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MK And The Little Man Hong Kong Harbor

Meat Floss And The Vegetarian: My Unplanned Affair

Micki Kosman
Asia
16

I've been a vegetarian since I was about ten.

I love to get immersed in the countries I'm visiting. This means getting as far away from any English speaking folks or signs as I can.

As a vegetarian, this can be pretty tough. I break out my bad Mandarin (or Thai, or Cantonese) and ask for something with no meat. I almost always get pork or fish, because most people assume vegetarians just don’t eat red meat. Vegetarian is a concept that just doesn't translate well.

After countless meals trying to order vegetarian food, I was getting frustrated. And hungry.

And then I found the ...

Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai

Travel Photo: Bells at Wat Pharathat Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Micki Kosman
Asia
4

Chiang Mai's Buddhist temples are some of the oldest in Thailand. Open to the public, they're great examples of Thai architecture, and a wonderful way to see true Thai culture and history.

Doi Suthep can be seen from almost anywhere in Chiang Mai, clinging to the mountainside close to the summit of Doi Suthep hill. Doi Suthep temple was built under King Geu Na in the late 14th century.

It's believed that striking the bells will bring good luck.

Legend holds that the temple's site was chosen by a sacred white elephant charging through the forest. King Geu Na ordered the temple built where the ...

Downtown and Marina Bay at night, Singapore

Travel Photo: Marina Bay at Night, Singapore

Charles Kosman
Asia
3

Marina Bay, in the sovereign city-state of Singapore, is a vibrant section of the city that includes the diversified Central Area or CBD (Central Business District). It is a 24/7 lit up wonderland that includes 3 1/2 kms of paths along the Waterfront Promenade, numerous hotels, commercial shops, high end residential buildings and lots of entertainment options.

Home to the famous Merlion and Marina Centre, this area of the city is well lit up regardless of the hour. The lights and views (especially at night) almost put Las Vegas' neon strip to shame and are a pride for all who live there.

Singapore has one of the busiest water ports in the world and the city-state uses water as a backdrop to highlight it's success at every opportunity. Whether you're walking down the Promenade, sipping a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel (home of the Singapore Sling) or marvelling at the creative wonder of The Helix Bridge you'll feel...

Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach), Boracay, Philippines

Travel Photo: Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach), Boracay, Philippines

Charles Kosman
Asia
2

The island of Boracay in the Philippines is considered by many to be one of the nicest beach destinations in the world. It routinely makes it into the top 10 beach lists year after year. After a few moments walking the length of it's three main beaches you'll quickly understand why.

Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) on the northern side is special because it's entirely made up of white puka shells. Though this creates a slightly rougher sand compared to the famous white powder on White Beach, the color of the azure water and the quiet isolation easily make up for it.

The throngs of people that spend their waking hours walking up and down amazing White Beach or Kite Boarding on the windy Bolabog Beach rarely venture to this quiet area that is every bit as nice as it's siblings. To get there you can...

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

Travel Photo: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

Charles Kosman
Asia
1
Victoria Harbour, in beautiful Hong Kong, is a perfect juxtaposition of old world charm meets rampant 21st century commercialism. There aren't that many places in the world where a 19th century style Chinese junk boat (the Duk Ling) could sail through a crowded harbour backdropped by giant skyscrapers topped with monomental brand names and yet look so perfectly in it's element. It's striking, yet works.As beautiful as Victoria Harbour is during the day, at night it really shines with its dazzling A Symphony of Lights where more than 40 of Hong Kong's skyscrapers light up the night in a music and light show. The show takes place on both sides of the harbour and is a joy to see.From the waterfront you can take a ride up The Peak or jump on a ferry and head to...
Ko Mook, Thailand

Travel Photo: Farang Beach, Koh Mook, Thailand

Charles Kosman
Asia
2

Koh Mook, a small island paradise in the South West of Thailand in the Andaman Sea is a place of quiet tranquility. Due to it's small size and lack of almost anything, this is the perfect place to get away from it all. There are a few small resorts on the island however the place remains fairly low key even in the high season.

Besides for spending your days lounging in the 28°C ocean and stretching out on the glistening white sand, you'll probably find yourself enjoying a beer or two as your days slowly blend into each other. The biggest excitement of the day is watching the few longtail boats drop off and escort away the guests of the island since that's the only way to get there. Occasionally you'll see a sailboat tied up off the tip of the bay and the occasional diving boat might drive by in the distance.

In the morning there are usually a few...

Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Travel Photo: Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Charles Kosman
Asia
8

The Angkor Wat Temple in the Siem Reap Province of Cambodia is a gorgeous example of Khmer architecture. It was built in the 12th century and is the only temple in the area that has seen consistent use since it was built. It is a large complex spanning over 500 acres.

It has become a major tourist destination in Southeast Asia and is the number one tourist destination in Cambodia. It's located around 6 kilometers from the town of Siem Reap and passes are required to enter the Angkor area. They are on sale at the front gate for 1-day ($20), 3-day ($40), or 7-day ($60) intervals. The 3-day pass is valid for any 3 days within a week, while the 7-day pass is valid for any 7 days within a month.

When we were there we hired a tuk tuk driver in Siem Reap...

Orangutan in Bukit Lawang Indonesia

Travel Photo: Orangutan at Bukit Lawang Indonesia

Micki Kosman
Asia
1

The Bohorok Orangutan Centre at Bukit Lawang in Indonesia is one of the only places in the world where you can see orangutans in the wild.

Half a dozen orangutans were swinging in the trees around us when we snapped this photo. The rangers were feeding some of the orangutans on a feeding platorm a few feet away.

Bukit Lawang is a small village deep in Sumatra's forest, packed with backpacker hostels and cafes. To get there, we took a ferry from Penang, Malaysia to Medan, Indonesia, and jumped on board a mini-bus to Bukittinggi. From Bukittinggi, we took a local bus on roads with potholes deep enough to lose a car.