Around the full moon at the end of the Buddhist Lent in October, tens of thousands of people make the trek to a cool, misty expanse where the mighty Mekong River marks the border between Thailand and Laos. They’re there to witness firsthand a phenomenon that has been observed for at least 100 years – the mysterious Naga Fireball. A conclusive explanation of the event has yet to be agreed upon. During this event visitors say that one can see balls of light shoot up from the river, rising high up into the night sky along a 250 km stretch east of the Laos capital Vientiane and Thailand’s popular border town of Nong Khai, which sit near each other on opposite sides of the Mekong. Some years, people will see hundreds of Naga Fireballs in a night, other years only a dozen or so across many nights.

Legend says that the fireballs are produced by the Naga, a large mythical serpent that features prominently in Laotian mythology and culture, but for years skeptics have been trying to find an alternate explanation. In 2002 a Thai TV program claimed that the fireballs were produced by tracer fire from Laos. This was furiously refuted by local villagers on both sides of the river who were both offended at the insinuation that the Naga doesn’t exist, as well as the suggestion that they were trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes. Another explanation says that the fireballs are a result of flammable methane or phosphine gas generated by plant and animal life on the river bed, or even some sort of bioluminescent creatures flying off into the sky. But no matter which explanation you buy into, the only thing that’s for sure is that there’s been no definitive scientific explanation of the phenomenon either way, despite experts and high-tech equipment making the rounds every year.

Although the mysterious light-show has been happening for decades, it’s only since the early 1990s that people have begun to throng to the best viewing areas along the river banks, eating, drinking, dancing, and socializing in a Thai version of a tailgate party. Indeed, some savvy (unscrupulous?) people sometimes set off fireworks to the great delight of the crowd, no doubt keeping the masses there to cheer, and wait, and spend money. [Tweet “This year’s Naga Fireball event on the Mekong River takes place Oct. 27-29.”] This year’s full moon will be on Tuesday October 27, 2015 and the viewing will be its best from October 27 through 29. The Smiling Albino team here on the ground in Bangkok can assist you with planning your travels around any of these unique Festivals found throughout Asia. If you’re in Thailand or Laos in early October during the full moon, go take a look and see if you can explain it. Let us know what you come back with, because we’re not sure either!

The post Naga Fireball Festival first appeared on Smiling Albino.

These days it’s not unusual to see Christmas decorations going up right around the time the Halloween decorations come down. As the malls start playing carols and trees start going up, those in western countries might think they have a clear monopoly on the celebration of Christmas. But maybe not.

It may surprise you, but some of the most colourful and over-the-top Christmas celebrations you can find are in Asia. Although most people think of lush mountain treks, steamy markets, or sunbaked sand and blue water, truth is, many of Asia’s biggest cities – especially those that cater to tourists – give Christmas their full attention.

For westerners, Christmas is a holiday borne out of religion and nurtured by family, travel, and special traditions that include everything from food to music to mistletoe. But for Asians – most of whom are Buddhist – Christmas is about lights, sound, colour, decoration, fun – and not a small amount of photos.

Of course, for westerners from colder climes, the most shocking thing might be standing in the shadow of a palm tree while framing the perfect shot of a (fake) Christmas tree, all the while trying to ignore how hot it is.

In cities with a large concentration of tourist-friendly malls, Christmas in Asia is inescapable. In Singapore, shoppers can spend literally hours walking from mall to interconnected mall without ever stepping foot outside. In Bangkok, Central World proudly displays an outdoor Christmas landscape that includes a tree over a dozen meters tall. In Ho Chi Minh City, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and area around the Central Post Office are especially nice to wander and take pictures.

The great thing about it is the quaint innocence with which it all goes down. Christmas carols are played, but more for their peppy tone than any lyrical significance. Fake snow is sometimes sprayed into window corners, but it’s not really clear why when it’s 32°C. And like we mentioned earlier – you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone not taking selfies with the lights and decorations. For instance, one prominent display along Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road this year includes hundreds of 3-foot high Snoopy statues with Santa hats. Why? Because Christmas in Asia.

Not enough? How about this – just a few weeks ago Bangkok set a world record for having the largest amount of elves gather in a single place! It took 1,792 kids to do it, but it was done, and even certified by Guinness.

[Tweet “Christmas in Asia: carols, snoopy and record-setting elf gatherings”]

Sure, if you get away from the malls you’ll probably struggle to find any candy canes or star-topped pine trees, but if it’s carols and holiday cheer you want, Asia sure knows how to put on a show. And if you tire of the merriment, the beach is never too far away.

