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Asia

Asia

Bali high

In Bali beauty and blessings are an industry. Hotels advertise “meditation area” on road signs, shoppers visit Reborn Gifts, graffiti is simply “KARMA” spray-painted in capitals. Its allure is obvious and since 2006’s book Eat, Pray Love, the island’s come under increasing pressure from tourism: international visitors rose from 4.8 million in 2006 to 6.5…

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“Dear, ocean. I think about you all the time.”

The website Wavecation has existed in one form or another since the early 2000s. Originally a passion project of Matt Thomson, it long functioned as a lo-fi repository of beachfront rental properties near good surf breaks. In 2018, longtime users Juan Dulanto and Ren Fuller-Wasserman reached out to Thompson to inquire about his future plans…

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Saari and some cold showers

After arriving downhill at Saari and some cold showers, we began the journey to our next destination- Chopta. The drive from Saari to Chopta was about 45 minutes long and every curve of the road exposed different perspectives of the natural setting. As we gained more altitude, the endless snow capped peaks lined our horizon.…

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The giant shadow of Ikebukuro

HEARTLANDS: ZOSHIGAYA Small winding streets and low-rise houses. Zoshigaya is only a short walk away from the malls, highways and flashing lights of Ikebukuro, but feels like a silent suburb in comparison.  This homely heartland has maintained its Showa-era (1926 – 1989) atmosphere, with winding lanes lined with family homes and small shops selling everyday…

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How to say Thailand is my land

Over the centuries, travellers from Western Europe have been spellbound by the alluring cultures of the Far East. The ancient adventurers who arrived on the shores of Siam were instantly besotted, and there is ample evidence that a name change has done little to dampen the appeal of this remarkably captivating country. In the 21st…

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Kyoto thatched-roof dwellings transport you back in time

Located 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from Kyoto Station, the town of Miyama offers a view into Japan's rich agricultural heritage. Designated a semi-national park, the town is home to some 39 thatched farmhouses where people still live today. Miyama spans multiple hamlets that are scattered throughout the mountains and valleys, about 50 kilometers…

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In Pakistan, it’s always been “waste not, want not.”

The Memon predisposition towards frugality is iconic within Pakistan, but they celebrate their stereotyping as an achievement; a tribute to their enduring prosperity and resilience. The concentration ­and preservation of wealth, as the last vestiges of power and dominion that the displaced Memons clung to, has been integral to their quest for identity. And while…

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