Vietnam is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-decade transformation of its rail network. For a long time, the system was a charming but aging relic of the French colonial era; now, it’s being repositioned as the backbone of the country's economic future and a premier "slow travel" destination. As of April 2026,…
Asia
. . you might as well do it in style.
If you've been lucky enough to visit Japan and Korea (we have) you'll make a little wink when you watch this video. There are some people in the world who are not prepared for unusual encounters in unusual places. We usually laugh and…
Really get away. In this day and age, we're very, very lucky to be able to travel to the places we've longed for. Pity our poor parents in Days of yore, where flying was not only a thrill, but it could have been an overwhelming expense. Not everyone is (or was) loaded…
As scary as they can look, the Māori are actually rather nice people. The perception of Māori as intimidating or "scary" is largely rooted in their traditional warrior culture, designed specifically to intimidate enemies, demonstrate strength, and showcase ferocity. This aesthetic is heavily influenced by the haka (war dance) and moko (facial tattooing).
Here are the key factors that…
It's been a long time coming, but The Grand Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids museum is now open and, wow, is it amazing. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) took approximately 20 years to complete from the start of construction to its final opening. While the concept was first proposed in 1992, the actual…
Hong Kong grapples with keeping its colonial past.
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The phrase "History is written by the winners" (often attributed to Winston Churchill, though its origins are likely older) suggests that the version of the past we accept as "fact" is essentially the narrative that serves the interests of those who came out on…
We love being able to run our little website here. Not only is it fun to do, but it also lightens up our day and our purview. For us, it seemed like only a few years ago when being able to zip from Tokyo to Minsk was merely a dream. You had…
. . .give Matouring a call. One would think that running a travel website is fun (yes it is,) full of free trips and all sorts of goodies. (perhaps, but don't sell your house just yet. But what it does do is give you access to places, activities, and chances to shake hands…
Visiting North Korea is often described as a highly scripted, surreal experience, revealing a “political living fossil” where visitors see a meticulously curated version of the country. Tourists frequently note the intense security rules, the absence of advertising, and the stark contrast between the capital’s manufactured normalcy and the visible poverty of the countryside.
ou can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a ticket to Singapore. · I think I fell in love with Singapore
“Life in Hong Kong transcends cultural and culinary borders, such that nothing is truly foreign and nothing doesn’t belong.”
We believe that anyone who visits our site is someone who loves to travel. And we're also pretty sure that you want to see more than the typical travel drivel. Why would you, when the world is full of places that when at first, might seem daunting, soon turn into an experience that…
“Paradise” is a suffering word, grossly overused and ineptly devalued in everyday hype and blurb. Yet, tired as it is, it will have to do. Nothing else conveys that sense of place that can inspire a blissful contentment.”
― Andrew Rayner, Reach for Paradise
A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.”
Old style Nagasaki is your tonic from the everyday.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
Lateral thinking. And then take over the world!
This is one of those “pinch me” moments. Book now.
Sleeping in a Train Station! How often to plane enthusiasts sleep in an actual plane? Or a boat or a super car? It's rare, for sure. But it's even more rare when it is genuinely, truly a unique experience. If you're a Japan buff, this is certainly a thrill. …
Life is a desert of shifting sand dunes. Unpredictable. Erratic. Harmony changes into dissonance, the immediate outlives the profound, esoteric becomes cliched. And vice versa.” – Ella Leya