IAT 008 // Winter 2018

Travel inspiration from theSoutheast Asia and Japan experts

PARADISE

FOUND
Island hoppingin Vietnam

E
EXCLUSIVW WITH
INTERVIE

AN
JONATHROSS
ON P.28

Rugby in Japan

Trekking the cloud forests of Laos

Photography tips

Contents
R E G U L AR S

417

The inside scoop

An insider’s view of what’s new and excitingin Japan and Southeast Asia.

Insider guide: Making an
origami paper crane

Channel your creative side with this step-by-stepguide to creating the classic paper crane.

18
24
28

east meets…
Jonathan Ross

30

Your adventures andeast competition

Top 8 photography tips

Renowned photographer Everett Kennedy
Brown shares 8 top travel photography tips.

8

4

Experience Asia

Meet extraordinary people, try authentic
dishes and immerse yourself in local traditions.

The multi award-winning television and radio
presenter, actor, comedian and anime enthusiast
on his experiences in Japan.

Competition winner Ian Stone relives his
experiences in Cambodia; and the chance to
WIN a £250 Sherpa Adventure Gear voucher.

12

F E AT U R E S

8
12
19

Rugby World Cup in Japan

Get the lowdown on five of our favourite hostcities for the world’s greatest rugby tournament.

Island dreaming in Saigon

Georgia Rae Dunkley swaps Saigon forsnorkelling off the coast of Phu Quoc in Vietnam.

Family travel: The kids are
alright in Southeast Asia

Is long-haul travel really for kids? We get the noholds barred lowdown from the Weston brood.

Climb into the clouds

28

Chris Greener takes the ultimate adventurewith a trek up Phou Louey Mountain in Laos.

GET IN TOUCH:
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www.insidejapantours.com
Japan: 0117 244 3463
info@insidejapantours.com
Southeast Asia: 0117 244 3464
info@insideasiatours.com
Subscriptions & general enquiries:
0117 244 3466, east@insideasiatours.com
InsideAsia Tours, Hanover House,
Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, BS1 4EX
www.insideasiatours.com/magazine

2

THE TEAM:
Editor: Georgia Rae Dunkley
Design: Kate Sanderson, Sarah Stagg
Marketing Manager: James Mundy
Contributing editors: Ruth Hubbard,
Tom Weston, Claire Allison, Dilek Eccles,
Chris Greener

30
COPYRIGHT
Designed and produced by InsideAsia Tours Ltd.
All content supplied by InsideAsia Tours staff,
except where indicated. Tour prices may besubject to change.
PRINT
Printed by Pepper Communications Ltd.

5067

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts© JimmyTran/Shutterstock.com (cover)20

J U S T B AC K
You’re never far from a travel tale(or two) in our offices. Here’s
where we’ve been recently…
Chris Greener
Chris took an
intrepid adventure,
full of hiking andoutdoor activities,
in Vietnam and Laos.
Memorable moment: As well as
the jungle trek through Nam Et-Phou
Louey National Park (p.20), meetingelephants at Mandalao near Luang
Prabang was so special.

20
Welcome to issue 8
When we founded InsideJapan back in 2000, it was with more than one
eye on the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Watching England play in Japan was a
dream for us, but we ended up going one better: escorting fellow fans for
two weeks to help them experience the best of the country.
Believing that sightseeing should enhance a holiday, rather than be themain focus, we spent just as much time rubbing shoulders with salarymen
in izakaya, singing karaoke, hiking in the mountains and joining locals in
the onsen, as seeing famous temples and ancient castles. As some of our happiest memories,
you can imagine how excited we are for the 2019 Rugby World Cup; on p.8, our team share theirfavourite places to catch the tournament and on p.24, our pick of experiences take travellers beyond
the most popular sights.
While we had long fallen for Japan, in those early days we could never have predicted our love

Anna Tattersall
Anna joined ourJapan Unmasked
small group tour,
before heading toHakone, Nagoya and Shikoku.
Memorable moment: On my visit
to Kanazawa, I loved dressing up in
kimono and wandering around the
traditional districts and gardens.
Brock Horning
Brock exploredJapan’snorthernmost
island, Hokkaido,
starting in Kushiro and ending
in Sapporo.
Memorable moment: Standing
barefoot in a natural stream
surrounded by snow. Luckily, thestream was warm due to geothermal
activity – quite a surreal moment!

affair with Southeast Asia. In this issue you’ll discover some of what got us hooked; read about themodern cities and idyllic islands of Vietnam on p.12, intrepid hiking in Laos on p.20 and adventures
for all the family on p.19. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be busy on the ground to introduce more
destinations into the fold. Watch this space!
Have a sense of adventure? Don’t forget to enter our competition on p.31 to win ethical travel
gear; perfect for a spot in your suitcase on one of our Small Group Tours or Self-Guided Adventures.
As always, we hope you find east magazine inspiring,

Alastair Donnelly

Charlotte Bower
Charlotte enjoyeda city break inHong Kong before
island hopping in
Cambodia and Vietnam.
Memorable moment: When theweather cleared near the top ofVictoria Peak in Hong Kong, we got
an amazing view over the iconic
Victoria Harbour skyline.

Simon King- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

3

N E W S & W H AT ' S N E W I N O U R D E ST I N AT I O N S

INSIDESCOOP
Becoming art in Odaiba

W h en to tr

av el ?

Whether you
want to joinafestival in Japan, or go wildl
ife
spotting in Vie
tnam, Whento
Travel is yourgo-to guide.
insideasiato
urs.com/
when-to-trav
el

JAPAN
Ever wanted to step inside a pieceof art? At the teamLab Borderless
digital museum in Tokyo you can dojust that. Enormous rooms envelop
visitors with projections of swirling
images and colours that snake
between every wall; see flowers
bloom, birds fly and fish swim in a

maze of galleries where every image
is transient.
DO IT: MORI Building Digital Art
Museum: teamLab Borderless,Odaiba Palette Town, Tokyo.
Check opening hours and buy tickets
online: borderless.teamlab.art

ASIA

Fellow foodies can now download 10
recipes from our new Food & Drink
page – you’ll be tucking into hearty
bowls of ramen, crunchy salad rolls
and rich curries in no time.

DO IT: Visit insideasiatours.com/

food-and-drink

4- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

Sunday Times’
Top in Travel
We couldn’t be prouder
to have won The Sunday
Times’ Editor’s Choice
Award at the Travel Awards
2018 in South Africa.

© InsideAsia Tours staff, CNN, iStockphoto

Get a taste of Asia

INSIDESCOOPLAOSNew life for rescued elephants
Despite traditionally being
known as the ‘land of a million
elephants’, logging and poachingin Laos has seen the number
drop to 800, but things arechanging. This year, Prime
Minister Thongloun Sisoulithjoined protection efforts bysaving 13 elephants froman illegal sale to a foreign
zoo. Having walked 150km

ASIA

Travel further
together on asmall group touR
New dates, new destinations,new friends. Head to our website tosecure a spot on one of ouraward-winning small group tours.

