John Saboe's Far East Travels

A horrible human tragedy this week on Phuket Island, Thailand where a Swiss female tourist was found murdered. More on that and the possible impact on tourism as well as other news from Southeast Asia. Thanks again for your support of the podcast!Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeBecome A Patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

I made a short visit to Okinawa in 2018, specifically Nha where I spent most of the 3 days I was there. It was enough to make me want to go back and explore this fascinating place that's considered the Hawaii of Japan. I've met many Japanese that actually have never visited any of the islands. It's not exactly a short flight from Tokyo, but if you're in Taiwan, it's the perfect excuse to take the 90 minute flight from Taipei To Naha. Of course there are flights from most major cities in Japan and East Asia. I would be more inclined to go in the warmer months maybe summer late fall, although this would be typhoon season as well so be prepared. The islands and outdoor and water sports including snorkeling, diving, and ocean floor walking, sound amazing. You actually don't have to wander to far to reach some of the islands by ferry from Naha City. Try to catch some live music while you're there as well, To me Okinawan folk music is super soulful, I wouldn't want to miss a chance to see it live next time. The Kok

Phuket will be sealed off from the rest of Thailand in an effort to protect the island from the current wave of the pandemic. This is due to a record increases daily cases in the rest of the country. In this episode I will also revisit one of Bangkok's most famous attractions, The Erawan Shrine, in the heart of the commercial district. This is definitely a place you don't want to miss during your stay in the most visited city in the world. Plus lockdown news from Vietnam.Thanks again for your support of The Far East Travels Podcast:Become a patron with a monthly pledge:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations/PayPal-https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

It's still in my opinion one of the greatest treks on the planet, The Annapurna Circuit. The Best of Nepal and a lesson in the diversity of culture on top of amazing landscapes and breathtaking peaks of the Himalaya. In this episode I revisit the circuit and give a few introductory tips on trekking of perhaps special interest to those who are doing this for the first time. Some of the greatest moments of my life have been spent walking through the trails of the Himalaya. Rewarding in so many ways, I hope this episode inspires you do the same.Support The Far East Travels Podcast:Monthly Pledges:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

In this episode I leave Southeast Asia for an update on the travel situation in Nepal, visas online, and will there be a fall trekking season. Nepal is one of my all time favorite places to travel. Welcoming, one of the most authentic places in Asia, and an escape from globalism. Mostly what you'll see are fake international brands of clothing and with some official branded stores mostly supplying outdoor wear. It's refreshing but definitely lacks the infrastructure more developed places have but what it doesn't have in updated transportation, roads, and other amenities it more than makes up with warm and genuinely kind locals, an incredibly diverse population made up of several ethnic groups, and a harmony of religions and beliefs that no other place can quite match. In this episode I discuss the possibility of trekking this fall or next spring. Also an update from my current base, Nha Trang, Vietnam, and the lockdown situation here. Thanks again for your support!Become a patron! Visit my Patreon page to fin

News many have been waiting for has been the reopening of international tourism in Vietnam. This week it was announced that Phu Quoc Island has been approved for an October reopening. Details in this episode along with more travel news and reliving my previous trip to Nha Trang, Vietnam where I'm currently based.Thanks again for your support!Become a paton to the podcast:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations;https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeWrite A Review Of The Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1

In this episode an overview of top sites you should see when you visit Nha Trang. In normal times this is a fun very resort feeling destination with hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese visiting here a year. Smaller and more compact than Da Nang makes it quite easy to get around, go to the beach, do some shopping and dining. If you stay near the main North Beach area most things are within walking distance. Unfortunately at the moment I can't see or revisit any of these places but I can recommend sites I've seen on a previous visit. Khanh Hoa Province has some of the most luxurious villa resorts in all of Vietnam. I chat about a couple of them in this episode as well.A couple of different methods of supporting the podcast:Monthly pledges-Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeWrite a review of the Far East Travels Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1

