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| Bangkok is the hub for train travel in Southeast Asia. |
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Traveling by train through Southeast Asia is safe, incredibly cheap, efficient, relatively environmentally-friendly, and a much better way to get a sense of what a country is like than you would ever get by flying.
The budget-conscious may prefer to take a bus instead, but you would be surprised at the lack of correlation between comfort, time, and cost when it comes to comparing trains and buses. In this piece you will find the information you
need to plan your own overland train trip through Southeast Asia. Read more,,,
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Which do you think would be the easiest city to live in…Tokyo, Seoul, or Shanghai? My reply of Shanghai might surprise you. Having lived in all three cities for periods of over 18 months, Shanghai scores high for
quality of life, cost, and survivability. Read more |
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There are two hot topics that have been argued ad infinitum and with unimaginable bitterness for years across China EFL teacher forums without clear resolution: Does one really need a college degree to get a good job as
an English teacher in China and should a foreign teacher only arrive in China with a work visa? Read More |
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... In this sense, Tao Fong Shan is a microcosm of Hong Kong itself: a city where Beijing political power must negotiate Cantonese language and culture, a former British colony with a large expat community of North Americans,
Europeans, Indians, and Filipinos.
But Tao Fong Shan feels much different than the rest of Hong Kong. In a dense city of seven million, where the crush of humanity is a constant reality, Tao Fong Shan's hidden grounds offer space-physical and psychic-that one cannot
find just 10 minutes down the mountain. Read More
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At the end of the day it came down to one fundamental question, did I or did I not wish to teach English in Japan? Ever since the idea first popped into my mind, the thought of moving, living, and teaching English in Japan
became ever-more-seductive. Fortunately, there is much useful information out there to help anyone with any and all aspects involved in a journey of this kind. There also exists some outdated advice given the ever-changing economic environment... Read
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...I had arrived that afternoon to explore life in a rural community and do a bit of “voluntouring” with the help of Andaman Discoveries, a community-driven eco-tourism project created at the request of the
villagers. As a volunteer, I would participate in a series of hands-on activities: mangrove reforestation, beach cleaning, and English teaching... Read
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The supermarket parking lot had been transformed into a boxing arena with lights strung from the walls, and a makeshift gate where the trolleys usually sat. The competitors were all Thai-except for me. The crowd was all
Thai-apart for a few friends of mine. We were as far from the backpacker vision of beaches and cheap shopping as you could get without actually leaving Thailand completely.
Thailand used to be the Mecca for alternative travelers, but busy airports and charter flights full of tourists have convinced many that it has little-to-nothing to offer anymore. Yet it is still possible to see how wrong that image
is the minute you step away from the guesthouse scene populated by foreigners which permeates much of the country... Read More
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As part of a year-long traveling experience, my fiance and I found ourselves in the Himalayan Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. Eager to experience the culture more deeply than one would merely as a tourist, we took up volunteer
positions teaching English in the small town of Pharping, just outside Kathmandu, Nepal... Read More |
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The city of Bengaluru (or Bangalore as it is still more commonly known) in the South of India is home to proportionately more expatriates than any other place in India. Expats are attracted by the range of professional
and voluntary opportunities as well as the temperate climate.
While I have traveled a reasonable amount previously, this stay abroad related to my husband's job has been quite a different experience. This time I have two children, aged one and three. Wanting my children to engage culturally and
emotionally with India without sacrificing their comforts and, to an extent, their routines, naturally presents challenges. But finding many safe and engaging activities has helped to make our time here a fascinating and enriching experience
for the entire family... Read More
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As the car made its way up the steep inclines of the hilly terrain of Coorg, I could not help but think of Baba Budan. Way back in the mid 1600's this holy man, brought back seven germinable coffee beans with him, while
returning from a pilgrimage in Arabia. Since then, coffee plants have been flourishing in the hilly region of not just Chikmagalur-where he planted them-but the entire region of Coorg... Read
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Traveling solo means freedom, and really isn’t as scary as it seems. In fact, I found my solo trip around the South Island of New Zealand to be one of the best vacations I’d ever
had.
There are some fantastic advantages in going on holiday on your own, in addition to not having to make compromises. You’re more likely to meet different types of people while
traveling on your own rather than as a couple, and you get a chance to discover more about yourself. However, there are some disadvantages as well such as: potential safety issues, loneliness, and expenses. Yet those disadvantages
can be minimized by planning and making informed decisions about your holiday... Read More
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Few countries conjure up as many all-around images of paradise as the sliver of terrain that is New Zealand. The shifting and varied geographical layout and the friendly, accessible spirit of the people inspire in many
across the globe a travel yearning.
