Here’s another article for those who have seen it before and have done it before. You’ve seen it in James Bond’s Skyfall and all over the media. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Nagasaki Prefecture‘s abandoned Hashima Island, better known as Gunkanjima (or “Battleship Island”), has attracted attention for its post-apocalyptic appearance. Well,as you might expect, we…
So, you think you’ve seen it before and you’ve done it before? Good luck booking flights . . . but it can be done. Well, check out this Pathé footage compilation detailing a list of countries that ceased to exist as actual countries in the 20th century including: Siam Yugoslavia Ceylon Soviet Union Tibet United Arab Republic Czechoslovakia East/West Germany.…
More than 1,600 years ago, close to the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula, laborers were hard at work building a palace for a fledgling kingdom. They finished the foundation layer of the massive western rampart and then paused before beginning the next construction phase, a stone wall. The foundation, made from packed shells and earth, was complete from an…
Just look at that. Landscapes don’t get more dramatic than the towering rock formations of Guilin, southern China’s most astonishing natural phenomena. And in the shadows of those giant alien mountains you’ll find something much smaller but almost as dazzling – a hotel. And not just any old hotel: a true design marvel loaded with fascinating history. Read more here…
If you visit our site, you will know how much we like and promote India. It is a massive, crowded, bewildering, lovely and intoxicating place. The people are uniformly kind and helpful and funny. The sites are breathtaking. The cities are a swirl of activity. If you haven’t been, please do so. And, know that cows are indeed sacred in…
After the world has been decimated by Covid-19, now that the fog is clearing somewhat, it’s time to focus our thoughts on those businesses and their employees who have been so profoundly impacted. In other words, when you can, buy local. Eating locally produced food on your travels may seem like small potatoes, but the benefits are far-reaching. Read more…
China is set to enter the space tourism business. This should come as no surprise to anyone who is awake in this day and age. We wonder why we haven’t seen this kind of offering sooner than this: the Chinese know how to get things moving. ANU astrophysicist and cosmologist Dr Brad Tucker says it is “not surprising” China is…
At one point it seemed like the whole world was backpacking and trekking this tropical paradise in South Asia. Never one to miss out, we went to see for ourselves to bring you this guide to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is roughly the same size as Ireland and sits to the south-east of India. The island boasts impressive safaris, the…
People are people. It feels (to us, anyway) that as the world gets bigger and, at the same time it gets smaller (social media) it doesn’t necessarily get any better. And who would know better than our LGBTQ+ friends? And their problems can happen anywhere. This article is about how Seoul’s LGBTQ+ district came back from the brink. Read more…
To most of us, North Korea is a mystery. We sometimes get directives from governments about visiting or even understanding the country, but can we actually even trust our own administrations? So what is it all about? In this article, Hong Kong native Ted Lau’s new book tries to understand everyday life in the ‘dystopian utopia’ of a totalitarian country shrouded…
You’re in the clouds! China has never shied away from big projects, and this is just one. Visit Shimian County and drive this amazing feat of engineering yourself. Ganhaizi Bridge is located in Shimian County, Ya’an, Sichuan on the Ya (An) Lu (Gu) Expressway. It has a total length of 1811 meters, a bridge width of 24.5 meters, and a…
Do you cry when you look at the price of flights, and are forced to take the 2:00am option? Do you find yourself with a black cloud over your head when you are compelled to stay at a 2-star hotel? And is sitting on a park bench eating out of a bag enough to make you give up? Well, here…
Surprise! We kind of tricked you here. Yes, this article is about India, and one of India’s glorious contributions to the world are samosas, but this is about a Golden Triangle of a different kind. Here, we’re talking about a glorious tour through India’s Golden Triangle – with Ranthambore National Park via our affiliate friends, Titan Travel. This fantastic introduction…
Recently, all eyes have been on UNESCO, the France-based body that bestows the ranking of “World Heritage Site” on some of the world’s most beautiful, historic and otherwise important places. In many years, the announcement of new additions to the UNESCO list is a cause for some excitement, at least in the travel world. But 2021’s announcement season has been significantly more dramatic. Read…
The tube houses of Hanoi Narrow residential houses, known as ‘nha ong’ in Vietnamese or ‘tube houses’, found in an urban area of Hanoi. Tall, thin and brightly colored, Hanoi’s “tube houses” dominate the city’s streets as 9 million people compete for space in Vietnam’s bustling capital. Although Vietnam saw a number of villas and garden houses built during the…
Now, here is some smart information. Have you every arrived in a phenomenal city, only to have a room with a view . . . of a brick wall? It happens to all of us. Well, here are some top places to stay for you, and you won’t go bankrupt. And remember that when you are looking for options, our…
When you start to read this article, you’ll ultimately find out that it is about the best places to hike in India. That’s all well and good, as it is an immense country, full of wonderful and kind human beings as well as jaw-dropping sights. But, likely, even if you don’t hike, you will be hungry. And India is a…
China doesn’t fool around. When they do things, they tend to go big. Here’s an example. The new Shanghai Astronomy Museum, which recently opened in China, is potentially the world’s most majestic museum devoted to the skies. This elliptical, silvery structure looks part spaceship, part planetary invasion, with angular shapes that “embody some of the fundamental laws of astrophysics,” says…
We get that feeling that sometimes the country of Pakistan is misunderstood, and that the misunderstanding conjures up specific images and misconceptions. And that’s a shame, as the country is rich in so many ways. There is so much history in Pakistan, with its mix of religions and beliefs, and it’s long relationship with India. If you have visited India,…
What do you know about Malaysia? Probably not as much as you should. Malaysia is a mix of the modern world and a developing nation. With its investment in the high technology industries and moderate oil wealth, it has become one of the richest nations in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, for most visitors, presents a happy mix: there is high-tech infrastructure…
