John Saboe's Far East Travels

After a Omicron spike across Thailand the country will resume their Test And Go program beginning February 1st. Also new "sealed" flights from Bangkok to Phuket will allow international travelers to now transit through Bangkok onward to the Phuket "Sandbox" scheme. It feels despite the Omicron factor that Southeast Asia will be moving ahead with reopening to international travelers. In this episode we will also revisit the bustling Dihua Street New Year's Market in Taipei(2017). Thanks again as always for listening!As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy. If you'd like to support the podcast there are two ways:Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeYou can also write a review in Apple Podcasts and help expand the community:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1

Welcome to 2022 and the first episode of the year! I have been traveling in Southern and Central Vietnam for the past 3 week happy to be back in Da Nanag with the latest update. I talk about the latest travel news from here including the final exit orders for all tourists and visitors on free visa extensions since March 2020. Thailand is ever changing in it's restrictions, and Cambodia is off to a slow start in it's recovery of the tourism sector. I'm still optimistic that this year will see the reopening of countries in the region, specifically Southeast Asia. East Asia is still a big question mark while South Asia begins to open again to visitors with aggressive efforts.As always thanks again for your support. Stay safe and be happy. If you'd like to support the channel there are two ways:Patreon-monthly pledges/support-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

Up to 10 countries of South Africa have now been barred from entering Southeast Asian countries and South Korea. As well, anyone who has recently visited or transited through these countries have been barred from entering the region. South Korea requires it's citizens who are returning from those South African countries to quarantine in a government facility upon returning to the country. With the development of the Omicron variant expect reopening plans to be possibly delayed. For Vietnam, and it's only my speculation, that the situation for a full reopening could be reasessed after the Tet or Lunar New Year holiday in the second week of February. A full reopening of Vietnam may still not be possible until June 2022. In this episode I'm walking around District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City stopping by the Reunification Palace. Thanks again for listening and your continued support!Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite a Review For The Podcast:https:/

Cambodia surprised everyone recently abandoning their phasing in of tourism to fully reopening the country to travelers. They're even paying for the rapid test on arrival! That's two countries in Southeast Asia that are now fully opened to travelers. This week also saw the first tourists to arrive in Vietnam in 20 months. Nha Trang, Da Nang/Quan Am, and how Phu Quoc are hosting international travelers on fixed itinerary travel packages. It's exciting to see the countries of SEA start to welcome back tourists. I do believe the industry will not be fully confident in the opening of all services until the whole region is open and all categories of tourists can be accomodated. In this episode we'll also go back to Okinawa, Japan and take a walk down Naha's famous Kokusai Dori Tourist Street. If you're ever in Taipei, Taiwan it's a very convenient place to launch a journey into the wonderful island life of Okinawa.Thanks as always for listening and your continued support!Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/

Navigating through the confusing Thailand Pass online registration as well as updates for travel openings for Bali, Japan, Hong Kong, and more. Although the odds are still in your favor you could end up ruining your vacation if you're traveling to Thailand for only a two week stay or less. It's happened to people that came in close contact with someone who tests positive. Their entire vacation was spent in a quarantine hotel. Bali still requires a 5 day quarantine period upon arrival so for now they are abandoning the short term travelers. Lots more to talk about as Southeast Asia continues to relax travel restrictions. I will continue a walk through Patan's Durbar Square in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal in part 2 of a 2018 revisit. Thanks as always for your support!Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite a Review For The Podcast:https://apple.co/3B4ld1p

Cambodia finally announces reopening plans set for the end of November. Thailand reopened this week to fully vaccinated tourists from select countries and Vietnam has more regions getting ready to open possibly in November along with Phu Quoc Island. Clearly there is urgency to get things rolling again with airlines on the verge of bankruptcy and hotels and resorts exhausting their financial resources. Indonesia's key carrier is on the brink of bankruptcy and if the tourism industry doesn't start opening up in Asia more will follow. I will cover off the latest news and reopening plans as well as visit one of my favorite sites in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, Patan's Durbar Square(2018).Support the podcast!Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite A Review:https://tools.applemediaservices.com/podcast/1079513943?country=us

Yes, Thailand plans to now reopen the whole country beginning November 1st. This will be the first country in Southeast Asia to open to fully vaccinated travellers quarantine free in 18 months. News also about openings in Bali, Indonesia, Boracay, Phillipines, Vietnam, and Singapore. In this episode I will also revisit the enchanting, charming city of Hanoi. Walk with me through the atmospheric Old Quarter describing the sites, shops, on my way to the Dong Xuan Wholesale Market. This is the largest wholesale market in the city center that home to some of the best street food in Southeast Asia and of course anything, and everything, you can think of to buy from ceramic piggy banks, to warm jackets, and jeans. Thanks again for listening and subscribing to the podcast!If you're in the United States you can now listen to The Far East Travels Podcast directly from the Far East Travels Podcast Facebook page. Watch out for availability in other countries soon. Help support the podcast by writing a review:https://app

