While there have been volumes of eerie documentaries on the North and South Korea Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), nothing compares to seeing the 38th Parallel face-to-face.
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Mt. Pinatubo's crater lake is, arguably, one of the most breathtaking sights in the Philippines. What used to be solid rock is now the perfect escape from the monotony of city life. Located at the intersection of the borders of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga, Mt. Pinatubo which erupted in June 1991 now sleeps like a baby.
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Home to the chocolate hills and the tarsier, Bohol will mesmerize you with its natural beauty — from geological formation to tiny primates only as large as your fist.
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Never thought there would be a surf spot just two-hours away from Metro Manila. A day trip with friends to San Antonio, Zambales provided a much-needed and well-deserved escape from work.
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Amidst the suffocating smog and the constant honking of motorcycles in its narrow streets, Shanghai stands proud and tall as China's largest city with over 20 million people and as the commercial and financial center of the Middle Kingdom.
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My friends and I took a forty-hour ferry ride from Osaka to Shanghai. Since we had time to spare, we took the cheapest option available which was to cross the Sea of Japan by boat. Little did we know that this ferry ride would be so unforgettable.
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I've been wondering why there are so many different Buddhas in Asia. I've seen plump Buddhas in China, skinny Buddhas in Thailand, and meditating (in the lotus position) Buddhas in India. What do they all mean?
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My friend Mon took me fishing with his family during my visit. His father is a fishing aficionado and so was the rest of the family. We rode their fishing yacht from Ao Chalong (Ao means "bay" in Thai) and spent the whole morning trying to catch our dinner. No fish, no dinner!
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Promthep Cape is a small, rocky hill in the southern tip of Phuket Island. The locals say this is the best sunset viewpoint in Phuket. My good friend, Mon, always brings his guests here to enjoy the breathtaking view.
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Bangkok has always amazed me for its similarity in appearance with Manila -- the deluge of Japanese cars, huge shopping malls, a flyovers like noodles, rice-based meals, even the trees look similar. Despite looking alike, Krung Thep carries such a strong and unique Asian charm that it has become the most popular jump-off point in the Southeast Asian backpacker circuit.
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“Trust me, it's paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed.” -Richard, The Beach (2000)
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If Cambodia has Angkor Wat, Malaysia has the Petronas Towers and Thailand has the Grand Palace, then Indonesia has Borobudur and Prambanan. Check out what these two have to offer.
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Simple yet sophisticate, busy and full-of-heart, Yogyakarta is a small, artsy town popularly known for Borobudur, an ancient Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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After a hard night in Kuta Beach, we set off for Sanur Beach, a few kilometers to the east of Kuta. Sanur Beach is a sleepy beach town, the exact opposite of the riot of a night we just had. There time wax slow.
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Kurt and I arrived in Kuta Beach, Bali after a 12-hour bus ride from Probolinggo. We spent a good part of the night searching for a reasonably priced hostel; it wasn't peak season but the whole beach was packed.
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This is the beginning of the Indonesia travel series. My trip to Indonesia was divided into three legs — Mount Bromo, Bali, then Jogjakarta.
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In the Philippines, we have lots of stray dogs. In India, they have stray cows.
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Let me take you to two monuments in New Delhi. One is a towering minaret and the other is a majestic memorial in the heart of Delhi.
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Check out our lunch at Verma's Kitchen, the closest and most affordable food joint from India Habitat Center. The usual cast is Shraman, Anubhab, Shekhar, Shatish, and myself.
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Scenes from Slumdog Millionaire kept playing in my head. That movie subconsciously became my "guide" to India. The only other movie I've seen about India was Gandhi which was set in the first half of the 20th century.
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