The Far East

Here's an overview of the Far East (also known as The Orient), with specific information for career breakers. If you want more in-depth info, we recommend you grab yourself a trusty guidebook - the Lonely Planet have a good range.

What?
Why?
How?
Facts for the career breaker
Top Far East tip

What?

The Far East generally refers to:

• China (including Hong Kong)
• Japan
• North and South Korea
• Taiwan

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Why?

• The Far East is a very diverse region, both in terms of the countries that make it up, and the sorts of things you can see. It's also massive, so there's a huge variety of different sorts of places to go - whether you want the hustle and bustle of a big city, or you want to wander miles off the beaten track.
• There are a great many famous sights and cities, which feature on many a 'must see' list. These include Hong Kong, the Army of Terracotta Warriors, Mount Fuji, Tokyo, Seoul, Pyongyang and Taipei. There's also a huge variety of things to do, from riding the bullet train in Japan to trekking the Great Wall of China.
• The Far East is a good place to go if you want to teach English. As well as placements in schools, there is a demand for teaching business English.
• Visiting the Far East will give you an insight into their culture and social conventions, which will stand you in good stead in your career, particularly if you have clients from that part of the world.

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How?

You can fly into Tokyo, Bejing or Hong Kong on a round-the-world ticket - some routes involve overland travel to Hong Kong. You can go East to West or the other way. It's unlikely you'll be able to include Taiwan or the Koreas in your ticket, but you can get regional flights to these countries (not from China to Taiwan though).

If you want to go to North Korea, you can't go from South Korea. Most tourists get to the capital (Pyongyang) from China. Be aware that it is unlikely you'll be allowed outside the capital and even inside it, you may not be able to travel without a guide.

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Facts for the career breaker

• Avoid travelling in China during Chinese New Year, if you can. It can be hard to get around and find somewhere to stay.
• Take extra care to stay on the right side of the law in Japan. A representative of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust tells us that Japan is the worst country in the world to be imprisoned - particularly if you are white.
• As you probably already know, North Korea is a reclusive country with an authoritarian regime. If you manage to get a visa to visit, be on your best behaviour at all times - respect is key.
• There's such a wealth of history and culture in the Far East, that it's worth taking time to learn about it - whether that's a feng shui course or a cookery lesson with a sushi chef.

Top Far East tip

• Familiarise yourself with local customs before you arrive. Being sensitive and respectful to the culture will ensure you get the most out of your trip.

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