Travel Diary: Visions of Vietnam

Driving to the airport as I leave Vietnam, wistful feelings come over me. Someone suggests to me that travel comes in stages. In the beginning you're euphoric, then the high wears off and you crave the familiar, and then just when you get too homesick, something happens to make you fall in love again with your new surroundings. ...more

January 24, 2008

Travel Diary: Visions of Vietnam

Days three through five of my journey through Vietnam are a non-stop choreographed dance of meetings, site visits, siestas and Eastern therapeutic practices. By day 6, I'm glad to wake up after 7am and enjoy a breakfast of noodles and congee in the hotel's intimate dining room as I receive news of a small victory and a minor disappointment that reminds me of a fruit they have here in Vietnam called the Dorean. ...more

January 23, 2008

Travel Diary: Visions of Vietnam

I've been wanting to travel in general and, specifically to see Vietnam since my work on the 2000 film Green Dragon. I'm en route to Asia. As the sun rises outside my window seat just beyond the wings of this massive plane on which I find myself, I'm grateful. Grateful that life seems to turn out and that what we need can appear moments before we think it's never going to reach us. ...more

January 22, 2008

Travel and Tour Tips for Visitors to China

Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th Century European buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much to do and see in China! Whether you are traveling just for adventure, or planning on visiting for the 2008 Olympics, here are some great tips on how to have the best vacation possible. ...more

September 15, 2006

Bangkok to Beijing by Bike

Never mind Pee Wee Herman, because Linda Fraikin is on her own big adventure, having departed from Bangkok, Thailand with Beijing, China as her destination. In case you’re wondering, and you probably are by this point, this journey of Linda’s is anticipated to take half a year! How on earth would one pack for such a trip? ...more

April 3, 2006

Basic Bangkok

No gay man can leave Bangkok without visiting Babylon, one of the world’s greatest saunas, a short taxi-ride away. Purpose built in 2000, this mecca offers a pool, an extensive weight room, two restaurants, two bars, massage, haircuts, reading areas and regular shows, in addition to sauna, steam room, a dark area and many private cubicles. ...more

May 4, 2005

Visiting Bangkok

My plan to visit Thailand was confirmed long before December 26, 2004, the day the tsunami hit. I had attended the Bangkok International Film Festival last January and had been overwhelmed by the travel, the city, and the differences in culture. ...more

March 22, 2005

The Contrast and Beauty that is Japan

Japan for the gay tourist!  Only a few years ago, this would have seemed an unrealistic thought. But as the 21st century unfolds, there is a growing acceptance and understanding of gays & lesbians in the US and around the world, and this wave is sweeping Asia right along with it, one small step at a time (thanks, MTV!). ...more

December 1, 2004

Manila Magic

Mention Manila and dubious distinctions like the ‘I Love You’ e-mail virus and Imelda Marcos’ closets full of shoes come to mind. Visit Manila and be pleasantly surprised by a world-class entertainment scene and the Filipino peoples’ happy and hedonistic approach to life — not to mention hospitality that stands in a class all its own. ...more

October 22, 2004

Bangkok International Film Festival

The exotic location of Bangkok will once again be the site of the first key international film festival of the new year with The Bangkok International Film Festival, which will run from January 13 thru Jan. 24, 2005. Bangkok's lavish Shangri-La Hotel on the Chao Praya River will once again headquarter the festival and mart. ...more

September 27, 2004

Hot Nights In Bangkok

Until a month ago, the concept of making a flash, emotional decision to move to a new city, a new country, was purely intellectual. But now, life is different, and I am heartsick as I write this, longing for the city and its people who have seemingly captured my heart forever—the city and people of Bangkok, Thailand. ...more

April 23, 2004

Gay Thailand

Southern Thailand is flanked by the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east and enjoys an abundance of beautiful beaches and gorgeous islands. Phuket Island is the pearl of Southern Thailand and is a must for every sun and sea-addicted gay or lesbian.

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November 28, 2003

Bangkok Behavior

Bangkok is the kind of place that some will say spreads pollution and dirt. Traffic and sex are often the first things that come to mind. And thankfully, some of the rumors are true. ...more

May 28, 2003