Cempedak (Artocarpus integer) is an interesting fruit found in Southeast Asia. Consisting of a large pod like body (similar to Jackfruit), which has a Durian-esque covered in a rough, sticky skin, I have seen Cempedak almost 2 feet in length. Cempedak is like a combination of both Durian and Jackfruit. How to eat a Cempedak Opening a Cempedak is pretty straight forward. Cut ...

After catching a ride to the  bus station in Ipoh (from my CS host who was on her way to KL) I hopped on a bus to the Cameron Highlands (16.8RM or ~$5.10). It was my first time on a bus in Malaysia and they were much, much more comfortable than the cramped buses in Myanmar there were only 3 seats ...

The Pulasan (pulasan in English, Spanish and Malay, kapulasan in Indonesia, ngoh-khonsan in Thailand, and bulala in the Philippines) is a very strange looking fruit I’d never seen before I saw it in a market in Malaysia. It looks like somewhat like a nut or pine cone but is in reality, a very tasty fruit which is quite similar to the Rambutan and the Lychee. I knew when I saw it, I had to try ...

Now that it’s Durian season here in Malaysia, I wanted to tell you all about what may be the most Controversial fruit of Southeast Asia …The Durian. What is a Durian? Also known as ‘King Fruit’ and ‘Stink Fruit,’ Durian is a large, fragrant fruit covered in sharp barbs. The edible part of the fruit is a soft flesh that surrounds ...

In my previous post about Yangon, I mentioned that most people like only one of the major cities (Yangon/Mandalay) and at first, I was no exception. Eventually I feel in love with Mandalay but only during my second visit. During my first visit to Mandalay, I was staying in the tourist area and a combination of the heat, the people ...

Longan, similar to both the rambutan and the lychee, longan is probably the one I enjoy eating the most as it has great elements from both of its brothers. How to eat a Longan I had never seen or eaten Longan before coming to Southeast Asia but it’s a pretty good treat. While holding the fruit, press the fingernail of ...

Inlay (Inle Innlay Inley) Lake very well may be Myanmar’s (Burma’s) most visited tourist destination and it was literally the only place in Myanmar where I found any more then a handful of tourists/westerners. I arrived in Inle, from Mandalay via night bus and as with every other bus in Myanmar, taxis where waiting for us when we arrived. The ...

Plane The fastest way to travel. Yangon and Mandalay are the main airports in the country and you can arrive or leave from either (with flights to/from Bangkok around $60 when I went). Some travelers also fly domestically but I don’t think it’s necessary. Train The trains in Myanmar are slow, bumpy and are often more expensive then other options. ...

Stepping off the plane and walking through a small, quiet airport, Yangon was already something quite unfamiliar. Immigration was no hassle and I was on my way to baggage claim and then hoped to find a means to an ATM. I tried to make a withdraw from the first one I found, but the machine was out of money. Then ...

In northern Myanmar, about as far north as you can get without getting a travel permit, lies the small town of Hsipaw. In addition to being one end of one of the world’s most impressive train journeys, Hsipaw is a quaint town that’s worth exploring. What to do in Hsipaw? Hsipaw is a small town with little tourism (at least ...