// Asia landing data — 740 guides, 1,400 contributors, 48 countries.
// Edit data here, never markup.
const AS_ANCHOR = [
{ label: "Destinations", href: "#countries" },
{ label: "Regions", href: "#regions" },
{ label: "When to Go", href: "#when" },
{ label: "Itineraries", href: "#itineraries" },
{ label: "Food", href: "#food" },
{ label: "Transport", href: "#trains" },
{ label: "Budget", href: "#budget" },
{ label: "Language", href: "#language" },
{ label: "Festivals", href: "#festivals" },
{ label: "Neighborhoods", href: "#neighborhoods" },
{ label: "Packing", href: "#packing" },
{ label: "FAQ", href: "#faq" },
];
const AS_HERO_STATS = [
{ n: "740", label: "Field guides" },
{ n: "48", label: "Countries" },
{ n: "284", label: "UNESCO sites" },
{ n: "1,400", label: "Contributors" },
];
const AS_HERO_META = [
{ k: "Issue", v: "Nº 015" },
{ k: "Season", v: "Spring 2026" },
{ k: "Visa complexity", v: "Highly variable" },
{ k: "Field desk", v: "Bangkok · Tokyo · Hanoi" },
];
const AS_HERO_COLLAGE = [
{ src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1492571350019-22de08371fd3?w=900&q=80", cap: "Kyoto · 06:42" },
{ src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528127269322-539801943592?w=900&q=80", cap: "Bali · 17:18" },
{ src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508009603885-50cf7c579365?w=900&q=80", cap: "Bangkok · 21:04" },
];
const AS_TOC = [
{ t: "A Letter from the Field Desk", pg: "p. 04" },
{ t: "12 Destinations, Sorted Honestly", pg: "p. 12" },
{ t: "Region Clusters", pg: "p. 26" },
{ t: "When To Go — Monsoons & Seasons", pg: "p. 38" },
{ t: "Six Itineraries Worth Stealing", pg: "p. 46" },
{ t: "Food & Drink", pg: "p. 58" },
{ t: "Bullet Trains, Sleepers & Tuk-tuks", pg: "p. 72" },
{ t: "Budget by Tier", pg: "p. 84" },
{ t: "Five Phrases per Country", pg: "p. 92" },
{ t: "Festivals Worth a Detour", pg: "p. 102" },
{ t: "Neighborhoods We Trust", pg: "p. 116" },
{ t: "Packing for Heat & Humidity", pg: "p. 128" },
];
const AS_COUNTRIES = [
{
name: "Japan",
cap: "Tokyo",
img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528360983277-13d401cdc186?w=900&q=80",
flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/jp.png",
guides: 112,
days: "10–14",
featured: true,
lede: "The most-requested country we cover, and the one most readers underestimate. Honshu alone is four climates, Tokyo and Kyoto are not interchangeable, and the Shinkansen is the trip. Plan for one city, not five — or take three weeks and do it right.",
},
{ name: "Thailand", cap: "Bangkok", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508009603885-50cf7c579365?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/th.png", guides: 78, days: "10–14" },
{ name: "Vietnam", cap: "Hà Nội", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1528127269322-539801943592?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/vn.png", guides: 64, days: "12–18" },
{ name: "India", cap: "New Delhi", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1524492412937-b28074a5d7da?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/in.png", guides: 71, days: "14–21" },
{ name: "Indonesia", cap: "Jakarta", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1537996194471-e657df975ab4?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/id.png", guides: 56, days: "10–18" },
{ name: "China", cap: "Beijing", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508804185872-d7badad00f7d?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/cn.png", guides: 48, days: "14–21" },
{ name: "Nepal", cap: "Kathmandu", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605640840605-14ac1855827b?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/np.png", guides: 32, days: "10–18" },
