Some tracks in Nepal can be busy. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Trek  off season

The most popular months for trekking are commonly September and October because they offer the best weather and views. However that doesn’t mean you can’t trek at other times of year. November-February are very cold, but if you aren’t doing high mountain passes, and even if you are you may be lucky, it can be a great time to trek – just pack more thermals. The views are very clear at this time of year and you can enjoy fresh falls of snow.

Monsoon in the middle of the year is often written off as horribly wet with trails riddled with leeches, but my experience during this time was actually quite pleasant. It seemed that once the trail climbed high enough we were clear of leeches and it rained mostly at  the same time of day so you could plan your trekking around the rain schedule. At this time of year there are few trekkers, prices are down and availability is guaranteed.

It is also possible to trek above the rain shadow, for example in places like Muktinath and Jomson off the Annapurna Circuit. Rain during monsoon also helps wash clear the mountain peaks so you can get some incredible views at times too.

Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Trek off the main trails

The Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp and trek to Everest Base Camp are amongst the most popular in Nepal, and for good reason – they are brilliant. However there are numerous other trails offering similar views and experiences. There are many routes to the Everest Base Camp so you don’t need to stay on the tourist treadmill. There are also side valleys if you want to see Everest but not necessarily get to the camp – look into the Three Passes Trek. You could also consider going to Langtang, to the Gokyo lakes or Helambu.

There are also plenty of really remote areas like Inner Dolpo, Nar Phu and Muktinath. These may require permits, camping gear and even your own food supplies but you are guaranteed far less tourism.

The alternative is to get a guide you trust, or even a local Nepali, that can take you to places other trekkers don’t go. This can simply be to small villages in the Kathmandu Valley or even around Pokhara – many of these don’t require permits. They may be able to arrange a home stay so you can stay with a local family and experience local life.

Trekking allows you to enjoy local life. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Look out for new trails

There are new trails opening up all the time in Nepal. Near Pokhara the Macchapucchre Model Trek and the trek to Mardi Himal base camp are amongst the latest additions to trekking routes. The new motorable road to Jomsom on the Annapurna Circuit has also meant fewer hikers on this route, or the network of paths between a string of villages in the vicinity that some smart trekkers are using as an alterative to the road. On new trails facilities in teahouses may be a lot more basic but often home stays are possible with a bit of negotiation.

At an altitude of 2,843 meters (9,325 feet), the small airstrip here has earned a reputation as one of the most extreme and dangerous airports in the world. The single runway is narrow, short and sloped. Miss the runway by a few meters (or feet) and the plane would hit a mountain.

Several flights get ready to take off after a couple of days of bad weather disrupted flight services at Lukla airport, Nepal. Pic: AP.

“After you cross the river there is no turning back, you have to land,” said Pramod Poudel, a Tara Air pilot who has flown hundreds of these flights to Lukla.

Carved out of the side of a mountain, the airport was built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1965 — 12 years after he became the first man to conquer the world’s highest peak — to help the local yak herders known as Sherpas spur development in the impoverished area.

Now what once was a dirt strip is one of Nepal’s busiest airports, the Tenzing-Hillary Airport — named as well for Hillary’s climbing partner Tenzing Norgay. The thousands of mountaineers and trekkers who visit the Everest region have to fly to the airport if they want to avoid a daylong bus trip from Katmandu and five days of trekking to reach here.

The airport has handled up to 79 flights on one day — far beyond the acceptable capacity for such a facility, said Rinji, the airport’s air traffic controller, who, like most Sherpas in the Everest region, uses only one name.

“It is really challenging, because of the geographical location of the airport and high mountains that surround it. Topography is challenging and the traffic volume is challenging,” said Rinji. “There is little space for aircraft to maneuver because of the high mountains and narrow valley.”

Poudel, the pilot, said he and his colleagues need to concentrate hard when landing on the single runway, which is less than 500 meters (yards) long, slopes some 12 degrees and is barely 20 meters (65 feet) wide.

“Because there is no way to go around again, we have to calculate many things like air speed, tail wind, fog,” he said. “If you don’t do the proper calculation or proper exercise, then it” — meaning an accident — “happens.”

The airport can only handle special short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft like the Twin Otter or Dronier that take about 18 passengers. It has room for only four of these planes to be parked at one time.

