Backpack Network - Official Asia Newsletter
Asia, March 2004
Volume 1, Edition 1
Dear Travellers,
Greetings to all readers and all Asian travellers and
enthusiasts. This is one of the world's most fascinating
regions and we're glad you're interested to find out
more. We have a slight focus on India with a food guide
on southern India and tips for surviving travel around
the country. Please contact us at editor@backpackglobe.com
to suggest ways we can improve our content, or
better still write in with your own tips and experiences.
We hope you will encourage your travelling friends to
also join up and get some useful tips for travels in
the new year.
In this edition we detail:
- accomodation reviews
- tales and expeditions:
Thailand/Laos
- destination ideas
- plan your trip
- food guide: South India
- feature: train travel in
India
- upcoming festivals
- jobs + useful
links
- helpful travel websites
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ACCOMODATION REVIEWS
Thanks to all readers who have sent in recent reviews.
Here are the latest hostel reviews from our sites:
Pensione Retiro San Tomasso, Diu, Gujurat (India)
by Janet (Canada)
I fell in love with this place immediately. It is housed
in the roof of one of Diu's old Portugese catholic churches.
In the church itself is a small museum and above it
the family of George D'Souza and about 4-5 small rooms
for guests. The family is actually Goan and they speak
Portugese. The sister cooks, the brother has a taxi
service and the kids and chickens play in the garden.
You must book this place ahead or be prepared to wait
to get in. They are listed in the guidebooks.
Phonepasak Restaurant and Guesthouse, Dhon Det
Island, Si Phan Don, (Laos)
by Jo (Australia)
This place was recommended to me by two English people
I met on the boat crossing from Cambodia so I journeyed
with them to the guesthouse. We arrived at the pier
and were greeted by Mama and Papa or Madame Pinh and
Mister Kham. They were so pleased we had come and hugged
and kissed us on arrival. It was pretty basic but each
bungalow was separate from the others and overlooked
the river below with candles for lighting and a hammock
on the balcony. We all shared a squat toilet and shower.
Madam Pinh cooked up some excellent meals over a fire
in the kitchen which her grandchildren helped to serve.
At night she would come into our rooms and make sure
we had locked everything before saying goodnight. I
had a great time here, I was just disappointed at the
end when they tried to short change me on exchange of
US dollars.
Happy Guesthouse, Siem Reap (Cambodia)
by Brian (Australia)
Happy Guesthouse is just off the main road in the quieter
part of town and had a rather unusual assortment of
multi national guests. The manager was such a lovely
fellow and very accomodating and picked me up on arrival
and drove me to my bus when I left. I stayed several
days and enjoyed chatting with all the staff. Two local
women came in the morning to clean and kept the old
wooden house spotless. The house was charming with a
wooden verandah upstairs for sitting and a nice garden
restaurant perfect for a morning coffee.
Worldwide
Reviews - for more reviews
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TALES AND EXPEDITIONS
Indochina - Thailand and Laos
Australian traveller Mark Lane details his journey through
Thailand and Laos starting in Bangkok and featuring
stops in Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Phonsavan and the Si
Phan Don islands. Images accompany the text. Read all
about it online here
.
If you have a recent tale (and pics) that you would
like to share please email us at editor@backpackglobe.com
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DESTINATION IDEAS
Featured here are some locations you may not have considered
for travel this year:
Bhutan
This little known Buddhist country has a romantic appeal
for visitors with its geographic isolation preserving
its culture, mountains and virgin pine forests. Monasteries
and temples sit on green hilltops overlooking valleys
of wheat, streams and villages where traditional dress
is worn in the street and the national sport is archery.
Unfortunately a visa incurs a heavy fee of about USD
$300 per day unless you get an official government invitation.
