World’s Largest Cave Discovered in Vietnam
You’d think that after a few hundred thousand years, us humans would have the Earth fully mapped out. We largely do, but it’s interesting to know that there are still places – large places – that we’ve yet to discover. This was made clear in 2009 when a team headed to central Vietnam close to […]
Thailand’s Burgeoning Craft Beer Landscape
There are very few things in life as enjoyable as sitting down to an ice-cold beer after a long day biking, hiking, or sightseeing. Especially when it’s hot and you’re sweating like… well, like someone who has just biked 50 km in 28° weather. In Thailand, where a good bottle of beer is enjoyed even […]
On the Ethics of Photographing Locals
Face it – taking photos is part of who we are these days. It’s not surprising when every 8-year old kid with an iPhone has more options for artistic photography that a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer had only 6 or 8 years ago. Indeed, we love taking photos so much that every day, over 350 […]
Albino Smiles – June 2015
Off-season Travel Has its Rewards One of the most commonly searched-for phrases by travellers is: “what’s the best time to visit ____?” It is logical of course – very few people want to go to Canada in the dead of winter, or Japan during typhoon season. Thankfully, Southeast Asia is free of blizzards and […]
The Lowdown on Food and Water in Southeast Asia
Some of the most common questions we hear are, “Is this water safe to drink?” and, “will this food make me sick?” They’re perfectly legitimate questions. In Southeast Asia, almost all drinking water and ice (and certainly all on a Smiling Albino trip) come from modern factories using treated water. The main reason for this […]