春节快乐 (Chūnjié kuàilè) from all of us here at Remote Lands as we wish you a Happy Year of the Rat. It may not sound like the most auspicious animal, but in the great Zodiac race that decided the order, the rat came in first. The rat beat out the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig by hiding in the Ox’s ear and jumping out at the last minute.
Coincidentally, Remote Lands recently launched an itinerary for sustainable travelers that includes some very brave little critters, called Community Impact & Conservation in Cambodia. In Siem Reap, travelers can learn about landmine clearance at the APOPO HeroRATs Center, where courageous rats are trained to sniff out mines. Travelers on this journey will also delve into the Cardamom Forest to join rangers on anti-poaching patrols and sail from Sihanoukville to a private island.
From Tết in Vietnam to Malaysia and Indonesia, Asia is celebrating Chinese New Year, so we here at Remote Lands are taking a look at the Chinese diaspora and their impact on the continent’s Chinatowns. In the spirit of the winner of the great race, here’s to hoping your Year of the Rat is a year of firsts.
It all began with Tong Atchew, a tea trader from southern China who arrived in Kolkata in 1778. Today, that legacy clings on in one of India's most dynamic cities.
Are you ready for the Year of the Dog? Well, the great Chinese diaspora in Chinatowns around Asia are setting up for their Spring Festival extravaganzas.
Manila is a whirlwind, and nowhere is this more apparent that the swirling markets of the capital, from the bustling streets of Chinatown to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
