Asia

by / on August 1, 2012 at 6:06 pm / in Asia, Lopburi, See, Thailand

THAILAND: LOPBURI

  LOPBURI, THAILAND – We were headed to a small town called Lopburi.  I had never been to Lopburi, nor had I heard of it prior to this trip.  In fact, I had never even been to central Thailand (where Lopburi was located).  My Thai travels had always centered on Bangkok and the various islands, with periodic jaunts to the [...]

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by / on July 16, 2012 at 9:03 am / in Asia, Gary Fong, See, Tokyo

TOKYO: ARTY FARTY

  TOKYO - Okay, some might say that Japan tries too hard when it comes to art but, for me, some of the most original and engaging shows I’ve seen have been in Tokyo…and I don’t mean those mega put-ons at the National Museum in Ueno or those over-hyped, what-were-they-thinking exhibitions at the Mori. Rather, it’s the small-to-medium sized venues that [...]

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by / on July 11, 2012 at 10:56 am / in Asia, Gary Fong, See, Tokyo

TOKYO: WHEN TO GO?

    TOKYO – Summer, spring, winter or fall?  Due for a Tokyo fix but not sure when to go?  As with everything in Japan, it’s all about choices and options, quite often way too many.  Just have a look at the beverage section at any Japanese convenience store or the pen/pencil selection at any stationery shop (Ito-ya in Ginza [...]

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by / on June 29, 2012 at 9:31 am / in Asia, Gary Fong, Hong Kong, See

HONG KONG: THE DOUBLE DECKER

  HONG KONG – They’re old-style, double-decker, eco-friendly and come in multiple, cute colors.  They’re called street trams and Hong Kong is one of a few cities to still use the double-decker version.  It’s also my preferred way to get-around the city. Yes, the double-decker street trams…possibly the slowest way to transverse Hong Kong, but also one of the most [...]

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by / on June 25, 2012 at 3:52 pm / in Asia, Gary Fong, Hong Kong, See

MACAU: ESCAPE FROM HONG KONG

  MACAU, CHINA – If you’ve spent any time in Hong Kong, then you know how bloody crowded and claustrophobic it can feel.  If you’ve actually lived there, you also know that there’s only one way to deal with all that craziness – the weekend getaway, the key to making HK living bearable. It seemed like everyone I knew in [...]

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by / on June 15, 2012 at 9:02 am / in Asia, Bangkok, Eat, Gary Fong, Restaurants

BANGKOK: THAI HOT POT

  BANGKOK – It seems like every country in Asia has their own version of a hot pot, that communal dining experience where a pot of simmering soup is used to cook fresh pieces of meat, seafood and vegetables which are in turned dipped in different kinds of sauces before being consumed.  At the more refined end of the spectrum, [...]

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by / on June 13, 2012 at 8:15 am / in Asia, Gary Fong, Hong Kong, See

HONG KONG: THE BEST AIRPORT IN ASIA

  HONG KONG – Back in my corporate days, when I was constantly on the go traveling from one city to the next, the airport often became my temporary home, a place where I would eat, drink, shop, shit, work, sleep and even shower, while waiting for my flight onward.  It’s not something I particularly enjoyed (because, like it or [...]

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by / on June 11, 2012 at 9:43 am / in Asia, Chiang Mai, Gary Fong, Hotels, Stay, Thailand

CHIANG MAI: THE DHARA DHEVI

    CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Working crazy hours?  In the initial stages of career burn out?  Need a life re-charge/re-eval?  If any of these answers is “yes”, this resort tucked away in the mountains of Northern Thailand might be just what you need to de-stress and get your so-called life back on track. Located on the outskirts of Chiang [...]

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by / on June 4, 2012 at 8:57 am / in Asia, Eat, Gary Fong, Hong Kong, Restaurants

HONG KONG: CHA CHAAN TENG

  HONG KONG – This strange, yet wonderful, example of the West’s lasting influence on Hong Kong is considered by many to be an integral part of the city’s heritage. Known as the Cha Chaan Teng (CCT), these old-style eateries – which can be found on practically every street corner (or skyscraper as the case may be) – serve up [...]

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by / on May 30, 2012 at 10:07 am / in Asia, Bangkok, Gary Fong, See

BANGKOK: THAI OFFERINGS

  BANGKOK – Beach, Singhas, massage and go-go bars?  Is that all you have planned for your Thai holiday?  Like to make a bit of difference while you’re there?  Then think about making a donation – large or small – to any one of Thailand’s amazing temples. These so-called “offerings” are the lifeblood of Thailand’s temples, and are essential to [...]

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