The team at Smiling Albino wishes you all very happy holidays, safe travels and lots of festive cheer!

The post Christmas in Asia first appeared on Smiling Albino.

For decades, luxury has had one simple definition: “The state of great comfort and extravagant living. [An] inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain.”

Back in the day luxury meant having things that most people couldn’t have. In the 1790s, luxury was eating cake instead of bread (as Marie Antoinette found out). In the 1890s it was a first class cabin on a steam ship to America. In the 1990s it was a satellite phone. But defining luxury is not so simple anymore.

Indeed, a recent article by Ad Age revealed that 92% of people with above average wealth agree with the phrase: “To me, small indulgences can be just as meaningful as purchasing a high-end luxury product.”

Over the past 15 years we’ve begun to see a radical redefinition of paradigms that have remained unchanged for decades, even centuries. The ways in which we create, consume, learn, spend, meet, and travel have all been turned on their head. Consumers are simply better informed, and resent being told how – and with what – their lifestyle should be defined. To a younger generation, brand name loyalty is not as strong as it once was. One’s lifestyle is personal, valuable, and defining, and made from components chosen specifically by them. The same should go for travel.

Bring travel into the realm of luxury – or adding a touch of luxury to the realm of travel – is far more complicated than taking an expensive mode of transport to an expensive place to stay. The new luxury travel is an adventure that each one of your senses takes. It’s the connectedness of a journey that no one else has done in the exact same way. It’s something intangible that you tell friends about, and something that makes you feel like you’ve experienced something no one else has.

Smiling Albino Director Daniel Fraser recently gave a talk entitled “Beyond Price“, which discussed the value in taking high-profile travellers street side and showing them that unique local experiences, well-choreographed, create the lifetime memories that all travellers – luxury or otherwise – seek.   “We’ve taken billionaires for noodles, but delivered it with context and a narrative to provide deeper meaning. Value is added by taking advantage of what is already there – such as unique forms of transit, festivals, local food – and making it a personalized, relevant experience.”

[Tweet “Things come and go, but experiences help define us and how we see the world.”]

Essentially, discovering and indulging in luxury travel is about unique experiences, not just desirable things. Things come and go, but experiences help define us and how we see the world, and how we remember it.

The post New Luxury Travel first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Luxury. Please take a moment and think about what ideas the word evokes in your mind before you continue reading.

It probably didn’t take you long to come up with a few ideas of what the word luxury represents – perhaps a Rolls Royce, a fancy hotel with a cavernous lobby, a private island, or uncommonly attractive people sipping champagne on a yacht.

Traditionally in the travel industry, that’s exactly the sort of thing that asking for luxury likely would have gotten you – a more remote beach, a fancier car, a bigger lobby, maybe a fluffier pillow (a thousand thread counts?) and so on. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Just the kind of experience you’d like to sign up for… or is it?

The hidden problem with the traditional pursuit of luxury that is often overlooked, even by those who partake in it, is that luxury, by its very nature, often leads to isolation. Frequently this is by design: a first class airplane cabin will have more space and a higher partition between the seats, a penthouse suite at a ritzy hotel might have a private elevator, and so on. Sometimes this can be desirable, but what happens when you want both luxury and connectivity? Is there a way to really live and explore the rich pageantry of the life we have been given, or the destinations we choose to travel to, while enjoying the benefits of luxury?

For more than a decade, Smiling Albino has been a pioneer in what we like to refer to as the “New Luxury”. We aren’t talking about BMW selling a downmarket 318i to the masses, or Louis Vuitton flogging a monogram Idylle Fusain Key Holder for a couple hundred bucks – what we are talking about is having luxury define the experience, rather than just the accouterments New Luxury travelers desire both.

To quote from a recent article about a Smiling Albino collaboration with Creative Bangkok Symposium 2014: “The new luxury — from fashion, to travel, to education — consists of custom-made, experiential, relational and narratable experiences. It is the product of on-going self-appraisal, of learning about oneself and the world.”  I encourage you to read the whole article (http://cllbr.com/en/post/learning-in-the-age-of-authenticity/439/#.VEj2RIuUdK8) because it really speaks to the value and passion that Smiling Albino aims to deliver to our guests one trip at a time.

[Tweet “New Luxury – The product of learning about oneself and the world.”]

