Welcome to the Bamboo Traveler
Hi! I’m Julie, the Bamboo Traveler! My mission is to spark and fulfill your curiosity about the cultures and destinations of Asia. From the Great Wall of China to the Wailing Wall of Jerusalem and from the steppes of Mongolia to the ancient Indus River Valley of India, this vast continent has so much to offer the inquisitive traveler.
Asia’s cultures, histories, cuisines, languages, architecture, and religions have fascinated me ever since I stepped foot on the continent over 25 years ago. I hope to share with you my passion and knowledge of this part of the world in order to help you travel there, whether it’s from the safety of your armchair or through the pages of your passport.
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Shirakawa-go Itinerary: Enter a Japanese Fairy Tale
Shirakawa-go makes the perfect day trip from Takayama or the perfect day trip from Kanazawa. It also makes a great stopover when traveling from Takayama to Kanazawa or from Kanazawa to Takayama. Here is my suggested Shirakawa-go itinerary for 1 day. I've also included information on how you can stay overnight in Shirakawa-go. Can't physically travel to Japan right now? Check out my list of 30 of the best books on Japan that you can read from the comfort and safety of your home. BONUS: I've created a FREE PDF version of my Japan itinerary guide. It includes detailed...
Hoi An Itinerary: A City Where Time Has Stopped
Hoi An, the Vietnamese city with everything that a culture and history lover is looking for in a destination. Delicious food, mesmerizing theatrical performances, two-hundred-year-old architectural gems and thousand-year-old ancient ruins, the best cooking classes in...
Cambodia Itinerary: An Ideal Guide for Temple & Island Hoppers
Are you planning a trip to Cambodia, but you’re struggling with putting together your itinerary? You’re not sure where to go, how long to stay in each place, and how to get from one destination to another. In this jam-packed Cambodia itinerary guide, I’ll share with you how you can spend both 2 and 3 weeks in the country.
20 Great Gifts That’ll Delight the Travel Lover
Looking for the perfect gift for the person who loves to travel? Here is my practical guide to buying that special something for those with an incurable case of wanderlust. The gifts in this guide are affordable and practical. You’ll find gifts that are perfect for...
A 2-Day Hue Itinerary That’ll Delight History Lovers
There are so many things to do and see in Hue. Unfortunately, most travelers to Vietnam have time on their itinerary for only 1 or 2 days in this historic city. In this jam-packed Hue itinerary, I’ll share with you exactly how I was able to see all the most important sights and try all the must-eat dishes in just 2 days. I’ll also tell you where to stay, how to get around, and how much everything will cost.
Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary 3 Days
Planning a trip and looking for the perfect 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary? This jam-packed itinerary guide details how to find the best of this vibrant and cosmopolitan city’s food, history, and culture.
Phnom Penh Itinerary: The Perfect Itinerary for History Lovers
Phnom Penh might not have gorgeous white-sandy beaches, breathtaking rice terraces, or charming colonial architecture like a lot of popular Southeast Asian destinations. But what it does have is something much better. It has history--a history that EVERYONE should...
Explore Recent Book Challenge Posts
30 Novels on Japan: Read Before You Go!
In this post, I’m going to share with you my honest and unbiased review of 30 of my favorite and not-so-favorite novels about Japan and Japanese culture. Hopefully, this list will help you decide which books to read, borrow, or skip. For those looking to dip their toes into Haruki Murakami, I suggest first reading Norwegian Wood. You can also visit a post on my ranking of all the Murakami books I've read (many are not on this list). For a book on Japanese-Americans during the war, Snow Falling on Cedars is still the best. Pachinko is a great book that looks at...
A Ranking of the Best Books by Murakami
This post is for those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of reading a Murakami book yet and can’t decide on which book to read first. It’s also for those of you who’ve already read one or two or three books by Murakami and can’t decide on which one to read next.
12 Books about Singapore: Read Before You Go!
Travel to Singapore from the comfort of your armchair with these 12 books on Singapore.
25 Great Books on Cambodia
Spending the past month reading over 20 books on Cambodia, I feel like I’ve just been on an emotional rollercoaster. Throughout history, Cambodia and its people have experienced so much greatness but also so much sorrow--from the grandeur and brilliance of the Angkor...
Read My Review
Read My Review
