ACHIEVEMENT IS A CHOICE
We won't wax here on about working hard. That is a personal choice and who are we to say? It has its ups and downs. It's not for everyone. And there is no shame in simply being who you are, ambitious or not.
In China, though, there is an entire city of go-getters.…
Asia
Today's world is getting ever more intense . . . and tense. Between Covid-19, Mother Earth pushing back on our bad behaviour, just general bad behavior of the "ultra haves" versus the have-nots, and work and home pressures, the temptation to "lose it" is often dangling in front of our noses. But, some cultures look…
Isn't it a delight when you discover someplace new and it exceeds all of your expectations especially when you don't know what your expectations are? Yogyakarta is one of those places.
The Indonesian city rests in central Java, between the cool breezes of the Indian Ocean and the steamy breath of volcanoes.
Travel here and join the…
Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light district (Yoshiwara-Yukaku) during the Edo period. The Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri started in 2003 to preserve this piece of Edo history.
It takes place along a 500m or so stretch of road with members in full Edo period dress…
We here at Matouring love India and always look to make it shine here on the site.
Well, we're happy to say that we've added Vistara airlines as affiliate friends. Vistara is a joint venture of Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA)
Vistara has rapidly expanded its footprint, both in terms of network and…
As the world gets bigger, yet smaller, we all have an opportunity to grow, learn, experience and fall in love with places new. At Matouring, we promote this ethos and hope that you do, too. It can sometimes take you by surprise, or, simply surprise you. But, with eyes wide open, behind the veil, a…
Much has been written about North Korea (we've done a few) but, for the most part, it still remains a riddle. Clearly the North Korean management team want to keep it this way, but that doesn't necessarily help their public relations efforts. We've read and watched as much as we can about the country, as…
Japan is a glorious place, with charming people and an endless supply of things to see and do.
But, one of the most intriguing are the Mozu / Kofu burial tombs just outside of Osaka. The only problem is that you can't actually see much of these marvels. (Still worth visiting, though.)
Although the iconic Mozu Tombs…
The world is certainly not getting any smaller, that's for sure. And its capacity to hold us all is starting to become a strain on the planet. But, as ever, there are clever humans who have ideas.
The 15-minute city urban theory received the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable…
It's hard to believe, but there is the very slim chance that you might run out of activities when you're in Tokyo.
You will have had to have combed the entire city of 13.96 million people, the 60,000+ restaurants, 6,000 different parks. (see some of our suggestions, below.)
But, if all of that is not enough, watch…
As you'll know, the skies are full of aircraft, flying here and there. If you live near an airport, your knowledge is supreme.
But do you know which are the busiest routes in the air? This knowledge could help you plan more efficiently the next time you travel.
Read more here courtesy of SimpleFlying.com.
With that many flights,…
NONG KHAI, THAILAND - The sky is a cloudless shade of cobalt when I catch my first glimpse of the Mekong River. Above its deceptively still waters stands the First Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge, which connects the Thai province of Nong Khai to the Laotian capital of Vientiane. The two locales are linked by a rail shuttle…
Residents of Okinawa are some of the world’s healthiest and happiest. Strong social networks and good food may be why.
The island unlocked the secret to long life—and knows how to get through tough times.
Read more here courtesy of NationalGeographic.com
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Let 12go show you around Okinawa. Click above.
It is so nice to see when something actually means something to the people around it, and that they treasure it and preserve it. Especially when it is larger than life. Sendai Daikannon, officially known as the Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon, is a large statue of Byakue Kannon bearing a gem in her hand located…
Manga? Man, go!
Japan is a wonderous place of so many contrasts. Surgically-focused mega-corporations. Almost unreal scenery. Respectful and warm humans.
And a Hello Kitty bullet train. Never again will your commute be mundane. You can even be the engineer - sort of.
Enjoy the video below and experience it yourself. Bullet trains in Japan are just…
How lucky are we that there are so many fascinating places on earth, and that social media has made them so available to us. No matter how long you have been alive, there is no shortage of new and wonderful places to go. Take Yana, for example, in the western Ghats in India
Located 55 km…
Macao is an autonomous region on the south coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese territory until 1999, it reflects a mix of cultural influences. Its giant casinos and malls on the Cotai Strip, which joins the islands of Taipa and Coloane, have earned it the nickname, "Las Vegas of…
No, we are not casting any aspirsions on Korean Air with the title of this article. Quite the opposite. We love all things Korean, especially the films and movies. Our first exposure was "Crash Landing on You" (on Netflix.) We recently watched "Psychokinesis" which is absolutely bonkers. Hilarious. Do yourself a favour.
No, this article and…
Mongolia is a place that often seems a mystery to many of us. But that is because it may not be at the top of our travel list. And that's a shame, as Mongolia (like many other countries) has so many hidden charms.
Home to the legendary Genghis Khan, the vast wilderness and endless blue skies…
Politics aside, we're all human, right? And, as humans, for the most part we all seem to innately know that we must get along just to survive. We've seen the history to know what happens when we don't. Here, we feature a video from the National Geographic of a few young athletes who are invited…