VIETNAM

Remembering Anthony Bourdain
We were shocked and saddened by thepassing of world-renowned chef, author
and travel presenter Anthony Bourdain,
whose work inspired a generation ofchefs and open-minded travellers.
Watch the Vietnam episode of multiaward-winning series Parts Unknown to
see Bourdain and Barack Obama sit on
low stools, washing down pho with Hanoi
beer just like the locals.
DO IT: Watch Parts Unknown on Netflix

DO IT: For more information,
including pricing and departuredates, visit insideasiatours.com
or call our Asia experts on
0117 244 3463

through the protected area of
Nam Phouy, they will live out
their days in the 530-hectare
protected forest at the
Sayaboury Elephant Sanctuary.
DO IT: To meet the newresidents, visit the Experiences
page on insideasiatours.com orcall our Southeast Asia experts on
0117 244 3464

W e’ re a soci ab lebu nc hWant to see
the view from
Mount
Fuji, play gam
es with a geish
a andmeet the snowmonkeys?
Our videos tak
e you there:
youtube.com/
insidejapant
ours

Japan

Japan House opens
in LondonJAPAN

Bowie woodblock print
While the world isn’t short of Japanophiles, they don’t come much morefamous than David Bowie. The late musician returned to Japan time and timeagain, taking inspiration from the culture for many of his most iconic looks andperformances. Now as a reverse homage, Bowie has been immortalised as
traditional Japanese characters in two ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
DO IT: Buy prints online from the Ukiyo-e Project: ukiyoe.today

Behind the nondescript doors of an
Art Deco building on busy Kensington
High Street, a haven of calm awaits:
Japan House. This much-anticipatedopening showcases Japanese art,
design, culture and food in the heartof London. With a shop full of refinedpieces, a rolling programme of eventsand exhibitions, and a restaurant
serving authentic fare (including
wagyu beef), you’ll want to set
aside a few hours to take it all in.
DO IT: Japan House, 101-111
Kensington High Street, London
W8 5SA

Brand new brochure!
Meeting elephants, taking street foodtours, sleeping in homestays, kayaking
through limestone scenery… After
scouting Southeast Asia for the bestexperiences, we’re launching a shiny
new InsideAsia brochure, packed
full of travel inspiration. Fill out themagazine insert to receive a brochurethrough the post, or head to our
website to read online.

6

CAMBODIA
Dolphins multiply on the Mekong
Thanks to efforts from thefirst time in 20 years. Support

Southeast Asia’s most important river.

government, local communities andconservation efforts with a dolphin

Win-win.

the WWF in Cambodia, numbers

spotting trip on the Mekong; if theof critically endangered Irrawaddy

endangered 92 remain elusive,

DO IT: Visit the Experiences page on

dolphins are increasing for the

you’ll still have had a lovely trip on

insideasiatours.com to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts© InsideAsia Tours staff, UKIYO-E PROJECT, Fotolia, Lee Mawdsley

Southeast AsIa

INSIDESCOOP
Japan
Young at heart:
Octogenarian idols

VIETNAM

Vegetarian Viet Nam COOKbook
Many dishes in Vietnam start with meator fish (or both), but Vegetarian Viet
Nam innovatively adapts Vietnamesefavourites for vegetarians. The recipes
are based on author Cameron Stauch’s
cooking lessons - with everyone fromtop chefs to Mahayana Buddhist
monks - while living in Vietnam.
DO IT: Buy Vegetarian Viet Nam fromall good bookstores.

Idol pop groups with countless
cutesy teenagers are big businessin Japan. But step aside AKB48(one of the most popular groups),
the youngest member of energetic
Okinawan supergroup KBG84
is 80, proving that age really isjust a number.

VIETNAM
Water without waste
Everyone travelling toVietnam with us receivesa refillable bottle for
guides, drivers and hotels
to fill up with water while
away. Stay hydrated
and save the planet.
All in a (holi)day’s work.

JAPAN
Discover Hokusai andHiroshige in new exhibition
We’re delighted to be partnering with
the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery on
Masters of Japanese prints: Hokusai andHiroshige landscapes. The exhibition,
running until 6th January 2019, reveals
methods used by both artists, andfeatures Sudden Rain from Hiroshige’s
Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido – a
new commission from Tokyo.
DO IT: For more information, visit
bristolmuseums.org.uk

JAPAN“Hello” toKitty MAKEOVER
A conspicuous white and bubblegum pink bullet train has taken to therails between Osaka and Fukuoka.
Encompassing all things kawaii (cute),
the new Hello Kitty themed shinkansen
has branded headrests, whimsical posters
and a carriage to take photographswith a life-sized statue of the character.
Commuting’s never looked so fun.
DO IT: Call our Japan experts on
0117 244 3463 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

7

Worth another try
Japan have been applying
to host since 20088

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ RUGBY WORLD CUP ]RUGBYWORLD CUP

COMES TO JAPANThe first ever Rugby World Cup in Asia is coming to Japan in 2019. To say we’re
excited is an understatement. The first game will be on the 20th September and thefinal match (with fireworks and anticipation aplenty) will be on the 2nd November.
Our rugby travel team have picked five of their favourite host cities and the best ways
to make the most of your time in Japan.

48 MATCHES. 6 WEEKS. 20 NATIONS.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

9

KESTER WRIGHT

BEN WALKER

KOBE

FUKUOKA
Ben, an InsideJapan tour leader andIndulge in some retail therapy at Canal City

Senior Travel Consultant Kester went

rugby aficionado, made Fukuoka his(a huge shopping complex), or escapeto university in Kobe, so he might behome seven years ago. He insists,

the hustle and bustle at Ohori Park ora little biased when he says “Koberather controversially, that it is in fact

Momochihama beach. If you do travel toepitomises Japan”.

the best city in Japan.

the beach, go up Fukuoka Tower to see thebest views of the city. In the evening, lots

With the Rokko mountain range on one

Despite having oodles of entertainment,of izakaya (Japanese pubs) serve delicious

side, and Osaka Bay stretching beyond on

restaurants and shopping, Fukuoka is anfood, but there are also endless yatai –the other, Kobe will make you reach forunderdog of the Japanese cities – unknown

street stalls – selling tasty fare. Head toyour camera. The city was one of the firstto many first-time visitors to Japan. This

one of the hip bars in the vibrant areas ofJapanese ports to open to foreign tradecosmopolitan city certainly has enough to

Nakasu or Tenjin to round off a busy day.

and although some of the old merchantbuildings remain, it was largely rebuilt after

keep you entertained though. I suggest
starting with a good dose of culture in the

STADIUM: FUKUOKA

a devastating earthquake in the mid-1990s.

temple district; Shofukuji is not only the

HAKATANOMORI STADIUM

If I had one piece of advice for first-timeoldest Zen temple in Japan, but also home

MUST-SEE MATCH: IRELAND VS.

(meat-eating) visitors it would be to try theto some friendly temple cats!

SAMOA – 12TH OCTOBER 2019

KOBE

OSAKA

FUKUOKALOUISE LEE

OSAKA
There’s nothing Louise doesn’t love about

even livelier than usual during the Rugby

rugby or Japan (she’s the mastermind

World Cup. In fact, enthusiastic residents

behind our rugby travel packages).

have even been known to jump into thecity’s canal when their team is victorious.

