Shows
Far East Travels PodcastChina Beach(My Khe Beach)-Da Nang, Vietnam's BeachesIn this episode I'm coming to you from a little patch of sand on T20 Beach in Da Nang, Vietnam. In normal times on a Friday late afternoon I would probably be seeing many tourists on this beach that had just arrived from different cities in Vietnam, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Due to the pandemic it appears many of these luxury resorts sit quiet waiting for things to open up again. The American Forces dubbed this whole strip of coastline from Son Tra(Monkey Mountain), south to Hoi An, "China Beach" during the Vietnam War. It was an R...
2021-03-1314 min
Citizen44 with Mark ArinsbergC44 / Show#90 / John Saboe It's Halloween 2020 and I'm still here in Saigon, Vietnam where I recently had the pleasure of meeting fellow podcaster and all around good guy from Canada, John Saboe. On C44 Show#90, John shares a bit of his upbringing as well as how he and his incredible voice found their way into the world of radio broadcasting upon entering high school. After a successful career as an on air personality then sales executive in an industry on the decline, John decided to follow his dreams and headed to the Far East in search of new and interesting places to tell...
2020-10-3133 minFar East Travels PodcastPhuket, Thailand Opening Up For Tourism? Pandemic Travel UpdateWill Phuket be opening up to select international travelers October 1st? That's the question, actually there are several things regarding the "Phuket Model" that haven't been cleared up one of which is will it actually open up at all, let alone October 1st. There are lots of stipulations regarding travel to Phuket that can only best be cleared up by checking with your local Thai Embassy or Consulate. Maldives is also open to travelers, the question is will you have issues getting there or leaving even if you can secure flights. I really feel for these countries, particularily the people...
2020-09-0720 minFar East Travels PodcastSoutheast Asia/East Asia Travel UpdateCurrently there are no countries issuing tourist visas in either Southeast Asia or East Asia. I think it's safe to say that with a possible exception of one or two countries it will still be some time before travel for tourists will resume in these regions. With the recent resurgence of COVID-19, particularily where there had not been any community cases detected in months I would not expect countries to start issuing tourist visas or visas on arrival until 2021. Of course that doesn't mean you can't plan or dream for next year. While you're staying away from the crowds and...
2020-08-1928 minFar East Travels PodcastNepal, Kilimanjaro, South America Trekking TipsThought I would review some of my best tips for getting prepared for a trek whether it's one of the amazing trails of Nepal, Mt. Kilimanjaro, or trekking and climbing in South America. These are places that I have trekked and explored and the training is really not much different. Considering we are still in a global pandemic the chances you'll be out doing any of these adventures soon is unlikely but hopefully within a year the idea of trekking to Everest Base Camp or the roof of Africa will be more real. Now's the perfect time to get back...
2020-06-0823 minFar East Travels PodcastLife in Conflict Zones/Yasser Arafat/COVID-19 in Vietnam With Retired CNN/ABC News Photojournalist SteRetired CNN/ABC News/Reuters photojournalist Stephan Patterson shares stories from his career spent in the Middle East, including his meeting with Yasser Arafat, The Bosnian War, and his recent trip to Vietnam. Stephan shares his thoughts from the ground on how Vietnam has been coping with the COVID-19 pandemic compared with his experience returning to the United States. I'm very honored to have Stephan as a guest on the podcast and hearing some of his legendary stories for the first time including his meeting with the former Chairman of the PLO Yasser Arafat, and his close encounter with Bosnian...
2020-04-281h 05Far East Travels PodcastCambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia Travel Updates-COVID-19Sharing what's happening in East Asia and Southeast Asia as travel restrictions become more tight, flights out almost non-existent and support scarce. This information and stories are hopefully comforting that you are not the only one going through a challenging and stressful time. I would like to hear from you if you're interested in sharing your experience or story. It may be some time before we can move freely again between the East and the West and even throughout the region. Thanks again for listening. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or email me at john@fareasttravels.com.Support...
2020-04-0729 minFar East Travels PodcastState Of Emergency, Mandatory Masks, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia And MoreMy apologies to those who are currently stranded the information in this podcast is more to inform others as to the current situation in the region. Of course you are already aware of the limitations and options if you are stranded somewhere, my thoughts are with you and I hope that you can resolve your situtation as quickly and safely as possible. This is an unprecedented and totally unexpected challenge we all face currently. Whether you're living abroad and temporarily out of work with a visa running out or you're stranded in what was supposed to be one of your...
2020-03-2820 minFar East Travels PodcastVietnam, Thailand and more COVID-19 UpdatesThings are changing every few hours it seems here as more cases of COVID-19 appear in different countries affecting global travel. For those that are still traveling in Southeast Asia it's best to talk to your embassy if you're needing to get back to your home country. If you're wanting to extend your current visa considerations are changing every week. Last week I was told extensions were not possible on 3 month tourist visas, now they are. It may be some time before we can plan to travel so I'm looking for your insight as far as what topics you'd like...
