Southeast Asia’s Unique Fabric Art
For generations now, the graceful, colorful and intricate patterns that adorn batik cloths from Southeast Asia have captured the imagination of fashion-conscious travelers. Today’s batik-seeking tourists follow in the footsteps of 19th-century Dutch colonists in Indonesia: captivated by the radiant batiks worn by the Javanese, the Dutch brought batik artists to Holland in the 1830s, […]
Cambodia: Cultural & Heritage Tourism
The glory of the Khmer Empire lives on in these temple ruins in Cambodia; at least two have won UNESCO World Heritage recognition. 1.1. World Heritage Site Cambodia has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: one is an icon of Cambodian identity, the other is only catching up. Both are still worth visiting! 1.1.1. Angkor Wat, […]
Food Tours in Southeast Asia
I knew I was on to something special when I entered the Old Airport Road Hawker Centre in Singapore. This was street food, yes, but not street food as we know it: sanitized, brightened, but still emanating that undeniable authenticity handed down by generations of Singaporean food sellers. But as traditional as they were, they the Old […]
Exploring Southeast Asia’s Royal Palaces
They ruled Southeast Asia once upon a time, though their lives were hardly the stuff of fairy tales. Before Europeans changed the local political landscape, power was exercised by local kings. As absolute masters of their respective realms, Southeast Asia’s monarchs waged wars and built civilizations for thousands of years, creating the local cultures that […]
Thailand: Cultural & Heritage Tourism
Influences from successive empires – among them the Khmer and Sukhothai – have left behind a number of historical ruins that modern tourists can still explore to this day. 1.1. Ayutthaya Historical Park This former capital of the Thai empire was invaded by the Burmese in 1767, leaving this city of 400 temples in ruins. […]
Philippines: Cultural & Heritage Tourism
Rice terraces, ancient churches and “dreamweavers” only scratch the surface of the Philippines’ rich cultural pickings available to every tourist brave enough to venture off the beaten path. 1.1. Ilocandia Heritage and Cultural Tour (Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur) The northern Ilocos provinces are home to an industrious and frugal people who populate a land […]
Temple Run – Visiting Southeast Asia’s Temple Cities
From worshiping at the grand temples of Angkor to meditating at the stupas in Bagan, Southeast Asia’s locals keep the faith in a variety of ways. Most of the region’s most ancient and revered temples draw deeply from traditions brought here over a thousand years ago from India – Bali is Asia’s last outpost of […]
Southeast Asia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Only a few places in the world bear the coveted UNESCO seal of approval: the conferral of World Heritage status on a site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) brings in both prestige and tourism revenue, and thus is hotly contested. But this United Nations body is famously strict concerning awards: even culturally […]
Top Musical Festivals in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia has always been alive with music. But none of the region’s countries has ever begrudged its musical gifts to the rest of the world – we’ve made it a point to give as good as we get. As a result, we’ve got some of the world’s top music festivals happening in our midst, […]
Top Art Destinations in Southeast Asia
The arts of Southeast Asia are intimately tied with the local religion and culture. Each country draws from the region’s abundant natural riches – gold, precious metals, natural pigments and clay – to create cultural treasures without compare. While some cultures share some artistic ties based on their common religious roots, each country’s art is uniquely its […]