The city of Osaka doesn’t do things by

I wouldn’t recommend it though… While

halves. In the evening, the streets wake up

Osaka also has daytime attractions, such

- expect flashing neon, delicious wafts fromas the aquarium, endless shopping centres

food stalls, and entertainment quarters

and even The Wizarding World of Harrybuzzing with karaoke bars and pachinko

Potter™ at Universal Studios Japan, it’s also

(video game) parlours. This is the place

only a short distance from Kyoto, and theto try the best of Japanese street food; fill

impressive Himeji Castle.

up on octopus dumplings, okonomiyaki(savoury pancakes), ramen noodles and

STADIUM: HANAZONO RUGBY STADIUM

yakitori (skewered chicken). There are lots

MUST-SEE MATCH: TONGA VS.

of sports fans here too, so it’s likely to be

ARGENTINA – 28TH SEPTEMBER 2019

DO IT: Our rugby travel packages include accommodation, transport and cultural experiences around the matches. You pick up the tickets and we’ll take care of the rest.
10- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ RUGBY WORLD CUP ]RACHEL RYKALASAPPOROcity’s most famous export: Kobe beef. It is

Having lived on Japan’s northernmost

Otaru, a picturesque town with a canal

expensive, but always worth it. Rumour has it

island, Hokkaido, Senior Travel Consultant

running through its centre. If you have athat the cows are raised on a healthy diet of

Rachel knows Sapporo and the island’s

week or two to spare, drive out to somebeer; whatever they’re eating (or drinking),

areas of natural beauty very well.

of Hokkaido’s incredible National Parks –it’s certainly working. While I lived in Kobe, I

including Shikotsu-Toya, Daisetsuzan andwas lucky enough to have my Seijin no Hi

England’s Rugby World Cup journey starts(Japanese coming of age ceremony) at thein Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo. The city’shuge crystal lakes and steaming onsen

Kobe Misaki Stadium. If the atmosphere was

known for its sparkling snow festival in(hot spring baths).

electric when my peers and I celebrated

February, but there’s loads to do at otherturning 20, I can only imagine what the city

times of year too; my personal highlights

STADIUM: SAPPORO DOME

will be like during the Rugby World Cup.

include a thirsty trip to the Sapporo Beer

MUST-SEE MATCH: ENGLAND VS.

Museum and a laidback day at nearby

TONGA – 22ND SEPTEMBER 2019

Shiretoko – to see volcanic mountains,

STADIUM: KOBE MISAKI STADIUM
MUST-SEE MATCH: ENGLAND VS. USA– 26TH SEPTEMBER 2019

© InsideAsia Tours staff, David Lovejoy, iStockphoto

SAPPOROTOKYOBENJAMIN GUEST

TOKYO
Senior Travel Consultant, Benjamin did

away from the city’s heady skyscrapers. Thena lot of exploring during his six years

head to the Harajuku area – home to allin Japan, but he will always have a soft

things kawaii (cute), before walking throughspot for Tokyo.

Yoyogi Park to Meiji Shrine. Dart across thecity to tackle Shibuya’s famous crossing, go

Japan’s enormous, sprawling capital has so

shopping in swish Ginza, visit museums inmany personality-packed districts it’s hard to

Ueno, see the bright lights of Akihabara’sknow where to start. I lived in and around

gaming districts (complete with maid cafés),here for six years, and still haven’t seen it

and finish it all off with a frozen beer inall. Like much of Japan, it has a wonderful

Shinjuku’s Golden Gai area. All that and weway of encompassing old-world charm

haven’t even scratched the surface…

with hyper-modernity. I recommend taking
in the old by starting in the quaint Asakusa

STADIUM: TOKYO STADIUM

area; this old merchant quarter with the

MUST-SEE MATCH: AUSTRALIA VS.

incredible Senso-ji temple feels like a world

WALES – 29TH SEPTEMBER 2019

Visit japanrugbytravel.com or call 0117 244 3463 to find out more. (Please note: We are not an official travel provider for the Rugby World Cup™ and don’t sell match tickets.)- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 11

Food for thought
Stocking up at
Saigon’s markets“T12- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ VIETNAM ]Islanddreaming
IN SAIGON
WORDS AND PICTURES BY GEORGIA RAE DUNKLEY

Hectic, restless and bursting with life, Ho Chi
Minh City’s heady combination of street food andskyscrapers is an assault on the senses. After exploring
the city (often still known as Saigon), Georgia Rae Dunkley finds
a calm counterpoint across the water on Phu Quoc island.

"T

he traffic is not so bad on
the weekend!” says Troy,
Ho Chi Minh City resident
and my guide for the day,without a hint of irony.
We’ve been sitting stationary at a bottleneck
junction for 40 minutes to the soundtrackof indiscriminate beeps from surroundingcars - a reflexive action and benign warning
to motorbikes competing for inches on
the tarmac. It seems the city’s 8.6 million
population busy themselves on this narrow
stretch, but this is a slow Saturday in Saigon.

Metropolis on the move
Traffic light tangles eventually make way for wideboulevards, tall trees and neoclassical buildings
and we step out of the car into the midday
heat. After passing towering glassy banks, glitzy
hotels and designer boutiques, we reach the War
Remnants Museum; its moving array of displays,
military planes and mock-ups of old jail cells a
stark reminder of the struggle to reach today’s
peace and prosperity. Just around the corner, thepale-yellow post office, ornate opera house andcity hall (reclaimed with a 24ft statue of Ho Chi
Minh at the front) are vestiges of the colonial
French, who left after the First Indochina War in
1954. The faded red Notre-Dame Cathedral was
brought brick by brick to Vietnam from Toulouseand while its silver bell towers may have been
imposing in the 18th century, these days they
are dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers.
Off the main square, life ticks by as it always
has done. Finding shade beneath tropical trees
in the 5-hectare Tao Dan park, men look after
caged birds, elderly residents practise tai chi
and uniformed kids play games. At nearby Ben
Thanh Market, wads of fake money to burn forancestors are sold on every corner, and in thewarren of backstreet stalls people worship at
small pagodas between picking up groceries. But
despite relics of darker times and long-practised
traditions, there’s a firm eye on the future;throughout the city, fenced areas mask ambitious
building work for a (long overdue) Metro andLandmark 81, a skyscraper set to be the tallest
building in Vietnam.

Saigon’s street food scenes
After a long (and hot) day sightseeing, I’ve worked
up an appetite and join the halting traffic on a
Vespa street food tour. My driver, Trung grew up
in Saigon and deftly navigates the roads, finding
opportunity in barely perceptible gaps, weaving
narrowly between wing mirrors and making
relaxed conversation while tilting within a hair's
breadth of the curb. After peeking from behind
my hands as he speeds past knots of motorbikes
wrapped around ring roads, I emerge from myhelmet grinning from ear to ear at every stop.
While he drives, it’s Jenny, a chirpy student
born and bred in Ho Chi Minh City, who leads
my culinary journey one district at a time - fromshiny cocktail bars with skyscraper views to small
cafés with trailing queues - catching up like oldfriends each time we sit down. At the local’sfavourite place for banh xeo (crispy Vietnamesepancakes), busy chefs spin countless crepes ina sweltering open-air kitchen, arms darting frompan to sizzling pan in a well-practiced routine ofladles and flips. Following Jenny’s lead, I pull off
part of the enormous pancake, spoon in sweet
chilli salad and beansprouts, sprinkle in mint
and mustard leaves and wrap the whole thingin lettuce. She waits in anticipation as I take asizeable mouthful, “do you like it?” she asks. I
nod, hoping my enthusiasm makes up for a lackof grace.
For our penultimate stop, we swing off thebusy main road and past the raucous karaokeof a spirited group on small stools, to a quieter
district. At a modest café, myriad dishes are
squeezed into every inch of the red vinyl
tablecloth; mushroom and tofu spring rolls,
hearty vegetable hotpot, cauliflower doused
in a sesame sauce, guava with chilli salt, andmountains of Singapore noodles topped withmorning glory (green beans fried with garlic andchilli). I look down at the banquet and Jennyleans over seriously, the image of discretion, “ifyou’re still hungry I will order you more food, it’s
no problem”. Rounding off the feast with fresh
coconut ice cream and a strong Vietnamese
coffee at a live music venue, I’m not sure I’ll everfind room to eat again.

