.    Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Breakfast spread at Saran Poshtel

    Bangkok & Saran Poshtel

    March 7, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 32 °C

    Immigration was busy but moved along quickly, and we met our pre-booked car service outside arrivals. The car service price was the same as two coach bus tickets, and were dropped off right at our door after a one hour trip in rush hour traffic. It had been 6° C in Tokyo so 36° C in Bangkok was a huge change. Six lane elevated highways with many motorcycles weaving in and out; not for the faint of heart to drive a motorbike here and some are without helmets! We turned onto a street with a major dig going on but were relieved to see the Saran Poshtel was down a quiet street. Quite new, the room's air conditioner working well thankfully. Had a brief nap then walked out our street and found a Hong Kong noodle place. We noted sidewalks/streets are similar to Mexico with many possibility of falls and trips. Note to self - must stop and gawk, not walk and gawk! After showers we slept reasonably well, up at 0500 hrs. and went for a freshly prepared omelet for breakfast in the lobby.Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    1Aboard the canal boatCow Niew Bin sticky rice, taro, pandan leaf wrapped in banana leaf and grilledTwo of these and a coffee are the staple breakfast for workers here1First Tuk Tuk ride, after two it was enough!

    Old Siam Food Tour by A Chef's Tour

    March 8, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    We were joining a tour at the Big C Mall, so caught a Grab and the first thing inside the door is a Timmies!

    We had decided to do "A Chef's Tour of Old Siam" as our first Bangkok outing as it included the experience of moving through the city, as well as giving us an edge or ordering something other than Pad Thai! Our guide Annie did the talking while her assistant Om arranged for our table, did the ordering and organized transportation making it a very seamless experience. First stop: a canal boat ride from Hua Chang Bridge Pier to Stop number 3, slowing down in respect as we passed by the shoreline of a Princess's House. Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932 and the Royal Family is much revered with pictures of the King and Queen commonly seen.

    As we got off the boat at Bobae Market, we bought some sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf then grilled, which we took to the first stop. The sticky rice is a common on the go morning snack equivalent but decidedly less sweet than a TimBit!

    We walked through the market to the other side, then caught a tuk tuk ride to the first restaurant.    Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Signage indicating this restaurant has been awarded special status
    Hoi Tod Crispy MusselsTypically a small number of dishes are prepared well

    Siriwan

    March 8, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    First stop was at a modest appearing, yet famous place with the equivalent of a Thai Michelin star. Shell Shuan Shim (the bowl symbol) was established in 1961 as a symbol of "deliciousness that consumers trust" as a joint partnership between Shell (who supplied propane to modernize the cooking fuel) and the restaurant industry. The script at the bottom is an endorsement from a royal food authority. Ten new restaurants are added with selection criteria being: delicious taste, uniqueness of recipe, worthy of travelling for. Website: www.shellshuanshim.com.

    The restaurant had five items total on its menu and the cook was 2nd generation at the stir fry table.

    Next was the No. 53 bus to the 120 year old Nang Leong Market where a lot of Chinese had immigrated to in the past.    Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Pork belly and Duck

    Jib Kee Chinese restaurant

    March 8, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    The non air conditioned number 53 bus (8 THB) to the Nang Leong market area was held up by a peaceful protest regarding minimum wage (the average worker earns 350 THB/day ($18) and the cost of living in a room without cooking facilities would take all these earning).
    Jib Kee are 3rd generation Chinese and introduced crispy pork belly and roasted duck to the local Thais.    Read more

  • Nancy and Doug TripsTravelerSE Asia 2024
    Crisp mung bean salad

    Ya Chaem's Kanom Bueang Yuan

    March 8, 2024 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    Kanom Bueang (crepe) Yuan (Vietnamese) is a Vietnamese savory crepe that inspired a Thai version. This is a traditional Thai snack that you can treat as a light meal. A pan size thin deep fried crepe is stuffed with shredded coconut, roasted peanuts, shrimp, salted radish and fried tofu. It’s served with fresh bean sprouts and sweet cucumber sauce. Ya Chaem uses a charcoal stove to cook her crepe – a slow cooking technique that adds aroma to the food. She is ready to retire, so her recipe may not survive. She turned a samosa-like creation in oil in the wok on charcoal with ease...one sees the danger in this no doubt old style cooking method before the days of propane!Read more

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