Interested in cheap brand name running shoes, knock off goods and souvenirs when in Saigon? Then head for the Ben Thanh Market as many visitors do! In this episode I get back to doing walkabout podcasts, usually with commentary and questions from live-streaming followers. Ben Thanh Market is probably the most visited tourist site in all of Ho Chi Minh City. Even if you don't like these places I think it's still worth a look if it's your first time. To get a much more authentic local experience head to some of the markets outside of District 1 where less tourists go and locals are more likely to strike up a friendly conversation with nothing more in mind then a little engagement with a foreigner. I also answer some general travel and Vietnam questions as well as other related topics. Thanks so much for listening. You can support this podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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My guest MJ Klein shares his Bangkok taxi scams at the airports and we chat about traveling authentically in Southeast Asia. These taxi scams are for the most part easily avoidable either by using a ride share app or being prepared. It also helps to know which airport in Bangkok your flight is leaving from. Just remember there are two international airports in Bangkok, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi , and I've heard this scam before. Tourist visiting Bangkok asks for an airport transfer and gets taken to the wrong airport. With little time to catch their flight the taxi driver offers to take them to the other airport for $200USD. Or in the case of MJ's incident they don't have change, and you're in a hurry to catch your flight when they drop you off. We also talk about getting off the beaten path when traveling in Southeast Asia, and how to handle situtations calmly. Thanks so much for listening! Support the Far East Travels Podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons help support production and travel costs and get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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This will be the start of an on-going series on travel scams with first-hand accounts from followers on my livestream accounts, Periscope an Facebook, as well as contributions via messaging and emails. Send me your scam or how you almost got scammeed and how to avoid these incidents and I will share them on an upcoming episode of the podcast. Either by email, [email protected] or via Facebook or Instagram.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this episode. The more we share, the more we and others will travel safe!
Follow me on Twitter or Periscope:@FarEast_Travels
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Had my Visa card retained by an ATM machine this week in Ho Chi Minh City inspiring me to create a what I hope is helpful information to prepare you for your next trip. My card has an app that locks it and I forgot to take the lock off-the result? It was eaten. So fortunately I have back-up plans and this is one of the most important preparations when traveling abroad. Some of these tips might seem obvious especially to those who are frequent travelers but I hope with some of the stories I've shared it reminds you to think there this always the unforseen that catches us off guard. By the way the guy who asked me if he could borrow $20 at Annapurna Base Camp did not have his money stolen, he simply didn't budget enough for his trip. It most large cities in Asia there will be plenty of options where you can either access an ATM machine that accepts international cards or find currency changers to convert your money. In Japan one of the easiest places for foreigners to access funds are the ATM machines that are located in convience stores. Be very carefull when traveling in developing countries like Nepal. There's and other nations banking infrastructure might not be as reliable as what you're used to. So accept the fact that there might be a day when there is no way to get cash and be prepared. Thanks so much for listening. If you have any tips you'd like to share please send an email to [email protected].
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Coming to you from Saigon with a quick catch up chat and some travel idea getaways, two of my favorite places-Da Lat and Can Tho. Da Lat is a popular honeymoon getaway for Vietnamese and is a wise choice to beat the tropical heat. With a different climate there are some interesting dishes to sample as well. Extremely friendly locals who love to engage with foreigners will be found in Can Tho and Da Lat. Can Tho is famous for it’s accessibility to the floating markets of the Mekong River Delta.
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Do you have a story of extraordinary service from one of your visits to Asia? Send me your best story of service to [email protected]! Would love to share out some great service stories! Thanks so much for listening and subscribing to the podcast!
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I’m sharing out some advice again on dealing with traveler’s diarrhea after a personal episode of it this past week. Is there a way to avoid it? Completely? If there is I still haven’t discovered it but there are a few basics that can lessen the likelihood. Going slow at first helps-don’t overindulge and allow your body to adjust to everything before you dive into strange new foods. For some countries it might even be wise to use filtered or bottled water when brushing your teeth. My essential kit would include Imodium and Pepto Bismal. It’s possible to find these brands while traveling but not as conveniently as in your home country and you’ll be spending precious recovery time doing it. Seek medical advice if your condition is persistent but in most cases it only takes a few days to recover. Keeping your hands clean with a sanitizer and antibacterial wipes is also helpful to avoid bacteria and viruses. Thanks so much for listening! Help others discover the podcast by writing a review in the iTunes Store. Follow this link to get started: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/far-east-travels-podcast/id1079513943?mt=2
Support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons help with production and travel costs and at the same time get access to exclusive content. Visit my Patreon page to see all of the offers: https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels

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Shanghai, China is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Loaded with atmosphere, amazing food, shopping and entertainment it's really hard to make a decision on what to do or where to eat because of the vast choices. I invited Travelblogger Bruno Black to help share his advice on what to do and where to eat as he is a frequent traveller to Shanghai. In the first in a series of episodes on Shanghai travel Bruno shares with us his favorite places and dishes, some of his favorite places to stay and enjoy the atmosphere of The Bund, the famous promenade of Shanghai as well as some helpful tips like using mobile payments, getting around on the MRT and safety advice. Thanks so much for listening!
If you want to see more of Bruno Black's work and get in touch with him you can do so using these links.
Website:https://www.brunoblack.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/brunoblackofficial/
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/brunohuang

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Always a pleasure to talk to expat Niall Gibson who is a Kyoto travel expert and the founder of Kyoto Fun and Kyoto VIP! Niall gives us a 2019 update on the cherry blossom season from one of the top travel destinations in the world-Kyoto, Japan! Sakura, or cherry blossom season is the busiest time to visit Kyoto so Nialls give us his strategies on how to get the most out of season and some alternative places to stay as well as some alternative times to visit Kyoto. The best places to view the cherry blossoms, best place to have a picnic for hanami, cherry blossom appreciation and the best way to get around the city during the busy time. Thanks so much for listening! You can find out more about travel tips, and tour packages by visiting:https://www.kyotofun.com or https://www.kyotovip.com
Help support the podcast by becoming a patron! Patrons help support production and travel costs while gaining access to exclusive content with a monthly pledge starting at $2/month. Visit my Patreon page to find out more:https://www.patreon.com/FarEastTravels
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This podcast I'm asked by followers what are the main differences I've noticed between Taipei, my last base, and Ho Chi Minh City, after the first 10 days. There are many differences and I've had a bit of a jump start on knowing them after a few visits here over the past 4 years. Certainly from a cost of living point of view there are big differences. There are also more choices amongst international food choices whether it's restaurants or just purchasing groceries. The amount of motorbikes on the road in the HCMC area is shocking compared with the motorbike capital of East Asia, Taipei. There are 14 million motorbikes in the whole of Taiwan but an astonishing 8 million just in the great HCMC area. Thanks so much for listening! What's your favorite places to visit in Southeast Asia? Send me your questions or comments to john @fareasttravels.com or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook!
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johnsaboesfareasttravels/
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