On the face of it, Bali seems to be one of those fortunate tourist hot spots immune to dire global economic circumstances. Just have a gander at the statistics for 2011, when visitor numbers to the island from nine of the ten top nations of origin shot up. The lone exception was Japan, which, when … More

The inimitable, nonpareil resort island of Thailand and, perhaps, Southeast Asia, is big and eclectic enough to offer a different kind of holiday experience to a kaleidoscope of travellers. Indeed, what can you not do in Phuket? Like to party? See Patong. Care for culture and temples, traditional markets and villages? Phuket has that too. … More

Street food excellence and Malaysia go together like the rice and coconut milk in that bowl of nasi lemak. The country is so rife with quality curbside grub that it has almost become a rite of passage culinary cliché. Cynical, hasty hipsters, it seems, are ever-watchful for the next compass of cool, whether in the … More

China now mints more millionaires than any other country in the world and, by logical extension, any other country in history. The pursuit and creation of wealth, ostensibly, is the new national pastime, as Maoism has made way for a state-run brand of high-octane capitalism the likes of which we have not seen (but that … More

It was not so long ago that Las Vegas was the conclusive core of the mega casino resort world. Sin City, in fact, was the mega casino resort world, with poor Atlantic City a shabby, poor, reprobate cousin. Unless you live under a Baccarat table, you have some sense that the casino hotel game has … More

Blame island life, the tropical climate and preponderance of sunshine. Or perhaps the mosaic of cultures and personalistic, cohesive element of Roman Catholicism. Whatever the case, the Philippines is a country that, from Davao del Sur to Ilocos Norte, likes a good party. While Metro Manila seethes with activity and traffic and Palawan sways with … More