The runway is one-way for both takeoff and landing. Aircraft have to land from the southwest and take off toward the northeast because at the end of one side of the runway is a mountain. When winds are blowing in an unfavorable direction, all takeoffs and landings have to stop.

Crashes are not uncommon.

In 2008, 18 people were killed when a Twin Otter plane belonging to the domestic Yeti Airlines smashed into the side of the runway and caught fire while trying to land in heavy fog. Investigators said the pilot should not have attempted to land in those conditions.

In August 2010, 14 people were killed when a Dronier belonging to the domestic Agni Air crashed after it was forced to turn around due to bad weather conditions at Lukla. In May 2004, another Yeti Airlines Twin Otter crashed while approaching Lukla, killing all three occupants in an accident blamed on heavy cloud buildup and pilot misjudgment.

One plane was unable to stop on the short runway and smashed into a wall. Another skidded off the runway. A third lost its front landing gear as it tried to land and skidded down the runway, forcing the airport to shut for two days. No one was killed in those crashes.

In addition to trekkers, the flights bring in food, construction materials, beer and other supplies required by the local population in this poor area.

And it has changed life here.

Once a tiny village, Lukla now has 3,000 people, many of them drawn to tourism work. Sherpas wait outside the airport hoping to be hired as porters by trekkers staying in the mountains for anywhere from a few days to a month.

But the burgeoning population attracted by the airport has also created severe drinking water shortages and sewage problems. And when a curtain of fog descends on the airport during the popular October trekking season, flights can be cancelled for days. As many as 2,500 passengers have been left stranded here with little food and no accommodation.

Even on its best days, the airport is open for only a few hours.

A man named Funru said his father once owned the land where the airport sits and helped Hillary dig the airstrip.

“When I first began working at the airport, it used to be nothing like this. It was like a river bank. Every evening we had to collect rocks and fill the potholes so flights could land the next morning,” Funru said.

- Associated Press

The cost of living in much of Asia is still relatively low and renting a nice home, vacationing regularly and indulging in fine dining, drinks and entertainment needn’t break the bank. And in Southeast Asia especially, you also get to enjoy warm weather all year round.

Here are five countries worth looking at where you can truly make the most of your golden years. Plus, if you’re living in paradise, you can bet the family will be eager to come visit you.

Philippines

The Philippines, home to some of the most beautiful beaches and friendliest people in the world, is a solid option for retirees, if you can meet the requirements for a visa. To obtain a retirement visa, applicants must prove that they have a certain amount of money in their bank accounts in order to qualify (the amount depends on your age, as the Philippines allows for people 35 and older to apply). If you’re willing to go through those hurdles, you can look forward to life in true paradise with a relatively low cost of living that will allow you to enjoy your time in the Philippines and throughout Asia.

El Nido, Philippines Photo: Kjersti Joergensen via Shutterstock

Thailand

The Land of Smiles is a prime destination for retirees, and for good reason. You can live a life of luxury, adventure or both in this Southeast Asian paradise. From the beaches of Phuket, Samui, Samet and Hua Hin, to the chaos and nightlife of Bangkok, to the culture and relaxed atmosphere of Chiang Mai, there are countless options for those who wish to kick back and relax. Retirement visas with year-long validity can be obtained if you are 50 or over, though you’ll need to prepare certain documents and information for that application, including proof that you have a certain amount of money in your bank account. Social security payments and pension money can go a long way in Thailand. It is feasible to live a comfortable existence on US$1,000 per month. Prices are rising in Thailand, but it still remains excellent value.

Malaysia

Malaysia has also been cited as a great country for retirees to settle down in. Kuala Lumpur is a modern and well-developed city where you can find the comforts of home, plus some exoticism, at reasonable costs. Malaysia is also home to gorgeous beaches and countryside, if city living is not your thing. The quality of life in Malaysia makes it a nice balance between East and West, without breaking the bank. The Malaysia My Second Home program is particularly accommodating to foreigners, with a 10-year multiple entry renewable visa available to those looking to spend extended time in the country.

Singapore

Known as the “Switzerland of Asia”, Singapore is a small country that packs a lot of punch. Renowned for its rise as a global financial center and for its sheer cleanliness and order, Singapore makes an attractive option for retirees seeking the good life. The cost of living is significantly higher than in many other Southeast Asian countries but in return, you get some of the finest dining and entertainment in the world. While Singapore does not offer a specific retirement visa, with some advance planning, you can secure a long-term visa, particularly if you have any entrepreneurial bent in your retirement years.