2020-03-2018 minFar East Travels PodcastVietnam-Health Declaration For All Arrivals + More Updates/NewsFor all of those entering Vietnam you will now be required to fill out a declaration of health form. You can either do this at the airport on arrival or fill out the form and submit it on this website. You will need your arrival gate number so you might not be able to do this until you receive your boarding pass for Vietnam:https://suckhoetoandan.vn/khaiyteNothing new has changed since the last episode as far as travel advisory warnings. Do keep in mind that although it could be a good opportunity for travel at the moment...
2020-03-0613 minFar East Travels PodcastCoronavirus Update/Timely Travel Tips For Southeast AsiaThe worldwide death toll for the Coronavirus or COVID-19 is now at over 1,000. Certainly this virus should be a serious concern for those in areas where it's widespread like in Hubei Province, China. For those traveling in other parts of Asia taking normal precautions like washing your hands regularly, not touching your face with your hands, using a hand santizer should help prevent you from catching any flu. Not all countries have prevented Chinese citizens from visiting but out of fear many are just not traveling at this time. Vietnam has now stopped issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals but...
2020-02-1226 minFar East Travels PodcastSiem Reap, Cambodia-My Favorite Walk-To The Royal Residence/RafflesI asked my Twitter/Periscope follower to chat with me ask I walked along the Siem Reap River towards the Royal Residence and Raffles Grand Angkor Hotel. If you're looking to get away from the main buzz around the old market and Pub Street area this is a nice walk. Although there is a fair bit of traffic along the road that runs parallel to the Siem Reap River it still can be a pleasant walk. Any questions or suggestions while I'm in Siem Reap just send me a message on IG, Facebook, or an email to john@fareasttravels.com.
2020-01-2233 minFar East Travels PodcastPhom Penh, Cambodia-Wandering It's Iconic Central MarketThe Central Market is definitely one of my top sites to see in Phnom Penh. Personally while staying in the capital on most days I'll find myself here even for just a half-hour. It's buzzing with activity most of the day and the streets surrounding the market are also worthy of exploring. The dome area is impressive but unless you're interested in checking out gemstones, gold, and jewellry it soons gets boring. The perimeter of the market is my favorite area as this includes the wet market, food stalls, and some places where you can get some pretty good bargains...
2019-12-1832 minFar East Travels PodcastCambodia-Is It Safe To Travel?A listener recently sent me a message asking how safe is it to travel to Cambodia these days. He was about to visit the country for the first time with his girlfriend. The recent news of a young British woman gone missing on the island of Koh Rong once again raises concerns about how safe the country is for travel. Her body was discovered in the ocean a week after she went missing and after an autopsy it was determined she died of drowning. Cambodia for the most part is still relatively a safe place to travel and if you...
2019-11-1623 minFar East Travels PodcastVisas General Overview-East Asia, Southeast Asia, South AsiaSome basic information on what you need to know about visas in these regions. One thing that is the general rule of thumb is to have a passport that's valid for 6 months beyond for first day in the country you're visiting. Not all countries require this but most do. The visa process is getting easier and I've even heard talk of a possible ASEAN visa that would allow you to travel around the region of Southeast Asia on one visa. For now, you'll need to apply for visas either in advance or when you arrive in the country you're visiting...
2019-11-0722 minFar East Travels PodcastTravel Apps & Airlines-My FavoritesIn this episode I give you a quick run down of my go to apps for booking hotels, airlines, food delivery, rideshares, and general use and information. I did not mention rail apps that are handy for booking tickets in places like Taiwan, where you can reserve tickets for either Taiwan Railways or for the Taiwan High Speed Rail-I will leave those for future episodes. For myself these apps are equivalent to infrastructure, and they would be for you too if you plan on extended travel or stays in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. With any of these...
2019-10-2518 minFar East Travels PodcastSaigon's Iconic Dong Khoi Street-Walk With MeJoin me on a walk from The Saigon River to The Notre Dam Basilica(Cathedral), on one of Saigon's most iconic streets, Dong Khoi. During the French Colonial period it's name was Rue Catinat and even today there are still many leftover gorgeous buildings of the era from hotels like The Majestic, Grand Saigon, and The Hotel Continental Saigon, to The Opera House and more. This coincides with my YouTube video that was released this week on best areas to stay in when visiting Saigon-https://youtu.be/wleYCU99ZjII also invited my Twitter live followers to join in...
2019-10-0727 minFar East Travels PodcastSim Cards In Asia-All You Need To KnowThanks to Tod Pohlmann of the San Francisco Bay Area for his question about SIM cards in Asia. I hope I've covered off everything you need to know about SIM cards in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. If you have any more questions or suggestions for future podcasts I'd love to hear from you. Send me a message either to john@fareastravels.com or on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/ or https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/. Support the Far East Travels Podcast and get access to private podcasts starting at $5/month. Visit my Patreon page to find...