It doesn't seem so long ago that I was living my dream traveling throughout this side of Asia. Things have drastically changed since the start of the pandemic but I still feel fortunate to be sharing life in Vietnam. The days of traveling again may still be a ways off but at least we have our past travels to treasure and share. In this episode I go back to my 2019 visit to Malaysia with a short walk around the Batu Caves in Selangor and a wonderful atmospheric tour around Georgetown in Penang. As usual I have updates on the latest travel news for Vietnam, Thailand, Bali, Cambodia, and Siingapore. Thanks again for listening! Support the channel:Donate:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboePatreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

With supplies not meeting the demand for vaccines in Southeast Asia Thailand and Vietnam have postphoned reopening to tourists in specific locations until at least sometime in November now. Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island when opened will be only accepting package tourists with 14 4 to 5 star properties under the initial scheme. For Thailand their reopening to international tourists in the cities and towns of Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai will now delayed until sometime in November. I've started a new feature I hope you will take part in. I have a voicemail account set up for you to leave me a message answering a topical question or for just general comments about episodes or the podcast overall. Simply follow this link, https://fareasttravels.firstory.io/voicemail/cktwvn9om01vc0811i2ne6jyn . Leave a message and you may hear it in an upcoming episode.Support the podcast:Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboePledges/Patreon-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Everyone in the region I believe is monitoring the current results and success of the reopening of destinations in Thailand to fully vaccinated international travelers. With the recent outbreaks of Covid authorities have delayed the opening to tourists until October 15th. Other destinations in Thailand due to open in October are Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Pattaya. Vietnam's plan to reopen Phu Quoc Island to international travelers is still stet for October 1st. Expect other possible resort style destinations to reopen to travelers in Vietnam in the coming months.Thanks again for listening! Support the Far East Travels Podcast!Donations:https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=RFCDEW82RP8BSBecome a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

Chiang Mai is the start of Northern Thailand but don't miss that peaceful spot just a 3 hour drive north-Chiang Rai. Visiting both will increase your appreciation of both. Chiang Mai is bustling with nightmarkets/walking streets, bars, plenty of sites and comforts for foreigners. One of Southeast Asia's top expat communities. Chiang Rai is quieter, less sites, a little more spread out, but the peaceful charm and quiet evenings is very appealing. There are also plenty of sites to visit if you have transportation. I liked visiting the White Temple and Black Temple and I absolutely loved traveling up to Mae Salong to visit the old Republic of China/KMT town and it's tea hills and culture. Thanks again for listening!Help support the podcast by writing a review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Become a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

Chiang Mai is the start of Northern Thailand but don't miss that peaceful spot just a 3 hour drive north-Chiang Rai. Visiting both will increase your appreciation of both. Chiang Mai is bustling with nightmarkets/walking streets, bars, plenty of sites and comforts for foreigners. One of Southeast Asia's top expat communities. Chiang Rai is quieter, less sites, a little more spread out, but the peaceful charm and quiet evenings is very appealing. There are also plenty of sites to visit if you have transportation. I liked visiting the White Temple and Black Temple and I absolutely loved traveling up to Mae Salong to visit the old Republic of China/KMT town and it's tea hills and culture. Thanks again for listening!Help support the podcast by writing a review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Become a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

No matter how you feel about shopping malls at some point during your visit to Bangkok you will most likely find yourself in Pathum Wan, the city's impressive shopping district with it's plethora of malls, food courts, and entertainment venues. In this episode I revisit the area Central World where you'll find the Trimurti God Of Love Shrine along with the famous Ganesh Shrine of this area. I mentioned in the segment that it was Monday night so the street food carts and sellers are usually not around as this is the night reserved for cleaning the streets. However at this time the military government had begun their very controversial move of clearing many of Bangkok's streets of food sellers. So when I went back a few nights later there were no longer the street food sellers in this area that I had seen just a year earlier. Bangkok is usually at the top of the list of cities visited in the world averaging over 20 million in recent years. The loss of international tourism has been devastating to many businesse