In my case, it was the allure of continuing an endless winter and chasing the snow to the southern hemisphere for year-round skiing after the U.S. snow melted away. Though the cost of a plane ticket and first-world country prices gave
me pause, the promise of being able to ski every month in a beautiful locale overcame my financial concerns.
Currently six weeks in, living in the small lakeside town of Wanaka on the south island, I am living a dream... Read More |
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I came into Australia thinking I would find something casual, but I did not expect what I got. I left Australia with a number of new jobs to add to my resume: fruit picker, bartender, hostel cleaner/receptionist, bungee
trampoline operator, and carny (carnival worker). I learned that on the Australian backpacker trail, it is best not to plan, because you never know what might come up next. Be brave and ask for opportunities; be open and do not turn them
down... Read More |
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You would miss Lightning Ridge on an Australian map if you weren't first looking for it, and then shown exactly where it is. But as one of the only places in the world to find black opals, it attracts a collection of characters
that make much more of this flat drab track of land than meets the eye... Read More |
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With over 40 countries from Japan to Thailand to Pakistan, Asia provides an incredible diversity of learning and service opportunities for international volunteers. China and the former Soviet nations of Central Asia seek volunteer English teachers. India offers dozens of direct service and sustainable development volunteer opportunities. Even countries that used to be somewhat closed to outsiders, such as Mongolia and Vietnam, now welcome volunteers in health, education, and economic development.... Read
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I have a confession to make. My travel blogging has led to trouble. Even worse, it was not trouble for me, but for someone I met en route.
It seemed so innocent at the time, just one little comment from a local that I quickly inserted into a post from an internet cafe in a less-than-democratic country. My haste was his pain: three days of grilling from the police,
as I found out months later... Read More
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Seeing Australia by way of a campervan is a classic road trip. Many areas of this vast country are remote enough that in order to enjoy the quiet splendor of the Australian landscape you need
to be relatively self-sufficient. And Australian campervan holidays are not only a popular option for those visiting from overseas, but native Australians are also renowned for loving the campervan and caravan circuit. Read
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...A relatively small number of people travel to Bhutan and only a slightly higher number know where the country is located. Those who do are as smitten with the idea of traveling there as I was
when I first considered leading a group of women through the country... Read More |
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China is home to not only the world's largest population at 1.3 billion, but it is also quickly becoming an economic and political powerhouse. China's influence is growing everywhere around the
world, and more and more people are recognizing that China is a new global player that is here to stay. Increasing trade and globalization have made China an important business partner for many Western countries. In turn, this has
created a high demand for foreign-educated, English-speaking employees. With jobs scarce in the U.S. and the Chinese economy still booming, a growing number of American professionals are moving to China for employment. But there
are also other reasons why China is rapidly becoming the latest frontier for studying and working abroad. ... Read More |
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Moon Beijing & Shanghai by Helena Iveson
Author Carolyn Heller has accomplished what I have heard a growing number of Americans fantasize and talk about over the past decade: she moved from the U.S. to Canada... Read
more
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Living Abroad in Australia by James M. Lane
"Living Abroad in Australia" is the latest installment in the Moon Living Abroad series published by Avalon Publishing. It is part of a growing number of country guides aimed at readers who are planning a move overseas. Author Jameis an American who grew up
in Australia, and his book Living Abroad in Australia reveals his insights and thorough knowledge of a vast and diverse country he now calls home... Read more
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What's New at TransitionsAbroad.com
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TAzine is a monthly Webzine which continues the 31-year tradition started by Transitions Abroad magazine. TAzine features many of the same columnists
who wrote for the magazine, a growing group of new columnists, while featuring many freelance writers who wish to share their experiences and expertise within the context of our pioneering coverage of work, study, travel, and living abroad.
Founded in 1977 by Dr. Clayton Allen Hubbs, Transitions Abroad magazine was the only print publication dedicated to work, study, living, volunteering, and immersion
travel abroad. Its purpose—in print and now as a Webzine—is the dissemination of practical information leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through direct participation in the daily life of the host community.
Send in your submissions for the webzine to webeditorial@transitionsabroad.com on the subjects of travel, work, study, internships, teaching, volunteering, living abroad, and much more in accordance with our detailed writers' guidelines!
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Current Issue and Focus
Asia and Australasia
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Previous Issue and Focus
Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
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| Photo by Lindsay Nash. Please see her site www.saykimchirecruiting.com,
which connects English speakers to Koreans. |
| To view all TAzine back issues, see our archive. |
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