Samui Plus, Thailand's latest opening to vaccinated tourists along with Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao was launched this week. I'll discuss that opening along with Phuket's "Sandbox" and I'll have an update on daily life during the current lockdown in Nha Trang, Vietnam. This week I've met some expats from different walks of life swapping stories on the current pandemic situation and what life has been like here for a foreigner this past year. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews in Apple Podcasts!Write A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Support The Podcast!Monthly pledges-Patreon-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

I am currently in Nha Trang, Vietnam, the Riveria of the South China Sea. With the new lockdown measures in place it looks like I will be here for awhile so I hope to share more about this very developed beach resort for your future travel plans. In this episode I'll also have an update on the lockdown/travel situation for Ho Chi Minh city and updates from the Phuket, Thailand "Sandbox" which has been opened since July 1st as well as Bali's plans for reopening.Support the podcast with a review in Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1Support the podcast and YouTube Channel with a monthly pledge:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

Probably the most ambition announcement of reopening to international tourism in Southeast Asia was made by Thai Prime Minister Prayut this week when he said Thailand will reopen all of it's borders in 120 days. The Phuket "Sandbox" opening for July 1st is still set to go and Bali has confirmed it will open July 1st but to limited tourists, mainly Chinese. For the rest of Southeast Asia and East Asia it seems it could be months away from any reopening of tourism. Cambodia is starting to look at possibly opening up Siem Reap before the end of the year but no plans have been made final yet. As places like Taiwan and Japan at this time have not set any dates for reopening while they struggle to contain the pandemic.Thanks again for your support!Donations: paypal.me/JohnASaboeMonthly Pledges(Patreon)-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite A Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200

DaveInOsaka, Dave Greco, shares with us his adventures across Japan this past year. Dave is a prolific livestreamer, YouTuber, who has a passion for sharing his travel experiences. Dave is a Canadian expat who has lived in Japan for 20 years and up until before the pandemic was a convenient base for his travels across Asia and beyond. With travel restrictions Dave continued his passion for travel across his adopted country. Dave tells us about his trips to the Tohuko Region, the epicenter of the 2011 earthquake and Tsunami. He also visited Fukushima prefecture, Nagano, the host city for the 1998 Winter Olypmics.Dave also visited Tsurunoyu Onsen, considered one of the most beautiful Onsens in Japan.Thanks again for your support as always!Donations: paypal.me/JohnASaboeMonthly Pledges(Patreon)-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsFollow DaveInOsakaTwitter-https://twitter.com/DaveInOsakaYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveinOsaka/featured

Because of the recent lockdowns it's been easy to track down some expats and talk about what is living abroad really like. In this episode I speak with American Expat Mark Arinsberg about what life has been like since he moved to Ho Chi Minh City in early 2020. Mark is a super positive guy with a message that will certainly inspire people to pack up and move their life somewhere else, his preference is Vietnam and Saigon! Unlike many foreigners that are native English speakers Mark did not have any intentions of following that career path, although he admits there were times where he did pick up some work teaching kids English in between gigs. People who are also interested in finding out a little bit more about job options will find this episode interesting. Check out Mark's podcast Citizen 44 here:https://tools.applemediaservices.com/podcast/1338984582?country=usSupport the Far East Travels Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsMake A Donation:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

My good friend and travelblogger/podcaster Bruno Black gives us an update on the current pandemic situation specifically affecting Taipei City. Bruno is a long-time resident of Taiwan and currently lives in one of the main centers of Taipei, Main Station, which is very close to the latest epicenter of the pandemic. Bruno also gives some context to what you've been seeing on the news from Taipei specifically the historical significance of Wanhua District.Taiwanese in my experience are very adept at handling emergency situations or as Bruno puts it, are always ready for "surprises". You can listen to Bruno's podcast here:https://open.spotify.com/show/0wsi0TqXSCvAePBioJB5Pk?si=KNeKKcziQ7i9eqxVjqYL2wFollow Bruno here:https://m.facebook.com/brunoblackofficialSupport the Far East Travels Podcast with a monthly pledge or donation:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