Urban sprawl to island idyll
Only a 40-minute flight from Saigon’s sprawl,
the island of Phu Quoc is a chance to see
a completely different side of Vietnam. This
unassuming island south of Cambodia was oncea quiet backwater known for pepper farms and- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 13

Into the blue
Drifting on May Rut’s coastline

14- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ VIETNAM ]"Save for the occasional fishingboat, the archipelago is ours..."fish sauce (the best in the world according tothose in the know), and its sandy beaches andswathes of dense jungle were Vietnam’s best
kept secret. After becoming part of the Kien
Giang Biosphere in 2006, it was only a matterof time before it caught the eye of developers,
and with hotels springing up and charter routes
starting this year there’s a sense of urgency to
go now, “before it’s too late”. Most visitors headstraight for the 12-mile stretch of golden sand at
Long Beach and the town of Duong Dong - east
coast hubs with hotels, beach bars, seafood
joints and a popular night market - but I’ve heard
Phu Quoc’s gems wait beyond its coastline on

the 15 islands of the An Thoi Archipelago. Twoyears ago, the island’s main dirt roads were
replaced with stretches of freshly paved tarmac,
greenery manicured into anchors and vases
dividing the freeway. Getting closer to the portthough, sleek roads narrow to rusty red trails withrows of shops selling flowers, mini-motorbikes,
rattan furniture, neon shrines and pyjamas - thedaytime outfit of choice for Southeast Asian
women. Open shop fronts reveal ladies getting
their nails done; teenage girls uploading music
to their phones; and a café packed with people
watching a soap opera, iced coffees in hand,straws standing in condensed milk.

Escape to the archipelago
Down by the water, ladies in conical hats
lug buckets of squirming crabs and trays ofanchovies, and traditional fishing boats bob
alongside rumbling trawlers, their teal paintmatching the water. My vessel chugs into life
and the maritime smell dissipates as we carvea path through heavy air into the open watersof the Gulf of Thailand; sailing beneath the
gondolas of the newly built 8km cable car,beyond craggy headlands that jut into the sea
and past long forgotten islands. Save for theoccasional fishing boat, the archipelago is ours.
After snorkelling off the coast of Vong island,- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 15

Catch of the day
Slow afternoon at
An Thoi port

Phu Quoc

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam Essentials
POPULATION: 92.7 million
CAPITAL CITY: Hanoi
MAIN RELIGION: Mahayana Buddhism

spotting parrotfish and angelfish flit to and fro in
the coral of the protected marine park, we stopat May Rut island where a welcome breeze wicks
seawater from my shoulders. A smattering ofboats line the secluded cove, children sit crosslegged building sandcastles and sun-seeking
parents recline on the sand beyond, but there
are no signs of rapid development and the whitebeach is thankfully plastic-free. Back on theboat, the crew whip up a spread of grilled tofu,
noodles with heaps of vegetables, crispy springrolls and chunky slices of watermelon as we
putter back to the main island.

On the beaten track
Only 30 miles north to south, it’s easy to travel
the length of Phu Quoc and only a 45-minutedrive from Long Beach to the seclusion of dense
national park and hotels with private beaches.
While you can fill days with sightseeing –learning about fish sauce production or taking
a sobering trip to the prisoner of war camp at
16

Phu Quoc prison – my time on the island is awelcome break to take stock after the mayhemof the mainland. As a place in flux, only time willtell how much Phu Quoc will change. For now,
tour buses are absent, sandy coastlines haveplenty of space and there are more islands on
the archipelago waiting to be explored.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Troy told me the scentof Phu Quoc’s fish sauce is so strong it can’t
be taken on commercial flights, but there arefar fewer suitcases than heavily taped brownboxes at the luggage carousel on my return.
Tourism may be growing apace, but I suspect
this pungent sauce still elicits more pride than acocktail bar ever could.

LANGUAGE: Vietnamese
TIME: GMT+7
GETTING THERE: Flight time from London to Ho Chi
Minh City: from 12h 30min, Ho Chi Minh City to Phu
Quoc: 40 minutes. Island hopping boats depart daily
from An Thoi port on the southern tip of Phu Quoc.
WHEN TO GO: November to March is the optimum
time to travel to Ho Chi Minh City. For more
information about weather and events in Southeast
Asia visit insideasiatours.com/when-to-travel
VISAS: UK citizens do not need a visa to enter
Vietnam for up to 15 days, an e-visa is required for
visits up to 30 days via evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn.
Consult the Vietnamese embassy for longer trips.
CURRENCY: Vietnamese dong (VND). £1 – approx.

Georgia is the Editor of east and Senior
Copywriter in our Bristol office.

VND 30,000. USD widely accepted in tourist areas.

DO IT: See a different side of Vietnam on an InsideAsia Tours Fully Tailored Journey.
Visit insideasiatours.com or call our Southeast Asia experts on 0117 244 3464 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ EXPERT GUIDE ]Insider’s guide to...

1

Making an origami

PAPER CRANE

Fold the paper inhalf diagonally twice.

2 Bring the top corner of the top layer down

Encounters with origami in the West often begin with theto the bottom corner - opening the paper
as you go - then flatten to form a square.
Turn over and repeat on the other side.

humble paper aeroplane; destined to nose dive on a slow
day at school. In Japan though, paper folding is a popular
way to pass the time from a young age. While designs canbe incredibly intricate – cuboctahedron, anyone? – wesuggest starting with the basics.

turn
over

Here’s your step-by-step guide to creating the classic
paper crane – a creative way to keep entertained onlong journeys.
YOU WILL NEED: 1x sheet of square paper, preferablywith a different colour on each side.

3 Fold the top layers

4 Fold the top triangle downin line with your creases,
unfold and lift the layer
beneath upwards creatinga pocket.

Without moving the top
triangle, fold the sides of thepocket inwards until they’re aflat kite shape. Turn over andrepeat on the other side.

tu

ve

r

vertically into thecentre, crease welland unfold.

5

rn o

6 Fold the top layers

vertically into the centre.
Turn over and repeat on
the other side.

7

The base of your kite shape should
now have two legs. Fold each one
up, crease well, then unfold.

89Open one of the legs, reverse fold it
inwards and push back up towards thecentre. Do the same on the other side.

Fold one end to
make the head,then push the two
triangles down tomake the wings.

Ta dah!
Your crane iscomplete.

DO IT: For more information about arts and crafts in Japan, visit the Experiences
page on insidejapantours.com or call our Japan experts on 0117 244 3463
- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 17

Yamabushi mountain priest
Everett’s work celebrates
Japanese culture

E V E R E T T K E N N E DY B R OW N

Top 8 travel photography tips
Everett is a photographer whose collodion photography challenges perceptions of cultural value,
history, time and place. He’s lived in Japan for 25 years and continues to feature internationally intitles including National Geographic, Time, Le Monde, The Times and the New York Times.