For more information visit the Lonely
Planet website
Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia
For a more authentic taste of the tradition Malay lifestyle
head to the eastern coast away from the western coast's
big cities and development. The wildlife and scenery
are the main attractions in Sabah, including Mt Kinabalu,
the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, and a number of
islands with corals and tropical marine life. In Sarawak
you can stay in longhouse-dwellings with local tribes,
visit unspolt rainforests, beaches and jungles. For
more information visit the Lonely
Planet website.
Si Phan Don, Laos
These "4000 islands" are right on the border with Cambodia
and for a lot of traveller's it is their first or last
view of Laos. For all it's a lasting impression as the
peaceful villages on the islands are much unchanged
with limited electricity and sanitation systems (rest
assured it's very clean) with lifestyle on the river
that includes fishing, rice harvests, bathing and boating.
The islands feature irradescent paddy fields with buffalo,
old French colonial railway lines and villas, wooden
villages and many children. For more information visit
the Lonely
Planet website.
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PLAN YOUR TRIP
Asia is a huge region and you can generally expect the
weather to be hot, expenses to be more minimal than
Europe or America and life more relaxed. But there are
some things you may need to plan ahead for. Here are
some tips below on these. Please contact us at info@backpackglobe.com
if you have any unanswered questions.
Packing
This region is tropical and all regions enjoy very moderate
winter temperatures. However winters in some areas can
be freezing eg. China, Laos, north Indian cities etc.
While some areas don't change all year, eg. Malaysia
has two monsoons so it is guaranteed to rain every day.
However for most of Asia you will need little more than
1-2 changes of clothes, a towel, and a light jumper
like a long sleeved t-shirts. Do remember in Asia that
people are more prudent so dress respective of the culture
and try to cover yourself more than you would at home.
Have a look at our packing
guide for more ideas.
When to Go
You may wish to avoid the winter in some countries or
the monsoon. However the monsoon season can be an electrifying
experience and doesn't need to halt plans like hiking
for example. Generally in Nepal and India the monsoon
is the off season for hiking but once you get high enough
in altitude the leeches and rains stop!
Length of Time
We like to recommend that people spend about a month
in each country they visit to appreciate the food, people,
life and culture more. However this largely depends
on your time and bank balance! For most visitors to
Asia the biggest expense is getting there. Food and
accomodation will be minimal costs in your budget.
Climate
To adequately prepare for packing you should check the
weather conditions before you go. Try a weather site
for more informaton on seasons and weather predicitions.
Book Tours
Many companies now offer tours that are suitable even
for those who prefer to be a little more independent.
We have a number of partners we work with that you can
research with and book online. Try some of these links:
Hostelworld.com
- worldwide tours, including Asia
Info
Hub Specialty Travel Guide - specialty tours
City
Tours - specific city tours
Cheap Flights
Travelnow.com
Accomodation
Options for accomodation throughout Asia are numerous
in both hostels, cheap hotels, bed and breakfasts, hotels
and resorts. For peace of mind you may wish to book
ahead to ensure you get what you want. We have a booking
engine built into every page of our websites. Search
through it via city and date to see a selection of guesthouses,
camp grounds, hostels, bed and breakfasts and hotels
available.
Hostelworld.com
- hostels, hotels, camping grounds, bed and breakfasts
etc
Travelnow.com
- discount hotels
Travelnow.com
- vacation homes
Travel Consultancy
If you can not find what you are looking for we do offer
a consultancy service to help you choose specific types
of establishments. We have long term contacts in this
region and can usually find something that caters specifically
for your needs. Contact us for more information info@backpackglobe.com
Ask Us
If we have not answered any of your questions about
travel to Asia or you need specific advice feel free
to contact us at info@backpackglobe.com
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FOOD GUIDE: SOUTHERN INDIA
Food in southern India is generally less spicy than
the northern dishes, non-greasy and less rich. Rice
is still the staple carbodhydrate and accompanies every
meal - yes even breakfast! People in India don't eat
a lot with cutlery so get used to using your hands (right
one only). They may also eat off banana leaves or vazhaillai
. The most common spices used in this region are
cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Coconut,
fish and root tubers are all commonly used. Here are
a few of the common dishes you may find in the south:
Sambhar (Kerala)
This is a lentil stew cooked with vegetables like okdra,
aubergine, spinach, peas, onion or potato. It is commonly
eaten for breakfas when it has a higher liquid content
than later in the day.
