Playing the Sitar

The sitar, a plucked instrument traditionally used in Hindustani classical music, has been an essential element to the unique of Indian music for centuries, some say even as far back as the Middle ages. Unlike the western idea of a guitar, the sitar is always played while seated, the knees and feet used as stabilizers for the over sized instrument. Played throughout the Indian subcontinent, the Sitar is more common in Northern parts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. if planning a trip to any...

July 31st, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Fishing, Cambodia

2010 Copyright, Jennifer Campos Fishing serves two purposes in the nation of Cambodia, and the closer you find yourself to major cities like Phnom Phen, the clearer this becomes. Subsistence farming is becoming a thing of past as the cost of living continues to rise, forcing many fisherman to sell their catch rather than use it for themselves. It is very common to see a young woman stroll into a seaside restaurant holding a wire strung with fish waiting to be sold. This allows restaurant owners...

May 27th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Blurred Perception, Thailand

Many journey to the Kingdom of Siam, known today as Thailand, in search of beautiful beaches, delicious food and life altering experiences. Cultural differences are often overlooked or misunderstood by visitors when touring this Buddhist nation, thus creating a social gap between the local and foreign populations. If visiting beautiful beaches and sacred hills sounds like a journey worth taking, it is important to be aware of the following: when eating in a restaurant, walking city streets, or...

May 25th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Mong People, Thailand

Originally from the highlands of China, Laos, Burma and Vietnam, the Hmong people are an ethnic people group dependent on subsistence farming amidst arable lands. During the 18th century, a political uprising took place leaving the Hmong population at the mercy of political persecution which in turn began the start of the mass migration south to neighboring Thailand. This forced migration left the Hmong with little access to arable land, thus forcing a shift in employment patterns as food could...

May 23rd, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

What To Do With Bamboo? Asia

Not only is bamboo the fastest growing woody plant on earth, it is also the fastest growing woody plant on earth. Originating in Asia, bamboo has long been used for food, shelter, water filtration and medicinal use. If it were not for the shoots and leaves of the bamboo plant, the Giant panda native to China would lack the required food stuff to thrive in the cold temperatures of the Chinese mountains. As bamboo is capable of reaching it’s full level of growing potential each season, many logging...

May 21st, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Buddhist Flag

First raised in 1880 on the soil of Sri Lanka, the Buddhist flag has since expanded in both representation and presentation. Today, the flag is flown across the globe on behalf of all followers of Buddha and his beliefs. The design of the flag is a display of Buddha’s path to enlightenment whereby he was surrounded by an aura made up of five colors (blue, yellow, red, white, orange), all representing facets of the Buddhist faith. The design and interpretation of the flag have taken on variations...

May 19th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Fashion Trends, South Asia

Throughout the developing world fashion often takes a unique angle when spending money on non essential items such as jewellery is simply not an option. As a result, people have resorted to using everyday household items, such as string and wood, to blend in with cosmetic trends such as earrings, bracelets and necklaces. When traveling to countries such as India and Sri Lanka it is very common to see children with small pieces of string tied through their ears, or colorful string attached to their...

May 16th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Food For Thought, South East Asia

South East Asian cuisine is often based on a fusion of five fundamental flavors consisting of: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. In order to get to these flavors, a standard set of ingredients will most likely be spotted tucked away in the aprons or on the spice racks of cooks throughout the region be it a road side soup stand or a five star sit down restaurant. These include garlic, chillies, limes, lemon grass, and the ever-popular fish sauce (fermented fish). What ties all these ingredients...

May 14th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Mind the Gap, India

The sun was setting into the hills as the slow moving coal engine train carted home a mob of tired workers and city dwellers. There was no room to breath too deeply, but never too crowded for more riders to join the journey. People speak and stare and smile, maybe the color of my skin has something to do with it, but at least we communicate. The train pulls into a crowded station platform, and as soon as the flood gates open, it fills with a rainbow of color lost in a sea of black headed locals. The...

