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Top Ten Tips for travelling Southeast Asia

Posted by Andrea on March 12, 2014 | 4 Comments

Here are some Journeys Within tips to making the most of your Southeast Asian holiday…

Top Ten Tips to make the most of your holiday

Orient yourself — When you leave your hotel pick up a hotel card to give to a taxi or tuk-tuk driver for your return trip. It usually has the name of your hotel and directions to get there in the local language as well as in English.

Haggle with a smile — Remember to bargain, it is a way of life throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar and can be fun! Smile and give haggling your best shot, keeping in that 25 cents may not be much to to you, but to a local it can cover the cost of a meal.

Trust your gut — Don’t believe everything you hear. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers have been know to tell visitors that where they want to go is ‘closed’, has a bug infestation or bad reputation; they might be planning to take you to an outlet where they get commission. Tourist hot-spots are susceptible to scam, so a little skepticism (and maybe a quick Google search) can be a healthy thing.

Kindness of strangers — That being said, don’t assume everyone is trying to rip you off; most locals are honest and want you to enjoy their country. The Golden Rule applies everywhere — treat others the way you want to be treated.

Keep cool — Asian isn’t always as organized or logical as we would sometimes like — try hard no to lose your temper, or even raise your voice, it is counterproductive. Believe us, Andrea has tried! Hot tempers will embarrass the locals while calmer heads will always prevail.

Keep your eyes peeled — The most photographic moments are often the ones you don’t see coming. Have your camera with you and ready at all times. You never know when you will catch the elusive 5 guys or family of 7 on a single motorbike.

Be prepared … with wet wipes — Hand-sanitizer, bug-spray, toilet paper, feminine products (if applicable) – don’t leave the hotel without them. The more remote the location the less likely you will be able to find the essentials. Wet wipes are the key to handling dusty roads and long days touring.

Stay hydrated — Only drink bottled water and drink lots of it. You don’t want to wait until you are dying of thirst or suffering from headaches before replenishing the liquid lost during the hot tropical days. Dry the bottle if it has been kept cool in a tub of water; who knows where that water came from!

Befriend a local — Don’t hesitate to ask questions, directions or for help. Locals are generally eager to lend a helping hand, much the same way you would be if you came across someone lost in your neighborhood. Plus, it is surprising how much can be communicated with body language!

Accepting Asia — Everyday life, sight and smells will be very different in Southeast Asia compared to home. Go with the flow – the unexpected makes the best stories when you get home!

And one important extra…

Walk slowly and nap often, the locals do!… Read more »

A Cambodian abroad

Posted by Andrea on October 18, 2013 (Updated: 2013-10-18) | 3 Comments

Recently, members of the Journeys Within team were sent to the United States to share their stories on behalf of Journeys Within Our Community. Here, Makara, a three year employee of the Journeys Within Hotel, shares his impressions of their time abroad.

I had the opportunity to visit a few states and everything was different from one to another — and it is all totally different from Cambodia.

It was a fundraising trip, but I have some free time to see some things around too. It was great to see other country because I have never been out of my country before. I had a good time, but I just missing the local food sometime. I can eat everything burger, sandwich, Mexican and Italian foods, but I am not used to it yet, because we were only gone for a few weeks.

1238238_4877405033424_1525794148_n — The boys bundle up for the lower temperatures in the United States.

I landed in San Francisco, California; and the first thing I noticed is the airport was so big and beautiful. We then drove three hours from airport to Truckee, along the way I could see that there were a lots of small houses, which was different from what I thought before arriving. The weather was cold and I needed to wear my jacket all the time – not what I am used to. Truckee is a mountain town with really great views, and as we drove along the hills I could feel my ears popping. The roads are big and they have highways, freeways and railways that connect state to state. The people in Truckee live on the mountains and in the forest, but they still have access to everything like clean water, power and internet everywhere, even though they live in the forest on the side of a mountain. It was amazing!

1374189_698885276807777_876292866_n — Somit, Andrea, Makara and Vantha in New York City.

New York was different from California — this state is very nice with a lot of tall and big buildings. The people all look so busy. They prefer to walk then take the car, because the road is so crowded. I went to see the subway — in there the people are just like go! go! go! They moved so quickly that sometimes I got push in to the train. I had to wonder what they are doing and where they are going. Time Square is so nice – here the billboard lights mean it is always day time. I went to see the Central Park, it was very nice place with green views. There are a lot of people go to visit and lay on the grass.

556547_4826324876452_203031410_n — The boys hit the nation’s capital.

Washington DC is another beautiful state. But the traffic is crazy, not so many people are walking, because from one place to one place is far. I had a chance to see the Capital City Building, it was amazing. The people are friendlier than in New York.

One day we went to see Reno, Nevada; it is a state that has a lot of gambling. During the day it looks quiet, the road is not so busy, but I heard that in the night time it is so crowded.

For me, there was no disappointment at all. I wasn’t surprise with how different the living standard are compared to Cambodia, because I can see the difference in the level of education. I mean in the USA, the people know a lot more about how to live together and how to respond and support their country.