Japan

If an eternal summer doesn’t interest you, consider a move to Japan. Retire in Asia website recommends Sapporo among its top 10 picks for retirement cities, citing the great wintertime activities. Tokyo is one of the world’s most interesting and advanced cities, and the politeness, order, great food and abundance of culture make Japan an endlessly fascinating and enjoyable place to be. Japan does not offer retirement visas and the best way to get a long-term visa is to be tied to a local company, requiring you to do some part-time work, such as English teaching. Retire in Asia offers recommendations on how to avoid this, but be mindful that you’ll need to be patient and willing to work through Japanese bureaucracy. Just keep the rewards in mind as you go.

Sapporo, Japan Photo: wisarut_ch via Shutterstock

Oh and there’s all that deforestation and rapid development that some of us have been harping on about.

Inle Lake. Pic: Terry Feuerborn (Flickr CC)

Burma is nonetheless still relatively pristine when compared to most of the world. But although the government has been emphasizing the preservation of natural resources and may even stop timber exports next year, the proof will be in the proverbial pudding.

At the moment Burma is still largely undeveloped. So undeveloped, in fact, that it cannot use its own gas and oil resources. For now, Burma is selling them to China and Thailand while depending largely on hydropower for its own electricity. The point with this is that it will change and when it does it could radically alter the country’s natural ecology.

In the meantime the Burmese government is unveiling its tourism “master plan” with themes of sustainability and ecotourism as central tenants. The plan includes a new major airport near Yangon, road and rail upgrades, more cash machines (ATMs) and other infrastructure works.

From the Myanmar Times:

Sustainability and social responsibility feature heavily in the scheme, which identifies the creation and coordination of regional and state tourism bodies as being paramount to ensuring flow-on benefits are distributed equally and usefully.

The development of specialised tourism industries – with a particular focus on ecotourism – is all part of building Myanmar’s brand and asserting its position as a destination in the global market.

Ngapali Beach. Pic: dominiqueb (Flickr CC)

The plan seems to be more about selling green than being green, but I suppose it could be worse. And I can’t blame them for wanting to make it possible for visitors to actually get to the destinations in one piece and in a reasonable amount of time. Still, there is the sense that this rush towards development is not democratic, will not benefit the common Burmese citizen, and can even be a tool of brutal repression. Yay “democratic reforms!”

From a Duke University environmental internship blog:

With such rapid change there will be associated environmental and social impacts. Inle Lake is covered in signs warning against environmentally destructive behaviors, but signage is cheap. Thirst for foreign investment is sidelining environmental concerns, and sometimes local populations as well. One woman I met talked about how Chinese investors bought a huge tract of land on a hill above Inle Lake. Local people were not properly paid for the land, or given any choice about the move. Some people are still protesting the development.

Still, there are positive signs, such as President U Thein Sein promising to free all prisoners of conscience. And although development is taking its toll on the environment, the money brought in by ecotourism could provide protections that are sorely lacking in Burma. For example, the Hukuang Valley Wildlife Sanctuary – the world’s largest tiger preserve – has not functioned as a preserve at all, but instead a free for all for gold miners, loggers and farmers. Enforcing it as a proper sanctuary could attract tourists and help preserve its wild inhabitants.

Some other sites of interest in Burma:

• Bagan – Ancient capital and archeological site
• Ngapali Beach – Pristine white sand beaches, soon to be developed so see it before it gets a Hard Rock Cafe
• Inle – A mountain lake on the border with Laos and Thailand at 900 meters high; the region features cool weather and over 30 hill tribes
• Mergui Archipelago – For island hopping, diving and wildlife observation
• Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park – Part national park, part religious site with elephants rides as the only way in
• Hkakabo Razi National Park – Serious rough travel for mountain climbers in search of a bit of Himalayan action in Myanmar

So how would you feel about visiting this political/environmental hotspot for a bit of intrepid eco-tourism?

Well… Ethical tourism company Responsible Travel lifted their boycott of Myanmar/Burma over two years ago after Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party cautiously welcomed responsible tourism in the country. That’s gotta mean something.