{ name: "Sri Lanka", cap: "Colombo", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1546708973-b317fb05ce0d?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/lk.png", guides: 28, days: "10–14" },
{ name: "Cambodia", cap: "Phnom Penh", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1539367628448-4bc5c9d171c8?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/kh.png", guides: 24, days: "5–10" },
{ name: "South Korea", cap: "Seoul", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1538485399081-7191377e8241?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/kr.png", guides: 41, days: "7–10" },
{ name: "Singapore", cap: "Singapore", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1525625293386-3f8f99389edd?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/sg.png", guides: 22, days: "3–5" },
{ name: "Bali", cap: "Denpasar", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518002171953-a080ee817e1f?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/id.png", guides: 38, days: "7–14" },
{ name: "Philippines", cap: "Manila", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518509562904-e7ef99cddc85?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/ph.png", guides: 26, days: "10–14" },
{ name: "Malaysia", cap: "Kuala Lumpur", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1596422846543-75c6fc197f07?w=900&q=80", flag: "https://flagcdn.com/w80/my.png", guides: 21, days: "7–12" },
];
const AS_CLUSTERS = [
{
num: "01",
title: "Southeast Asia",
titleEm: "Southeast Asia",
blurb: "The region most readers see first — beaches, street food, slow boats, and the cheapest comfort travel on earth. Best November through February when the rains thin out.",
cards: [
{ when: "Nov · Dec · Jan", pin: "TH·LA·VN", h4: "Mekong loop", p: "Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, slow boat to Pakbeng. Two-week pace, almost flightless.", tags: ["river", "slow"] },
{ when: "Jan · Feb · Mar", pin: "VN", h4: "Vietnam end-to-end", p: "Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by reunification train. Saigon is the warmest city for January light.", tags: ["train", "long"] },
{ when: "Apr · May · Oct", pin: "ID·MY", h4: "Indonesian shoulder", p: "Bali, Lombok, Yogyakarta in shoulder months. Half the surf crowd, full the sun.", tags: ["coast", "shoulder"] },
],
},
{
num: "02",
title: "Northeast Asia",
titleEm: "Northeast Asia",
blurb: "Japan, Korea, Taiwan, eastern China. The most efficient transport on the planet, and the most layered cities. Spring sakura and autumn maples are non-negotiable seasons.",
cards: [
{ when: "Mar · Apr", pin: "JP", h4: "Cherry blossom front", p: "Kyoto and Hiroshima first, Tokyo five days later. Don't chase the front — plan one city deep.", tags: ["spring", "iconic"] },
{ when: "Oct · Nov", pin: "JP·KR", h4: "Maple corridor", p: "Kyoto to Seoul via ferry. Eight days of red leaves and onsens cooling toward winter.", tags: ["autumn", "calm"] },
{ when: "Sep · Oct", pin: "TW·HK", h4: "Taipei + Hong Kong", p: "Two cities, one week. Night markets, MRT, dim sum — the best urban combo in Asia.", tags: ["food", "city"] },
],
},
{
num: "03",
title: "South Asia",
titleEm: "South Asia",
blurb: "India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh. The biggest, loudest, most rewarding region. Monsoon-driven; plan around June–September wet seasons.",
cards: [
{ when: "Oct · Nov · Dec", pin: "IN", h4: "Rajasthan triangle", p: "Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur. Two weeks, palaces, trains, dust — everything you came for.", tags: ["heritage", "iconic"] },
{ when: "Jan · Feb", pin: "LK", h4: "Sri Lanka loop", p: "Colombo, Kandy, Ella, Galle. The hill-country train is the best $4 you'll ever spend.", tags: ["train", "tea"] },
{ when: "Mar · Oct · Nov", pin: "NP", h4: "Annapurna or Everest", p: "Two-week trek windows. Spring blooms; autumn skies. Dec–Feb is too cold above 4,000m.", tags: ["trek", "high"] },
