Category: Travel
January 8th, 2012 — 9:14am
I’ve just returned from a brief visit to Kuala Lumpur, one of my favourites among the more developed cities in Asia. With its ethnic mix of Malay, Indian, and Chinese, Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of all things Asian. Affectionately known as KL, it is one of the most colourful and cosmopolitan cities in the region and
December 26th, 2011 — 12:16pm
Asian nations are notorious for their disregard of architectural heritage. From Beijing to Bangkok, KL to Singapore, beautiful old buildings have never stood in the way of progress. Until recently Penang was destined to make the same mistakes but commonsense prevailed and the island’s past is now proving to be its biggest tourist attraction. Described
November 23rd, 2011 — 6:32pm
Just a quick reminder that my books have been released in Europe. They were commissioned by John Beaufoy Publishing in the UK as part of the ‘Enchanting Asia’ series. The hardback Thai edition is co-published with Asia Books. This brand new ‘Enchanting Asia’ series are pictorial visitor guides showing the main cultural attractions that a
November 23rd, 2011 — 6:07pm
On my last few visits to Myanmar it has been clear to me that there is a renewed sense of optimism within the country. The photo below was catpured in Yangon and illustrates this beautifully. Just a year ago, such a scene would have been unthinkable. I have been visiting Myanmar for the past 15 years, regardless of
November 23rd, 2011 — 5:12pm
In Myanmar, the staple diet is rice; a grain has shaped the landscape of the Irrawaddy Delta. Paddy cultivation is still predominately organic and not mechanized. From the ploughing, broadcasting of seed, the replanting of nursery seedlings, to harvest and threshing, all the work is done without the use of machines. It was also been stated
November 22nd, 2011 — 5:20pm
Travel another couple of hours up the Lemro River from Mrauk U and you’ll enter the lower reaches of the Chin State. Most of this mountainous area is currently off limits to travellers but a handful of ethnic villages can now be visited with a guide. The main attractions for tourists, in addition to the
November 22nd, 2011 — 4:10pm
The former capital Rakhine State in western Myanmar (Burma), Mrauk U – pronounced Mror Oo – is an atmospheric town and home to many beautiful ancient temples. It is reached following a 6 hour boat journey from Sittwe. Although the area currently welcomes few tourists that will soon change and won’t be too long before
November 22nd, 2011 — 3:33pm
I’ve just returned from another trip to Myanmar. Travel within the country is pretty demanding as the infrastructure has suffered from many years of neglect, but the rewards for travelling here are great. If I could only travel to one country over the next decade it would be Myanmar. At every turn there is another
October 24th, 2011 — 10:17am
Since Aung San Su Kyi’s release, Myanmar and Yangon has been put firmly in the travler’s spotlight. Yangon is one of my favourite cities in Southeast Asia and with the current mood of optimism for the future, there’s never been a better time to explore the country’s enchanting former capital. Yangon is an extremely pleasant city to
October 24th, 2011 — 9:11am
A stone’s throw from Mandalay’s stone carving district is a street lined with foundries casting bronze Buddha images. Using a process that dates back thousands of years, skilled craftsmen create detailed wax images of Buddhas which are encased in earthenware clay. The mould is then heated to burn out the wax and the bronze poured
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