May 12th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Doing it Laos Style

Rush hour is taken to a whole new level when hitching a ride in the beautiful land of Laos. Although it is important to purchase a ticket before embarking on your journey, there are no guarantees that you will get a seat of your own, or a seat at all for that matter. Tourist buses offer a little more comfort, personal space and overall reliability for a slightly higher cost, while local transportation offers riders an adventure along with the journey itself! 2010 Copyright, Jennifer Campos

May 9th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Top 5 Pit Stops, Cambodia

1. Angkor Wat: allow yourself time to explore these grounds and if you prefer, hire a cyclo (bicycle taxi) to bring you from place to place while on the grounds themselves. 2. Donating Blood in Siem Reap: like many of it’s neighboring countries, Cambodia is in need of help. One of the best ways to give if you are working with a tight budget is through blood donations. There are a few donation centers all of which are safe and hygienic. 3. Irriwady Dolphins at sunset: heading north of the city,...

May 7th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Peeling Back the Layers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Arriving in Cambodia’s capital city, the surface level appears no different than any other southern nation’s metropolis with motorbikes buzzing in all directions, swarms of people rushing about and a general sense of chaos taking over the city streets. After having spent a few days in this particular city however, some differences will reveal themselves in the way of a young population, higher than usual amputee population and an abundance of people offering tours to a place called S-21. All...

May 4th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Ancient Past Dissolving Away, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, the main building amidst the myriad of complex temples built in the 12th century under Hindu influence, has been one of Cambodia’s most world renowned attractions drawing in hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. In order to accommodate the modern day influx of tourism, the Angkor Wat grounds have obviously had to adapt and evolve in terms of road access, amenities and grounds maintenance in order to ensure that the masses remain satisfied enough to keep coming back and bringing...

May 2nd, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

The Lasting Effects of A Haunting Past, Cambodia

The end of the 1970′s marked the closing of an crippling decade in Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge, a group supporting the nation’s totalitarian ruling party, overran the country and it’s people. Some 1.5 million Cambodians are said to have perished during this time for reasons based on levels of education, language, political belonging and suspicion of being unfaithful to the Khmer regime. The goal of Khmer rouge was to bring the nation back to a level of simplicity, where citizens...

April 29th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Vietnam For The Unihibited

Vietnam is filled with motorcyclists and bicycles as it’s the preferred transportation for wheeling via the towns and cities. It is as if the city never sleeps as the roaring motors, chiming bells and traffic jams are ubiquitous to Vietnamese life. It is also one of the most fun activities adventure seekers can partake in no matter what age, budget and ability. There are lots of motorbike tours that are presently available for tourists making adventure travel that much more acessible and...

April 25th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Travel By Water, Northern Vietnam

With navigable waterways stretching over 17,000km, Northern Vietnam has developed a sustainable form of transportation without ever setting foot on solid ground. The waterways opened up a world in ways such as connecting rural populations isolated by demographics with each other, widening trading routes and providing a floating market style economy. Furthermore, cultural as well as ecotourism in Vietnam has become a possibility, offering some what unique tours of otherwise unreachable waterways...

April 22nd, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site, the beauty of Ha Long Bay can be seen from miles away. Surrounded by million year old limestone karsts (see image below) ranging in size, shape and shade of green, this mystical bay may be explored in many different ways. Countless local tour operators have gained from the floods of tourists flocking in for a peaceful retreat, by offering such amenities as guided boat tours, boat rentals as well as overnight boat adventures where the guests are invited...

April 20th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Ice Cream Sales, Northern Vietnam

The oldest of three regions, Northern Vietnam is said to the birthplace of both Vietnamese people and culture dating back to some 2000 year ago. Since then, cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong and Nam Dinh City have exploded in both size and population density, thus leaving many inhabitants at the mercy of poverty. Large families have been hardest hit, often resulting in children having to abandon their studies, if having started at all, to adopt a life in street selling. The item of choice in Norther...

April 18th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Miles Away From the Ordinary, Thailand

Formally known as the Kingdom of Siam, this predominantly Buddhist nation is home to 65,000,000 of the world’s population, spanning out in a geographical space no larger than that of France. Thailand, meaning, “the land of the free” is divided into five main provincial groups (allocated by geographical location), which are then sub-divided into another 75 provinces.With neighbouring Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, these coastal nations make-up the world’s Southeast Asian corner. Having an economy...

April 15th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More

Into the Pot It Goes, Thailand

Being that Thailand’s climate is temperate, it is highly conducive to rice growing, which has in turn led to the congregation amongst rural populations around rice growing areas as rice production leads to employment and provisions for those in need. Rice is an inexpensive commodity that can reach many mouths, with the added bonus of it being a food that can be stored for much longer than fresh produce and meats before expiring. Furthermore, as Thailand is a peninsula, there is an abundance of...

April 13th, 2010 | Global Nomad | Read More