Destination: Asia

VISITORS to Santa Fe, N.M., can spirit home a bit of Indian tradition in the palms of their hands.

A few hundred miles -- and a few hundred years in ambience -- from the churning megalopolis of Tokyo, the city of Takayama reminds visitors of a gentler time.

Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most respected haiku poet, embarked on a pilgrimage to Tohoku in the spring of 1689, much to the amazement of his 17-syllable-spinning contemporaries.

MANY people who see China do so from a tour bus.

The writer’s mother and other former prisoners confront memories as they visit World War II sites.

The timing of the Indian Ocean tsunami was particularly cruel for Sri Lanka: A truce in effect for more than two years between the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers had ended years of violence and finally started to make a difference to the island nation.

The Nga Phe Kyaung monks and their 15 hoop-jumping felines are becoming Inle Lake’s biggest attraction, with about 200 visitors a day.

Location isn’t the draw for the storied Atlanta Hotel. Guests enjoy its uncommon grace -- and budget prices.

Marco Polo glimpsed the exotic Champa in the 13th century. Today ruins, amid lush scenery, hint at a violent but highly developed empire.

Few canceled trips after the tsunami. U.S. issues advisories on visiting hard-hit areas.

In the south Indian city of Chennai, feast like the locals on inexpensive but sublime meals of rice, vegetables, lentils, coconut and spices.

The British expatriate, who has lived in India for nearly six decades, leads tours of the capital. He takes two Americans to places they might not see on their own.

I woke with a start about 5 a.m., my elbow knocking against a plastic wall as I turned over.

India’s Taj Mahal, built by a grieving emperor to honor his wife, marks its 350th birthday. From it, a writer drew inspiration for a book.

For a reasonable price, revelers can rock the night away at 10 bars during Club Day in the Asian capital.

Washington -- by night as well as day -- is bolder and better, with some fresh revelations.

Between Kyoto and Tokyo, the Nakasendo cuts a swath through ancient towns and into the time of the shogun.

A haunting forest of vertical crags has long drawn backpackers. Now the area in Guangxi province has more visitors and development.

Where Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet is a trove of jewelry, silks and crafts. Three countries in a single day? No problem.

Emperors built the ancient site on a scale too grand to maintain. What’s left is a tranquil place that echoes and honors its past.

The road to Mandalay isn’t easy -- unless you’re aboard this natty vessel, where access to the past comes with modern comforts.

Life in Hangzhou, three hours southwest of Shanghai, is steeped in all aspects of West Lake Dragon Well, the area’s legendary curative.

Louangphrabang, the former royal capital, has great Southeast Asian cuisine and culture that is still unspoiled by tourist trappings.

A former football player combines an outdoor adventure with luxury hotels.

The southern Thai coast offers a mix of sea, sand and spires to climb.

In the northwestern state, former palaces and hunting lodges turned hotels give a taste of the rich life without paying a king’s ransom.

Typhoon alerts in Hong Kong aren’t unusual. There was no cause for alarm -- until the cabs stopped running.

A bevy of bargains is luring visitors back to Hong Kong and Singapore. It’s not too late to benefit from it.

Approaching Hong Kong by air in the daytime is unforgettable.

Approaching Hong Kong by air in the daytime is unforgettable.

Boom! “What was that?” I asked as the needle-nosed long-tail boat shuddered.

GETTING THERE: From LAX, connecting service to Ho Chi Minh City is available on Asiana, Korean, JAL, Philippine, China, Thai, EVA, Cathay Pacific, All Nippon and Malaysian airlines.

Forget those unflattering stereotypes. The colorful, multicultural nation is a civilized haven with much to offer visitors.

It isn’t what you’d call undiscovered, but the island and its sister islets have pockets of rare beauty -- if you know where to look.

Too much of a good thing is wonderful on a low-cost airline pass trip to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Taiwan.

Actual expenses for this trip: AccessAsia Passes (includes taxes and some airport fees) $1,972.30 Other flights (Chiang Mai and Siem Reap) $437.86 Airport fees not covered by pass $77.80 Visas (Cambodia only) $40.00 Travel insurance $185.00 Immunizations and malaria pills $835.00 Cooking school, Chiang Mai $43.22 Meals, snacks, bottled water $660.00 Lodging $1,094.07 Local transportation $175.30 Tours, admissions, guides $358.78 Photo expenses $175.39 Miscellaneous $274.88 Total $6,329.60

AIR PASSES: Malaysia’s AccessAsia Pass (30 days; up to 25 cities) starts at $899 for 2003.

The country’s southernmost province is a tropical retreat with some upscale resorts but unpolished charm -- not to mention a monkey paradise.

It seemed like a great idea: Take a budget winter tour of China by flying to England and joining a British group.

Which was the more painful part of her Indian desert safari: getting ripped off or being all but ripped in half by her thong underwear?

At the northern end of the main island, Honshu, is a remote, mountainous region called Tohoku, infused with the spirit of the samurai.

A six-city ‘highlights’ tour of China gives a glimpse of the country’s riches -- and changes -- to the frugal traveler.

TOURS TO CHINA: Among those offering China packages are the following.

At the northern end of the main island, Honshu, is a remote, mountainous region called Tohoku, infused with the spirit of the samurai.