Idli
Idli's are often eaten to accompany Sambhar. These are
spongy rice dumplings that can be dipped into bowls
of lentils and vegetables to scoop out the food.
Dosa
There are numerous types of dosa's including plain dosa's
and masala dosa's. However they are all made of rice
and dal and cooked like a flat pancake and rolled up
with a filling inside.
Banana Chips
This is a common type of snack made from dried banana
pieces.
Jackfruit Chips
This is a common type of snack used from the jackfruit.
Coffee
In South India coffee often follows meals not like tea
in the north. Madras coffee is particularly famous and
you will find numerous stylish coffee shops in the big
cities of Bangalore, Madras and Mumbai.
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FEATURE: Train Travel in India
The Indian rail network was developed by the British
and is one of the most efficient services offered in
this country. However it can also be disconcerting and
many travellers, including the editor, have reported
having to jump on rolling trains and fight for seats
or pay fines because they bought the wrong ticket etc.
Here's a few tips to find out how it's done.
HOW TO BOOK
To get a seat on an Indian train usually requires some
forethought and a lot of patience. Remember there are
1 billion people in this country and half of them seem
to be on the train with you! Certain travel agents can
book the tickets for you and usually you only pay a
small service fee of about Rs 50 (USD$1) for the assistance.
This can save you a lot of hassle and time.
Alternatively if you want to book the train yourself
go in person to the railway station and find the right
queue. You will need the train number and a booking
form before you can make a reservation. To get the train
number go to the information desk first and also try
and acquire a booking form. To make the reservation
there is usually a special queue for foreigners but
Indians will try and push in. Stand your ground! Try
and fill in as much of the booking form as possible
before you get to the counter.
There is usually a tourist quota for every train and
if you pay in foreign currency you can usually always
ensure a seat for yourself. However it is much better
to book as far in advance as possible.
WHAT CLASS?
Indian trains are I, II and III class. Generally agents
encourage women travelling alone or in female only groups
to go into first class which are obviously slightly
more expensive. There are also sometimes women only
compartments they can book you in. If your'e used to
travel in India or are in a mixed sex group you can
save some money by travelling in II class. Here you
have a choice of II or III tier berths. This refers
to the number of levels of bedding. Again most agents
will encourage foreigners to choose a II tier berth
as it means there are less people in your compartment
and you have more room.
III class seating is generally not numbered and is a
lot cheaper. This means you will definitely have to
run and push and shove to get a seat and it may not
be the most comfortable journey for long distance. You
also have the choice of AC and non AC trains. Unless
the weather is very hot there is little need for AC
travel, although this is sometimes the only option on
some trains.
BATHROOMS
Train bathrooms are the pits. Try to use them early
on in the journey or they soon become like open sewers.
Do not drink the water in the bathrooms! You will also
need your own toilet paper and soap and other amenities.
There are no showers provided.
FOOD ON BOARD
Many Indian families will take food with them for the
journey and will often offer it to those sitting around
them, especially foreigners who they like to befriend.
Don't be afraid to try something although it is nice
to offer them something in return. If you have no food
with you there's no cause for alarm. Chai wallah's (tea
sellers) and all other manner of food and beverage salesman
come up and down the aisles all day and night. On some
trains food is included in the price. On other trains
the Indian Railways have a restaurant system and someone
will come around taking orders for dinner. Usually the
prices are not too expensive.
SPECIAL JOURNEYS
There are a few lovely train trips in India including
the toy train from Darjeeling and Shimla. The journeys
south through Goa and Kerala are also scenic.
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UPCOMING FESTIVALS
Here are some selected highlights from around Asia.
