Asia | The Barefoot Nomad

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...

Travel Photo: Farang Beach, Koh Mook, Thailand

Charles Kosman

Asia, Thailand, Travel Blogs, Travel Photos

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...

Travel Photo: Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Charles Kosman

Asia, Cambodia, Travel Blogs, Travel Photos

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...

Travel Photo: Orangutan at Bukit Lawang Indonesia

Micki Kosman

Asia, Indonesia, Travel Blogs, Travel Photos

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.