1

RESEARCH
The secret to taking great travel
photos begins at home. Read asmuch as possible about where you
are going for ideas about the kindof photo opportunities to expect.
Look at images on the internet tosee how others have captured theplaces you’re travelling to and think
about how you can approach things
differently. The images we have in
our heads are like filters on how we
see the world.

2

FIND INSPIRATION
Novels and poetry help us
go deeper and activate our
subconscious imagination. Imagine
travelling around Japan through the18eyes of a character from a Haruki
Murakami novel – think of all thepeople and places you would
encounter! Words and stories give us
images to dream about and help us
imagine where we’re going before
we arrive. As simple, easy to digest
visual poems, haiku are great toread before travelling to Japan. They
have moments of beauty that catchour eye in the same way a good
photographic moment does, and they
help us pay the attention to detailneeded to take good photographs.

3

TRAVEL LIGHT
This gives more opportunity
to be spontaneous, step off
the tourist path, get lost and makenew discoveries - the back streets of
unknown cities open the back streetsof our imaginations.

4

GO LOCAL
Eat where the locals eat.
Knock on a stranger’s door
and welcome yourself into their- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

world – figuratively speaking! Seekout opportunities to interact withlocal people and allow the spirit ofserendipity to kick in. This is where
great photographs happen.

5

USE PERIPHERAL VISION
This is important. Spending somuch time looking at screens
narrows our field of vision and how weinteract with the world. Some of thebest photographic opportunities comeat us from the corners of our eyes, so
explore the edges of your peripheral
vision to see moments jump out.

6

EXPERIMENT
Shoot away, like a cat playing
with its prey. Imagine yourself
a painter, sketching sheet after sheetof drawings - digital photography gives
us the luxury to snap a lot and delete
later. First shoot wide and then explore
the details. Pay attention to thebackground. Get rid of clutter in theimage. Shoot high. Go low. Shift gears.
See the world the way a child does.

7.

TRY NEW TECHNOLOGY
There are lots of cool gadgets
to play with these days experiment with new technology.

8

PLAY!
These tools and techniques
are great, but in the end,
the joy of photography (like travel)
is about exploring new ways ofseeing the world. Many of mybest photographs come from aspirit of play – it’s here that great
images happen. Travel gives ustime to play and photography gives
us the opportunity to bring theseexperiences home.

DO IT: Join Everett on an 11-night
tour around western Japan to meetmemorable individuals, explore ruralcommunities and take completely
unique photographs.
Visit getthepicture.tours or call ourJapan experts on 0117 370 9751
to find out more.

© Everett Kennedy Brown

How can we create travel
photography to cherish when
the journey is over? Rather thantaking snapshots of a moment, agood image changes our way ofseeing the world long after we’ve
returned home.

[ FAMILY TRAVEL ]The kids are alright in

SOUTHEAST ASIA
Our Sales Director, Tom Weston recently returned from a family adventure
in Cambodia and Vietnam with Harry (11), George (10) and Martha (8).
Tom had a great time, but what did the kids think?

who took us on a coracle boat. He
didn’t speak much English, but it
seemed like he loved his job andshowing us his country. He also
showed us how to make things outof palm leaves.
n George: Meeting monks at Angkor
Wat. They called Mum ‘Grandma’ –they were being cheeky!
n Martha: The lady who worked on
the farm in Hoi An, she was really
nice and we got a photo together.

"I love cooking
and we got to see
the market where
everything camefrom. I also ate
spicy pig’s brains!"

HARRY
AGE 11GEORGEAGE 10MARTHAAGE 8

WHERE WAS YOUR FAVOURITE
PLACE?
n Harry: Siem Reap because of all
the activities we did there.
n George: Phu Quoc - I loved thesunset through the palm trees on
the beach (and getting a buggy to
the restaurant!)n Martha: Phu Quoc because themain swimming pool was massive,
we were right next to the beach andwe had our own private pool.
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST?
n Harry: So many things. Can I
choose two things? No, three! Firstly,
the Vespa tour in Saigon with Mum- it was great to be the only kid toeat all the food and hang out withthe adults. Then the Angkor Thom
treasure hunt, it was fun to explore
the different parts of the city andlearn about what life used to be like.
Thirdly, the cooking tour in Hoi An,
I love cooking and we got to see
the market where everything camefrom. I also ate spicy pig’s brains!

n George: Zip wiring through thejungle in Siem Reap, I love heights
and going very fast.
n Martha: The fishing and farming
tour and the zip wires. I wasn’t
confident on the zip wires to start
with, but it was fantastic being up
high when I got used to it. I really
liked the little toys and animals
people make from palm leaves on
the boats, and we caught some fish.
DID YOU HAVE A FAVOURITEDISH OR MEAL?
n Harry: Pig's brains werememorable, but I really liked the fish
amok curry and spring rolls.
n George: The crispy vegetablespring rolls in Vietnam.
n Martha: The pizza restaurant wewent to in Siem Reap – it was sogood we went twice!
DID YOU MEET ANYONEINTERESTING?
n Harry: On the fishing and farming
tour in Hoi An we had a fun guy

DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU?
n Harry: How polite and respectful
Cambodian people are, they always
put their hands together and smilewhen they meet you.
n George: The heat – I didn’t
expect it to be that hot.
n Martha: If you want to order adrink at the hotel in Hoi An you canwave a flag and the waiter asks youwhat you want. That was a surprise!
DO YOU HAVE ADVICE FOR
OTHER FAMILIES TRAVELLING
TO VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA?
n Harry: Put on sun cream (I burnt
my feet in Phu Quoc) and learn tohaggle without making them angry…
n George: Definitely go to Angkor
Wat and Phu Quoc, they were both
amazing.
n Martha: Bring binoculars anda big camera so you can see theanimals and take pictures – there
were monkeys in the trees opposite
our room in Phu Quoc!
DO IT: Walk in the Weston family’sfootsteps with a Fully Tailored Journey
to Vietnam and Cambodia. Visit
insideasiatours.com/family-travel orcall our Southeast Asia experts on
0117 244 3464 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 19

CLIMB
INTO
THE

CLOUDS
Adventure enthusiast Chris Greener braves the wild landscapes of
the Nam Et-Phou Louey Protected Area in northern Laos to trackwildlife, make new friends and sleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Top of the world
Valley vistas in northern Laos

20

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ LAOS ]“If Laos is little-visited,
this area feels uncharted”

T

he air trills with a chorus of“sabaidi!” The whole village ishere to greet us. Kids appear
from nowhere to see exotic
foreigners, chickens jostle at our feetand young men invite me to playpétanque (French boules). I’m in arural village at the edge of the Nam
Et-Phou Louey National Protected
Area with my guide Souvit; a local
wildlife expert who knows the mazeof jungle in northern Laos like theback of his hand.

Meeting the gatekeepers
Having lived in Southeast Asia, I havebeen to Laos before. But unlike previous
visits, I’m travelling to a remote corner
where few tourists have been, to embark
on an adventure that even fewer havecompleted: a three-day trek to the2,257m summit of Phou Louey. If Laosis little-visited, this area feels uncharted.
There are night safaris and gentler hikes
for a taste of this evergreen jungle, but
having heard about the cloud forests, I’mlonging to see the summit.
As home to many endangered
species, Souvit is protective of the parkand bubbles with enthusiasm about local
ecotourism initiatives. The conservationof the delicate ecosystem in these 5,000
square kilometres is managed by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, alongwith the Wildlife Conservation Society,and incentivised for 26 villages such as
this one. Their funding is dependent on
the upkeep of a ‘core’ wildlife area andthe agreement to farm and hunt (using
traditional methods) in a controlled zone.
Despite being the gateway to the park,
the locals are not used to groups of
tourists trudging through and I become
quite the celebrity.