Some of our wealthiest guests have remarked about how refreshing it is to really be able to get into the action and participate in a way that traditionally hasn’t been reflective of a high end experience. The New Luxury is distinct from traditional luxury in the way that it is immersive rather than exclusionary. If this concept appeals to you and you want to experience it, please drop me a line at dan@smilingalbino.com today and let me see how our team can show you New Luxury, the Smiling Albino way!

Daniel Fraser,

Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights:

Laos or Bust!

Our Annual Southeast Asian luxury motorcycle adventure did not disappoint again this year. From November 1-8, 2014, our fearless leader Daniel Fraser and skillful guide Mr. Eak lead a gang of eight intrepid expeditionists on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

The first three days of riding through Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand provided spectacular, twisty, high mountain scenery, including one of the highest points in the kingdom surrounded and 1940’s-era Chinese Kuo Ming Tan settlements. Crossing over the new friendship bridge from Chiang Khong to Laos required a switch to off-road bikes, as a large portion of the Laos riding was on dirt (…mud when water is added).

 The first day in Laos was a run for the northern Chinese border area. This was a less explored area where locals had rarely seen the likes of us and whenever we stopped for a break or to cross a river, we became the local entertainment. Unseasonable rain turned dirt tracks and river crossings into a chocolate mousse challenge and the end of the day was deservedly celebrated with a beer in a quaint village.

The second day in Laos, we followed the fabled smuggler’s route along the Mekong to the Golden Triangle. Weather played havoc with the primitive roads and we found ourselves struggling alone on the byways. Eventually we reached our destination where hotel staff cleaned our bikes and an entertaining evening in a surreal Lao casino town was spent. The final high-tailing leg involved river raft crossings and our triumphant return to Chiang Rai, where well-deserved Thai massages were enjoyed.

Celebrate a journey in courage: a Canadian firefighter’s charity cycle around the globe

Burnaby, B.C. Fire Captain and fundraiser Rudy Pospisil is cycling around the world to raise awareness to fight cancer.

Born in Vancouver, Rudy started cycling at age six and never had any intention of cycling around the world. However, he not only hopes to fundraise for cancer charity but to inspire others to start similar fundraiser activities by inspiration.

In November and December of this year Rudy will cycle 2,500 km from Chiang Mai to Singapore as part of his global trek. On December 2nd he will give a special talk at the Four Seasons Bangkok about his journey and his fight against cancer.

The idea to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle was born when he was diagnosed with cancer fourteen years ago. Over time, his entire family was diagnosed with cancer — even his dog.

Rudy says, “My aim is to make a difference, to share my story, inspire many and raise money for cancer research.This journey is not so much for fundraising as it is to draw people around the world together to finally end a disease that effects one in three of us. I hope to do this by inspiring others to do the similar events, promote awareness of these diseases and start ongoing events in places I visit.

“What I am asking is not only a donation or sponsorship, but to join my journey.  My goal is not only to cycle around the world but to reach out to as many people as possible because it will take more than me to accomplish my goal.”

His journey through Thailand will start in Chiang Mai on 18th November and end in Bangkok on 30th November. A cycling group organized by Smiling Albino will join Rudy on the 100km last leg of his journey from Ayutthaya to Bangkok on Sunday, 30th November. A 1,000 Baht Participation Fee includes donation, transport for you and your bike to Ayutthaya, T-shirt, lunch and lots of water. The ride is 100 km down the scenic west side of the Chaophraya: http://www.plotaroute.com/route/20892. If you‘d like to join this great ride, you can find the Entry Form here.

[Tweet “Hear Rudy Pospisil’s story cycling around the world at the Four Seasons Bangkok Dec. 2”]

If you want to meet Rudy and hear his story you are invited to his presentation at the Four Seasons Bangkok on December 2nd at 6:30pm. The entrance fee is 500 Baht, finger foods and refreshments are provided. His Excellency, Philip Calvert, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand will be the event’s host.

All proceeds will go to the Bangkok Red Cross Hematological Cancer Research Center at Chulalongkorn Hospital and Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genetics.

Rudy’s Thailand journey is proudly supported by Manulife, Four Seasons, Smiling Albino, the Embassy of Canada to Thailand and the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Further information can be found on Rudy’s website: whttp://www.firefightercycle.com/

PURE Life Experiences

Smiling Albino was honoured to be invited again to PURE, in Merrakesh, Morocco during November 10-13. PURE Life Experiences is more than just a travel trade show. PURE honours the passion of the world’s most inspiring creators of life enriching experiences. PURE Life Experiences is the global marketplace for the high-end experiential travel industry. See some of the stories and ideas that came out of this year’s gathering: http://www.purelifeexperiences.com/

Myanmar’s new online eVisa application system

It just got easier to get a Visa to Myanmar

Myanmar’s new online pre-authorization system is up and working well for those entering the country via a flight to Yangon, and just recently announced, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay International Airports as well.

