Golfing with the Gods on Indonesias Beautiful Bali
Bali is often called the “Island of the Gods” though many sporting enthusiasts say it should be dubbed the “Isle of Golf”. The fabled island has four world-class courses attracting multitudes of players and countless accolades. Soft sea breezes sweep across three of the much-heralded courses while the fourth was laid out on the foliage-ringed […]
Dos & Don’ts in Malaysia
Do Call before visiting a home. Remove shoes when entering a Malaysian home or religious sites such as temples and mosques. Drinks are generally offered to guests. It is polite to accept. The right hand is always used when eating with one’s hand or when giving or receiving objects. Be aware that some ladies will […]
The Past Track: An Historic Ride On Southeast Asia’s Railway
As the 19th century turned 20, Southeast Asia climbed onboard the steam locomotive revolution to transport people and freight throughout the region. By the 1920s, teak carriages clattered along tracks stretching from Singapore to northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai, but the line never reached its ultimate goal…Chiang Rai, the Mekong River and Laos. Early passengers – royalty, British colonials, […]
Dos & Don’ts in Philippines
Government The Philippines has a democratic republic type of government. Time The Philippines is eight (8) hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Climate The first half of the year, from January to May, is the best time to visit the country. November to February is cool, while March to May is hot and […]
Jazzed: Music Festivals of Borneo and Indonesia
The music scene in Borneo and Indonesia is varied, thriving and caters to a growing interest in the cultural as well as modern music genres in the region. Musical festivals are often a mix of local and international acts brought together to allow local talent to learn from well-established artists, who in turn bring a bagful of […]
Faith in the North: Southeast Asias Popular Religious Festivals
Southeast Asia is a place of vibrant ethnic and religious diversity. The northern region is predominantly Buddhist but ancient spiritual beliefs also play a major role in many people’s lives. In Vietnam, the most important festival is Tet (short for Tet Nguyen Dan, meaning ‘the first day’) which occurs in late January/early February at the same […]
The Rivers Wild: Touring Borneos Liquid Lifelines
Once cave dwelling went out of style, the peoples of Borneo looked towards the liquid highways of this giant island to establish settlements and make contact with the outside world. Having a reputation for being blood-thirsty headhunters roaming jungles infested with equally blood-thirsty wild creatures probably wasn’t the best idea for a public relations campaign, […]
Putting the Art in Jakarta: Indonesias Contemporary Art Scene
The largest and most populous country in SE Asia, Indonesia claims some 17,000 islands that stretch over 5,000km across equatorial Asia to Australia. Such geographic expanse lends to a great wealth of ethnic and cultural diversity. The Islamic state was colonized by the Dutch in the early 17th century as an important trading post, with their rule lasting over […]
Set Adrift: Tubing Vang Vieng
When it comes to popular backpacker japes, “tubing” – floating peacefully downriver on a giant inflatable inner-tube – is up there with debauched “full moon parties” or trekking upon elephant back to “hill-tribe” villages in the Golden Triangle. Indeed, Lonely Planet describes this well-established tourist lark as “one of the rites of passage of the Indochina backpacking […]
Get the Lead Out: Detoxing in Southeast Asia
Contemporary city living is a fast-paced, finely-tuned operation that requires a lot of effort to maintain. Most of us take short cuts just to keep up with our own lives – fast food, sleep deprivation and non-existent downtime are the common time-saving devices – and while some people have a super-human ability to power through […]