Asia/South Asia
A Calm Pose in INDIA
On a high all of her own, in the foothills of the Himalayas, Elina Fuhrman discovers peace despite India’s hustle and bustle. “Close your eyes, we will chant a prayer for you,” says Simi, my Ayurvedic therapist as soon as I step inside my treatment room at Ananda, a five-star destination spa, burrowed in the…
Read MoreBALI Wellness Retreat
Set on the ancient Ayung River surrounded by terraced rice fields, the newly redone Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan offers the ultimate rejuvenation retreat with three days of yoga, meditation, and spa treatments.
Read MoreRevealing Nature in Izu, JAPAN
Kristina Foster slips out of the city stress and bares it all with the family on a journey to the nature filled landscapes of the Izu Peninsula. The Izu peninsula is a resort area popular for hot springs, statuesque coastlines, and scenic mountains. Located about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo and just two hours by fast…
Read MoreUnplugged in Ubud, BALI
The verdant rice fields, temples and spiritual village life of Ubud, Bali offers a back-to-nature family break away from tech driven tantrums.
Read MoreFusing Old and New in CHINA
In China, historic landmarks alternate with a few spectacular new buildings by top Western architects, which mark a sharp break with the past. On one side is the Forbidden City and the gardens of Suzhou, with their still ponds and moon gates; on the other are towers that twist and swoop as though they were…
Read MorePutting on the RAJ
The Rajasthani desert flat lands of the ancient Hindu Rajput warriors were once defended by imposing strategic forts that still loom from the surrounding plains where subsistence farming families toil in defiant bright saris and turbans. This vast region of contrasts stretches from Jaipur to Jodhpur to Udaipur (and beyond to Jaisalmer), a triangle (or…
Read MoreOMAN- Not a Thousand and One Nights
Lawrence of Arabia would be delighted if he flipped through this year’s travel magazines that all seem to point to the Arabian Peninsula’s politically neutral sultanate of Oman. It’s one of 2019’s hot destinations and Jane Adams has journeyed from its azure Arabian Sea coast through red desert sands to jagged mountain peaks. No camels…
Read MoreJAIPUR or Bust!
Review your bucket list. Does it include Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan? This is one list entry considered mandatory by Jane Adams, a recent delegate at the world’s largest writers’ festival held every year in the ‘Pink City’of the Rajputs. It was the sci-fi writer Stephen King who wrote, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” The…
Read MoreTOKYO Translated
The world’s most populous metropolis that sprawls across 23 city wards, islands and other towns and villages, boasting 9.26 million citizens can seem daunting but only from the outside. Gently peel off its layers, and every day will deliver the unexpected, treasured moments and memories, from shochu shared with sumo wrestlers to retired military-uniformed soldiers…
Read MoreSybaritic SRI LANKA
Michael Webb enjoys the more luxurious side of the cities of Sri Lanka. My first visit to Sri Lanka, many years ago, was a frugal adventure, bumping around in crowded buses from one ancient site to another, exploring the historic city of Kandy, and staying in a vintage guest house in the hill country of…
Read MoreHOKKAIDO Haiku
Most travelers head to Hokkaido for the world’s best powder skiing, but Japan’s northernmost and volatile volcanic island beguiles in the tranquil summer ‘green season’ too. Home of the indigenous Ainu, Hokkaido boasts the longest prefectural coastline in Japan, a remarkable 4460 kilometers of cliffs, bays, curvaceous peninsulas, remote fishing villages and evocative waves and…
Read MoreSingapore’s Best Architecture and Food
Michael Webb visits Singapore to explore its culture, food and architecture. In its fifty plus years of independence, the city-state of Singapore has transformed itself into an Asian version of Switzerland: prosperous, clean, and meticulously organized. But the vibrant street life of its multi-cultural enclaves–Chinese, Islamic and Indian–still flourishes amid the gleaming towers. Taxis and Uber…
Read MoreMYANMAR: On the River from Mandalay
‘Can’t you ‘ear their paddles chunkin’ from Rangoon to Mandalay? On the road to Mandalay, Where the flyin’-fishes play, An’ the dawn comes up like thunder outer China ‘crost the Bay! -RUDYARD KIPLING Any list of the world’s great rivers includes the mighty Irrawaddy (aka Ayeyarwady), the backbone and lifeline of the embracing troubled land…
Read MoreBig and Little in JAPAN: Why Tokyo is Good for Kids
From cute hedgehog cafes to the giant Pokémon headquarters and the city’s most urban shrine, little travelers can see curious places that are big in Japan.
Read MoreGeorge Town, PENANG: Heritage Hotel Capital
Penang has been named as the premier 2017 Asian ‘Must See’ destination, singled out its street food and art scene. Jane Adams gives her vote to the island’s capital George Town, for its wonderfully preserved heritage hotel.
Read MoreDiscover JAPAN’s Private Art Collections
Some of Japan’s most enthralling art collections are private, and finding them can prove challenging, especially when directions are in Japanese and nailed to lamp posts. But if you like your Picassos, Van Goghs and Renoirs with a little adventure, be sure to visit these off-grid museums.
Read MoreThe Essence of BURMA
One writer explores the Southeast Asian gem of Burma, now that the doors of tourism have been opened and are welcoming visitors.
Read MoreOn the Waterfront, SHANGHAI
Cosmopolitan China is epitomised in Shanghai’s Bund riverfront precinct. Jane Adams strolls its boulevards and boardwalk discovering arts, eats and other oriental treats.
Read MoreThe Dancing Nymphs of Angkor, CAMBODIA
Will Ottley explores the Buddhist/Hindu temples of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat complex and discovers the wisdom of ancient civilizations, displayed in the treasure trove of temples and monuments left behind.
Read MoreINTERVIEW: Hotel Design Guru Alexandra Champalimaud
The award-winning interior designer specializing in hospitality design talks to us about her current projects, what makes a great hotel, and which properties should definitely be on your travel shortlist.
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