An honest Asia travel guide for remote workers and slow travelers who want to actually know a place. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia — destinations worth staying longer than a week, written from real experience living and working across the continent.
Arrive in daylight, stay until dark. That was my one rule for the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. I saved it for my last afternoon in Hokkaido, a few hours before my flight. The ice sculptures are made from the lake’s own water, so they shine blue. After sunset, colored lights take over. This Lake Shikotsu…
Learning how to travel Hokkaido in winter without a car began with a near mistake. I almost bought the wrong rail pass before I even landed. In the end, I covered seven days by train, bus and one taxi ride. Trains handled the snow far better than I expected. Still, winter travel here has rules…
Knowing what to eat in Hokkaido in winter is easy; choosing is the hard part. After all, the island grows, catches and cooks some of Japan’s best comfort food. In winter, everything arrives steaming, rich and built for the cold. Over seven days, I ate ramen in two cities and learned some lessons. Here are…
One day, I walked Otaru’s snowy canal past old stone warehouses. The next morning, I was soaking in a steaming rock pool in Jozankei. Both trips started from my Sapporo base, and neither needed a car. Otaru suits seafood lovers and history fans, while Jozankei is all about hot springs. For me, they are the…
I spent a whole week in Hokkaido without clipping into skis once. Instead, I soaked in snowy onsens and walked among glowing ice sculptures. I also watched the afternoon light fade over Biei’s white hills. Not once did I miss the slopes. If you are not a skier either, you are in good company. Here…
Ski boots or city shoes? In Hokkaido, that choice decides where you sleep. Skiers usually head straight for Niseko and its famous powder. Most non-skiers are better off in Sapporo, close to the trains and easy day trips. I didn’t ski, so I based myself in Sapporo for four nights. Then I moved north to…
My Hokkaido winter itinerary started with a train window full of white. Snow covered the fields, the rooftops and even the power lines. I spent seven days on the island in late February, entirely without a car. Along the way, I made mistakes and changed plans. Still, I already want to go back. Here is…
Choosing where to stay in Tonsai Beach is choosing a lifestyle. This is not a resort strip. There are no marble lobbies or infinity pools overlooking the sea. Tonsai is barefoot, off-grid and proudly rough around the edges. Climbers, backpackers and travelers who want to disconnect come here on purpose. Railay sits just a jungle…
Figuring out how to get to Tonsai Beach Krabi is not as simple as hailing a taxi. There is no road. No bridge. No tunnel. Massive limestone cliffs block every possible land route. The only way in is by boat. This sounds romantic until you arrive at night and discover the rules have changed. This…
Is Krabi worth visiting? I asked myself this question before my first trip. I had seen the photos everywhere. Limestone cliffs, turquoise water, longtail boats. It looked almost too perfect. Then I arrived and realized those photos barely scratch the surface. Krabi surprised me in ways I did not expect. It also frustrated me in…