],
},
{
num: "04",
title: "Central Asia",
titleEm: "Central Asia",
blurb: "Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan. The Silk Road, finally easy to travel. Visa-free for most passports since 2019. Cheap, dramatic, almost crowdless.",
cards: [
{ when: "Apr · May · Sep · Oct", pin: "UZ", h4: "Silk Road cities", p: "Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva. High-speed rail makes a 7-day loop possible.", tags: ["heritage", "rail"] },
{ when: "Jul · Aug", pin: "KG·KZ", h4: "Tien Shan summer", p: "Bishkek to Almaty via Issyk-Kul. Yurts, alpine lakes, the cheapest mountains on earth.", tags: ["wild", "summer"] },
{ when: "Sep", pin: "TJ", h4: "Pamir Highway", p: "The world's second-highest road. Five days from Dushanbe to Osh — a 4WD trip, not a bus.", tags: ["off-grid", "epic"] },
],
},
{
num: "05",
title: "The Islands",
titleEm: "Islands",
blurb: "Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Andamans. Asia's archipelago belt — over 25,000 islands, dozens worth a week each.",
cards: [
{ when: "Mar · Apr · Nov", pin: "PH", h4: "Palawan + Siargao", p: "Two islands, one trip. Boat-hopping in El Nido, surf check in Cloud 9. The Philippines secret.", tags: ["coast", "surf"] },
{ when: "Apr · May · Jun", pin: "ID", h4: "Komodo + Flores", p: "Lombok and east — fewer crowds than Bali, harder to reach, twice the reward.", tags: ["wild", "boat"] },
{ when: "Dec · Jan · Feb", pin: "MV·LK", h4: "Indian Ocean dry season", p: "Maldives atolls or south Sri Lanka coast. The dry-monsoon window is reliably perfect.", tags: ["dry", "coast"] },
],
},
];
const AS_WHEN_ROWS = [
{ region: "Southeast Asia", months: ["P", "P", "S", "L", "L", "L", "L", "L", "S", "S", "P", "P"] },
{ region: "Northeast Asia", months: ["L", "L", "P", "P", "S", "L", "L", "L", "S", "P", "P", "L"] },
{ region: "South Asia", months: ["P", "P", "S", "S", "L", "L", "L", "L", "L", "P", "P", "F"] },
{ region: "Central Asia", months: ["L", "L", "L", "S", "P", "P", "P", "P", "P", "S", "L", "L"] },
{ region: "Islands", months: ["P", "P", "S", "S", "L", "L", "L", "L", "L", "S", "P", "P"] },
];
const AS_WHEN_HEAD = ["J", "F", "M", "A", "M", "J", "J", "A", "S", "O", "N", "D"];
const AS_WHEN_LEGEND = [
{ cls: "peak", label: "Peak (P)" },
{ cls: "shoulder", label: "Shoulder (S)" },
{ cls: "low", label: "Low / Wet (L)" },
{ cls: "fest", label: "Festival (F)" },
];
const AS_WHEN_NOTES = [
{ h4: "November is the best month.", p: "The southwest monsoon has lifted, the northeast hasn't arrived in force, and most of the continent sits in a 24–30°C window. Crowds haven't peaked yet — that comes mid-December.", meta: ["24–30 °C", "Dry monsoon"] },
{ h4: "Skip Asian summer.", p: "June through September is wet across most of Southeast and South Asia, and brutally hot in the north. Central Asia is the exception — it's the only window when the Pamirs and Tien Shan are passable.", meta: ["35°C+ humid", "Go Central"] },
{ h4: "Cherry blossoms move north.", p: "The sakura front starts in Kyushu (mid-March) and reaches Hokkaido (early May). Don't chase it — plan one city deep, not five shallow. Hanami is best when you stay still.", meta: ["Mar 25 → May 5", "Plan one city"] },
];
const AS_ITIS = [
{
days: "14",
pill: "First-timer",
h3: "Tokyo to Kyoto, the proper way.",
lede: "The Japan trip we'd send a friend on. Trains, hot springs, two cities deep, and one week in between.",
stops: [
{ n: "01", place: "Tokyo", nights: "4 nt" },
{ n: "02", place: "Hakone", nights: "1 nt" },
{ n: "03", place: "Kanazawa", nights: "2 nt" },
{ n: "04", place: "Kyoto", nights: "4 nt" },
{ n: "05", place: "Osaka return", nights: "2 nt" },
],
cost: "$$$",
by: "Hana · March 2025",
},
{
days: "21",
pill: "Slow & cheap",
h3: "Bangkok to Hanoi, by land.",
lede: "Three weeks, three countries, mostly trains and slow boats. The classic Mekong overland.",
