Singapore: Nature-Based Tourism
1.1. Gardens by the Bay The futuristic covered gardens overlooking the Marina Reservoir are part of Singapore’s grand plan to transform itself into a “Garden City”. Gardens by the Bay consists of three different gardens and a variety of attractions – the two cooled conservatories and the SuperTrees are just its most architecturally striking sections. […]
Exploring Southeast Asia’s Traditional Villages
Southeast Asia’s country villages are a throwback worth visiting, for travelers weary of the rush of modern life. The region’s rural hamlets and settlements open your eyes to a different kind of culture, unfiltered and in the raw. While these places take a little effort to reach, you’ll find that taking the trouble to find […]
The Headhunters of Southeast Asia
The practice of taking and preserving a vanquished person’s head occurred throughout the world at various times: Oceania, Australasia, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. It even occurred on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe until the early 20th century. Contemporary scholars generally agree that headhunting’s primary function was ceremonial and part of the process of […]
Growing Up Green
The Green School, situated on eight hectares of untouched land between Ubud and Denpasar on the island of Bali, is a place where sustainability is at the heart of its philosophy and curriculum. The Kul Kul campus sits on a property bisected by the Ayung River and is surrounded by rice paddies, palm trees, vegetable gardens, […]
Religious Sanctuaries in Southeast Asia that Cherish Coexistence
The ancestors knew something we moderns seem to have forgotten: how to reconcile varying religious beliefs. Southeast Asia’s trading ports were bastions of tolerance; how could they be otherwise, when on any day you could be doing business with a Malay Muslim, a Chinese Taoist, or a European Christian? Instead of building walls, community leaders […]
Taste the Local Culture through Southeast Asia’s Noodle Dishes
On my first full day in Myanmar, I met my tour guide at our first stop on a tour of the neighborhoods around Shwedagon Pagoda: Daw Cho, an unassuming noodle stall on Old Yay Tar Shay Road off the ancient pagoda’s eastern entrance. As far as introductions to ordinary Myanma life went, Daw Cho could […]
Eco-Tourism In Southeast Asia
The state of the environment – and our impact upon it – is a thorny issue. While responsible tourism and sustainable development have been prevalent concepts for decades, concerns about our impact on the world have mushroomed recently. While one could argue that the very idea of tourism (of any kind) is antithetical to ecological […]
On The Right Trek: Community Based Tourism In Laos
Trails wind through primeval forests to hidden caves and waterfalls; rope bridges cross rivers; mountain peaks survey wilderness; remote ethnic villages offer lodging to the tired. Laos presents some 50 hiking circuits and is blazing more for trekkers, who really want to get off the beaten path. All of these guided treks are based on a […]
Wearing Traditional Costumes in Southeast Asia – Dos and Don’t’s
Locals in Southeast Asia take great pride in their national costumes, and – within reason – are proud to have you try them on as well. That should reassure tourists who worry about being tarred for “cultural appropriation” by social-justice-savvy friends. Contrary to campus cries of “we’re a culture, not a costume”, trying on a […]
Southeast Asia’s Top Sunset Spots
You can view a sunset anywhere on Earth, but exceptional sunsets require going a little out of the way. Around Southeast Asia, a few places have gained renown for their ability to provide stunning sunset views. During dry, rainless months (coinciding with peak tourist seasons), sunsets can look especially vivid, particularly when set off against […]