Far East Travels Podcast
Far East Travels-Inspired by Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Anthony Bourdain and National Geographic.-Informative, enlightening, entertaining. Let John Saboe take you on journeys filled with spiritual celebrations and rituals, ancient festivals thrilling wildlife safaris, trekking and climbing quests and a vast array of food cultures. Learn about cultural differences, village life, urban exploration, street food, history and architecture in places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, Korea, Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan. Stories, advice, and conversations from one of the most exciting adventure destinations on the planet-Asia.
Episodes
July 14, 2023 • 17 mins
Hoi An, the Unesco World Heritage Site's streets are busting at the seams with visitors. It certainly appears that the old town has returned to the days of packed streets prior to the pandemic. I'm in Hoi An with an up-to-date report on the ancient town, its sites, and what it's like to visit one of Vietnam's top destinations. I have some tips on where you can avoid the crowds and some other things you'll want to know especially if...
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July 4, 2023 • 20 mins
In this episode I discuss 5 more typical annoyances or things tourists should be aware of when visiting Vietnam, especially for the first time. Once you master these and the last 5 in a previous episode you'll be much better prepared. As a disclaimer, there are similiar things to watch out for in other countries in the region and beyond. In some cases like the cyclo driver scams, knowing what to expect can save you several dollars...
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June 26, 2023 • 14 mins
It's finally happening! Vietnam's National Assembly agreed to extend the current 30 day tourist eVisa to 90 days for 80 countries. This will be the first time 90 day visas will be available to tourists since early 2020. This is welcome news to the tourism industry and thousands of people who in the past enjoyed long-term stays in Vietnam. Nha Trang and Da Nang will most likely see the biggest growth in tourism and extended stays. I...
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June 23, 2023 • 24 mins
In this episode I run down 5 common mistakes or uncomfortable situations you can avoid on your first trip to Vietnam. Some could be considered scams or overcharging, in other cases just minor uncomfortable situtations that can be easily avoided. We've all been scammed or overcharged at least once on our travels. I remember I was overcharged for a speedboat ride to the Gili Islands by what I thought were friendly staff in the hotel ...
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May 3, 2023 • 18 mins
I'm back! Thanks so much for your patience. A long needed hiatus from the podcast was due and I"m now delighted to return to regular podcasting of The Far East Travels Podcast in it's 8th year!
In this episode I'll review the current visas that are offered in Vietnam and the upcoming proposal to return to 90 day visas as well as the extending of visa exemption stays for many countries.
Honestly, I did not plan to be off this long fr...
In this episode I'll review the current visas that are offered in Vietnam and the upcoming proposal to return to 90 day visas as well as the extending of visa exemption stays for many countries.
Honestly, I did not plan to be off this long fr...
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December 24, 2022 • 32 mins
In October Taiwan eased restrictions once again welcoming visitors to "The Beautiful Island". My friend and longtime guest of the podcast photographer Bruno Black gives us an update on what's new and what to expect when you arrive. Bruno has toured many people around the island and is an expert on the best places to see as well as knowing where to go to get those great shots. Visitors are finally returning to the island and we'll a...
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November 11, 2022 • 43 mins
A pleasure as always to have Kyoto based Niall Gibson, an expat Canadian, tour operator and host of the Kyoto Fun Podcast on the Far East Travels Podcast. Niall gives us an update on the current travel landscape of Kyoto and the rest of Japan. With the yen currently at a record low and travel restrictions lifted this could be one of the best times in your life to visit Japan. Niall gives pointers on sites and things to do in Kyoto,...
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October 31, 2022 • 17 mins
After 2.5 years both Taiwan and Japan are fully open to independant tourism. In this episode I share more details about requirements upon arrival, particularily for the more complicated procedures for Taiwan. As someone who lived in Taiwan I am very happy for the many businesses who relied and of course benefited from foreign visitors. Taipei was a meeting place almost every weekend for travelers from around East and Southeast Asia...
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August 22, 2022 • 26 mins
The quote "Pot Smoking Tourists Not Welcom In Thailand"recently comes from the Thai Health Minister. Updates and a throwback to a walkabout in the shopping districts during a visit in 2017. Bangkok is coming back with an estimated 7-8 million visitors expected in 2022. Still a far cry from the 40 million visitors it saw in 2019. Things are improving as far as more flights heading for the capital of Thailand with Bangkok Air adding ...
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August 8, 2022 • 21 mins
This past summer was not the experience I was hoping for. What was to be outings and short visits around the country has turned into weeks of nursing colds, sinus infections, and now Covid. Fortunately I've been lucky to have only experienced cold symptoms with C19. But my isolation has taken me back to the feelings experienced a year ago when we were all under some form of lockdown here in Vietnam. My apologies for the lack of out...