stops: [
{ n: "01", place: "Bangkok", nights: "3 nt" },
{ n: "02", place: "Chiang Mai", nights: "3 nt" },
{ n: "03", place: "Luang Prabang", nights: "3 nt" },
{ n: "04", place: "Vientiane", nights: "1 nt" },
{ n: "05", place: "Hanoi", nights: "5 nt" },
],
cost: "$",
by: "Theo · January 2025",
},
{
days: "10",
pill: "Heritage",
h3: "Rajasthan, the golden triangle plus.",
lede: "Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur. The four-fort run with one good train and one regrettable car.",
stops: [
{ n: "01", place: "Delhi", nights: "2 nt" },
{ n: "02", place: "Agra", nights: "1 nt" },
{ n: "03", place: "Jaipur", nights: "2 nt" },
{ n: "04", place: "Udaipur", nights: "3 nt" },
{ n: "05", place: "Mumbai", nights: "2 nt" },
],
cost: "$$",
by: "Priya · November 2025",
},
];
const AS_FOOD = [
{ country: "Nippon", glyph: "あ", h4: "Slurping is correct.", p: "Ramen, soba, udon — silence is rude. Pull air across the noodles to cool them and signal pleasure to the cook.", pair: { a: "Tonkotsu ramen", b: "Asahi Super Dry" }, span: "span-3" },
{ country: "Thai", glyph: "ก", h4: "Order with a fork & spoon.", p: "Chopsticks are for noodle dishes only. Fork pushes onto spoon; spoon goes to mouth. Always. Always.", pair: { a: "Pad krapow", b: "Chang" }, span: "" },
{ country: "Việt", glyph: "ν", h4: "Phở is breakfast.", p: "Stand-up bowls at 7am, served before banks open. The afternoon stalls are never quite the same.", pair: { a: "Phở bò tái", b: "Cà phê đá" }, span: "span-2" },
{ country: "भारत", glyph: "ह", h4: "Eat with your right hand.", p: "Left hand is unclean. Tear roti with the right, scoop curry, deliver. Practice before leaving.", pair: { a: "Dal makhani", b: "Lassi" }, span: "span-2" },
{ country: "한국", glyph: "한", h4: "Banchan refills are free.", p: "The little side dishes — ask 'Kim-chi-do juseyo' for kimchi, or just point. They keep coming.", pair: { a: "Bibimbap", b: "Soju" }, span: "span-2" },
{ country: "中国", glyph: "中", h4: "Tea is poured for elders.", p: "Two-finger tap on the table = thank you. Originated in Guangzhou; works nationwide. Try it.", pair: { a: "Xiaolongbao", b: "Pu'er" }, span: "span-2" },
];
const AS_ROUTES = [
{ from: "Tokyo", fromCode: "TYO", to: "Kyoto", toCode: "KYT", t: "2h 13m", trains: "78/d" },
{ from: "Beijing", fromCode: "BJN", to: "Shanghai", toCode: "SHA", t: "4h 18m", trains: "44/d" },
{ from: "Hanoi", fromCode: "HAN", to: "Saigon", toCode: "SGN", t: "33h 00m", trains: "5/d" },
{ from: "Bangkok", fromCode: "BKK", to: "Chiang Mai", toCode: "CNX", t: "11h 30m", trains: "6/d" },
{ from: "Tashkent", fromCode: "TSK", to: "Samarkand", toCode: "SMK", t: "2h 10m", trains: "12/d" },
{ from: "Mumbai", fromCode: "BOM", to: "Goa", toCode: "GOI", t: "11h 15m", trains: "8/d" },
];
const AS_TRAIN_COMPARE = [
{ route: "Tokyo → Kyoto", train: "2h 13m", plane: "1h 30m" },
{ route: "Beijing → Shanghai", train: "4h 18m", plane: "2h 15m" },
{ route: "Bangkok → Chiang Mai", train: "11h 30m", plane: "1h 20m" },
{ route: "Tashkent → Samarkand", train: "2h 10m", plane: "0h 50m" },
{ route: "Hanoi → Da Nang", train: "16h 30m", plane: "1h 25m" },
];
const AS_BUDGETS = [
{
lvl: "Frugal",
day: "35",
title: "Hostel, hawker stalls, second-class.",
lines: [
["Bed", "$8–18"],
["Food", "$8–14"],
["Transit", "$4–8"],
["Sights", "$5"],
],
note: "Realistic across SEA, India, Nepal, Central Asia. Tight in Japan, Korea, Singapore.",
},
{
lvl: "Comfort",
day: "120",
title: "Three-star hotel, sit-down dinners, AC trains.",
lines: [
["Bed", "$45–80"],
["Food", "$25–40"],
["Transit", "$15–25"],
["Sights", "$20"],
],
note: "The honest middle. Where most readers actually spend across SEA and South Asia.",
middle: true,
},
{
lvl: "Editorial",
day: "320",
title: "Boutique ryokans, Michelin sushi, sleeper first-class.",
lines: [