Citizens of the 41 countries published on http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/noticetotourists.aspx are granted eVisa initially. For ordinary passport holders of Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines and Vietnam, a visa exemption of 14 days is given.

For more information, please contact us or check out on http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/index.aspx .

Smiling Albino Shows Vanity Fair Unseen Bangkok

Daniel Fraser hosted Vanity Fair’s Julian Evans on one of Smiling Albino’s fabled Bangkok walking tours last month, discovering the history, people and food of Chinatown. Read the full Vanity Fair article on Bangkok here.  

Destination Highlight:

Soneva Kiri

Located 1 hour from Bangkok by private flight, Soneva Kiri  is the perfect luxury Island for a beach retreat in Busy season. From top shelf liquor, to an ice cream parlour and outdoor movie cinema, it’s a great escape for adults and families alike. Here are some photos of Smiling Albino’s recent survey at the luxurious Koh Kood resort in Thailand.

The post New Luxury – Albino Smiles Nov., 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Bikes on Planes in Asia

Mention bicycling in Asia to a large enough group of people and you’re likely to get some incredulous stares. “Biking? In Asia? Are you insane?” For those who haven’t been here, this seems like folly of the highest order. Isn’t it too hot? Isn’t it too dangerous? How can you ride a bike in the jungle?

To the surprise of many, Asia is actually a really awesome place to ride a bicycle. Even in the capital cities, from Ho Chi Minh to Bangkok, the number of people riding has visibly increased over the past several years, with variations from city to city. But it’s when you get out of the cities that Asia’s potential as a bike riding destination really comes into focus.

It’s easy enough to escape in a car and ride on the many quiet country roads in the ‘burbs, but as much as we love doing that, the landscapes usually lack anything resembling spectacular panoramas. It’s when you head out on a ride in the middle of the countryside or the outlying provinces that the scenery really begins to sing, and the fastest way to get there is by air.

The past few years have seen a giant uptick in low-cost regional airlines that zip across Southeast Asia on short hops lasting no more than an hour or two each. They include, but are not limited to, Cebu Pacific, Tiger Air, Scoot, Nok Air, Jetstar Pacific, and AirAsia (including all of its local variants, ie, Thai AirAsia).

Almost all of them allow bicycles as checked baggage, but this isn’t always guaranteed – some staff might not know the rules, be unsure and say no in an attempt to keep things simple, or cause random delays as they try and figure out what to do. To avoid this, make sure to check with your airline’s website ahead of time, and print or bookmark the page to show at check-in if any dispute arises (in multiple languages, if possible). Most airlines charge a small fee for sports equipment, but it’s usually not much and varies from airline to airline.

[Tweet “Take your bike with you on regional Southeast Asian airlines!”]

The easiest thing to do is get a travel bag, which can be bought at most bike stores. Failing this, you can use a thin cardboard box or – a method gaining popularity – a large plastic bag. Deflate the tires, remove the pedals, lower the seat, turn the handlebars 90°, and tie the wheels to the frame with string. Wrap that baby in plastic and run tape around it a few times. Bam. You’re ready to fly.

If that sounds like too much work for a weekend get-away, Nok Air, which flies all over Thailand and to Yangon, Myanmar, will check your bike as is for a 200 Baht fee (just be sure to let most of the air out of your tires so they don’t explode). And Bangkok Airways has recently announce their free bike check-in service on all their routes in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Hong Kong (some pre-check-in and packing conditions apply).

It really is hard to overstate how beautiful Asia can be on bicycle, and what a great way it is to get an unfiltered peek into life at ground level. Indeed, a group of foreigners rolling into a seldom-visited town on bicycles looking for some great food and new friends is likely a story that will be told long after you’ve left.

No matter if you’re rolling through the lush hills of northwestern Thailand, next to the ocean along the coast of Vietnam, or past millennia-old temples in Cambodia, there’s simply no better way to connect with Asia than by doing it on two wheels, where you can literally stop and smell the flowers. And these days, it’s even easier to get from A to Z by giving your bike a temporary pair of wings.

Want to add some cycling adventures to your next trip in Asia? Contact us and one of our adventure travel consultants can help you plan the perfect itinerary and connections!

The post Bikes on Planes first appeared on Smiling Albino.