Guide Updates

As we’re approaching the end of another year, I thought it’d be a good idea to find out more about the people who visit my sites, to better plan what needs doing in the year to come. So, I’d like to invite you to take my first annual Southeast Asia Travel Survey. The survey is designed to find out more about the people who read this site, as well as my other on-line travel guides, to find out where you’ve been, where you want to go, and a little about how you plan to get there.

The survey is quite short. There are less than 20 questions, and it should take only about five minutes to complete. The survey is complete anonymous, as no identifying questions are asked.

The survey will run until the end of March 2007. I’ll definitely be posting some of the results to share with you.

Okay, so I haven’t been posting much lately. I promise to get back to my usual posting once a week or so. One of the reasons I haven’t been posting is that I’ve been busy starting yet another web site. The site is now up and running, and is called Traveling Chili.

Despite the name, Traveling Chili is not another travel site, or at least not exactly. Over the years, as part of my other work, I’ve come across some interesting stories about the origins of the foods we eat. You see, many of the fruits, vegetables and spices that we may associate with a certain place actually don’t originate there. Take the chili pepper for example. Where would Thai food be today without hot chilies? But the plants aren’t native to Thailand, or even to Asia. How they got here and what things were like before they arrived can be interesting stories, and that’s the basis of Traveling Chili.

Our online travel guide for Indonesia has been updated with an all new guide to Tana Toraja. Find out about the fascinating funeral rites of the Torajan people, many of whom still live in traditional villages.

The guide to East Java has been updated with greatly expanded information on Surabaya, as well as the addition of a new section on the spectacular destination of Mount Bromo.  Get off the beaten track and see some of the amazing things Indonesia has to offer!

The online guide to Bali has been updated.  Included in this update is an all-new guide to the Sanur beach area.  If you've been following my journal entries, you know that Sanur offers a completely different experience than the crowded Kuta scene.