2019-09-2623 minFar East Travels PodcastHighlights, Comparisons-Phnom Penh, Cambodia vs. Saigon, VietnamI'm sharing some more of my experiences and cost comparisons between Phnom Penh and Saigon. I was asked recently while I was in PP whether it was cheaper than Saigon. The Phnom Penh cost of living is overall 15-18% higher than Saigon. Very reflective in the cost of meals and transportation. You'll notice it almost immediately. Interesting in that Saigon by far exceeds Phnom Penh as a cosmopolitan city but overall is less costly. As I mentioned in the episode I will probably be spending a few months living and exploring Cambodia starting next month. Thanks so much for listening...
2019-09-1921 minFar East Travels PodcastPhnom Penh, Cambodia-Getting A Long Term Visa/Tourist VisaAt one time Cambodia was one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia to obtain a long term visa. Just a matter of applying for an "Ordinary" visa when you arrived and renewing it to a business visa before the 30 days was up and you would have a multiple entry visa good for one year. Things are more complicated now with extensions for people working in Cambodia, retiring, or other categories. Of course you can still renew your tourist visa for 30 days but if you want to stay longer you'll have to exit the country and then return. I suppose...
2019-09-1222 min
The Podcast ShowTPS9: John Saboe - Host of Far East Travel PodcastProduced by Pikkal & Co - Award-Winning Podcast Agency.
What I have learned is, if you are doing a travel podcast, you are always recording on the fly.
In this episode, Shida Osman speaks to John Saboe, host of Far East Travel podcast John walks us through recording on Mount Kilamanjaro, the difference of recording video and a podcast, the equipment that he uses to record and how much he loves Radiohead!
2019-09-1249 minFar East Travels PodcastPhnom Penh, Cambodia-First Impressions After Four YearsAs I settled in after arriving in Phnom Penh after my last visit 4 years ago and felt a comforting sense, a wonderful gift of experiencing so many different cities in and cultures in Asia and recognizing the subtleties of each place. I actually have been trying to arrange a return visit in the last 2-3 years to Phnom Penh but the stars never seemed to line up so perhaps my appreciation for Cambodia and the Khmer culture has only grown since my last visit. It's certainly different in that there is much more residential and retail development and a bigger...
2019-09-0819 minFar East Travels PodcastSaigon, Vietnam-When The S*** Hits The Fan, The Adventure BeginsYves Chouinard, the founder of the Patagonia adventure gear and clothing company once said the adventure doesn't begin until the s*** hits the fan. In this episode I share some of my misadventures or mishaps that uncomfortable or a little terrifying at the time, made the trip much more interesting to share. Unfortunately with the advent of Instagram and other platforms too many people gauge the expectations of their trip on someone else's experience rather than going in without any preconceived expectations. This can be fatal to ultimately enjoying your own experience. If you'd like to share your experience of...
2019-08-2123 minFar East Travels PodcastPhilippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan-Listener Travel ReviewI'm always eager to receive email feedback from listeners of The Far East Travels Podcast. Scott from Utah recently came back from an extensive trip covering Hong Kong, The Philippines, and Taiwan and shares his thoughts and feelings on visiting these three destinations in East Asia. Palawan has been gaining attention especially recently so it was nice to hear Scott's impressions of the paradise, and it sounds like it exceeded his expectations. If you have a recent trip to either East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia you'd like to share please send it to john@ fareasttravels.com to possibly...
2019-07-2812 minFar East Travels PodcastCambodia Power Outages/Dry Season Update- And More Travel ChatJust quick update on the current power outage situation in Cambodia. Some hotels and guesthouses do have their own generators but expect power outages overall during the current dry season. Hopefully this situation will resolve itself with the coming rainy season soon. Please send me your questions on travel throughout East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia to john@fareasttravels.com or on my Instagram account-johnsaboesfareastravels.This podcast relies on listeners just like you for support. Become a patron and get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers:https://www.patreon.com...
2019-05-0832 minFar East Travels PodcastSaigon, Vietnam-Walkabout-Travel Tips And AdviceContinuing my walkabout series from The Ho Chi Minh City Museum To The Reunification Palace. I plan on doing more of these walkabout talks throughout the region in the coming months. I always welcome your questions or comments on the podcast. Lately I've been getting messages either on Instagram or Facebook from people planning on visiting Vietnam in the coming weeks/months. There were over 2.5 million visitors to Ho Chi Minh City in the first quarter of the year up 10% over last year. HCMC accounts for half of all the visits to Vietnam. With all the modern amenities and shopping...
2019-05-0419 minFar East Travels PodcastSleeper Buses, Buddhist Temple Etiquette, + More Topics On Travel Chat Walkabout In Saigon, VietnamContinuing my series of walkabout chats in this episode discussion on sleeper buses, (not my favorite mode of transportation), Buddhist Temple etiquette, and more topics as I walk around Saigon. Have a travel question or a suggestion for a topic. Send me an email to john@fareasttravels.com or message me on Instagram-johnsaboesfareastravels:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/.Help others discover the podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943Support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to see...
2019-05-0137 minFar East Travels PodcastTravel Scams-My Follower's First-Hand AccountsThis will be the start of an on-going series on travel scams with first-hand accounts from followers on my livestream accounts, Periscope an Facebook, as well as contributions via messaging and emails. Send me your scam or how you almost got scammeed and how to avoid these incidents and I will share them on an upcoming episode of the podcast. Either by email, john@fareasttravels.com or via Facebook or Instagram. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode. The more we share, the more we and others will travel safe! Follow me on Twitter or Periscope:@FarEast...