["Bed", "$160–260"],
["Food", "$80–130"],
["Transit", "$40–70"],
["Sights", "$30"],
],
note: "Doable everywhere; doubles fast in Japan, Singapore, and the Maldives. Plan the splurge dinner first.",
},
];
const AS_LANG = [
{ country: "日本 · Japan", phrases: [
{ dt: "Konnichiwa", dd: "Hello (afternoon)" },
{ dt: "Arigatō gozaimasu", dd: "Thank you very much" },
{ dt: "Sumimasen", dd: "Excuse me / sorry" },
{ dt: "O-kaikei kudasai", dd: "The bill, please" },
]},
{ country: "ไทย · Thai", phrases: [
{ dt: "Sa-wat-dii", dd: "Hello (with wai)" },
{ dt: "Khop khun", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Mai phet", dd: "Not spicy — they will ignore this" },
{ dt: "Kep tang", dd: "The bill, please" },
]},
{ country: "Tiếng Việt", phrases: [
{ dt: "Xin chào", dd: "Hello" },
{ dt: "Cảm ơn", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Tính tiền", dd: "The bill, please" },
{ dt: "Một bia", dd: "One beer" },
]},
{ country: "हिन्दी · Hindi", phrases: [
{ dt: "Namaste", dd: "Hello (palms together)" },
{ dt: "Dhanyavaad", dd: "Thank you (formal)" },
{ dt: "Bill, please", dd: "Restaurant English works" },
{ dt: "Kitne ka hai?", dd: "How much is it?" },
]},
{ country: "한국어 · Korean", phrases: [
{ dt: "Annyeong haseyo", dd: "Hello (formal)" },
{ dt: "Kamsahamnida", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Gye-san-hae juseyo", dd: "The bill, please" },
{ dt: "Soju han byeong", dd: "One bottle of soju" },
]},
{ country: "Bahasa Indonesia", phrases: [
{ dt: "Selamat pagi", dd: "Good morning" },
{ dt: "Terima kasih", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Minta bill", dd: "The bill, please" },
{ dt: "Berapa harga?", dd: "How much?" },
]},
{ country: "中文 · Mandarin", phrases: [
{ dt: "Nǐ hǎo", dd: "Hello" },
{ dt: "Xièxie", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Mǎi dān", dd: "The bill, please" },
{ dt: "Duōshǎo qián?", dd: "How much?" },
]},
{ country: "සිංහල · Sinhala", phrases: [
{ dt: "Ayubowan", dd: "Hello (long life)" },
{ dt: "Stuti", dd: "Thank you" },
{ dt: "Bila denna", dd: "The bill, please" },
{ dt: "Mokakda?", dd: "What is it?" },
]},
];
const AS_FESTS = [
{ num: "01", when: "January", where: "Lunar New Year · Vietnam", h4: "Tết, the country resets.", p: "Hanoi empties, families gather, businesses close for a week. Beautiful if you have a host; lonely if you don't.", stars: "★★★★☆" },
{ num: "02", when: "February", where: "Lantern Festival · Pingxi", h4: "Sky lanterns, by the thousand.", p: "Taiwan's Pingxi line releases lanterns on the 15th day of the lunar new year. Trains run all night.", stars: "★★★★★" },
{ num: "03", when: "March", where: "Holi · India", h4: "A day of color.", p: "Start in a smaller town like Pushkar — Delhi and Mumbai get aggressive. Pack a white shirt that will not survive.", stars: "★★★★★" },
{ num: "04", when: "April", where: "Songkran · Thailand", h4: "The biggest water fight on earth.", p: "Three days of street-soaking in Chiang Mai. Every phone in a waterproof bag. Every stall a battle station.", stars: "★★★★★" },
{ num: "05", when: "August", where: "Obon · Japan", h4: "Lanterns, ancestors, drums.", p: "Mid-August, hometown Bon-odori dances. Gokayama is the most photogenic, Kyoto the most accessible.", stars: "★★★★☆" },
{ num: "06", when: "November", where: "Diwali · India + Nepal", h4: "The festival of lights.", p: "Five nights of fireworks, oil lamps, sweets. Varanasi on the Ganges is the editorial pick — Jaipur is more photogenic.", stars: "★★★★★" },
];
const AS_NEIGHBORHOODS = [
{ num: "01", name: "Shimokitazawa", city: "Tokyo", em: "Shimokita", p: "Vintage shops, indie venues, no high-rises. The Tokyo for people who don't like Tokyo. 7 minutes from Shibuya by Inokashira line.", why: "Vintage · Music" },
