Bangkok’s Hidden Gems

Thai Food is reason enough to travel to Bangkok.

For a tourist, a traveler, or even a newly arrived expat searching for a good meal, here’s a few recommendation of best kept eateries: Ran Gan Ahan Jaan Diaw, Rod Dee Det and Ran Kuay Jap Nai Ake. You just need a little luck to make sure you arrive at your destination.

“Bangkok is a city full of fantastic food, but most of its true great restaurants are difficult to find. That’s because they’re located slightly off the beaten path and known only to the locals.”

Read More from CNNGo

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Urban Life in Downtown LA

Veering away from the Hollywood hype, Downtown Los Angeles cast its own cinematic urban life filled with its flourishing art scene, endless musical events and a budding fashion district. More so, there’s always something to discover around town, you just need to look deeper.

“New York-like in its density and mishmash, the long-blighted center has become an accessible, pedestrian-friendly destination in recent years; Angelenos walk around en masse, using their actual legs. The immense L.A. Live entertainment complex is largely responsible for this comeback, but the studiously vintage bars and imaginative restaurants that seem to open every other day are also part of the revival. Skid Row and the drifts of homeless camps haven’t vanished altogether, and the grittiness still varies by block. But this part of town is alive again, in ways that make sense even to an outsider.”

Read More from the NY Times

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Ask us questions, Contact us todayPhoto From Erik Oginski

Thailand’s Off The Beaten Path

For most holiday-seekers traveling to Thailand, it is usual to end up heading only to the “popular” places (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Ph); normally featured on travel books/magazines, blogs, feature shows, and movies. Sadly, these “secret paradises” have become a public resort.

If you’re looking for a trip off the beaten path and away from the “popular” spots, here are five alternatives we’re hoping won’t get too popular.

“Rather than hit the over-priced, drunk-filled beaches of the south they’ve got their own destinations to escape to for a weekend of natural beauty, culture and relaxation.”

Read More From CNN GO

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A Tour of Istanbul’s Street Food

Istanbul is one of the key tourism spots in Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in the city, accommodating both vacationers and visiting professionals. But the highlight of them all for food trippers is Istanbul’s street food. Istanbul can be considered bliss for  anyone who loves street food. The varieties are not only numerous, but show considerable change from region to region. There is a very important culture turning around street food in Istanbul, and all this food is also separated by those that are eaten by day and those by night.

“If you’re like me, when you travel, you like to plan your trip around food. Seeing the sights is important, I know, but having an authentic food experience gives you insights into the local culture that no amount of church- and museum-going can provide. (And mind you, I started out life as an architectural historian.)

Today, with a bit of research on the Internet anyone can scope out the best restaurants, markets, and food sources. At least up to a certain point. What about the places that fall through the cracks? The place where the guys who sell fish take their coffee break. Or where spice vendors stop mid-morning for a bowl of lentil soup.“

Read More From The Atlantic

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Moving to Mexico: Travel Tips

According to the World Tourism Organization, Mexico has one of the biggest tourism industries in the globe. It is the twenty-third top tourism spender in the world, and the premier in Latin America. The nation’s moderate climate and distinctive culture – a fusion of the European (particularly Spanish) and the Meso-American – also make Mexico an appealing destination. These traits of Mexico have made it’s visitors think of moving in this exquisite place.

But to find out what the locals love and some worthwhile spots off the beaten path, you’ll need to talk to others who live in the country:

“Definitely considering Mexico as a ‘retirement’ option….so far the colonial cities are what I like (high altitudes, nice weather, amenities, culture, good food). You can always go to the beach now and then.” 
by cbendersf

“When we were in Lake Chapala, outside of Guadalajara, there was a huge American population living there. The area was lovely, evidently a popular place for the English-speaking to settle after retirement. Our family is here, so we will stay put.”
 by ologom

“Property taxes on a half-million dollar house $250 a year. Full-coverage health insurance with no concern about pre-existing conditions $150 a year. Food, insurance, taxes, fuel, hired labor, all significantly cheaper than in the United States. Laid-back lifestyle in a safe, gorgeous city on the bay with great beaches, very little crime of any kind. La Paz, Baja California Sur, is where it’s at for people weary of the rat race.”by bajajazz

Read More From SFGate

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Discover Hong Kong by Night

Hong Kong is a recognized global centre of trade and calls itself an “entertainment hub”. As of 2009, Hong Kong is the fifth most expensive city for expatriates, behind Tokyo, Osaka, Moscow, and Geneva. Despite its luxurious traits, foreign people are still enticed of the grand night scenery and experience.

“Cultural customs- Before you start sniggering, let me tell you that in Sydney, New York or London, choosing a cocktail because of a dream might be considered frivolous. But it is perfectly reasonable in superstitious Hong Kong, where numbers can make or break a business (four is shunned; three, eight and nine are lucky), where people wear red for luck and not a brick is laid without consulting a feng shui master.