2019-04-1422 min
2019-04-1400 minFar East Travels PodcastMoney Tips For Travelers-ATM's, Credit Cards, Traveler's Checks, And E WalletsHad my Visa card retained by an ATM machine this week in Ho Chi Minh City inspiring me to create a what I hope is helpful information to prepare you for your next trip. My card has an app that locks it and I forgot to take the lock off-the result? It was eaten. So fortunately I have back-up plans and this is one of the most important preparations when traveling abroad. Some of these tips might seem obvious especially to those who are frequent travelers but I hope with some of the stories I've shared it reminds you to...
2019-04-0819 min
Far East Travels Podcast“I Didn’t Have To Ask”-Favorite Great Service StoriesDo you have a story of extraordinary service from one of your visits to Asia? Send me your best story of service to john@fareasttravels.com! Would love to share out some great service stories! Thanks so much for listening and subscribing to the podcast!Help others discover the Far East Travels Podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?mt=2Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast--2913917/support.
2019-03-2212 minFar East Travels PodcastCherry Blossom Update From Kyoto, Japan With Kyoto Expert Niall GibsonAlways a pleasure to talk to expat Niall Gibson who is a Kyoto travel expert and the founder of Kyoto Fun and Kyoto VIP! Niall gives us a 2019 update on the cherry blossom season from one of the top travel destinations in the world-Kyoto, Japan! Sakura, or cherry blossom season is the busiest time to visit Kyoto so Nialls give us his strategies on how to get the most out of season and some alternative places to stay as well as some alternative times to visit Kyoto. The best places to view the cherry blossoms, best place to have a...
2019-03-1344 minFar East Travels PodcastSaigon vs Taipei-What Are The Significant Differences-Observances After 10 DaysThis podcast I'm asked by followers what are the main differences I've noticed between Taipei, my last base, and Ho Chi Minh City, after the first 10 days. There are many differences and I've had a bit of a jump start on knowing them after a few visits here over the past 4 years. Certainly from a cost of living point of view there are big differences. There are also more choices amongst international food choices whether it's restaurants or just purchasing groceries. The amount of motorbikes on the road in the HCMC area is shocking compared with the motorbike capital of...
2019-03-1225 minFar East Travels PodcastGreetings From Saigon! Why Vietnam?Another update on day 8 of living in Ho Chi Minh City. The last few days have been good as I adjust to the climate which I'm told will be scorching hot before the rains start in June. With the heat also comes an adjustment of diet, mostly eating lighter, and of course remembering to stay hydrated-absolutely essential. I miss the water fountains and stations that Taipei City provides it's population. There are plenty of convenience stores in Ho Chi Minh City where one can stop, get rehydrated and some even have small sitting areas. This is definitely a city that's...
2019-03-0812 min
Far East Travels PodcastGreetings From Saigon! Update After The First Few Days In VietnamBringing this episode to you from one of the most iconic spots in Ho Chi Minh City-across from Notre Dam Cathedral.*Note, during the episode I mentioned the Notre Dam Cathedral was finished in 1892, in fact it was completed in 1883. Thanks for listening to this update as I get settled in to on of the most dynamic cities on the planet! The first few days have been a little exhausting as I recover from my move after 5 years in Taiwan. It’s always critical when you first arrive at your destination to take it easy at first when it comes to...
2019-03-0516 min
Far East Travels Podcast"Live In Asia" Expat Series with American MJ Klein-Life in Asia/TaiwanOne off or one time donations to the podcast are always greatly appreciated! You can make a donation to the podcast here:http://paypal.me/JohnASaboeI'm starting an ongoing series of life in Asia through the eyes of expats living across East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. In my first episode I've invited my friend from Taiwan MJ Klein who is originally from Boston, Massachusetts. MJ has been living in Taiwan for 15 years and has some deep insights into being a foreigner, expat, and finally an immigrant. Throughout this series I hope to uncover the reasons...
2019-02-2548 minFar East Travels PodcastAngkor Wat/Angkor Thom, Cambodia-My Favorite Temples/Ruins To VisitI put together a short podcast episode of my favorite places to visit around the Angkor Ruins. I visited most of these sites multiple times during my last stay in Siem Reap and would go back to visit all of them anytime. Here they are in case you want the spelling for your research.Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom(The Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm,(Tomb Raider Temple), East Gate of Angkor Thom, Banty Srea, Kleang Towers across from The Terrace Of The Elephants, Preah Khan. I didn't visit Phnom Bakheng but you may want to as a sunset option. ...
2019-02-2019 min
Far East Travels Podcast“Live From Asia” Series 1 Day Before The Lantern Festival In East/Southeast AsiaDon’t forget to listen live using the Spreaker app every Sunday night-10pmEST. You can also catch the live simulcast on Periscope(Far East Travels). Send your questions to john@fareasttravels.com or message me on:Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/ or https://www.facebook.com/johnsaboeofficial/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Help others discover the podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2Support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons unlock exclusive content with their monthly pledge for as little as $2! Vi...