{ num: "02", name: "Bukit Bintang", city: "Kuala Lumpur", em: "Bukit Bintang", p: "Skip the shopping malls; the Jalan Alor hawker street is the meal that makes the trip. Order satay last.", why: "Hawker · Late" },
{ num: "03", name: "Old Quarter", city: "Hà Nội", em: "Hà Nội Cũ", p: "Thirty-six streets named for what was once sold there. Eat phở on plastic stools, drink bia hơi at 5pm.", why: "Old town · Phở" },
{ num: "04", name: "Bandra West", city: "Mumbai", em: "Bandra", p: "The city's creative core — bookshops, brutal humidity, and the best brunch scene in India. Avoid 11pm to 1am.", why: "Creative · Cafés" },
{ num: "05", name: "Bukchon", city: "Seoul", em: "Bukchon", p: "Six hundred preserved hanok houses on a hill, between two palaces. Walk early — by noon it's all tour groups.", why: "Hanok · Quiet" },
{ num: "06", name: "Canggu", city: "Bali", em: "Canggu", p: "Where Ubud's yoga crowd meets Seminyak's surf crowd. Rice paddies still exist if you go five minutes inland.", why: "Surf · Slow" },
];
const AS_PACK_LISTS = [
{
h4: "Heat & humidity, one bag.",
em: "one bag",
sub: "SEA · South Asia · Tropics",
items: [
"Lightweight linen or cotton shirts ×3",
"Quick-dry trousers, one pair",
"One sarong (towel, sheet, modesty layer)",
"Sandals you can walk 8km in",
"Long-sleeve shirt for temples and AC trains",
"Reef-safe sunscreen in solid stick form",
"Insect repellent with 30% DEET",
"Modest scarf for women (covered shoulders)",
"Tip — buy a sarong on day one, use it for everything.",
],
},
{
h4: "Trains, sleepers, tuk-tuks.",
em: "tuk-tuks",
sub: "Carry-on or 40L pack",
items: [
"40L carry-on backpack — fits most Asian airlines",
"Universal Type-A/C/D/G plug adapter (Asia varies)",
"Power bank under 20,000 mAh (airline limit)",
"Reusable bottle with built-in filter (Lifestraw)",
"Compression cubes — three small, never one big",
"Padlock for hostel lockers, train berths",
"Slim cash belt for sleeper trains",
"Earplugs (sleepers, 4am temple bells)",
"Tip — pack one extra pair of socks for high-altitude treks.",
],
},
{
h4: "What to leave home.",
em: "leave home",
sub: "The 'just in case' pile",
items: [
"Heavy denim jeans (humid death)",
"More than two pairs of shoes",
"Hairdryers (every hotel has one)",
"Half-empty toiletries (buy fresh in country)",
"More than one 'nice outfit'",
"Cash above $300 USD equivalent",
"Drone (illegal in many SEA countries)",
"Anything dry-clean only",
"Tip — leave 25% of the bag empty for tea, spices, textiles.",
],
},
];
const AS_FAQS = [
{ q: "When is the actual best time to go to Asia?", a: "November through early March for the bulk of the continent — Southeast Asia, South Asia, southern China. The southwest monsoon has lifted and the heat hasn't returned. For Japan and Korea, March–April (cherry blossoms) and October–November (maples) are the iconic windows. Central Asia is the inverse — June through September is the only dry window for the Pamirs and Tien Shan." },
{ q: "Do I need vaccinations or anti-malarials?", a: "Hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus are the universal three for any Asia trip. Japanese encephalitis is recommended for rural SEA stays over a month. Anti-malarials are no longer required for most tourist routes — the urban centers and beach areas of Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are malaria-free. Rural Cambodia, Myanmar, and parts of India still warrant a doxy course. Check your country's CDC or NHS travel page within 60 days of departure." },
{ q: "How do visas work — is everything visa-on-arrival?", a: "Visa rules vary more in Asia than any other continent. Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam (most passports), and Japan (many passports) are visa-free or visa-on-arrival for stays under 30 days. India and China require advance e-visas — apply at least 4 weeks out. Bhutan requires a paid daily fee plus pre-booked guide. Central Asia is now mostly visa-free for US, EU, UK, AU passports. We update the visa page weekly." },
