Who better to give you ideas for your #traveltomorrow list than our pool of contributors? Travel writers get sent on assignment to under-the-radar places and try out new activities and restaurants ahead of the pack. Here, our contributors tell us about their favorite assignments — and we’ve included links in case you missed them.
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Lester V. Ledesma, writer and photographer: Thailand and Cambodia
“One of my favorite Smile assignments is from 2016, which saw me traveling via motorbike and hired car across Thailand and Cambodia in search of Khmer-era temple ruins. This kind of story turns up stuff that doesn’t appear on Google and to this day I smile whenever I think of that awesome solo adventure.”
Read the story: The Intriguing Ancient Kingdoms of South-East Asia
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Charles Usher, writer: Seoul
“For the May 2018 issue I tailed fashion entrepreneur Terrence Kim through his favorite Seoul haunts. Many of them felt like embodiments of jeong, an important Korean concept that means something like “affection.” At a chicken soup place we shared a table with other diners, and at a hole-in-the-wall bar called Nomad, the owner, Jeon Hoal-chul, forgot about serving and just sat down for a chat. Jeong seems in shorter supply in the time of social distancing, but when we come back together, I look forward to sharing more of what gives me so much affection for this city.”
Read the story: How to Spend 12 Hours in Jongno, Seoul
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Bruce Scott, writer: Bangkok
“My first assignment for Smile was reviewing Michelin-recognized street food restaurants in Bangkok. I visited four of them with a Thai foodie guy I knew, and since the guide had some glaring errors, we had to do some detective work to actually find a couple of the places. But the experience really cemented our friendship from that time forward.”
Read the story: 4 Affordable Eateries in Bangkok for Frugal Foodies
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Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap, writer: Samar
“My most challenging Smile assignment was documenting the spectacular underworld of Samar, including the largest cave system in the Philippines. Deep, wet and pitch-black, these subterranean labyrinths were one of the toughest environments to explore, let alone photograph. Our four-day spelunking marathon got me slogging through fields of guano, sleeping with giant crickets, and rappelling into a crystal forest. I can’t wait to inspire readers to explore the world again with chronicles of my off-the-beaten-path adventures!”
Read the story: Spelunking in Samar
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Keren Lavelle, writer: Sydney
“When Smile commissioned me to write on seeing Sydney without spending big bucks, it was fun to plot the best ways to enjoy my city on a budget. Cutting down the costs of getting around, by public transport or bike hire, I discovered there’s plenty to do in a city with national parks and more than 100 beaches, plus plenty of great places to eat.”
Read the story: How to Spend an Adventurous Weekend in Sydney for less than USD200
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Lucy Dayman, writer: Tokyo
“One of my earlier assignments for Smile is still one of my favorites — it was a guide through Shimokitazawa with Priyanka Yoshikawa. Shimokita, as it’s affectionately known, is one of my favorite neighborhoods — it’s full of local independent businesses, old family-run stores and trendy boutiques. Spending the day discovering the corners of Shimokita that I hadn’t yet explored, made me fall in love with this wonderfully layered city all over again.”
Read the story: How to Spend 12 Hours in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
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Lia Lenggogeni, writer: Bali
“My mind goes back to the time I wrote a Bali guide — we were zipping through small alleys in Canggu, on the backs of small motorbikes; discovering hidden graffiti on the sides of warung; and sipping cold beer while watching sk8er bois do their thing on a skate ramp.”
Read the story: How to Spend 12 Hours in Canggu, Bali
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Pierra Labrador (LabTeamPH), writer and stylist: Tokyo
“It’s a pleasure and a challenge every year to put together — my partner Toto and I source, shoot and style! — Smile’s Christmas gift guides. And it’s even better when we work with local themes — Toto and I take special pride in highlighting Filipino talent and craftsmanship for the magazine’s international market. On the travel front, writing the Shimokitazawa feature is a favorite. Back then, this bohemian Tokyo enclave was still relatively under the radar, and exploring every atmospheric little alley made my treasure hunter heart sing.”
Read the story: This Is the Trendiest Neighborhood in Tokyo Right Now
Written by
Kimberley Koo