2019-02-1819 min
Far East Travels PodcastAngkor Wat/Siem Reap, Cambodia Overview-Planning Your Trip To The Biggest Religious Site On The PlanetAngkor Wat and the rest of the Angkor Ruins should definitely be included on your Southeast Asia itinerary. In this episode of the podcast I give you my overview and introduction to Siem Reap, the town where trips to the ruins are based from and advice on getting the most from the sites, especially if you are a photo enthusiast.As I mentioned in the podcast episode it is difficult to rent a motorbike in Siem Reap, in fact it's illegal. Some places will rent motorbikes to tourists and even some hotels but I caution you it's risky and...
2019-02-1517 minFar East Travels Podcast"Live From Asia" Series-Brief Discussion On Bhutan And Your Random Travel Questions“Live From Asia” Your Random Travel Questions Live On Spreaker/Periscope. Send your questions or feedback to john@fareastravels.com. Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FarEastAdventureTravel/Support the podcast by becoming a patron and unlock exclusive content! Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers now:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravelsHelp others discover the podcast by writing a positive review in the iTunes Store:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/john-saboes-far-east-travels/id1079513943?mt=2Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podc...
2019-02-1331 minFar East Travels Podcast"Live From Asia" Weekly Series-Your Random Travel Questions + Firecracker Blasts From Taipei!Weekly Live From Asia-Taking Your Random Questions About Travel/Life In Asia. Don't forget every Sunday night at 10pmEST(New York) I take your live questions either on the chat feature on the Spreaker.com platform or watch live on Periscope! During this episode I was right in the middle of sacrifices and firecracker explosions on the first business day of the Lunar New Year in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm interrupted a few times while local businesses set off firecrackers to help bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Thanks again for listening! You can support the podcast and...
2019-02-1127 minFar East Travels PodcastChinese New Year's Eve Dinner-What I Ate? Plus A Visit To The Most Famous Temple Of TaiwanXin Nian Kuai Le, Happy New Year! I have been so blessed to have been spending the Lunar New Year in Taiwan for the last few years. In this episode I will share with you what I ate on New Year's Eve with my host family and some audio from one of the most famous temples of Taiwan, The Longshan Temple. Thousands visit this temple during the first few days of the Lunar New Year and it's always inspiring especially to see the seniors come out to pray. For some it's obviously alot of effort physically but most still manage...
2019-02-0915 minFar East Travels PodcastChinese New Year Market-Live in Taipei, Taiwan-Questions & CommentaryLive From The CNY Market in Taipei, Taiwan! More background on the festivities of Lunar New Year in Taiwan and Taipei, This past week many people received their Chinese New Year bonus, which can be up to the equivalent of 30% of a person's yearly salary. Needless to say the stores have been busy and of course were ready. But many will also wait until after the New Year before they start spending. Young people look forward to Chinese New Year and the hong bao they will receive, "lucky money", in red envelopes from parents and senior people of the family...
2019-01-2821 minFar East Travels PodcastFood Carts Vs. Restaurants In Vietnam-Your Questions On Food SafetyA recent viewer from my YouTube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/c/JohnSaboefareastadventuretravel, asked about eating at food carts in Vietnam versus eating establishments or restaurants. I think food carts can be just as safe to eat at as restaurants, in some cases even better! Especially if you think about the restaurants that have huge menus with dishes that might not be ordered as frequently as other items, upping the possibility of bad or spoiled food. In this episode I give suggestions on what to look for when choosing which food cart to eat from. But I should also mention...
2019-01-2709 minFar East Travels PodcastVietnam-South To North Itinerary-Trip PlanningWhat cities should I include on my trip to Vietnam is the most common question I’m asked when discussing traveling in the country, especially when people are planning their south to north or north to south trip. This itinerary is from my 2016 six week trip. There may be some areas or cities you would want to add or subtract based on your interests. For example there aren’t really any opportunities to visit caves on this itinerary like Son Doong cave in Quang Bing Province or Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park where you can not only see some impressive cave...
2019-01-2521 minFar East Travels PodcastLive From The Chinese New Year Market in Taipei, Taiwan-CNY/Lunar New Year in AsiaDihua Street Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year Market is the biggest one of it's kind in Taipei, Taiwan. The street is closed off to pedestrian traffic exclusively and each side of the street is lined with stalls selling speciality food items for the holiday. This market starts 2 weeks prior to CNY every year-this year the Lunar New Year falls on February 5th-The Year Of The Pig. Chinese New Year in The People's Republic Of China can be extremely hectic and exhausting for it's citizens with an estimated 2.9 billion trips taking place during CNY and The Spring Festival. It's...
