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Volunteer in Asia
Get a Free Room
Update: 04/15/10

Two Six Senses resorts in the Maldives, the Soneva Gili and Soneva Fushi, will encourage travelers to engage in what is being called ‘‘voluntourism.’’

From June 1 to Oct. 12, guests who stay for five nights, and who spend five hours a day working on community projects, will be given an additional five nights for free, adding up to an 11-day stay. Guests can teach children, plant trees, help in marine conservation or do other work.

What a deal! Six Senses facilities are world class, with food to match. Sounds like a winner!



Bring Home Treasures
Ethics Intact
Update: 03/22/10

We know you care about the places you visit in Asia and that you respect those cultures.

When you go into an antique shop or gallery, make certain you are purchasing replicas of religious artifacts.

It's just not good karma to take pieces that have been looted from religious sites, even though museums have certainly been guilty of that in the past.

So be easy on your wallet and respectful of Asian cultures. Well crafted replicas will be a guilt free treasure forever.



Stay in Secure Hotels
One Simple Choice
Update: 02/03/10

You're probably familiar with the check list of how to be safe. Strategies like stay on the 10th floor or higher and don't draw attention to yourself.

Our recommendation is to stay away from large, upscale hotels! When is the last time you heard of any terrorism at a boutique hotel? Terrorists are looking for numbers and publicity so naturally they go for the large, five star facilities.

There's another reason unrelated to security that we recommend boutique, as in smaller, facilities and resorts. You will find something much closer to staying in someone's charming home, with opportunities to experience the culture you flew so far to enjoy.

Contact us to find out more about the small hotels and resorts we'll arrange for you.

A Warm Thank You
Remembering Allan
Update: 01/01/10

A message from Explore Asia's Nancy Harkrider

We have been overwhelmed with the diversity and depth of response from our customers. travel partners and business connections.

You are the reason Allan loved this business so much and and the reason I will continue to be involved.

Allan was a man whose passions for our planet and all things Asian knew no bounds.

He is missed on three continents and we know wherever he is someone is laughing, feeling more positive and enjoying amazing stories about the wonders of Asia.



Asian Calling
This Phone Makes It Easy
If you've ever traveled to Asia, you've experienced the frustration of being able to stay in contact with family back home or reach your tour operator when you need to reach them right away.

We don't usually recommend a product, but here is one worth checking out. Let us know if it works for you.

check out this new "Asia-Smart" phone. The site prompts you to detail what countries you will be traveling in, and how long you will need the phone. The company then ships a cell phone directly to you anywhere in the world. For most of the U.S., the phone can be shipped to arrive the next day.

It makes it much easier to call your best friend in the states with an excited "guess where I am?"



Indonesia OKs
Marijuana as Spice
Source:Associated Press
Cooks in parts of Indonesia, a nation that executes drug traffickers, says they use tiny amounts of crushed marijuana leaves or seeds as a spice in certain dishes!

Leaving us to wonder how this particular ingredient was selected by some Indonesia chefs.

Authorities point out that it's OK as a food seasoning but definitely not for other consumption.

While this makes for a bemused smile, a serious reminder that when Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore say there is a death penalty for drug traffickers, they aren't kidding!!



Travel in 2009?
Compelling Reasons
There are some significant reasons not to travel. The short list includes finances, security issues and frustrations with airlines.

Sound strange that a travel company would tick off a list of negatives? Not at all, we just believe in being up front.

So why is 2009 the best time to travel? In a nutshell, it's because Americans need more than ever to experience a global world and the world needs to experience us.

Finances are a reality we live with every day, but one well planned, exceptional adventure enriches and impacts us more than 20 mini-vacations. Security issues are real, but the potential is there no matter where we travel. And trust us, once you have arrived in tropical Asia, any frustrations getting there will be minor.



A Powerful Response
from a Mumbai Native
Update: 12/10/08

Suketu Mehta makes a compelling case for traveling to Mumbai that will surprise you and hopefully make you consider an alternative view.

Mehta, a professor of journalism at New York University, is the author of “Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found.”

You can read the complete article here.



Turbulent Times
Proactive Response
Update:12/01/08

Terrorists in Mumbai and political activists in Thailand have both made it clear that targeting tourists or tourism is a sure way to publicize a cause.

The murderous attack in Mumbai guaranteed blanket global publication by attacking places frequented by Western travelers.

A Thai anti-government protest has global impact because it closed one of the world’s busiest airports during Southeast Asia’s peak tourism season.

Applause goes to the proactive response from many sectors. In Thailand, tourism organizations arranged for lodging at Bangkok hotels. We know first-hand that Explore Asia’s Bangkok based tour operators have been working 24/7 to assist their customers modify their travel plans or return home. They are keeping us in the loop with daily email bulletins.

Ruthanne Terrero, Editorial Director at Questex Media Group, reminds us that “this world remains a global economy: consumers will continue to seek out new corners of the world. It’s up to us to expertly walk them through their options.”

That is our commitment, and one shared by the travel industry at large.



Which Gets Your Vote?
Update:11/24/08

What are the most popular cities and islands in Asia?

Here's the opinions of 32,600 Conde 'Nast Traveler Magazine readers.

Making the top 10 list are Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hong Kong (tied for second), followed by Singapore, Kyoto, Shanghai, Jaipur in India, Tokyo, Hanoi and Beijing.

The highest voter getters in the Indian and Pacific ocean regions was the Maldives, followed by Bali, Phuket, Mauritius, Seychelles, Samui, Cebu, Langkawi, Borneo and Lombok in Indonesia.

