Animal parks are fun and, at their best and most honourable, educational and conservation-centric. Alas, while not always an easy-to-find mix in much of Asia (not to malign an entire continent), these ten zoological attractions make the grade.

Any tips for a solo female traveller in Asia? Phoebe F., Glenelg Full Moon Party, Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand – Photo credit Let me take a stab at your question and do the answer justice. Whenever someone asks me about travel safety and specific preventative measures to take in specific parts of the world, I … More

I come from a family that tends to go all-out for Christmas: gifts, decorations, food, the whole lot. This year I will be in Buddhist Southeast Asia for the holidays, however, on academic research. What can I expect? Clare O., Perth Christmas décor in Hanoi – Photo credit Without specifics I can only be so … More

Beijing, the superlative capital of China, offers endless adventure and inimitable, iconic attractions. From the UNESCO World Heritage Imperial Palaces to the Great Wall, incomparable cuisine to austere Taoist shrines, the city is without peer. Check out our top 10 in Beijing for visitors on a tight schedule.

It’s probably the worst-kept secret in Southeast Asia: Singapore punches way above its weight when it comes to, well, just about everything. The boxing analogies come easily but we prefer to look at the diminutive city-state in global wrestling terms. To wit, Singapore is a yokozuna in a mini-estrella body. This most definitely applies when … More

Whenever you embark on a comparative city analysis, you inevitably run the risks of oversimplification, generalisation and hyperbole. The task becomes even more fraught and complex when you juxtapose a major world metropolis with a keen upstart second (or third) city, à la London and Manchester, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai and Bangalore. … More