2019-01-2129 minFar East Travels PodcastListener Questions-Off The Tourist Trail In Taipei, Tainan, Kaohsiung/Best Hub Cities-Singapore, Kuala LumpurContinuing short form podcasts that answer your travel questions. I was asked by a loyal listener from Park City, Utah what are some activities to do that would be off the tourist trail in the Taiwan cities of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taipei. Here are the links for resources that will give you further descriptions of where I recommended. Included here are the Hayashi Department Store, Tainan Martial Arts Building, and Sicao Green Tunnel For Tainan:https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3272288Tainan-Wushantou Reservoirhttps://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002119&id=R106Kaohsiung-Monkey Mountain-Soushan National Park,...
2019-01-1920 minFar East Travels PodcastAnnapurna Base Camp Trek, Nepal- Listener Questions-What's It Like?I'm starting a short-form version of the podcast with a question/answer format. Send me your questions about travel in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. Whether it's ziplining in Laos, trekking in Nepal, finding a place for great pad thai in Bangkok, or where to go for awesome (shui jian bao, dumpling buns), in Taipei. Send me your questions to either john@fareasttravels.com, johnsaboesfareasttravels on Instagram, or Far East Adventure Travel or John Saboe Official on Facebook.This week's question comes from Orange via Instagram and Orange wanted to more about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek...
2019-01-1610 minFar East Travels PodcastLonely Planet's Top 10 Destination Lists-Asian Countries/Cities-DiscussionStarting in January 2019 I will be going live on Spreaker(app & desktop) and Periscope and opening up discussions on travel topics. This week discussing Lonely Planet's top 10 Destinations for Countries and Cities in 2019 and their Asian picks. I always look forward to seeing LP's destination picks every year and there was one surprise for me and one I'm so grateful they chose.For cities Shenzhen, China was a bit of a surprise being mostly a place to go to do tech business. Shenzhen is considered the Silicon Valley of Asia. Still according to LP they have a nightlife comparable...
2019-01-1428 minFar East Travels PodcastChinese New Year in Asia-What To Do, Where to Go!I have been enjoying The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year for several years now in Asia. It has become my most looked forward to celebration just because that's what everyone else looks forward to here, at least in East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. I have seen so many wonderful festivals that take place around CNY and I have been fortunate enough to have had invitations for New Year's eve dinners so my experience of CNY is quite complete except for the fact that I didn't grow up with it so it is not naturally my instinctive...
2019-01-1224 minFar East Travels PodcastHo Chi Minh City(Saigon), Vietnam-The MegalopolisAfter spending a week in the rapidly growing Ho Chi Minh City more thoughts on the future of this megalopolis of Southern Vietnam. District 7 and 2 are expat enclaves with modern shopping facilities along with Western style restaurants and shopping. I think there are even more Western tourists along with visitors from across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. It has been just as interesting to watch the rapid growth of Saigon as it has to study the historical sites as well as getting to know the traditional markets and local food/restaurants. I'm hopeful the new MRT/train system...
2019-01-0119 minFar East Travels PodcastMissing The Christmas Spirit In Asia-How Do I CopePeople often ask me what it's celebrating Christmas is like in Asia. Depending on which part of Asia you are located in it can feel as exuburent as anywhere in the West or other than commercial displays that offer fancing lighting and gigantic trees quite alientating. Christmas if it, along with Christianity had a chance to be established by a Western nation like Great Britain during colonization, then you'll find a pretty spirited atmosphere of Christmas. If however you are located in a region or nation that was not colonized by a Western country at one time, there are exceptions...
2018-12-1916 minFar East Travels PodcastFinding Accommodations In Asia-Part IIContinuing with tips and advice for finding accommodations in East/Southeast Asia. The biggest piece of advice I will pass on is to make sure you have your room booked at least a few days in advance of a weekend. This wasn't so much of a problem at one time but now with the huge emerging middle class of Southeast Asia it's best to have your weekend accomodations in place by midweek. Check in advance with your guesthouse, hostel, or hotel and let them know you'll be staying on through the weekend. In some cases the rates might be higher...
2018-12-1516 minFar East Travels PodcastFinding Accommodations In AsiaIn this episode I talk about finding accommodations in East Asia And Southeast Asia. First off the couple of oddities that you may not be used to, one of which are hotels or hostels that only occupy one or two floors of a building. Secondly the Capsule Hotels, which became famous in Japan but are now seen in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. If you're not familiar with them they are basically an elongated large cubby hole that can fit an average size person. Stacked on top of each other to maximize space and the amount of travellers a place can...
2018-12-1420 minFar East Travels PodcastExhilarating Wildlife Experience-The Gibbon Project-Northeastern CambodiaThe Gibbon Project in my opinion is one of the most exciting adventure and wildlife experiences in Asia. It's not like Laos's Gibbon Experience, where you zipline through the forest and stay in treehouses for a completely immersive jungle adventure, with an opportunity to hear wild gibbon singing and the off chance of seeing one at a distance. The Gibbon Project of Ratanakiri Province gets you up close to wild gibbon in their natural environment. The closest anywhere on the planet! In this episode I explain how do get to Banlung, where you can book your Gibbon Project adventure and...