As I try to grasp the rules of pétanque,
Souvit tugs my arm, pointing to a small
house where a group rally around,inviting me into a room tightly packed
with revellers laughing and joking,football-sized pots of rice wine withlong bamboo straws at their feet. As acelebration, I’m told earnestly that it’s
tradition for each person to drink twohorns at a time.
The gruelling three-day trek hanging
over me, this is the last thing I want todo, but politeness gets the better of me.
I’ve had my fair share of rice wine whileliving in Cambodia, how bad could it be?
Grimacing, I throw my head back, forcing
it down. I feel my face flood scarlet as I
splutter and cough, much to the hilarityof the rest of the room. Head fuzzy, we
leave the villagers (and their liquor),
taking a cook, three porters and two
chickens with us.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 21

Hanging out
Suspended sleep in ‘The Nests’"It’s as though nature has arranged
the cascading waterfall, complete withperfect-sized pools below, just for us"

Chris is Senior
Southeast Asia
Product Executive in
our Bristol office

22

It takes a couple of hours to reach thewildlife conservation area, and as inclines
get steeper and jungle thicker, the placecrawls with life; furry caterpillars shimmy
up tree trunks, beetles scuttle over fallen
leaves and spiders busy themselves infilmy webs. Stopping at a ranger station,
we sit cross-legged on the floor, a simple
spread of sticky rice, boiled eggs, sweet
bamboo and morning glory (steamed
greens) laid on banana leaves in front of
us. Laotians believe no meal is complete
without a good helping of chilli, so little
dishes of spices are served in with justabout everything.
Eating is a communal affair here andour hungry group team up to finish every
morsel. Standing up and readying myself
for the next part of the journey, I discoversome jungle residents tucking into a feastof their own; with Souvit’s kindly gifted
leech socks buried in the depths of mybag, three of the blighters misinterpretmy legs as an afternoon snack. A sprayof insect repellent and they go on theirway - suffice to say I don’t forget mysocks again.

After a long first day, my feet are
relieved to see a forest clearing
leading to our home for the night. As
Keo (one of the porters) sets up thebeds, the rest of us seek respite fromthe heat nearby. It’s as though nature
has arranged the cascading waterfall,complete with perfect-sized pools
below, just for us. Rejuvenated andready for dinner, two live chickens
become one and a barbecue withsticky rice and fresh vegetables isserved on a long bamboo table.

Tales around the campfire
Each evening, our little band huddles
around the campfire to swap stories
about home. Wherever I travel in Laos,
there’s an inherent curiosity to learn
about my life and teach me about theirs
in return. In this humid part of the world,
jaws drop when I produce photos of
my kids building snowmen! Moments
like these remain my most treasured
memories; our daily lives couldn’t be
more different and if it weren’t for thetrip we would never have crossed paths.
Flames flickering, we share folk tales too;

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts© WCS, InsideAsia Tours staff

Fuelling up for the forest

one traditional Khmu story is strikingly
similar to Aesop’s fable The Boy Who
Cried Wolf. At the heart of it, we’re notthat different after all.
As stilted wooden huts open to theelements The Ritz this isn’t, but a luxurycity hotel could never compare. Waking
to cicadas singing in the trees andgibbons hollering in the distance is so
special, I pinch myself to check I’m really
here. One animal is curiously absent
from the hoots and howls though; seeing
her friend’s fate, our second chicken
made a brave getaway during the night.
Vegetarian food all round!

[ LAOS ]View from the ridge
Above the clouds on
Phou Louey Mountain

Meeting jungle residents

Reaching the top of the
world- there’s a reason they call it ‘Forever
Mountain’. I’m on top of the world.
Though I could happily look over thatview for days, at 2,257m it’s considerablycolder than ground level and we don’t
have long before making our way down,
still walking on clouds, elated by ourjourney.
When I packed my bags, met thevillagers and even started the first leg ofthe trek (missing crucial leech socks),
reaching the summit was my ultimate
goal, the end point, the whole reason
for the journey. But it isn’t the view at
the top that makes it one of the mostrewarding experiences of my life, it’s
new friendships, learning from Souvit’s
encyclopaedic knowledge, hearing
magical animal alarms and learning therules of pétanque. When our group says
farewell, it is with a heavy heart because
not only have we made new friends, wehave played a small part in protecting
this land at a time when the world’s
rainforests are most at risk.

The final arduous reach is increasingly
steep. Souvit warns me that themountain is usually surrounded by
misty clouds, so visibility is likely to below. Gradually covered head to toe inmoss, the surroundings are serene andeerie in equal parts, but after one lastscramble we reach the plateau where
it all changes. Streams of cloud forests
swirl below us and mountains stretch
seamlessly into the distance ahead

DO IT: For the ultimate outdoor
adventure, pack your hiking bootsfor our Trekking the Cloud Forestsof Laos Fully Tailored Journey, from
£1,175pp for 9 nights (exc. intl. flights).
Shorter treks can also be arranged.
Visit insideasiatours.com or call ourSoutheast Asia experts on
0117 244 3464 to find out more.

Souvit is attuned to imperceptiblechanges in the jungle, and on the nextleg of our journey he stops ahead of us,
studying the forest. We pause, urging theleaves below our feet to stop rustling.
Just as we resign ourselves to a false
alarm, a large family of wild pigs burst
through the trees, scarpering up the ridgewith babies following suit. A reminderthat we are not alone in this isolated partof the world, but guests of the jungle.
Reaching each wildlife camera trap, we
gather in anticipation as Souvit plugs thememory card into his tablet (strangely
anachronistic). Despite only encountering
wild pigs, it’s exciting to see that samba
deer, langurs, civets and monkeys havebeen here, but it’s the clouded leopard
strolling nonchalantly across the screen
just days before that leaves each of us
in awe.

Phou Louey

Laos Essentials

Vientiane

POPULATION: 6.8 million
CAPITAL CITY: Vientiane
MAIN RELIGION: Mahayana Buddhism
LANGUAGE: Lao
TIME: GMT+7
GETTING THERE: Flight time from London to Luang Prabang:
from 18h 30min with at least one stop. Bangkok and Hanoi
are popular layovers - get in touch to plan a few days in yourtransfer city.
WHEN TO GO: November to March is the optimum time totravel to Laos. Trekking in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National
Protected Area isn’t possible between June and October. For
more information about weather and events in Southeast Asia
visit insideasiatours.com/when-to-travel.
VISAS: Take a passport photograph with you and purchase avisa on arrival, roughly $35. Your passport must be valid for atleast six months.
CURRENCY: Laotian Kip (LAK). £1 – approx. LAK 11,000. USD
widely accepted in tourist areas.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 23

Experience Asia
What makes an ordinary holiday an extraordinary one?
Popular sights are famous for a reason, but our travel diaries arefull of lively notes about authentic dishes, surprising encountersand cultural exchanges. Guidebooks are great, but it’s theexperiences we remember for years to come.
24- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

