Australia is a truly unique travel destination, the only country that is also an entire continent (often called the “island continent”). This results in a staggering diversity of landscapes, climates, and life, and a history of human occupation, that is found nowhere else on Earth. We spent five weeks visiting only a small portion of Australia, essentiallyContinue reading “Australia: the vast and undiscovered jewel.”
Author Archives: Pedro & Dana Evelyn Simko
Hangzhou: the Geneva of the East
Renowned for its tranquil beauty, surrounded by hills, temples, pagodas, and traditional gardens, Hangzhou’s West Lake (about an hour by speed train from Shanghai) has inspired poets and artists for centuries and is often described as one of the most beautiful sights in China. A common Chinese proverb states, “In heaven there is paradise, on EarthContinue reading “Hangzhou: the Geneva of the East”
Shanghai: Asia’s New York
If Beijing is the political and historical heart of China, Shanghai is the modern, powerful, hyper-energetic, and trend-setting economic and cultural capital. No other city in Asia comes close to offering the vibrancy of Shanghai. But it wasn’t always this way. Before the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, Shanghai was a well-to-do, but unimportant regionalContinue reading “Shanghai: Asia’s New York”
Off-the-beaten track Japan: fascinating, but also terrifying
A great traveller once said that if you have the time and the means, there really are only two places to visit: Japan and the rest of the world. It’s certainly true that the beauty of Japan’s countryside, the uniqueness of its minimalist architecture, its stunning urban gardens, its gorgeous temples and shrines, the refinedContinue reading “Off-the-beaten track Japan: fascinating, but also terrifying”
Tibet: exploring the roof of the world
Tibet is unlike anywhere else in the world — it’s often called the “Roof of the World,” but that barely scratches the surface of what makes it so special as a travel destination. Tibet is one of the last places religion (in this case Buddhism) permeates everyday life. Monasteries are not museums — they areContinue reading “Tibet: exploring the roof of the world”
Yunnan: China in a nutshell.
Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse provinces, often described as a microcosm of China itself. It’s special because it fuses geographic drama, ethnic diversity, ancient culture, and mild weather into a very special travel experience. From the tropical jungles of the south to the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in the northwest, Yunnan lies at the meeting point ofContinue reading “Yunnan: China in a nutshell.”
Taiwan: easy to explore, hard to forget.
Taiwan is a small island with a big personality—rich in culture, nature, food, and heart. What makes it really special is the way these elements come together in a deeply accessible and uniquely Taiwanese way, one that is a perfect mixture of China and Japan. China during the Qing Empire governed Taiwan as a frontierContinue reading “Taiwan: easy to explore, hard to forget.”
Vietnam: turning hardship into opportunity.
Vietnam is one of Asia’s largest countries. With over 100 million inhabitants, it is about one third the size of the US in population terms. Although the majority of the population live in the Red River Delta (Hanoi) and the Mekong Delta (Ho Chi Minh City), it is still very much an agricultural country. AsContinue reading “Vietnam: turning hardship into opportunity.”
Galápagos: animals real close.
The Galápagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1’000 km from the coast of Ecuador, are among the most extraordinary destinations on Earth. We spent two weeks over Christmas/New Year 2024/25 discovering their unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and the pivotal role they played in shaping Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. TheContinue reading “Galápagos: animals real close.”
Chile, nation of contrasts
Stretching along the western edge of South America for over 4’300 km, Chile is the longest country in the world. This extreme length gives Chile a remarkable diversity of climates and landscapes, from the Atacama Desert in the north to the icy fjords and glaciers of Patagonia in the south. Distance and climates also impliesContinue reading “Chile, nation of contrasts”
Navigating the Polynesian Triangle
The Polynesian Triangle is defined by three points: New Zealand in the southwest, Hawaii in the north, and Easter Island in the east, encompassing an enormous area. Its history represents one of the most impressive examples of human migration and settlement across the open ocean. We travelled by boat for 24 days in the PolynesianContinue reading “Navigating the Polynesian Triangle”
New Zealand, nature lovers’ paradise
New Zealand is the last of the world’s large landmasses to have been colonised by humans. It is only in 1250-1300 AD that Polynesians from the area that is today Tahiti, the Cook Islands and the Marquesas, arrived in what is now New Zealand, a land which they called Aotearoa (Land of the Long WhiteContinue reading “New Zealand, nature lovers’ paradise”
Buddhism in Thailand
One of the reasons we moved to Thailand earlier this year, is because we wanted to know what it was like to live in a Buddhist country. It has indeed been a hugely enriching experience. Buddhism is not only vibrant and present in Thailand’s over 40’000 active temples, it also permeates the daily life, cultureContinue reading “Buddhism in Thailand”
Chiang Rai, lush green wonderland
On the northern tip of Thailand, bordering Myanmar and Laos, Chiang Rai province offers a tapestry of lush, bright greens and beautiful, unspoiled landscapes. We visited Chiang Rai during the month of July, the rainy season, which appears to scare tourists away (even though it only rains sporadically, mostly at night). The sights we visitedContinue reading “Chiang Rai, lush green wonderland”
Manners and culture in Thailand
Anyone visiting Thailand is immediately struck by the warmth and gentleness of the population. It’s a country where smiles are all-pervasive, people are invariably polite and kind-hearted, and no one uses harsh words or raises his or her voice in conversation. The Thais always appear eager to be helpful and accommodating, and foreigners feel thatContinue reading “Manners and culture in Thailand”
Thailand: the islands
We spent a total of six weeks in the south of Thailand, visiting a few of the nation’s many islands (there are more than 1’000 in total) . The islands come in all sizes and for all budgets, but one thing is constant: everywhere there is beauty, and everywhere you feel the warmth, the welcomingContinue reading “Thailand: the islands”
Chiang Mai, city of surprises and hidden gems
Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna, is a place of surprises and contrasts. If you were to drive quickly through the city, what would strike you first is the mess: the city vendors encroaching on the sidewalks, the large number of cars, the almost inexistent trafficContinue reading “Chiang Mai, city of surprises and hidden gems”
A culinary excursion to Bangkok
To understand Bangkok’s cuisine, you need to understand the city’s geography and history. Nestled between India to the west, China to the east and the spice islands to the south, Bangkok is located at the very center of one of the world’s most exciting culinary crossroads. For centuries, the city’s wealth came from profiting fromContinue reading “A culinary excursion to Bangkok”
Truliluli Travel Reports 