2018-12-1019 min
Far East Travels PodcastEverest Base Camp Trek Update From Dingboche, NepalI’m sitting at the entrance to Dingboche village on the trail to Everest Base Camp, somewhat in disbelief that I’m able to bring you an update from this amazing place in the heart of the Himalaya. Looking at the white Buddhist stupa and this valley enveloped in fog and clouds and sharing stories from this latest adventure makes me appreciate how lucky I am to be here. You can also follow me on Instagram, johnsaboesfareasttravels, and Facebook, Far East Adventure Travel, and YouTube, John Saboe.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/far...
2018-09-2608 minFar East Travels PodcastWhat I'm Eating/Festival Music/Trekking-Kathmandu, NepalI'm so grateful to be able to share with you the highlights of this past week in Kathmandu, Nepal from the rooftop of my hotel-Pilgrims Hotel. I've already seen 3 festivals and I've only been here a week. One of the highlights was witnessing Gunla, the Newari Buddhist tradition of prayer, fasting, singing, playing musical instruments and making pilgrimages to Swayambhunath, The Monkey Temple. I arrived on the platform of the stupa of Swayambhunath greeted by drums, flutes, singing, and a incredible diversity of musical styles ranging from the traditional flute instrumentation of Newari ensembles to traditional Nepal folk music. It...
2018-09-0323 minFar East Travels PodcastTrekking Nepal-Tips And Advice From Trekking/Adventure Outfitter Shanker Bhattahttps://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Support continued podcasting, travelblogging, and more from Asia. Get inspired, keep in touch, access live chat with me, private videos and more for $10/month. Visit my Patreon page to find out more!Nepal is one of the most rewarding vacation destinations on the planet. Not only for it's sheer beauty and grand mountain range, the Himalaya, but as well it's diverse fascinating multi-ethnic cultures, ancient cities and "royal squares", and wildlife.Shanker is one of my partners in Explore Himalayan, a trekking adventure company that organizes group and private treks in t...
2018-03-2032 minFar East Travels PodcastKyoto, Japan-Insider Travel Tips And Advice with Expert Local Guide Niall Gibsonhttps://www.patreon.com/FarEastAdventureTravel Help support the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast by becoming a patron! Visit my Patreon page to check out all of the offers!Kyoto, Japan is one of the most visited cities in the world. With hundreds of picturesque temples and shrines, quite streets, traditional gardens, it's considered the Rome of Asia. With so many tourists visiting Kyoto every year how do you get the most out of your stay along with keeping your visit as authentic as possible? I speak with my friend and expat resident guide Niall Gibson, who operates https://ww...
2018-03-0739 min
Podcasters Unplugged023: A Small Audience Can Be A LARGE Revenue Source With John Saboe023: A Small Audience Can Be A LARGE Revenue Source With John Saboe In this week’s episode of the Podcasters Unplugged show we chat with John Saboe from the Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. John travels around Asia to places such as Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, and MANY more and has in-depth conversations about his journies on his podcast. Through his podcast, he has been able to grow his brand and utilize the audio medium to make himself an authority in the travel space. Go to this link if you are wanting to learn how to b...
2016-10-0331 minFar East Travels PodcastLonely Planet author/Travel Tape Podcast host Robert Kelly - Part 1Robert Kelly is a Lonely Planet author and freelance writer who for the past 20 years has been living in Taiwan and most recently Malaysia. His insights and knowledge of the culture, customs and diversity of East and Southeast Asia is vast. His most recent project is the audio podcast Travel Tape, a documentary style travel guide that dives deep into the cultures, history and stories of some of the most fascinating places around the world available-in the iTunes Store. I recently spoke with Robert about his new podcast series and life in Asia from his home in Kuala L...
2016-05-2930 minFar East Travels PodcastNepal Earthquakes 2015-First Impressions, A Personal AccountOn April 25, 2015 a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 shook Nepal triggering one of the worst catastrophes in the history of the country. Many aftershocks followed, thousands were killed, more were injured and left homeless. The country was shaken by another serious tremor registering 7.3 on May 12th right about the time I was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu. I was there to document the current situation and to assess conditions for travellers. However my flight’s descent into Tribhuvan Airport was delayed for 90 minutes to allow for safety checks.When I finally arrived at the airport and hir...
2016-04-2513 minFar East Travels PodcastDiscovering Ancient Gods, Ghosts, And Grains-Kagbeni, NepalKagbeni is one of the most interesting villages in all of Nepal with it’s take on Western shopping and food culture. But it’s much more than that. Ancient Bonn Animist beliefs, statues and a picturesque location in the Kala Gandaki, the world’s deepest gorge, . Join me John Saboe for a special edition of Far East Adventure Travel Podcast on the Buddhist trail to the Upper Mustang-The Medieval village of Kagbeni, Nepal The Kag in Kagbeni was once Ghag, meaning center and it is, with the important Buddhist/Hindu pilgrimmage site Muktinath to the east and the town...