[ EXPERIENCES ]JAPAN

Kimono culture in Kyoto

Kyoto’s countless temples are extremely popular,
but quiet corners with well-preserved streets ofmachiya – two-storey townhouses with wooden
lattice shutters, earthen walls, tatami mat floors,sliding paper doors and small courtyards - are only ashort stroll away. In a modest corner of the Nishijin
textile district, a machiya built in 1885 as a kimono
workshop is now a living museum: step beyond
Tondaya’s noren curtains to experience traditional
Japanese culture. While kimonos are no longer
woven here, with a flurry of complicated ties, turns
and swish of the obi (sash) from 13th generation
owner, Tanaka Mineko you’ll soon look the part for
the traditional tea ceremony and bento lunch.
DO IT: Spend a day at the Tondaya machiya
on our Hands On Japan small group tour, from£3,950pp (exc. intl flights), call our Japan experts
on 0117 244 3463 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 25

VIETNAM

Homestay in Hanoi

It’s easy to get swept up in the tide of motorbikes
and lost in the twisting streets of Vietnam’s
frenetic capital, but just an hour outside Hanoi, thevillage of Ky Son offers relief from the commotion.
Slow down to the rhythm of local life at theMoon Garden Homestay; airy rooms with chunkyteak furniture, sprawling grounds backing onto
rice paddies, and beautifully restored buildings(including a 100-year-old church rescued from aneighbouring province), make it an oasis to spend
a few days in. Lovely as the surroundings are, it’s
the activities that make it extra special - wake up
with a Yijin Jing exercise class, make rice beds,
help with the harvest, cycle to the ancient villagesof Son Tay, go fishing, try your hand at making
local crafts and cook seasonal Vietnamese food in
the enormous kitchen.
DO IT: Stay at the Moon Garden homestay on
our Hands on Cambodia & Vietnam small grouptour, from £3,850pp (exc. intl. flights), or call our
experts on 0117 244 3464 to find out more.

CAMBODIA

Audience with a Khmer Rouge survivor
At least 2 million people - including 90% of
Cambodia’s artists, musicians, dancers andintellectuals - were killed during the devastating
reign of the Khmer Rouge between 1975-79.
Born into a family of musicians, Arn Chorn-Pond
was sent to a children’s labour camp where hisability to play propaganda songs on the flute
saved his life. Having been adopted and taken
to America, he returned in 1998 to launch
Cambodian Living Arts, an organisation working

to revive the country’s formerly vibrant heritage.
Arn works with the few remaining cultural masters
and gives talks about his harrowing experiences;while countless books and films have been madeabout the Khmer Rouge, meeting a survivor is arare opportunity to hear a moving story first-hand.

DO IT: Visit the Experiences page on
insideasiatours.com or call our Southeast Asia
experts on 0117 244 3464 to find out more.

Tokyo ramen safari

Ramen is just noodle soup, right? Wrong! While its
origins are unclear, these days ramen finds favour
well beyond Japan’s shores, but nothing comparesto the real deal. Just ask Tokyo locals - at populareateries, queues snake around the block fromsunrise. There are similarities from bowl to bowl,
but regional variations are a source of pride withclosely guarded broth recipes; noodles that range
from thin and tender, to curly and firm; and a
mixture of toppings including nori (seaweed), soft
boiled eggs, kamaboko (fish cakes), spring onions
and chashu (slices of pork with soy sauce).
26

Confusingly, it is also possible to have cold ramen,
ramen without soup (tsukemen), and dry noodles
served with a separate dipping broth: there’s moreto that simple dish than you might think. Navigate
the best joints on a ramen safari with a Tokyo
resident and fully-fledged ramen otaku (that’s geekto you and me). Top tip: Slurp noisily to your heart’s
content – it’s a sign of enjoyment, rather than poor
table manners.
DO IT: Take our Gastronomic Adventure self-guided
trip, from £2,430pp (exc. intl. flights), or call ourJapan experts on 0117 244 3463 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts© iStockphoto, Moon Garden homestayJAPAN[ EXPERIENCES ]LAOS

Mindfulness by the
MekongRik Gadella isn’t the first to have a holiday romance,
but few would uproot their lives after just a week.
In 2007, he fell in love with Laos and left Europe
to start something special in UNESCO town, Luang
Prabang: the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Gardens. Despite
having little prior knowledge about horticulture, thebotanical gardens continue to flourish, aiding theconservation of endangered flora and providing
employment and education opportunities for morethan 50 local people. With a relaxing 15-minuteboat ride on the Mekong to the entrance, thejourney to the gardens is nearly as magical as thedestination. Arrive early and start the day right witha morning yoga and meditation session, before
breakfast at the café. Sipping iced tea by the lily
pond, whilst surrounded by over 1,000 native
species (including orchids, ferns and medicinal
plants), you may not want to leave - falling in love
just like Rik did.
DO IT: Visit the Experiences page on
insideasiatours.com or call our Southeast Asia
experts on 0117 244 3464 to find out more.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 27

[ INTERVIEW ]meets...

JONATHAN ROSS

The multi award-winning television and radio presenter, actor, comedian, anime enthusiast
and creator of Japanorama (our favourite TV series) talks to us about his love affair with Japan.
Japanorama was one of the bestshows ever in relation to pop culture
in Japan, what was your inspiration?

that to anime, I’ve always liked science fiction
stories but obviously Japan has a unique cultural
take on that kind of thing. [Japanorama] was the

I’ve always been a comic book fan, but I fell in lovewith Japan when I discovered Japanese comics.
I loved the difference between them and American
comics, which I still adore. It was a step on fromchance to go out there and talk about the culture
in a way I hoped would not be…
I don’t want to be negative about other people,
but when I’d seen shows on TV like Clive JamesA family affair
From National Parks to ninja
training, the Ross family gave
just about everything a go in Japan28- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

in Japan, even though I enjoyed them, they camefrom the angle of “look at these funny people”. I
never felt comfortable with that, I’ve always been
so admiring of the differences. I never thought it
was ‘silly’ or ‘weird’, I always thought it was exciting
and different. That kind of sums up Japan for me –exciting and different.

[ INTERVIEW ]Do you have any tips for people whoare new to anime?
One of the things that’s joyful about anime isthere are so many genres, so almost anything
you might be into already, you’ll find an anime
about. The classic is Studio Ghibli. You shouldfind a way to go to the Ghibli Museum, there’s amini sequel of My Neighbor Totoro which they
only show there.

Any recommendations for first-time
visitors to Japan?
Explore different areas of Tokyo, and if you canafford to have a driver for a few days it’s good tohave someone with local knowledge. Do a bitof research yourself too so you get an idea ofwhat’s available. You guys are great and know somuch, but you can’t be mind readers so it’s good
to know what you’re excited about. If anyone’s
interested in vintage Japanese toys or movie
posters, they should take a trip out to Nakano
Broadway. For people like me who like that kindof stuff, it’s heaven. The cookery class was alsofun, as was the mother of pearl workshop. The
people were sweet and very calm, and we camehome with a nice tray.

"That kind of sums up Japanfor me – exciting and different"
Do you have a favourite place?
You know what? I can never pick favourites. If you’retalking about a family place, we loved Hakone andthe open art gallery sculpture garden. The onsen at
the ryokan we stayed at was just beautiful. It wasa lovely experience, incredibly comfortable andwonderful food; we like to think of ourselves as
good travellers because we are always respectful,
like when we had… what are those big feasts?