With the latest cluster outbreaks throughout East Asia to South Asia the prospect for borders reopening before the end of the year is becoming less likely. For those that have retreated to Thailand on an annual basis the good news is plans for opening Phuket to vaccinated visitors for quarantine free travel is still at this pointed slated for July 1st. In recent episodes I've said that the possibilty for countries reopening to travel would more likely fall in the third quarter or towards the end of the year. With the latest cluster outbreaks that might now change to 2022. Listen to this episode for more details.Support the podcast with a pledge or donation:Monthly support:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeWrite a Review:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?itsct=podcast_box_link&itscg=30200

Since the end of the Reunification long weekend cluster outbreaks of COVID19 have resurfaced in Vietnam. In this episode a brief update on the current closures and conditions. As well as bars, karoake clubs, being closed, only takeout food from restaurants, cities in Vietnam have now closed schools, in some cases for the remaining of the school year at the end of May. Thanks so much for listening and supporting the channel.Write A Review:https://apple.co/2SDqnRpSupport the channel with your monthly pledge:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsDonations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboe

Thailand is still planning on opening up Phuket to vaccinated tourists beginning July 1st despite a new spike in COVID cases throughout the country. Cambodia has seen the worst outbreak particularly in the capital of Phnom Penh since the beginning of the pandemic. Vietnam's Quan Am province has a proposal for a July 1st opening to vaccinated Korean resort going tourists. That and more in this episode.Support the podcast:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsFeeling generous:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeWrite a review in Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3xx3M90

In this episode I talk about the current requirements for obtaining a retirement visa in the following countries, outside of a pandemic situation, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and also cover off how people have been able to retire in Vietnam without a retirement visa. Currently it is not possible to utitilize any of these programs with the exception of Thailand. I can stress enough how important it is not only to see if your budget fits to a lifestyle you would be comfortable with in any of these countries but also to give yourself enough time living in the country to see if culturally it's the right fit. So many people enter into retirement in these countries without giving alot of thought to whether they can accept a different way of life. There are some cities that have more conveniences and rules within certain districts that are more foreigner friendly like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, to name a couple. If you choose to live in a smaller town this may not be the case. Please consult with the many agents o

It appears that Thailand is gearing up to open up to international tourists by July 1st. This will allow foreigners that have been inoculated with a COVID19 vaccine to enter Thailand through Phuket without having to quarantine. More on this as well as news from Taiwan, and Bali.Support the podcast by becoming a patron:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsOne time donations:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnASaboeWrite an Apple Podcasts Review:https://tools.applemediaservices.com/podcast/1079513943?country=us

Is it what travel will look like in the future? Lonely Planet recently published a list of countries that is now allowing visitors to enter without quarantining provided they've been inocculated with COVID19 vaccintations. In this episode I'll run down the list and point out what we can expect in the future of travel. As well I'll talk a little about the new travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau. Link to Lonely Planet article:https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/covid-vaccination-countries-to-visitSupport the Podcast-https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsWrite A Review:https://apple.co/3lOeJxx

Announcements mostly by tourism associations eager to help their members and clients reopen their tourism driven businesses have been making announcements in the last few weeks that tourism could possibly open up in certain countries in Southeast Asia in particular by July 1st. I certainly hope that tourism has a chance to start recovering soon but I'm a little skeptical that most countries will reopen to tourists that have been inocculated with a COVID-19 vaccine. The Thai government recently announced they will start allowing tourists that have been vaccinated to quarantine for only 7 days from 14-15 days previously. It's quite possible you may see other countries follow suit. Realistically if international tourism opens up this year in SEA, East Asia, or South Asia I think it would be more towards the 4th quarter or October. This will give countries a chance, in some cases, to bring their populations up to herd immunity, as well as have systems in place to accept digital vaccine certificates or vaccine pas