As winter closes in on North American, any of those places, particularly the tropical isles sound fabulous, don't you think?



Mental Health Tourism
Update:10/27/08

You've heard of medical tourism and of course health and wellness tourism. So a push for mental health tourism was bound to be not far behind.

A paper presented by a group of Japanese at a conference in Bangkok says this form of tourism should be targeted specifically at urban dwellers who sit too long in front of a computer screen.

Excuse us, but isn't that a given? Don't we all travel to get away from stress? And since when is depression and stress limited to time in front of a screen?



Food and Politics
Update:10/15/08

Up front, this isn't strictly news but it comes from a news wire. When the Congress was pulling an all night work session to try to sort out the stock market fiasco, the House of Representatives ordered pizza. No surprise there.

So what do you think the Senate ordered for sustenance? Steak and lobster? Wrong, they ordered Thai food.

Because Asian food and culture are our passions, we might just have said "Great, that's a lot of Thai food fans!"

But is it something else? What do you think?

In the midst of a world in high stress mode, possibly a little levity is in order.



Korean Air Agreement
Update:08/17/08

Korean Air and Alaska Airlines now have a new code share agreement and expanded frequent flier partnership.

Customers can take advantage of the new partnership from Korean Air's Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco gateways.

Korean Air flies non-stop between Seattle and Seoul on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.



A Breath of Fresh Air
Update:08/04/08

We hear a lot about how much fuel and carbon emissions planes generate

So it’s a bit of good hews that a coalition including Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, working with biofuel technology developer UOP, have joined the recently formed Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), which is co-chaired by aerospace manufacturer Boeing.

ABO expects these new members will form the first wave of aviation-related companies interested in developing new generation biofuels.

find out more at greenaironline.com



Which Is Most Popular?
Update:07/22/08

Apparently the Incredible India campaign is working.

U.S Department of Commerce data confirms U.S. travelers make up 15.7 percent of the total visitors to India.

To put it in perspective, India got the top spot not just because of its popularity with the leisure traveler but due to the large number of business travelers, wealthy retirees seeking luxury travel and citizens of Indian origin interested in seeing their ancestors' homeland.

Source material from Travel Agent Central



US Customs Gets Easier
Update:07/14/08

Finally, some positive air travel news!

Starting this month, you can sign up to speed through customs checkpoints at select U.S. airports when you are coming back home.

Global Entry allows U.S. citizens and PRs to get in a separate line that allows you to swipe your passport at a kiosk rather than dealing with those less than friendly Custom agents who “welcome” us home.

The catch is that it will cost you $100 to enroll for a separate line at participating airports. But it could be worth it to skip buying a few souvenirs if you can end your trip on a positive note.

So far three airports, Dulles, Houston and Kennedy are on the plan, with others to follow. We’ll keep you posted as more come on board.



Keep Name Official
Update:05/22/08

Where travel and your name are concerned, the devil is in the details.

Be very careful to use your legal, official name when booking tickets.

While your friends may know you as A.C. rather than Archibald Charles, you could not only create some headaches for yourself, you may even miss your flight.

Using that official version is especially critical when you fly internationally. So make certain the name you give to the airline is your name precisely as it is on your passport.



Myanmar Update
Update:05/06/08

Myanmar has experienced the worst cyclone in over 70 years. The storm hit Yangon, Pathein and the Bago area over the week-end.

Yangon itself was badly damaged. It will take time and a massive humanitarian effort to normalize life for those in the affected areas.

Explore Asia has confirmation from its ground operators that, with some modifications in the affected areas, travel to and around Myanmar remains safe.

While international and domestic flights are running normally, travel agents will want to redirect their customers around Yangon. Hotels and tourist destinations upcountry are unaffected and operating normally.



Luxury in a Temple?
Update:04/24/08

BEIJING - The simple life of monks at China's famed Shaolin Temple got an upgrade with the installation of luxury restrooms worth 3 million yuan ($430,000 U.S. dollars)

The restrooms are free of charge for both monks and tourists.

Does this strike you as odd? What about the monks vow of poverty? If monks and tourists get to use these five star facilities, what about the locals?



Personal Safety
Just Like Home
Update:04/05/08

You may have seen the news from Thailand about the death of a Western tourist. We were recently in Bangkok and it was front page news there

To put it in perspective, compared to violence in America, places like Thailand are safer than most places in America.

When you go to an isolated beach alone and sunbathe, you are taking a chance, any place in the world.

When you try to break up a brawl at a rave party, you run the risk of getting hurt or killed whether that party is at a beachside resort in Thailand or back home.

Just follow the guidelines you routinely follow at home and you will be as safe or safer in Asia than back home.



Women Headed for Asia

More women are leaving the men at home. More than 50% of adventure travelers are now women traveling with other women.

And adventure travel has many faces. It’s not just trekking and mountain climbing. It’s yoga and meditation retreats, spiritual connections to ancient Asian religions, spas and small boat cruising. Interested?

Later this year, Explore Asia partner Nancy Harkrider will be leading a small group of women travelers off the beaten path to immersive, unforgettable experiences.

Or we’ll help you plan your own women’s travel. This is the year. Call your friends, then call us.



Traveling Au Naturale

There’s always something unique being offered for travelers.

Now it’s a German travel agency who is offering air service for nudists who prefer that travel style.

Don’t worry. Explore Asia offers unique experiences, but not that kind of unique.

However during these frigid months in North America, you can anticipate that you will be able to shed all those layers of winter clothing once you land in tropical Asia.

You will then be free to more around tropical Asia in your sarong and sandals to your heart's content!