Kaiseki?

© Jonathan Ross

Yes, the kaiseki dinners. Sometimes you’re given
things I’m sure some Western people would say“I can’t eat this” to, but we always provide themwith an empty plate! We’re not really gallery or
museum goers on holiday, and we’re not big
shoppers; we like activities more than anything sonormally we wouldn’t think of going somewhere
like that, but we loved it.

much about the history, which has been widely
misrepresented in the media. Fake food making inTokyo was great fun too. What we also liked - butpeople do have to be a bit more adventurous - isNagashima Spa Land. I think we were the only
Westerners there, it was a lively, joyful place.

How would you rate Japanese themeparks? You’re a bit of a fan, aren’t you?
I recommend Fuji-Q to everyone, the hotel
there wasn’t particularly high-end, but it was still
luxurious and comfortable, and the people weresuper friendly. In Japan, you’re also lucky because
you’ve got DisneySea. I would suggest that to any
Western travellers because it’s recognisably Disney,
but also uniquely Japanese. There are rides that
only exist there and the food and culture is very
different. Also, we’re still collecting Pokémon; if
you want to catch Pokémon, we’ve never got somany as from walking around there.

You’ve done lots of activities, any
stand outs?

Pokémon Go lives on in the Ross family?

The Ninja Dojo lesson was great - the guys there
were tremendous and welcoming; we’re mixed
abilities, but they made us all feel included. It
was fascinating as well, because you learn soYes! I’m on level 37. There’s one Pokémon you
can only get in Japan called Far Fetched. My wife
got it first and I was slightly resentful of her until
we all managed to get one!

You’ve mentioned people a lot
through this, Japan is largely about
the people isn’t it?
It’s a mixture of the people and being aspectacular place to go to. There’s breathtaking
natural beauty but also some remarkable manmade attractions. If you’ve got little kids, spending
the morning at SEGA Joypolis over in Odaiba or
Sunshine City and Namja Town is amazing. There
are so many things when you’re there, like anaquarium on the top floor and a dog petting area.
It’s a good place to go when you arrive. The firstday is often a bit arduous because you’ve got that
terrible jetlag and you need to stay awake. The
hotel probably isn’t ready for you for four or five
hours, so leave your bags and go somewhere
that’s noisy. Immerse yourself into it and keep
awake for a few hours with something that’s easyon the brain.
DO IT: To plan your own activity-packed
Japan adventure visit the Experiences page on
insidejapantours.com or call our Japan experts on
0117 244 3463.

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 29

[ Your adventures ]WINNING A TRIP TO

CAMBODIA
We were overwhelmed with entries to our travel photography competition in issue 4of east, but it was the lively image of boys jumping into a river in Myanmar that won
Ian Stone a trip to Cambodia. He packed a camera, tripod and sense of adventure insearch of Siem Reap, capturing moments and meeting local people along the way.

T

.he euphoria of winning a
trip to Cambodia, a country
I had never been before,
is one of those life experiences
I will never forget. My wife andI extended the trip by a week
to make the most of our time
meeting local people and finding
photographic opportunities.

temples, great stone building blocks
balancing on ruined walls andchildren playing in front of ancient
bas-reliefs. Rather than rushing inand out, we took time to enjoy
what was going on around us, notknowing what would happen next.

Early starts in Angkor
Siem Reap has thousands oftemples and ancient monumentswith lots of people jostling to seethem. The trick is to get there in theearly morning or evening for thebest light – this did mean getting up
at 3am! It was worth it to see thesunrise over temples, palm trees
and ancient ruins.

“As in all
countries, it
was the people
that madeour holiday
memorable"

Unexpected inspiration
It’s easy to get ‘templed-out’in Cambodia, but there arephotographic opportunities aroundevery corner. We saw a monk insplendid orange robes throwing
water over people as a blessing, fig
tree stems winding around ancient

Meeting Cambodian people
As in all countries, it was the people
that made our holiday memorable.
Staying in a homestay, going to
the local market and seeing thecountryside’s changing agriculturalindustry were great ways to meet
people and something I would loveto spend more time doing when I
go back. Poverty is never far away
in rural areas, but you can help bytaking pens and paper or donating
to a local charity.
Our guide was crucial to build
rapport in these communities taking us to watch fishermen casttheir nets at sunset and visit families
in stilted houses by the side ofthe lake. I’d recommend all travel
photographers enlarge their images
on the camera screen and sharethem with their subjects. Cambodian
people are always friendly andwilling to make conversation, despite
language barriers - a smile and awave goes a long way!

DO IT: Ian took a Fully Tailored30- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts

If you’ve had an adventure with
InsideAsia Tours that you’d like toshare, get in touch!

© Ian Stone

Journey to Cambodia. Visit
insideasiatours.com or call ourSoutheast Asia experts on
0117 244 3464 to find out more.

[ COMpetition ]COMPETITION

WINNER

Congratulations to Philip Courter for winning a Vietnamese cooking set with his photograph ofa hostess serving at Shiraume Ryokan in Kyoto. Thank you to everyone who entered.

WIN a £250 voucher from Sherpa Adventure Gear
HOW TO ENTER:
1) Read our Terms & Conditions
online: insideasiatours.com/

magazine

We think a good print magazine should keep you company when you’re on the go. Take a2) Send us a photograph of east

picture of east somewhere interesting to be in with a chance of winning a £250 voucher tomagazine somewhere interesting.

spend on ethical travel kit from Sherpa Adventure Gear. That’s not all – one lucky runnerup will also win a Sherpa Adventure Gear Yatra backpack and matching toiletry bag.

It could be taken up a mountain,
outside a temple, in a hot air
balloon, on the beach… You cantake it just about anywhere, except
maybe scuba diving. You must

About Sherpa Adventure Gear

have the rights to the photograph.

Sherpa help support Nepalese communities with steady employment,
quality working conditions and education opportunities – by wearing theirtravel clothing and accessories, you’re doing good, as well as
having everything you need for an adventure. P&P is FREE foreast readers with the code: SHERPAFREEDEL18
Visit: sherpaadventuregear.co.uk

3) Send it to east@insideasiatours.
com, or post it on social media
and tag us in by 5pm (GMT)
on 15th December 2018. The
winner will be revealed in our next
issue. We look forward to seeing
your entries!

- Travel inspiration from the Southeast Asia and Japan experts 31

Tag your photos on Instagram with #InsideAsia or #InsideJapanand we’ll share our favourites. Anyone else reaching for their suitcase?

@darren_baker_photography
Hanoi, VIETNAM@kotatsuneko808
Kyoto, JAPAN@my_beleaf
Kyoto, JAPAN@nborland
Miyajima Island, JAPAN@wolfdownblog
Tokyo, JAPAN@lydiagwinterCon Dao Islands, VIETNAM@sarahjanehamlyn
Kyoto, JAPAN@madeleineinbrizzle
Luang Prabang, LAOS

Order a brochure, call the travel experts or visit
our websites to start planning your holiday.

0117 244 3463
info@insidejapantours.com
www.insidejapantours.com/InsideJapanTours/InsideJapanGet beneath the surface/InsideJapanTours

0117 244 3464
info@insideasiatours.com
www.insideasiatours.com/InsideAsiaTours/InsideAsiaTours/InsideAsiaTours

Subscriptions & general enquiries: 0117 244 3466, east@insideasiatours.com
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