About the Author
Lonely Planet
Fresh from an epic journey across Europe, Asia and Australia in 1972, Tony and Maureen Wheeler sat at their kitchen table stapling together notes. The first Lonely Planet guidebook, Across Asia on the Cheap, was born. Lonely Planet extended its coverage to every country and into the virtual world via lonelyplanet.com and the Thorn Tree message board. In October 2007, BBC Worldwide acquired a 75% share in the company, pledging to uphold Lonely Planet’s commitment to independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence. Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Melbourne, London and Oakland, with around 500 staff members and 300 authors.
By
Lonely Planet
Southeast Asia
The Classics:
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia – Discover your top temple among the vestiges of the mighty Khmer empire. Take an early rickshaw to beat the dawn crowd.
- Ko Phi Phi, Thailand – Cruise between humpbacked limestone mountains rearing out of a sapphire sea. Get your scuba-diving certification here; it’s the cheapest in the world.
- Halong Bay, Vietnam – Navigate an old-school junk through karst peaks by day, sip a beer and stretch out on the deck at night. If you can pony up the extra cash, the deluxe experience is well worth it.
Roads Less Travelled:
- Banaue, Philippines – Wander between rice terraces carved out of the lush volcanic slopes.
- Luang Nam Tha, Laos – Ecotrek in the picturesque hill country, away from the tourist hurly-burly.
- Komodo, Indonesia – Meet the world’s biggest lizards.
Hot Tips:
- The rough roads of Southeast Asia are perfect for motorbiking. Hire a motorbike, and the countryside opens up to you.
- If you’re looking for a party scene, Southern Thailand is it. Full-moon parties, late-night raves and an international DJ cast set the scene.
- Don’t even think about anything to do with drugs if you’re in Singapore. Just don’t.
Indian Subcontinent
The Classics:
- Agra, India – Bask in the shade of the milky Taj Mahal, the ultimate monument to love. Take the second-class (non-air-conditioned) carriage on the way from Delhi: you’ll get a great breeze from the windows and have the opportunity to meet people.
- Kathmandu, Nepal – Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most backpacker-friendly cities. You can taste cuisine from around the world in Kathmandu for incredibly low prices.
- Kerala, India – Kick back on a languid boat cruise through the palm-fringed backwaters. Don’t bother with a deluxe boat: the cheapies are perfectly fine.
Roads Less Travelled:
- Lahore, Pakistan – Spin out with Sufis and experience some Mughal magic.
- Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka – Spot leopards, tread mangrove forests and catch waves.
- Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – Explore laid-back, tourist-free beaches.
Hot Tips:
- If you’re walking anywhere in northern India or Nepal, make sure you get fit first. Sheer mountainsides and winding paths demand serious aerobic capacity.
- You’ll encounter a lot of people who offer to help you out. Most of these are genuinely kind-hearted folks. Some of them are scammers. Keep your wits about you. If something sounds too good to be true, it is.
- Chances are you’ll have a brief bout of the runs. Don’t take any blockers (such as Imodium) unless you’re on a long bus or train trip – it’s better to let things run their course.
Inspired to go travelling, now that there are too many places to go with too little time? For further details on seeing the world’s hot spots and hidden beauties, visit the Lonely Planet website: http://lonelyplanet.com.au/
Happy trails!
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