Bagan. Pic: Mindy McAdams (Flickr CC)

A leopard shark in the Andaman Sea, Thailand. Pic: Min Sheng Khoo (Flickr CC)

Though it may be a while before shark tourism replaces shark fin soup on any meaningful level, both industries are simultaneously growing – mainly in Asia. This presents a dichotomy between two competing sectors: one, which wants to keep sharks alive for tourist dollars, and another that is simply cashing in on an explosion in demand.

Shark-watching tourism generates about $314 million a year and is projected to surge to $780 million in the next 20 years, according to the study in the journal Oryx – The International Journal of Conservation.

(source: Reuters)

On the surface shark spotting makes a lot more sense: it’s worth more money in the long term and encourages the survival and growth of the product, rather than its consumption and eventual extinction. Yet shark fin soup, as wasteful, immoral and just plain stupid as it is, is making a lot of money and with a simple business model that is already firmly in place. From the perspective of those who are cashing in on fins, short-term gain is what it’s all about. In fact, as I’ve argued here and here, short-term profits are increasingly and instinctively what businesses go for.

But as consumers – not of fins, of course – who truly want to witness sharks in wild, where can we see them?

At the moment shark tourism is largest in the US, South Africa and Australia, but it’s booming in the Asia Pacific region. Pacific and Indian Ocean island nations such as Palau, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Tokelau and the Marshall Islands, have already instituted shark sanctuaries and banned commercial shark fishing.

A blacktip reef shark, Palau. Pic: Klaus Stiefel (Flickr CC)

• Palau – The first country to create a shark sanctuary, this diver’s paradise is dedicated to maintaining its pristine natural environment. And it’s not only sharks that Palau boasts, but also coral reefs, shipwrecks and a lake full of stingless jellyfish. It’s even claimed that their sharks don’t bite (if you’re willing believe that).
• Donsol Bay, the Philippines – Donsol is a whale shark watching Mecca and a promising model for sustainable shark tourism. As a nation the Philippines has outlawed the commercial fishing, selling and export of whale sharks and Donsol is quite careful about how the sharks are treated by tourists. There is no scuba diving allowed (snorkelling is OK) and visitors must keep a three-meter distance from the sharks at all times.
• Australia – Down under is full of places to see sharks, whether from a boat or down in the water with them. The Great Barrier Reef goes without saying, while the Neptune Islands offer rare opportunities for Great White spotting. For those more interested in the gentle appeal of the whale shark, there’s Ningaloo Reef.
• Hin Mu Sang – Thailand’s famous dive location is also known as “Shark Point”. The perfect place to spot exotic leopard sharks, Hin Mu Sang is a collection of pinnacle sites in the Andaman Sea. Beautiful and graceful, leopard sharks don’t bite or bother humans in any way.
• Aquarium diving – If you’re a dedicated city slicker and need a bit of extra assurance and supervision, several large cities in the Asia Pacific region have facilities to suit your needs. Aquarium shark experiences are available in Singapore, Bangkok, Busan, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong among other places. Read more about it in the Wall Street Journal.

Feeding a Great White, Neptune Island. Pic: Michael Fontenot (Flickr CC)

The path well trodden

Nepal has a lot of well-established and well- used tracks with tea houses on the way for accommodation and plenty of places to eat. These include the major routes to Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, the Poon Hill/Ghandruk circuit, Annapurna Base Camp and others.

Where there is just one path to follow and plenty of help and services along the way, these tracks don’t need guided assistance per se. However the benefit of having a guide on these tracks can be for logistics, peace of mind, company if you’re on your own and the chance to see things from a Nepali perspective. Guides also help speed up things for you in busy lodges. They will get your meals and hot drinks prepared and served quickly, perhaps ahead of other groups, and keep your bill at the top of the pile. I’ve been in both scenarios (guided and non-guided) and have always found myself at the back of the list without a guide to push things along. They can also hurry on ahead, or phone ahead if there is a signal, to make sure you have accommodation when you arrive – this is useful in busy areas.

Your guide or porter is a constant companion even when the conditions get hard. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Off the beaten track

To trek in some parts of Nepal you may actually require a guide to get a permit (eg. Dolpo or Mustang), to talk to locals, organise supplies and other logistics. There are a number of new trekking routes that may not necessarily require a guide to get a permit but are only just opening up to tourism (eg. Langtang, Mardi Himal, Macchapucchare Model Trek, and Panchase). In these areas, tourism isn’t fully established and accommodation can be limited, tracks may not be well-marked and there are  fewer services and shops. A guide can be particularly useful on tracks like these to negotiate or arrange for accommodation and sort out any issues if English isn’t widely spoken.

