Turkey stands at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, and has so for millenia. Its importance cannot be understated, especially when you consider all that it has brought to the world.
If you've been, you'll know that one of the most unforgettable experiences there is the Bosphorus. Huge, bustling, vibrant and stunning, it has also had…
Asia
There are so many fabulous places in the world in which to travel. Many of us are lucky enough to be able to do so. And, many of us have already been able to make the rounds and see all of the "star" locations, such as Paris, New York, Beijing etc.
It will come as no…
Here we go again - Matouring waxing on with dreamy eyes about the world's state-of-the-art rail systems. Today it's - no surprise! - Japan. Like most of Asia (and Europe as well) they realise the complete 360º view of what train travel brings to exploring the earth - or even just getting to work and…
India is a spectacular place. So many layers of so many things. History that stretches far into the past and a future that is rocketing into fantastic new directions. Lovely, kind and curious people.
But, its antiquity also holds its own foggy mysteries. One of which is the lost kingdom Dwarka. Originally, Dwarka was believed to…
Sometimes, we like to feature our affiliate friends, especially when there is good news. (We consider ourselves lucky that they've chosen to work with us (and vice versa) and it's always a thrill when new and exciting adventures come along. Recently, Hong Kong-based Klook has made some big and exciting changes to its broad range…
Collectively, we are so used to seeing Japan as squeaky clean streets, gracious and polite residents and - almost - not a hair out of place. Cherry blossoms. Mount Fuji. Bullet trains. Mind-blowing food.
And, of course all of that is correct. But there are some places in Japan that don't always bubble up to the…
It won't be surprise if we say that Japan is one of the happiest and most welcoming countries in the world. Its residents strive every day find happiness in even the little things. But, some of the quiet islands take that ethos even further. Okinawa, Japan has highest congregation of people over 100 years of…
As if Hong Kong is not enough on its own, it also shyly features quiet joys.
Fear not. We're not discussing a fiery Cantonese dish (most aren't.) Nor are we proposing some kind of thrill ride that requires diapers (although this activity features thrills of its own.)
One little-known joy of Hong Kong is Shek O Peak,…
Without sounding like we're preaching, or stating the obvious, but the fact that you, our wonderful readers, are looking at this article says a lot about you, and certainly something about us, Matouring.
Visiting Venice or Rio are undoubtedly some of the most thrilling things we can do in our lives. But, sometimes (more often than…
China is an exciting country, with such incredible diversity in its terrain, people . . . and its cities.
Of course, Beijing rises to the top. It is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 million residents within an administrative area.
It is home to the headquarters of most of China's largest state-owned companies…
Lovers of Japanese food are, most likely, lovers of sushi. It's a food that should be recognised by museums as art. Even at its most basic, sold in bulk at crowded Asian markets, there is still a strong level of pride in the construction and presentation of sushi. But, let's have a moment to pause…
In the remote northern region of Kashmir, the gorgeous Dal Lake provides livelihood to the growing population surrounding Srinagar city.
But for a variety of reasons, the beautiful and historic region is under threat. There has been a government conservation act in place for over two decades, but it will take even more than that to…
Sometimes there's nothing better than being out on your own, doing what you want to do on your schedule. And if you want a little peace, what could be a better choice than some of the expansive and - in many places - crowd-free places in Asia. Just you, your backback, your phone and .…
Usually, when we think of the USA, we think of corn fields, Mount Rushmore, NYC and Yellowstone. Hawaii comes to mind just as often, and rightly so.
But, we know that our intrepid readers are often on the lookout for something different, perhaps a bit exotic, but certainly unique enough that they can show off their…
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.…
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…