It was a big gift from Journeys Within Boutique Hotel, they gave me a great bonus as I have been along with them for about 3 years. This trip was a big gift from Journeys Within Tour, they arrange a great trip for me.

It was also a big gift from Journeys Within Our Community — they gave me a great experience and an opportunity to help them back as they helped me pay for my college for four years in 2007.

Again, thanks to Andrea, Brandon and the Journeys Within Team.

— Makara… Read more »

The home stretch — Highlights of Siem Reap

Posted by Andrea on August 31, 2013 (Updated: 2013-08-31) | Leave a comment

Andrea and Anna finish their whirl-wind trip around Southeast Asia in Siem Reap and then take in the city’s sights at new heights with the JW guides…

Looking to get reacquaint with old friends and get to know the latest additions to the Journeys Within team, Andrea and our Cambodian guides headed out to one of Siem Reap’s newest attractions: Flight of the Gibbons Angkor. Set inside Angkor park, the zip line adventure offers a unique glimpse of this beautiful forest from above.

zip1 — Flight of the Gibbons is a tree-top experience that provides guests a new prospective on the ancient Angkor park.

After swinging through the trees, the team regrouped by lending a helping hand and planting new trees along the new Korean Ring Road to Banteay Srei.

Narla, Vanith, Sothorn and Kanha help pant Ko Ki trees.

Guide Training 2013: 6 Countries, 1 Team, Countless Experiences

Posted by Andrea on August 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Our theme for this years Guide Training is Countless Experiences. Two years ago we highlighted our guides as our Stars, but this year we really wanted to highlight how our guides are key in making the experiences we include in tours so amazing. One of the reasons our guests travel with us is because we’ve put together unique and creative experiences that really are an entree into the countries we visit. Whether it’s taking a culinary tour in Bangkok, visiting a meditation center in Chiang Mai, learning to plant rice in Laos, taking a cooking course at a local home in Hanoi, visiting a hidden pagoda in Hue, having dinner with a Vietnam vet in Saigon or visiting a local village in Cambodia, these experiences are only as good as the guide leading them. As a company we pride ourselves on putting together incredible tours that allow guests to feel part of the communities they’re visiting, but without the guide these experiences are nothing.

Here are just a few ways our guides help guests maximize these unique experiences:

1. They get our travelers there and explain what it is they are seeing. When our guests are traveling in Southeast Asia they don’t necessarily know the history and culture and without this background the experiences aren’t as interesting. Visiting chanting monks and learning to give alms is hollow if you aren’t given the information on Buddhism and how it fits into the daily life of those living and practicing it. Giving guests the background knowledge allows the experience to really come alive and highlight the culture and people.

My daughter, Callie, participating in a Bacci ceremony in Laos. Our guide’s explanation allowed us to fully appreciate the ceremony and feel honored to be a part of it.

2. Translating for the guest. Things like dinner with a Vietnam vet or meeting a local monk or having lunch with a village chief, would be a long and very quiet affair without our guides. Key to the success of these experiences is the guide being able to open the path of communication between our guests and the local people they are meeting. I feel like I’ve had incredible conversations with local community members and it was all made possible because our knowledgeable guides translated what was being said.

Journeys Within guide, Binh, translating a wonderful conversation between myself and a local farmer in Central Vietnam.

3. They bring their passion and excitement to the experience. Getting into a helicopter in Cambodia and heading to Preah Vihear is going to be an amazing experience no matter what, but when our guide Sina is sitting next to you pointing out the window and exclaiming with pure delight at everything you can see from the air, even the most jaded traveler will feel his excitement. Our guides love their countries and are proud to share it with our guests and this pride and passion is probably what we hear the most about from guests in our feedback.

sina with helicopter — There were smiles all round when Siem Reap guide, Sina, accompanied a trio of Journeys Within guests to Preah Vihear.

This year we’ll be thanking our guides for really bringing the experiences we offer to life and giving our guests such incredible memories!… Read more »

Angkor Park stuns Tripadvisor travelers

Posted by Andrea on June 27, 2013 (Updated: 2013-06-27) | Leave a comment

Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards has once again revealed Cambodia’s Angkor Park as a fan favourite…

The temples of Angkor Wat and Bayon have both cracked the top five Tripadvisor’s 2013 Travellers’ Choice Award for world landmarks.

Angkor Wat was voted second to Manchu Pichu, while the Bayon took fifth spot on the list.

Anyone who has been in the presence of either temple can’t help but agree that the design and construction of the two wonders in beyond overwhelming; Angkor has size and style while Bayon has more than 200 smiling faces to hold the gaze of visitors.

Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. Taking about 40 years to construct, the monument was begun shortly after Suryavarman took the throne and was finished shortly after his death. Angkor Wat is the most popular spot to catch sunrise.

Constructed just after Angkor Wat, Bayon was constructed by Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavaraman VII, the Donald Trump of his day.

Both temples are part of the Angkor complex — a UNESCO World Heritage site that draws about 2 million people a year.

The only justifiable criticism of the site is that Angkor is no longer a well kept secret, which means crowds of other tourists competing for that perfect picture. Who can blame them?

For those looking to beat the hoards, we offer tours designed featuring knowledgeable guides to help you make the most of Angkor and avoid the masses.