2016-04-1522 minFar East Travels PodcastChiang Mai, Thailand-Guided Walks Of Iconic Temples/Giant MarketsChiang Mai, Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations of Southeast Asia easily accessible by plane, train or bus. A historic old town filled with Buddhist Temples, restaurants, and cafes along with markets, bazaars and modern shopping malls Chiang Mai has something for everyone. Chiang Mai has also become an attractive base for digital nomads and entrepeneurs to live, with it's inexpensive lifestyle and up to date infrastructure.The city is considered the cultural center of Northern Thailand. It's old town is filled with Buddhist temples and historic buildings.On my most recent trip t...
2016-04-1118 min
Far East Adventure Travel-John SaboeCinemascope Edition-Bangkok's Dazzling Top Attraction-The Grand PalaceOnce the home to the kings of Siam and Thailand The Grand Palace is the number one tourist attraction in BangkokThe Grand Palace is the busiest tourist attraction in Bangkok. It has been home to the Kings of Siam and Thailand since 1782. It is not one building as the name implies but a series of buildings, halls, and pavillions set around courtyards, open lawns, and gardens. On first approach to the complex you are literally assaulted by it’s stunning array of colors, shapes, textures and symmetry, overwhelming in it’s sense of beauty. The gold statues and...
2016-04-0808 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeCinemascope Edition-Wars, Opium, And Tea-Mae Salong, ThailandThe Martyr's Memorial Hall in Mae Salong, Thailand dedicated to resident KMT soldiers who died in battle fighting the civil war of China and communist insurgents in Northern ThailandIn Northern Thailand 15km away from the border of Myanmar lies Santikhiri, otherwise known as Mae Salong. It’s history was in part formed by the opium trade as part of the Golden Triangle. More recently it was settled by members of the 93rd division of the Chinese Nationalist Army who refused to surrender to communist China when they were defeated by Mao’s army in 1949.At first their forc...
2016-04-0404 min2016-03-2205 min2016-03-1805 min2016-03-1305 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeGods, Rockets, And Warriors-Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, Taiwan-Part 3
2016-03-1211 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeGods, Rockets, And Warriors-Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, Taiwan Part 2
2016-03-0711 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeGods, Rockets, And Warriors-Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, Taiwan
2016-03-0209 min2016-03-0114 min2016-02-2002 min2016-02-1411 minFar East Travels PodcastTaipei, Taiwan's Bustling Lunar(Chinese)New Year Shopping Center-Dihua StreetDihua Street or Grocery Street is where many residents of Taipei, Taiwan head to for stocking up on food, snacks and treats for the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year. I recently visited the famous shopping market just two days before New Year’s Eve. I was there to shop, sample food, indeed why many people pay a visit and talk to some Taiwanese about why they enjoy Lunar New Year.Dihua market, for most of the year is Dihua Street-a center in Taipei for traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, fabrics, incense, and Taiwanese tea processing. Fi...
2016-02-0718 minFar East Travels PodcastBats, Beauty, Arts And Culture-Battambang, CambodiaIt’s often overlooked or just a mere stopover to or from Siem Reap, home of the famous ruins of Angkor Wat but Battambang Cambodia should be on your radar of places to visit in this country. Full of Khmer culture, early 20th century French architecture and a unique charm unlike anywhere else in Cambodia. Join me John Saboe for an exploration in and around Battambang, Cambodia in this episode of Far East Adventure Travel Podcast. Probably the number one site to visit in Battambang, Cambodia is the world-famous bamboo train. Made from left-over tank wheels, sma...
2016-02-0410 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeAn Eclectic Selection Of Tokyo's Top NeighborhoodsIt’s called shitamachi, the old town ambience of Tokyo’s past that has survived and in fact flourishes today in the Yanaka neighborhood, within walking distance of Tokyo’s expansive Ueno Park. You’ll find streets and alleys lined with old style merchant housing. Typically a shop on the ground floor with a living space above.This neighborhood was virtually unaffected by World War ll bombings and the devastating earthquake of 1923 so unlike many places in Tokyo, some buildings here date back hundreds of years.Yanaka is included in a trio of neighborhoods called Yanesen, Yanaka...
2016-02-0111 minFar East Adventure Travel-John SaboeBoating, Hiking, Discovering Pokhara, Nepal's World Peace PagodaPokhara is the second largest city in Nepal. Situated on Phewa Lake it’s close proximity to the Annapurna range of the Himalaya makes it a trekking center for the world-famous Annapurna Circuit.To get some advice on things to see and do in Pokhara, especially if time is limited, I spoke with Rajendra Dhakal, Pokhareli native, community leader and managing director of the Hotel Glacier Pokhara.Back to Phewa Lake en route to a hike to the World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara. This is not the only approach to the trail that leads to the Pa...
2016-02-0111 minFar East Travels PodcastKyoto, Japan-City of 10,000 Shrines-Where To Start?Excerpts from Kyoto-City Of 10,000 ShrinesKyoto is located in the central part of Honshu Island, Japan and was the imperial capital of the country for over a thousand years. It is also known as the City of Ten Thousand Shrines. It is an absolute must see on a visit to Japan. Because there are so many sites I met my expat friend Niall Gibson, who is a guide and travel specialist living in Kyoto to get an expert opinion on what to see in a short time.I first set off on foot near the Yasaka S...
2016-01-3008 min