I’m constantly amazed at how ancient customs run strong within a city that enthusiastically embraces cutting-edge technology. The smell of incense wafts from a temple positioned next to a skyscraper. Traditional Chinese herbalists are as popular as electronic stores stocked with the latest gadgets.

There are few places in the world where you’d walk into a no-frills soup house to find a businessman in a Zegna suit tapping on an iPhone while ingesting a bowl of snake soup to increase blood circulation, cure aches and keep away winter chills.”

Read More From www.adelaidenow.com

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Expat in Manhattan: A Christmas Tipping Dilemma

Tipping is known to be paying a gratuity for services rendered. It is common to restaurants, hotels and establishment that offer services through attendants. This practice has been overly solicited during Christmas, as it is known to be the season of giving. But when exaggeratedly asked, it feels like a catch-22 to people who are not use to it, mostly expats.

“’Among the Christmas cards left by the postman this week was a white envelope entitled Holiday Gratuities. Inside was a letter reminding me of the management’s attitude to tipping the doormen, handymen and superintendent in the high-rise apartment building in which I live in Manhattan.’

Essential fixtures in the lives of many white-collar, professional New Yorkers like me, these workers make living in the city a whole lot easier and the services they offer – holding open doors, receiving packages, controlling the entry of visitors and doing odd jobs – are hard to give up, once experienced. ‘We would like to reassure you that our employees are appropriately compensated for the services they provide to our residents,’ the letter read. ‘However, if in your opinion there are specific employees that have provided services above and beyond your expectations, and you feel a gratuity is deserved, you may provide one on a voluntary basis to either the individual employee or to an employee fund.’

The seven-paragraph letter went on to say that there would be a list of staff names available for perusal at the concierge’s desk, and there would be a locked box in which to place gratuities – cash only, no cheques.

This is my first Christmas for many years in Manhattan, but I had been expecting this. If your building has a doorman, the cost of ancillary staff services is included in the rent or monthly service charge but you still have to dig into your wallet for their year-end tips – or wonder why, when you call to report a plumbing problem, they’re awfully slow to respond.”

Read More From The Telegraph

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Expats Celebrate Christmas on Indian Shores

In 1990 Pune began to attract foreign capital, particularly in the information technology and engineering industries; new businesses like floriculture and food processing started to take root in and around the city. More than these progressive things in Pune, it’s tropical wet and dry climate is what Expats look forward to experience, especially during the Christmas season.

“PUNE: These expatriates would much rather celebrate their Christmas in India than fly across to other parts of the globe. And, one explanation that surfaces time and again is that this country has as much to offer in terms of festivities and merriment as any other in the world.

Rose and Ian Smith would have a cosy Christmas right here, where the weather is just perfect’. The couple has been staying in Pune since four years now and consider it their home. “We have a huge number of friends here and 18 of them would be coming over to our place to celebrate the festival over barbecue and loads of Christmas fun. We really do not feel the need to go back to UK. This city has a great ambience. Everything that we need to celebrate the festival is right here,” said Rose. “

Read More From The Times of India

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New Expat Destinations

Aside from the cheap flights to these scenic tropical islands, there’s the sun and fun combo and a rich culture that make Mauritius and Lanzarote a magnet for British holidaymakers, travelers and expats.

“With the world travel industry looking to the future, and not just to popular holiday destinations but areas, which are likely to increase in attraction for those wanting second homes, two islands have been particularly highlighted. Whilst both Mauritius and Lanzarote are already vastly popular with those looking for island holidays, both destinations are believed to start attracting their fair share of expats over the coming years.

After London’s travel fair brought together tourism leaders from across the world, there has been much speculation on which areas of the world will become hotspots of the future. And whilst many locations may see demand for flights rocket due to holiday tourism, both the Canary Islands and Mauritius could be set to see an influx of British residents.”

Read More From www.justtheflight.co.uk

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Kuala Lumpur: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours

Kuala Lumpur is the fifth most visited city in the world, with 8.94 million tourist arrivals in 2008. As a relatively young city compared with other Southeast Asian capitals such as Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila, most of Kuala Lumpur’s colonial buildings were built toward the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The structural design of Kuala Lumpur is a merge of old colonial influences, Asian traditions, Malay Islamic inspirations, modern, and postmodern architecture mix. These key traveler spots are the reasons why expatriates visit and even live in this seat of the Parliament of Malaysia.

“By design or lack of populace, Kuala Lumpur is Asia’s green capital, where monkeys scamper close to skyscrapers and the occasional boa constrictor slithers across six-lane traffic. Centered around a colonial inheritance of ordered landscaping and dominated by palm-lined freeways, K.L. offers room to breathe and to contemplate the meeting of cultures. And meet they do, with Malays, Chinese and Tamils augmented by an annual Arabian and Iranian invasion drawn by shopping and the Islam-lite atmosphere. The automotive merry-go-round can feel too suburban and downtown can seem sterile, but turn a corner and streets burst into exoticism and a riot of night markets. A restive art scene, driven by Malaysians’ ongoing quest for shared identity, gives K.L. further heft.”

Read More From www.time.com

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