Ethical Travel Dilemma: To Boycott or Not to Boycott
From Israel to Myanmar, and Uganda to the USA, the list of countries you could avoid due to ethical travel concerns seems endless. Johan Smits tackles the thorny issue of…
Thailand Travel Tips: Do’s and Don’ts
Having lived three years in the Thai border town of Mae Sot and visiting the kingdom more times than he can recall, Johan Smits shares his Thailand travel tips to…
Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur without the Twin Towers
Looking for things to do in Kuala Lumpur without the twin towers, Johan Smits spends 48 hours in Malaysia’s capital discovering its Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures.
6 Things to Do in Chiang Mai Off the Tourist Trail
A persistent visitor to Thailand’s Rose of the North, Johan Smits spills the beans about his favourite tourist-proof things to do in Chiang Mai.
Bangkok Attractions – A Nostalgic Journey
In the second of this two-part series featuring his favourite Bangkok attractions, Johan Smits leads us off the tourist trail to five nostalgic gems.
6 Undiscovered Things to Do in Bangkok
In the first of this two-part series on things to do in Bangkok, Johan Smits brings us to six of his favourite creative and green spots that Bangkok is hiding…
Five-Day Northern Thailand Motorcycle Trip
In search of the legendary Route 1148 in northern Thailand on the back of a metal steed, Johan Smits encounters welcoming villagers, five-year-old coffee and a temple in the sky…
Thailand Motorcycle Rental Tips, Chiang Mai
Thailand motorcycle rental can be an exercise fraught with danger, and that’s before you even get on the road. However, there are massive pluses to be gained from getting off-road…
Almaty: the Coolest City in Central Asia
Johan Smits explores Kazakhstan’s former capital Almaty and discovers an overlooked city destination full of cafe culture and a respect for its former Soviet heritage waiting to be discovered by…
Pamir Highway, a Road Less Travelled
After travelling through the Wakhan Valley, Johan Smits reaches the famed Pamir Highway traversing Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) to reach the top of the world.
Kazakhstan Winter Fun: Shymbulak and Medeu
Escaping from thatched roof chocolate-box cottages, Johan Smits tries out the unassuming ski slopes of Shymbulak and ice rink of Medeu in Kazakhstan.
Trekking the Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan
Expecting nothing but the soaring mountains in the Pamir region of Tajikistan, Johan Smits gets far more than he bargained for when trekking the Wakhan Valley. “Some of these petroglyphs…