Touching the local culture

One of the many benefits of having a guide is not only that you may make a new Nepali friend by the end of the trek, but they will be able to answer many of your questions as you go along, converse with locals for you, help you understand local customs and give you their perspective on things that will most likely differ from your own. Plus they will have knowledge of weather conditions, the route you are following and other factors. Any Nepali companion you choose, be it a guide, porter, or cook, will likely add much to the memories of your trip as they are usually a friendly, positive, fun-loving complement to the journey. Their good grace and humour belies the hard work they do making sure you are happy and comfortable.

Myrecent guide on the trek to Mardi Himal, the excellent Prem Dahal, plays around with yak horns on the Mardi Himal trek. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Guides vs porters

It’s important to understand that guides and porters perform quite different tasks. The guide will not carry your bag but I have seen them help out sick or tired trekkers and even struggling porters, but this is not part of their normal job description. They should speak good English and perform the duties previously described. Porters will carry your bag but may not necessarily speak English or know the route. Some are from small villages and have little education in the Western sense. They may also have little in the way of adequate clothing and gear so it is wise to check this before heading out. If you need assistance carrying your bag on a well-established route, a porter may suffice over a guide. However, if you need several porters for a larger group it can be useful having a guide to manage them, or a head porter to chase them up throughout the day. Some people do also operate as porter-guides as they may be seeking to become a full-fledged guide.

At night your guides/porters etc will ensure your food is cooked and served punctually. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

The moral dilemma vs wages

The trekking industry is a substantial form of employment for many people in Nepal. Guides, porters, cooks, shop keepers and lodge owners all benefit from this custom. While some trekkers may feel confident in their own abilities, feel bad having someone wait on them, or even consider it personally demeaning not to carry their own bag, it is good to realize these jobs are not considered derogatory for the Nepalese. Lonely Planet addresses the issue in their book “Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya”. Their stance is that hiring someone to help you does more good than bad. While the text below is more about porters, much of it can also be applied to hiring a guide as well:

“Dr Raju Tuladhar, a Nepali, takes the following view: ‘…taking a porter will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the trek and will help the livelihood of one man, his family, and therefore his village. For most porters, their economic burden is heavier than the weight of the backpack they are carrying for tourists. Working manual labour is not derogatory by any means.”

Lonely Planet also points out that village people, when not acting as a porter for trekkers, may carry supplies into their own villages anyway.

Where to hire a guide

The quality of your guide can be a bit hit and miss. They should have good English, go through the itinerary with you before starting out, settle on the number of porters and weight they will carry and agree on all wages. They should also manage the porters along the way. Poor guides will continually want to renegotiate when you’re underway, be inflexible about changes in your itinerary and/or not engage much with you personally on the way. I’ve seen all kinds but the ones I’ve had have been excellent. To find a guide you can use ones recommended from a trekking company (they will take a cut of the wage, of course) or you may find recommendations posted online or in hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Personal recommendations from a third party are a good idea, particularly if you know the person who used the guide. The guides themselves will also have letters of recommendation.

Trekking is also about making new friends. Your guide is not only an excellent form of assistance but hopefully a new friend at the end of the journey. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com

Tipping

If you go ahead and get a guide, porter, or even a cook, just remember that tipping is expected at the end of your trek. This is generally about 15-20% of the wage (wages are roughly $20/day guide, $15/day cook, $10/day porter). Just remember guides and porters are paid differently and the tip to each should reflect this also. It is also customary to give part of the wages up front and the rest on completion of the trek.