Hanoi has always been one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia. Charming, pedestrian friendly in many places, historic, vibrant, I miss visiting Hanoi very much. In this episode I return to Hanoi with audio from my 2017 visit around the Old Quarter and The Rising Sun Bridge at Hoan Kiem Lake. LIke many people in Vietnam I have been reluctant to travel around the country much due to the uncertainty of possibly being stuck in a place outside of your base city. Currently travel within the country is virtually impossible unless you are leaving Vietnam. With the news that over 80% of people over 18 have now had their first vaccination in Ho Chi Minh City there is hope that we will eventually be through the worst of this current wave of the pandemic. Thanks again for listening!Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Become a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnA

In this latest episode I look back to a visit to Phnom Penh in 2019 with a morning walk through the markets and streets near the Riverside neighborhood tourist/backpacker area. This district of Phnom Penh is recommended for first time visits to the city. It's one of the most convenient spots for restaurants, sites, and of course near the boardwalk along the Tonle Sap River. If you're not interested in seeing the darker side of this area stay away from the streets where the beer parlors are located if that's not your thing. I like walking through the Kandal Market and some of the streets in the area that feature lots of local sellers of street food, fruit, and other items. Just be careful around here with your personal items as this is a hunting ground for pickpockets and bag snatchers. Get out to some of the restaurants away from this area too so your dining experience isn't entirely sitting in a room full of foreigners listening to 70's classic rock.Also in this episode more news on the pandemic in Vietnam a

In this episode I take you along to revisit a little slice of my last visit to Mumbai. The Maximum City is not as extreme as you might imagine. At least that's what I found. You can walk around several areas and not feel like you're fighting crowds. Amazing street food, friendly locals, and a truly one of a kind travel experience. I also share with you the latest lockdown measures in Vietnam in particular the latest movement of military for support in Ho Chi Minh City.Thanks as always for your support!Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Pledge Your Support:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

Pokhara is considered the tourism capital of Nepal. There are countless treks that begin or end in Pokhara including the great Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Upper Mustang and Poonhill. Situated on beautiful Phewa Lake this is a much more relaxing experience than the capital of Kathmandu. In this episode I revisit the Peace Pagoda with views of some of the highest mountains on the planet. Listen to the drums and faint chanting from the monks during this episode, a treat when visiting the Peace Pagoda, one of two located in Nepal. I have spent a few days on two occasions in Pokhara and could easily find things to do on a 3rd visit that I've never experienced. It's a different side of Nepal and although there isn't as much cultural sites as you'll find in Kathmandu there are plenty of hills to walk and serene places to visit that will stimulate you in a very different way. Thanks again for listening and your support! Please stay safe!Support the Podcast!Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASa

It's been a stopover for many years but whether it's just a one night or multiple day stay I've never been disapointed visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this episode I give a brief update on the pandemic situation and share some of the highlights of my trips to Malaysia over the years including Malaysian Borneo. From Brickfields, KL Sentral, KLCC(City Center), Chinatown, Bukit Bintang, this is one of Southeast Asia's most diverse cities. If you're a food lover you must put this city on the top of list of places to visit along side Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. Malaysia overall offers such a huge variety of experiences to hiking in the jungle, viewing incredible wildlife, relaxing on stunning beaches, and immersing yourself in cultural and food exploration. Thanks again for your support!Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Become a Patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor Wat and the Angkor Ruins and in my opinion is an absolute must-see on a multi-country visit of Southeast Asia. Yes, you'll compete with crowds including tour package groups for space, and sunrise draws hundreds of onlookers but it's all worth any kind of frustration you might experience. For those that look forward to the party atmosphere in between visits to Angkor Siem Reap will not let you down, with it's famous Pub Street and a multitude of night markets and 50 cent beers to be had almost anywhere. If you're looking for quieter spot or more of a chill atmosphere there are plenty of options for you. This small town is always buzzing in normal times and as I mention at least 50% of the population in town is connected with tourism in some way. Like most places that are focused on tourism dollars for the local economy the pandemic has been devastating to Siem Reap. I've heard reports of 90% of the Pub Street area closed as well as many shops. With continued support and compl

Up until earlier this year Cambodia had a very good handle on controlling the pandemic but a series of outbreaks that originated from nightclubs and casinos changed the situation beginning in February. In this episode an update on the pandemic, future tourism in Cambodia. I will also revisit the iconic Central Market of the capital. This is a must see especially if it's your first time. Admire the architecture, it's bustling neighborhood. There is an abundance of local street food and Cambodian dishes inside and some opportunites for deals on designer clothes. I also discuss options for neighborhoods or places to stay besides the famous "Riverside" area located on the Tonle Sap River. Thanks again for your support!Write a Review for The Far East Travels Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Support the Podcast:Montly pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe