The Millennium Experience

Sandwiched between India and China, the “rooftop of the world” could just as easily be called the “peak of partying.” This cultural crossroads is home to a vigorous mix of ethnicities that has contrived a fascinating array of festivals. Although the most important events are covered here, there’s always something going on in Nepal, and a visit to the Kathmandu Valley is almost certain to coincide with at least one festival. ... More

Vietnam is a country on the move. The introduction of economic reforms—known as doi moi—more than 10 years ago acted as a catalyst, releasing the energies of the nation left behind after decades of war and isolation. Now wherever you travel in Vietnam—in the towns, the cities, and the countryside—you will see people on the go.
From the rows of pho (noodle soup) stalls lining the sidewalks to the numerous vendors selling postcards to the huge neon signs advertising Western chic, it is apparent that this drive to make it in this new era cuts across social boundaries. Billboards hawk everything from Lifebuoy soap to Heineken beer to the newest luxury apartments, and tower above streets jammed with motorbikes, bicycles, and more and more cars. ... More

In desperation to bring foreign exchange into the country and prop up its dictatorship, SPDC, the ruling party, has opened the nation’s doors to tourism, eased its visa restrictions, and begun to permit entry by land from Mae Sai in northern Thailand to Kengtung. You no longer need to purchase local currency at the official exchange rate. Foreign investment is also welcomed. ... More

In India, religion is no one-day-a-week affair: it’s a way of life—the force that moves the country. It governs the mind, defines most behavior, sets much of the country’s agenda and calendar. It can even become a personal lullaby or alarm clock, with Hindu chanting at nighttime and the Muslim muezzin calling the faithful to prayer in the morning.
India is also fusion and contrast. Throughout this country, where the earliest remnants of a civilization date from at least 3200 BC, you see the effect of repeated invasions on India’s culture and heritage. ... More

As the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is strategically positioned in the center of the country at the confluence of four branches of the Mekong River. Though it was founded in 1434, Phnom Penh is a small city with only a million inhabitants. There are only a few notable sights, which you can easily cover in a morning. ... More

A feast of islands awaits you in the Philippines. Luzon has historic Metro Manila, with its vibrant nightlife, the breathtaking Cordillera and Sierra Madre mountain ranges to the north, and Spanish-era architecture and churches. The Visaya Islands have some of the country’s best sandy stretches and music-loving inhabitants, and Mindanao has towering Mt. Apo and rare flora and fauna. All three regions enjoy translucent seas, tropical beaches, and highlands to trek. This Archipelago of 7,107 Islands, extending between Taiwan to the north and Borneo to the south, seems like a misplaced Latin American country. ... More

A dynamic economy and an energetic people whose traditions are rooted in centuries of culture make Thailand the fulcrum of Southeast Asia. No other country in the region has so well combined a rush toward industrialization with a genuine reverence for heritage. Pristine mountain jungles and idyllic virgin beaches contrast with sleazy beach resorts and red-light districts, and amid the sensory kaleidoscope of the capital peaceful temple complexes and wonderful hotels are islands of calm. ... More