Asia articles

Vatican City forced to go cash only. Also, visitors allowed limited cell phone usage in North Korea.
Eaves in Biwon, a six-acre private garden at Changdeok Palace in Seoul, South Ko
Columns, March 2013 issue.

Discovering Turkey on a self-drive tour
View of the Blue Mosque from the Cozy Bar & Pub in Istanbul.
Features, March 2013 issue.
Finding whimsical landscapes and welcoming locals on a 
self-drive tour

Enticing eats in Phnom Penh
Travelers' Intercom, March 2013 issue.
At David’s Fresh Noodle (No. 213 13th Street, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; phone 855 12 351 890 or e-mail som_bath@yahoo.com), I had the best restaurant food of my three weeks’ stay in Phnom Penh, Nov. 4-23, 2012.

The great train journey —Vladivostok to Moscow
The Golden Eagle circling Lake Baikal.
Features, March 2013 issue.
A long-distance luxury rail journey from Vladisvostok to 
Moscow — the world’s greatest train ride

Miconceptions of Iran
A tour member and (center) Bune Primack, wearing clothes they bought in Iran, sp
Travelers' Intercom, March 2013 issue.
My wife, Bune, and I took the 18-day “Ancient Persia – Modern Iran” trip from MIR Corporation (Seattle, WA; 800/424-7289), April 3-20, 2012. The land price was $5,895 per person, and internal airfare was $150.

Namaste in India
Travelers' Intercom, March 2013 issue.
My wife, Jane, and I had a memorable tour of southern India with Namaste Tours (O-130, DLF Shopping Mall, Arjun Marg, Phase 1, Gurgaon Haryana-122002, India; phone +91 [124] 4040636 or 637), Dec. 16, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012.

’Stans tour
Travelers' Intercom, March 2013 issue.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our private tour of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan arranged by Aba Sayyoh Tour, Ltd. (M.

Public transport in rural China
This man was selling birds (probably canaries), cages, food and other items at a
Travelers' Intercom, March 2013 issue.
After the local travel company I was using canceled the last six days of my prepaid tour of China in October ’11, I had no choice but to get myself from Guiyang, in rural Guizhou province, to the international airport in Guangzhou for my flight home.

72 hours visa-free in China
Travel Briefs, March 2013 issue.
Effective Jan.1, 2013, Americans traveling through China to another country via Beijing or Shanghai may stay in their transit city for 72 hours without securing a visa.

“Nepal, Kingdom Of The Majestic Mountain”
Tours, March 2013 issue.
11 days / 9 nights, Dec. 9-19, 2013. Highlights: Kathmandu / Patan City of Fine Arts / Pokhara in the Himalayan foothills / game drives in Chitwan National Park, home to leopards, crocodiles, sloths, peacocks, eagles. Land, £1,495 (near $2,348). Single supp., £275 ($432).