Thailand is likely to be one of the first countries in Asia to re-open its borders to international tourists in the second half of the year. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best of Thailand’s festivals from October 2020 to February 2021 to help you plan an itinerary that provides an opportunity to participate in at least one of these colourful events.
A self-organised themed tour is a different way to travel but can be a satisfying and enjoyable way to learn about the culture and history of Asian countries. This tour focuses on the Peranakan culture of the Straits Chinese and takes travellers from Singapore to Melaka and Penang in Malaysia where there are many opportunities to learn about how these entrepreneurial pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to the development of those countries.
Bhutan is often called “the last Shangri-La on Earth”. Even seasoned adventurers find themselves spell-bound by this mystical Buddhist kingdom sandwiched between China and India in the Himalayas. Bhutan is a destination with a fascinating cultural heritage where visitors can enjoy some extraordinary adventures at a pace that is eminently suited to older travellers.
If you crave for spicy Korean food and would like to learn how to cook it, then leave time for a cooking class when you are next in South Korea. The country’s capital, Seoul, has many classes on offer, but major cities like Busan – Korea’s seafood capital – have classes available too. This class will have you cooking Korean dishes like an expert.
The East Malaysian state of Sabah, one of Asia’s great tropical rainforest destinations, is re-opening its domestic tourism industry. It will be a long time before international tourism resumes, but in the meantime the state can reflect on what kind of tourism it wants to promote in future. Should it keep pushing for high visitor numbers? Or should its main focus now be the strict protection of its precious environment?
Re-creating dishes at home that you’ve sampled on visits to Asia is a way to bring back memories of trips away, and partially satisfy the travel bug whilst we are confined to within our own borders. Many of the dishes of Southeast Asia are easy to cook at home and provide a way to recall enjoyable culinary experiences from your favourite destinations.
During periods that we are unable to travel because of coronavirus lockdowns, closed borders or quarantine restrictions, there is only one way to satisfy the travel bug — and that’s through virtual travel from our computers and tablets. We take a look at which websites offer the best virtual travel experiences for when we are stuck at home.
Back in the 13th century, the Mongol Empire covered nearly half of Asia and Europe. Today the land of Genghis Khan is a shadow of its former self, but its rich history, stunning landscapes, nomadic cultures and friendly people attract visitors from around the world to see a part of Asia that offers a different travel experience. It’s an ideal destination for older travellers who may be looking for something to surprise them.
With thousands of international travellers still stranded in Asia, those affected are placing the blame squarely on airlines who prematurely cancelled flights and provided no alternative options for them to get home. Slow and disorganised responses by some governments in mounting repatriation flights have also come in for criticism. However, with death tolls still increasing in the U.S. and some European countries, some travellers have decided to sit out the pandemic in Asia.
Extract: Many older travellers enjoy getting off the beaten track having visited all the usual tourist haunts during their younger days. And they like to do it in a socially responsible way, especially if there are opportunities to connect with communities in the developing countries of Asia. There are a number of community-based tourism operators in Thailand that offer visitors the ability to do that. We take a look at how they work.
In these days of social distancing, health experts recommend that we no longer shake hands given that is a common means by which viruses and other germs are passed from one person to another. For many in Asia, that’s not a problem as local cultures have traditionally used other means of greeting and saying goodbye. For those in the west, there is a lot to be learned from those countries that do not use the handshake as a means of greeting.
Many older travellers who have spent their lives visiting countries in different parts of the world look for new places to visit to which they have not been before – particular during the years when they are ticking off a ‘bucket list’ of places that they want to see whilst they are still fit enough to travel. North Korea is a not destination that everyone will want to visit, but for those who do, it can be a travel experience like none other.
The novel coronavirus pandemic is causing many older travellers to put on hold their plans to travel in Asia. People over 60 face the highest risk of dying if they contract the virus. But those who choose to stay at home can still find ways of giving rein to their wanderlust. Here are a few ways how.
Isan in northeastern Thailand is a fascinating region for older travellers as it has many well-preserved Khmer ruins to see, as well as festivals and cuisine that reflect a mix of Thai and Lao cultures. Five national parks offer opportunities for hiking and bird-watching for those looking for back-to-nature experiences. And as Isan is one of Thailand’s least visited regions, it’s not yet overrun with tourists.
It’s ironic that the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, is located in Indonesia, a country that is predominantly Muslim. Borobudur is also Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction – a fact that worries many concerned about its preservation. But the Indonesian Government in partnership with UNESCO have done much in the past 50 years to preserve this ancient site for future generations. It’s a destination in Asia that older travellers will enjoy.
As tropical Asia hurtles into the future, much of its colonial heritage is being lost. But reminders of those times are being preserved in the form of some fine old hotels that have been renovated and converted into luxury accommodation. They’re likely to appeal to anyone with an interest in Asia’s colonial history. We take a look at six of them. If staying there is beyond your budget, you can always go for a meal or a drink and take a look around.