For more details email us at editor@backpackglobe.com
April
13-15, Chiang Mai, (Thailand), Songkran Water Festival
- drive-by squirtings through the city in pickup trucks,
trishaws and taxis using squirt guns, super soakers,
hoses, buckets, garbage cans etc.
Early Spring/Summer, Okinawa (Japan), Dragon Boat Races
April/May, (India), Baisakhi - Sikh celebration where
the holy book the Granth Sahib is read.
April/May, Lucknow, (India), Muharram - Shi'ite festival,
commemorates the martyrdom of Mohammed's grandson. A
grand parade and penitents scourge themselves with whips.
May
Nueva Ecija, (Philippines), Araquio Festival - weeklong
festival recreating the expansion of Christianity and
the war between Christians and Muslims. Click
here for details.
Month long, South East Asian Islands, (Philippines),
Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) - Catholic celebration
of the rain seasons
April/May, (India), Baisakhi - Sikh celebration where
the holy book the Granth Sahib is read.
April/May, Lucknow, (India), Muharram - Shi'ite festival,
commemorates the martyrdom of Mohammed's grandson. A
grand parade and penitents scourge themselves with whips.
June
June/July, Edirne (Turkey), Kirkpimar Oiled Wrestling
Competition - amateur wrestling festival of 3 days
June/July, Istanbul (Turkey), International Istanbul
Music Festival - world class performers
June/July, Puri (India), Rath Yatra - great car festival.
July
? - Delhi's International Mango Festival, Talkatora
Stadium. (Delhi, India)
Ulaan Baatar, (Mongolia), Naadam Festival - horse races
and national festival.
Tona Torajan, Sulawesi, (Indonesia), Torajan Funerals
- a celebration of the person's life including food,
gifts, and alcohol
August
2nd Saturday - Nehru Cup Snake Boat Races, backwaters
at Alappuzha (Alleppey, Kerala India).
August/Sept - Ganesh Chaturthi, 11 day Hindu festival,
elephant-headed god images immersed off Chowpatty Beach,
Mumbai, and Maharastra (India).
September
Sept/Oct - Festival of the Gods, (Kullu, India).
Sept/Oct - Dussehra Festival, best in Mysore and Ahmedabad.
(India).
Sept/Oct - 10 days, Ram Lila, India's most popular fetival.
(India).
For more details go to some of these links:
Worldwide
festivals
Festivals.com
Worldwide festivals
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JOBS AND USEFUL JOB LINKS
Work Links
The EduFind ELT Job Centre - for teaching English Abroad
- http://www.jobs.edufind.com
Working Abroad - http://www.workingabroad.com/
Teaching English as a Foreign Language - http://www.tefl.com/
Bulletin Boards
We regularly list new jobs on our bulletin boards. Check
out the link below for details or to add your own bulletin:
Worldwide - http://www.backpackglobe.com/ask_bp_for/tbboard.asp
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HELPFUL TRAVEL WEBSITES
BackpackGlobe - independent global
travel
Visitedplanet.com
- worldwide travel images featuring Asian countries
like India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and etc
Pass
Planet.com - Asia and Central America guide for
independent travellers.
Your Trek.com
- advice for travel in Asia and other locations.
Backpacking
for Life.com - Includes personalised advice from
a fellow traveller taking in Thailand, Philippines,
Laos, Malaysia etc.
Our other sites include:
BackpackItaly
- independent travel in Italy
BackpackFrance
- independent travel in France
BackpackSpain
- independent travel in Spain
If you have found an excellent travel website send us
the link - editor@backpackglobe.com
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We hope you found our newsletter interesting and helpful.
The next edition is due in May 2004. If you would like
to make any comments or see something different in the
newsletter email us at editor@backpackglobe.com
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check out our sites:
http://www.backpackitaly.com
http://www.backpackfrance.com
http://www.backpackspain.com
http://www.backpackglobe.com
http://www.backpackoceania.com
- coming soon!
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