The sharper edge to traveling in Asia

Archive for the 'Hotels & Lodging' Category

WoWasis visits Galle, colonial city of southwestern Sri Lanka

Built by the Dutch in 1663, the colonial city of Galle is a pleasure to walk through, keeping within the confines of the fort area. Our journey took us there on a Sunday, which happened to also be Mohammad’s birthday, so all museums were closed. Everything else was open, including boutiques, antiquities shops, restaurants, and […]

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Are guests getting fleeced at Bangkok’s Nana Hotel by accounting and checkout staff?

Word has reached WoWasis this week that at least one guest at Bangkok’s Nana Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 4 recently had his bill accidentally increased by a factor of ten (!) when he paid his bill by credit card upon his departure. The problem? Nana Hotel didn’t want to credit the $3000 USD back to […]

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WoWasis visits Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay in southeast Sri Lanka is fairly well known for surfing, and waves are best in the high season, between April and October. In low season, it’s still a great getaway, with plentiful inexpensive beach bungalows and hotels, picturesque fishing boats, and an opportunity to swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. […]

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5 rules to hiring a car & driver in Asia: avoid these mistakes and you’ll have a great time

(Also read our post on avoiding scams in Sri Lanka) As much as we love to drive ourselves in Asia, occasionally we here at WoWasis find it necessary to hire a car and driver. Sri Lanka was one such country that pretty much required it. Our GPS unit was virtually useless, as the roads aren’t […]

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WoWasis book review: Skip Thomsen’s ‘Affordable Paradise: The Secrets of an Affordable Life in Hawaii’

Most of us here at WoWasis either live or have dreamed of living in the tropics. Many countries present problem with that (notably Thailand) unless you’re a citizen of that nation. That’s where Hawai’i comes in. Especially on the Big Island of Hawai’i, and most especially in the city of Hilo, where property is still […]

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WoWasis explores Taiwan’s rich indigenous aboriginal culture

Taiwan’s presence in the high technology world has given it an aura of modernity that somewhat masks the fact that it has an extraordinary richness and diversity of aboriginal peoples. These diverse tribes are all part of the Austronesian language group, which spans an incredible distance, from Madagascar to Easter Island, and Taiwan to New […]

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Apartment Asian Massage Parlors (AAMP) in North America: how masseuses create a home in a motel

In earlier posts, WoWasis described the nuances of the AAMP (Apartment Asian Massage Parlor) scene in North America,  and defined a list of commonly used AAMP acronyms.  Although a number of these women live and work out of their own apartments, many do not. So how do they instantly create a homey environment in a […]

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WoWasis visits hot springs and the Sietian Temple at Jaosi (Jaoxi), Northeastern Taiwan

If you’re driving south on the eastern Highway 2 from the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, a refreshing stop is at the city of Jaosi (Jaoxi), just north of the city of Ilan (Yilan).  Jaosi is famous for its hot springs and temple. We’d recommend seeing the Sietian (Xietian) temple first, then staying, kike your […]

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Want a quick getaway from Taipei? Take a one-day excursion to the spa town of Beitou and historic Danshui

If you’re like us at WoWasis, you love cosmopolitan cities like Taipei, but have to get out once in a while. And maybe you don’t want to have to rent a car or take a bus to do it. From Taipei , you can take an excursion that will bring you to the historical seafront […]

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The challenges of a westerner driving in Taiwan: touring Tainan

Here at WoWasis, we love to drive, and you can see some of the best stuff in Taiwan fairly easily if you have a car. The roads are the best we’ve seen in Asia, and Taiwanese drivers are exceptional in terms of courtesy and technique. Taiwan’s  freeways and expressways are as good as nay we’ve […]

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