This article is part of a new series called "The Traveler's Mind"
dealing with the psychology of travel with the goal of creating an
ongoing discussion. If you have any suggestions for future posts please
feel free to leave a comment below.
The other night, I was chatting over Skype with my friend BT who is back home in Canada. The subject of Thailand's infamous ladyboys came up, and he offered this advice for fellow nerdy travelers...
Every year the Mekong River backs up and increases the size of Tonle
Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, from 2700 to 16000 square km.
A prime breeding ground for fish, Tonle Sap is responsible for 75% of
Cambodia's inland fish catch, and 60% of it's protein intake.
Unfortunately, pollution (you can see in green), and planned dams along
the Mekong threaten the lake, and the people who depend on it.
It was once a high school, but when the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia, it became the infamous S-21 prison.
This metal frame bed and the blanket on top are all that remain in this
room used between 1975 and 1979 to interrogate, torture, and kill...
In Vietnam, even more than 35 years later, the remnants of the war with the United States is dug up and sold for scrap. 1kg (2.2lbs) is worth a hardy 7000VDN ($0.30)
The side streets in Hoi An are some of the most interesting little urban
spots I've wandered down. You never know what will be around the
corner; a cool little restaurant, a home full of sewing machines, or a
bunch of chickens wandering about.
A water lily grows in a pond on an organic farm in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Read the story about my CouchSurfing experience with the owner of the farm and his family.