{ q: "Is the food safe? What about Delhi belly?", a: "Eat where locals eat and you'll mostly be fine. Hot food cooked in front of you (street stalls during rush hour) is safer than buffet hotel breakfasts. Drink only bottled or filter-treated water, brush your teeth with bottled water in India and Nepal, and skip ice in countries where tap water isn't potable. A two-week course of probiotics starting one week before travel measurably reduces the chance of a bad stomach week. Carry rehydration salts." },
{ q: "Can I use US dollars or do I need local currency?", a: "Cash is more important in Asia than Europe — many countries are still 70%+ cash for street food, tuk-tuks, and small shops. Use a debit card with no foreign-transaction fees (Schwab, Wise, Capital One 360) and pull cash from a major bank ATM on arrival. Avoid the airport currency exchange always. ApplePay/AliPay/WeChatPay dominate China; cards work freely in Japan, Korea, Singapore. Carry $200 in clean USD for emergencies." },
{ q: "How much time do I actually need for Asia?", a: "Two cities a week is the rule, same as Europe. 10–14 days for one country deep, 14–21 days for two adjacent countries (Thailand + Vietnam works), three weeks for any multi-country overland trip. Less than 10 days and you've paid for jet lag. Japan in particular rewards three weeks more than two — the Shinkansen makes one extra week feel like four." },
{ q: "Are tuk-tuks, scooters, and night buses safe?", a: "Tuk-tuks: yes, but always agree on price first. Use Grab/Gojek where they exist. Scooter rentals are the leading cause of traveler ER visits in SEA — wear a helmet, drive slowly, never at night, and be aware that your travel insurance probably doesn't cover unlicensed riding. Night buses in Vietnam and Thailand are safe; in India, prefer trains; in Indonesia, prefer flights between major islands. The reunification train in Vietnam is one of the world's great rail journeys." },
{ q: "What about modesty, dress codes, and temples?", a: "Cover knees and shoulders for any temple, mosque, or shrine — Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh. Women: a lightweight scarf doubles as a modesty layer when needed. Men: long shorts are fine in most temples but not in mosques. Remove shoes before entering any home and most religious sites. In conservative countries (Pakistan, parts of India, Indonesia outside Bali, Malaysia outside KL), dress more conservatively at all times — not a tourist rule, a respect rule." },
];
const AS_RELATED = [
{ lbl: "Field note", h4: "How to spend a long weekend in Tokyo.", by: "Hana · 14 min", href: "/journal/tokyo-weekend" },
{ lbl: "Editorial", h4: "Why we always recommend two cities, not five.", by: "Theo · 7 min", href: "/journal/two-cities-rule" },
{ lbl: "Itinerary", h4: "Slow Vietnam, Hanoi to Hoi An, ten days.", by: "Linh · 11 min", href: "/journal/vietnam-overland" },
{ lbl: "Dispatch", h4: "What monsoon in Kerala is actually like.", by: "Priya · 9 min", href: "/journal/kerala-monsoon" },
];
const AS_REGIONS = [
{ id: "europe", name: "Europe", href: "/en/europe/" },
{ id: "asia", name: "Asia", href: "/en/asia/", current: true },
{ id: "americas", name: "Americas", href: "/en/americas/" },
{ id: "africa", name: "Africa", href: "/en/africa/" },
{ id: "middle-east", name: "Middle East", href: "/en/middle-east/" },
{ id: "oceania", name: "Oceania", href: "/en/oceania/" },
];
Object.assign(window, {
AS_ANCHOR, AS_HERO_STATS, AS_HERO_META, AS_HERO_COLLAGE, AS_TOC,
AS_COUNTRIES, AS_CLUSTERS, AS_WHEN_ROWS, AS_WHEN_HEAD, AS_WHEN_LEGEND, AS_WHEN_NOTES,
AS_ITIS, AS_FOOD, AS_ROUTES, AS_TRAIN_COMPARE,
AS_BUDGETS, AS_LANG, AS_FESTS, AS_NEIGHBORHOODS, AS_PACK_LISTS,
AS_FAQS, AS_RELATED, AS_REGIONS,
});