Plern Plern Bed and Bike 

This sweet complex is conveniently located in the Santitham neighborhood. It’s only a short walk from the moat that rings the Old City, but that small distance means that a monthly rental here is cheaper than you’d find within the more popular and tourist-friendly neighborhoods. The rooms at Plern Plern are well-maintained, simply furnished and have private bathrooms, refrigerators and wifi. Each guest has access to a free bike for the duration of their stay, making it all the more convenient to explore the city and check out the selection of restaurants, bars and shops on nearby Nimmanhaiman Rd. Rooms can be rented on a nightly basis, but special rates are offered for long-term residents, so book ahead to negotiate a deal.
30 Santirak Road, Chang Puak, Muang, Chiang Mai

The Bliss 

This modern and luxurious hotel has been home to many an extended-stay guest in Chiang Mai, often to rave reviews. It’s location on Huay Kaew Road makes it ideal for staying out of the tourist areas but close enough to the Old City, trendy Nimmanhaiman Rd. and other attractions so you’ll never feel out of the loop. All rooms have free wifi and cable TV and some suites have bathtubs and kitchenettes, which are nice perks for a long-term stay. There are several room options to suit a variety of lifestyles, from a standard but spacious studio to an executive suite with separated bedroom and living room, to family rooms. Monthly rates are available upon request and are subject to change by season, so contact them in advance to secure the best rate for your time in Chiang Mai.
Huay Kaew Soi 2, Huay Kaew Road, Muang District, Chiang Mai 

Pic: The Bliss Chiang Mai

Smith Residence 

Smith is highly popular among ex-pats in Chiang Mai and understandably so, with its rooftop pool, fitness center, cleaning services and great location a stone’s throw away from the Chiang Mai Gate market and the Old City. You’ll often find residents hanging out in the patio area at the front of the building, so it’s easy to meet people if you’re new to the city. Different size rooms, suites and apartments are available and rates vary between 7,500-18,000 Thai baht (US$244-588) depending on which accommodation type you want and your length of stay. Internet is an extra cost except in suites. Most utilities are not included in the rent.
37-39 Nuntharam Rd, T. Haiya, A. Muang

Pic: Smith Residence

Fueng Fa Place 

The rooms at Fueng Fa Place are bright, cheerful, clean and well-maintained. All are fully furnished and have private bathrooms, air conditioning and television, although wifi is an additional cost of 300 baht a month. Rent runs between 7,500-12,000 baht per month. Water and electricity are not included in the rent. Fueng Fa is conveniently located near the heart of the city, making it easy to enjoy the best of Chiang Mai’s entertainment scene and have quick access to the fun spots on the outskirts of the city as well.
9/1 Arak Rd. Soi 3, Sriphoom district, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai

The Empire Residence 

For a fully furnished apartment in Chiang Mai’s trendiest area, look no further than The Empire. Conveniently located on Nimmanhaiman Road, The Empire is surrounded by a wide variety of restaurants, bars and coffee shapes, making it a great place for digital nomads to live and work. The Empire also has business and meeting spaces so you could conceivably never leave home when getting work done. But no doubt you’ll want to, as this vibrant neighborhood is a great place to meet local students and ex-pats. Monthly rates vary from 16,000 to 36,000 baht, depending on length of stay.
22/3 Nimmanhaemin Rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai

Pic: The Empire Residence Chiang Mai

Cover photo of Chiang Mai courtesy of Shutterstock.com:

Lovely Chiang Mai. Pic: Shutterstock.

Psy: If he's good enough for the presidential inauguration, pictured, he's good enough for Korean tourism. Pic: AP.

The South Korean tourism office has made six, 15-second TV commercials featuring Psy, which already started airing on major international TV channels early this week. Watch a compilation of the six clips below. The quality of commercials is not too bad; they are snappy, the concept of Wiki is refreshing, and Psy’s presence works quite well with the content.

One noticeable aspect of the ads is that they use the original Korean terms, rather than translating them. According to the promotion director, they wanted to promote “original Korean terms that represent unique Korean culture”… “just like how the Italian word ‘pasta’ is being used”.

This commercial is a definitely a major improvement on previous ads which heavily relied on K-pop stars who mainly appealed to young K-pop fans in Asian regions. However, some of descriptions and several terms promoted in the ad have baffled Koreans.

Here is the list of Korean words featured in the commercial. For the terms that have created controversy, I’ve marked with asterisks and added my explanation.

1) Banchan (side dishes)

2) Olle-gil (a walking trail in Jeju Island)

3) Cosmeroad (streets in Myeongdong, Seoul, where major South Korean brands are lined up .n every corner)

4)*Samgyopsal (Korean style pork-belly meat): Many Koreans could not suppress a laughter when seeing a description that ‘Samgyopsal goes well with a glass of champagne’. Anyone who had Samgyopsal in the country knows that it is normally consumed with Korea liquor, Soju. Eating this with champagne is unheard of.