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July 27, 2022 • 24 mins
It's so glad to be back after a long break due to a cold and sinus infection. In the episode I'll discuss dealing with a common flu or cold after not having one for 2 years. Also more importantly what travel is currently like and the most recent updates for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
It still looks like it may be still some time before East Asia like Taiwan or Japan reopens to independant travelers.
Nepal is open wi...
It still looks like it may be still some time before East Asia like Taiwan or Japan reopens to independant travelers.
Nepal is open wi...
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June 25, 2022 • 12 mins
In this episode I take you for a walk through the Han Market in Da Nang, Vietnam. You'll immediately notice lots of interaction with local sellers as this market is geared a little more tourists than the Con Market in the last episode.
These markets are always alot of fun to visit and in terms of food they really give you insight into what people eat here. The food stalls in any of these markets are always worthy of a visit with usu...
These markets are always alot of fun to visit and in terms of food they really give you insight into what people eat here. The food stalls in any of these markets are always worthy of a visit with usu...
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June 18, 2022 • 24 mins
It's official as of July 1st, no more uploading documents for a Thailand Pass. Proof of vaccination or for the unvaccinated a negative PCR test is all that's needed now to visit the country. This should further open up travel in the region expanding flights to Thailand and from Thai airports to other destinations in Southeast Asia. I will also discuss cost of flights within the region as they are still high in some circumstances. V...
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June 5, 2022 • 24 mins
Very tragic news out of Nepal this past week with another Tara Air crash on the Pokhara Jomsom route. The last crash on this flight, another Tara Air plane was in 2016. Although this route doesn't get as much attention as the the Kathmandu/Lukla flight in the Everest region it is still a very dangerous airport. I'll share my experience and thoughts. As well I'm getting out again reporting on location from various locations-this wee...
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May 19, 2022 • 12 mins
Vietnam along with several other countries have decided to drop pretests for fully vaccinated visitors. That makes entry to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam relativeily easy to enter now with no required pretests for fully vaccinated travelers.
It's now possible to have an extended stay in Southeast Asia with the least amount of restrictions since the pre-pandemic days of traveling. Vietnam has yet to authorize ...
It's now possible to have an extended stay in Southeast Asia with the least amount of restrictions since the pre-pandemic days of traveling. Vietnam has yet to authorize ...
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April 30, 2022 • 20 mins
A short two night trip was the perfect way to transition into travel in pandemic, and perhaps soon to be endemic times. Cambodia currently is the easiest country to enter in Southeast Asia with no pre-uploading of info and no pre-arrival or arrival testing. In this episode I'll run through this recent experience and share with you the highlights. As well some more lifting of restrictions taking effect this week in Malaysia and Thai...
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April 2, 2022 • 29 mins
Cambodia has taken the biggest step in lifting requirements for entry with the elimination of a negative test result upon arrival as well as the dropping of the antigen test. This will not only make an entry into Cambodia easier but will also allow for less restrictive movements back and forth between Vietnam and Thailand. Also in this episode, the tourists are coming back to Vietnam and Malaysia is now open to tourists without req...
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March 16, 2022 • 27 mins
Vietnam opens to tourists for the first time in 2 years this week. Rules, protocols, and visa availabiltiy are still unclear at the time of broadcast. Officially citizens from 13 countries have been granted 15 day visa exemptions valid until 2025. Unverified reports of people receiving visas through Vietnamese embassies or consulates are slowly surfacing in various social media groups. In this episode I will cover off everything so...
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February 20, 2022 • 33 mins
It's official, Vietnam closed to tourists since March 2020, will reopen it's borders starting March 15th. Details as to what visas will be available and their validity length are still unknown but will most likely be made public in the next few days. Vietnam is one of the last countries in Southeast Asia to open it's doors to tourism since the COVID pandemic began and borders were closed by most countries in March of 2020. This wil...
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February 4, 2022 • 29 mins
Vietnam could reopen to international travelers as soon as by the end of March. The Prime Minister has also expressed that Vietnam should be prepared to reopen by the end of March and no later than the end of April. Also news from Thailand, Indonesia, The Philipines, and Laos.
We'll also spin back the clock to January 2018 with a visit in a part 2 series on the Dihua Street Lunar New Year Market in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm enjoying the T...
We'll also spin back the clock to January 2018 with a visit in a part 2 series on the Dihua Street Lunar New Year Market in Taipei, Taiwan. I'm enjoying the T...
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