Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

When Tourists Go Bad: The Kopino Children

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Tourism is usually a wonderful thing- exploring the world, discovering new cultures, and making new friends can be life-changing in a very positive way. Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to tourism: the sex trade, also known as sex tourism.

The Philippines is often praised for its beautiful beaches and friendly locals, but it’s also, sadly, a popular destination for these “sex tourists”. One of the most distressing problems caused by this are the young female victims of this trade, who are often left pregnant and abandoned.

One glaring example is that of the Kopino. Short for “Korean-Filipino”, the term doesn’t merely refer to persons of that racial mix, but specifically to the children left behind by their South Korean fathers- without support for them, their mothers, or any sort of future.

In 2011, the number of South Korean tourists to the Philippines was over 920,000. While most of these are regular holidaymakers and business travelers, it’s apparent that many of them have other intentions; they’re men in search of Korean comfort women in a country where far too many women live in poverty and desperation. It is estimated that there are at least 15,000 Kopino children in the Philippines today.

Several Non-Government Organizations have been set up, both in the Philippines, and in South Korea, to help the Kopino children. One example is the Kopino Children Association, Inc., a shelter I set up by a South Korean in Quezon City, Philippines.

Recently, an international petition was sent to Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino 3rd asking him to “stop sex tourism” in the Philippines:

Meeting in the historic city of Salzburg, the business leaders appealed to him to turn his anti-corruption drive to ending the evil trade of sex slavery of children and young girls, some as young as 13 and 14 years old.

The continuing reports of the human trafficking of thousands of Filipino children and young girls into a modern form of slavery in sex bars, strip clubs, brothels, beach resorts and cybersex dens are spreading around the world. It is an exploitation that is destroying the lives of these impoverished innocent Filipinos. Too little is being done to stop it as many officials allegedly believe it is okay and don’t enforce the law.
(Source)

Preparing for Travel to Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is a lush island, referred to by many as a tropical paradise. If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, then you are in for an intoxicating journey into a land that, in some places, time seems to have forgotten, while in other places, is a modern cityscape, bustling with people. When you visit Sri Lanka, you truly are getting the best of not two, but a multitude of worlds, from scenic coastline beaches to hauntingly spiritual ancient sights. Ensure your best chances of having a smooth and safe vacation by taking the right precautions before you ever board the plane. Here are tips for preparing for travel to Sri Lanka:

Vaccinations. It is very important that you get the appropriate vaccinations before you leave for Sri Lanka. Be sure you are up to date with your polio, tetanus, hepatitis A & B, typhus, and yellow fever vaccinations. As well, bring some malaria pills with you, especially if you are traveling during the rainy season (when mosquitoes are most abundant). [Read more…]

Asian Countries You Must Visit (At Least Once)

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It is the largest continent, the home to 60% of the world’s population, the origin of modern civilization, and the birthplace of major world religions. Now who says it is okay to miss travelling to Asia?

But it’s so huge. How can you choose which of its 48 countries to visit first? We’ll make it easier for you. Here are the top four must-visit Asian countries before you die.

 

 

Thailand

 

Thailand is known for it’s pristine sandy beaches, spicy food and tranquil Buddhist temples. Some of the major sights and destinations are Phuket Island, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun, and the Royal Palace. If you get bored, stroll around the palaces and then eat jasmine rice. Just don’t touch anyone on the head or point with your foot or you’ll be finished with Muay Thai.

 

Book your Treasures of Thailand Tour here

 

India

 

You don’t know the meaning of overcrowded if you haven’t gone to India where more than 1.2 billion Indians are living in a million square-mile territory. Well the hassles will be worth it if you can take a picture with the Taj Mahal on the background, ride an elephant, taste the Indian curry, watch field hockey, and say “Namaste.”

 

Experience the best of India and Nepal with Friendly Planet Travel

 

Japan

 

The Land of the Rising Sun is more than just Cherry Blossoms, big-eyed anime characters, sushi, and weird hairstyles. It has a lot of everything. It’s the third largest economy, the best on environment preservation, and has the longest life expectancy. The same balance reflected on Mt. Fuji is Japan’s secret to own almost everything.

Explore the wonders of Japan with the Japan Panorama Tour

 

China

Even the moon doesn’t miss the Great Wall of China, so why would you? Aside from that, go and head to the Forbidden City in Beijing and see the world’s largest city of ancient buildings. Complete the ancient experience by dropping by the thousands of two-millennium-old life-size Terracotta Warriors. Don’t forget to get an authentic Chinese lucky charm or you’ll be in bad luck.

Make sure you also indulge in China’s rich cuisine with the Taste of China Tour.

 

Surviving the overwhelming blend of Asian culture, nature, history, and people is something you should brag about when you get back home. But before that, you’ve got to plan for the ultimate Asian adventure first. Do it with the best travel deals on the internet at Friendly Planet Travel.

 

Places To See Before It’s Too Late

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Forbidden City
The only thing permanent in life is change. Many years down the road, things will be different and in terms of travel, there might be destinations that are accessible today and might be gone tomorrow. I guess that’s why MSN Travel featured 11 places that world travelers should go see NOW before they disappear. I picked some of the destinations that really interested me. Here they are.

Babylon
Babylon, a city of both history and legend, has been seriously damaged by war and development, and those remain the two major threats to the ancient city. The U.S. war in Iraq continues to endanger Babylon and other ancient sites in Iraq, and Iraqi officials’ own plans for post-war Babylon could be just as destructive.

It’s sad that the place which is known to be the cradle of civilization is not being conserved. I know there are many factors in play but still…anyway, it is probably not prudent to go there now but if you have a strong heart and sense of adventure, it would be well worth the risk, don’t you think?

Gu Gong — The Forbidden City: This vast complex in Beijing is half a millennium old — the emperors lived here from 1420 to 1923, beginning long before Columbus sailed to the Americas and ending right before Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic — and the heavy traffic is taking its toll.

I have always wanted to visit this place – some of our friends just came back from a trip to China and their stories and pictures are wonderful. I never thought that this place would be in danger of disappearing though.

(to be continued)

Photo via jimg944

Melt Your Blues Away In Japanese Gardens

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japan-gardenSpring is here and perhaps the winter blues have come and gone for many of you. I do know, however, that there are still a lot of people yearning for a break from the drudgery of their daily lives. Well, if you are one of them and you want to have the ultimate relaxing experience, I have a suggestion for you: go to Japan and visit some of their gardens.

You might think it strange that I just suddenly came up with this idea. Truth be told, a friend of mine has just arrived from a trip to Japan and has been raving about the gardens. Apparently, there are countless gardens all throughout the country, and each one of them is a sight to behold.

Obviously, you might not be able to visit all of these gardens in one go, but if you do decide to go, there are three gardens that you simply have to visit. These are as follows:

Koraku-en Garden
This is located in Okayama and has been around since 1700. It is spread out over 28 acres and contains sakura trees, plum trees, and more. It is also right next to Okayama Castle, which is another must see.

Kenroku-en Garden
Found in Ishikawa, this garden is a bit smaller than the previous one, but not by much. Spanning 25 acres, the garden has a samurai house that you have to see for yourself to appreciate.

Kairaku-en Garden
Plums are the specialty of this garden, with more than 3000 plum trees. Unfortunately, it is a bit late to visit for the plum festival, which occurs in late February and March.

The good thing about these gardens is that they are not far from “civilization,” meaning simply that you can stay at comfortable Japan hotels and still pay the gardens a visit.

In these times of stress, a week or more going around Japan and spending some relaxing time in the luxurious gardens might be just the thing we all need!