5) *Bulgeum (Korean abbreviation for ‘Friday on Fire’, similar to TGIF): Bulguem is not even a proper Korean word. It is a sort of trendy slang that has been trending for about two to three years tops, and unfamiliar to older Koreans.

6) *Dongdaemun (a district in Seoul): It was introduced as a shopping district, which is partly true. However, it is one of oldest shopping districts in Seoul, teeming mostly with retailers buying raw materials in bulk, foreigners and small shops selling low-end goods, and being far from a hip, trendy place to go in Seoul.

This article first appeared on Yoo Eun Lee’s blog on AsianCorrespondent.com

Saint Martin's Island, pic: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

The main reason Bangladesh’s coasts aren’t dotted with Maldives-style resorts nor its interior thronged with European backpackers is not a lack of attractions. It’s poverty and a distinct absence of development of the nation’s tourist industry, although compared to previous years, tourism in Bangladesh is booming.

Here’s what author, adventurer and television presenter Simon Reeve writes about his favorite place in the world in a 2010 article for the Guardian:

I was travelling through Bangladesh on a long journey around the Tropic of Cancer for the BBC series of the same name. After circling the world following the Equator and Tropic of Capricorn for previous TV series, it made sense to complete the set by travelling along the line marking the northern border of the most extraordinary region of the planet. Thanks to endless glorious sunshine, the earth’s tropical region is the most biodiverse area of the world, stuffed with amazing animals, birds, plants and trees. But it is also home to the greatest concentration of human poverty. So beautiful and brilliant, but blighted at the same time.

Although tourism in general isn’t environmentally beneficial, eco-tourism could help provide a much needed impetus and funds for alleviating poverty as well as preserving Bangladesh’s natural riches. Mind you, although relatively absent of tourists, Bangladesh is chock full of people, who are by all accounts charming, helpful and friendly.

Lawachara National Park, pic: Xahidur Reza (Flickr CC)

Bangladesh quick facts:

• Home to 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Ranked “best value destination” by Lonely Planet in 2011
• Home to the world’s longest natural sand beach (125 km / 78 miles) at Cox’s Bazar
• Most densely populated large country in the world (pop. 150 – 170 million)
• At just a few meters above sea-level 60% of the country floods every year, making it perhaps the country most vulnerable to climate change
• The increased annual melting of the Himalaya glaciers is exacerbating the dangers of the yearly floods
• Home (with India) to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world

Speaking of the Sundarbans, here’s an excerpt from a glowing piece on tourism in Bangladesh for the Korea Herald:

Being the world’s single-largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans is a pride for the country. Located in the southwestern edge of Bangladesh, it is now a hot spot for ecotourism. Spread over an area of 6,000 square kilometers of deltaic swamps, it is a sanctuary for hundreds of rare species. Most importantly, it is the home of the royal Bengal tiger. One can also find crocodiles, monkeys, dolphins, spotted deer and several other interesting creatures. Crisscrossed by innumerable rivers and creeks, it is a wonderful repository of biodiversity. The Sundarbans is a World Heritage Site, declared by UNESCO and has recently been shortlisted to be polled as a wonder of the world.

In addition to the Sundarbans, here are three more promising eco-destinations in Bangladesh:

• St. Martin’s Island is a small coral island of only 8 square km or 3 sq mi, but it shrinks to 5 km/2 mi during high tide. St. Martin’s is the southernmost location in Bangladesh (located south of Cox’s Bazar) and a nesting spot for endangered turtles.
• Lawachara National Park, about 160 km or 100 miles north of the capital Dhaka, is a lush, forested, semi-evergreen park teeming with wildlife, including rare western hoorlock gibbons, several species of monkeys, Asian black bear, tigers, leopards, leopard cats, fishing cats and Indian giant squirrels.

As things stand, tourism in Bangladesh is largely nature and culture-based, uncommercial and very affordable. Wouldn’t it be grand if it stays that way?

* It should be noted that the recent frequent general strikes(hartals) and resulting clashes between demonstrators and police mean a certain amount of care should be exercised. Also, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to certain parts of the country. Very few tourists encounter any trouble in Bangladesh. Read the full travel advisory here. 

See also: Bangladesh.com eco-tourism portal