The New York Times Travel Dispatch March 13 2013

Taxi Chiangmai and Private Tour by Patrick 081 617 2116 Oversea Call +66 81 617 2116 E-mail: neomart@gmail.com

March 16, 2013 Travel Dispatch

FRUGAL TRAVELER Up the Yangtze River With a $50 Paddle By SETH KUGEL A few rookie mistakes and some grand discoveries while traveling in China on a budget.  Frugal Traveler: In China, Lessons Learned on the Yangtze (and in Shanghai) SURFACING SLIDE SHOW: Call It PoHo, Stirring but Still Sleepy The PoHo neighborhood in Hong Kong, once sleepy and residential, has taken on galleries and cafes without losing its low-key atmosphere. SLIDE SHOW: Sailing in the Mergui Archipelago off Myanmar's Coast A charter boat, "Sea Gipsy," ferries travelers among the islands of the Mergui Archipelago or Myanmar.  Related Article SLIDE SHOW: Bangkok, Where Extremes Coexist Amid the city's chaos, visitors find charm and character.  Related Article FRUGAL TRAVELER Shanghai on a Dime? Pretty Close By SETH KUGEL Even with a budget of only $50 a day, Shanghai is more than manageable. 36 Hours in Bangkok By THOMAS FULLER This vibrant, sprawling city of contrasts is becoming easier to navigate, but the main reason visitors return is the people.    Slide Show CULTURED TRAVELER Sri Lanka, as It Heals From War By AMY KARAFIN A return to the Jaffna Peninsula, where the spiritual life and a welcome to visitors are being renewed. BITES Restaurant Report: Violet Oon's Kitchen in Singapore By JUSTIN BERGMAN A food writer and leading authority on Singaporean cooking teams up with her children to open her new restaurant. THE GETAWAY Booking a Hotel in Asia? How to Plan By SUSAN STELLIN Chains tend to dominate the market, but staying at a traditional inn is described as a "must-do" experience. CHECK IN Hotel Review: Kerry Hotel in Beijing By CHERYL LU-LIEN TAN Despite its size, the Kerry Hotel offers comfort, attentive service and every amenity a guest could want. JOURNEYS In Modern Singapore, Vintage Clothing Stores By CHERYL LU-LIEN TAN In a city that prizes the new, a small crop of stores has sprung up, filled with old dresses and accessories from Asia and Europe. EXPLORER Sailing Among Myanmar's Islands of Mystery By MIKI MEEK Living aboard a 100-foot boat, exploring a mostly uninhabited region spread out over 250 miles in the Andaman Sea.    Slide Show Q&A Art and Architecture in Seoul, South Korea By EMILY BRENNAN Doryun Chong, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, on how to see art in Seoul and understand the history behind it.