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

A lazy sun on the horizon. Satiny golden sand. Limpid emerald water. Cold drinks and parasols. Barefeet. Ah, the good life. Even the most antsy, bookish city habitué needs the tonic of a brilliant beach now and then. Tropical escapes thrive in Asia and evince the kind of magnetic multiplicity the continent is singular for. … More

A sunburn. A hangover. A tattoo. No, not quite what we had in mind. Bali is not a uniform place and represents one type of holiday to this traveller and quite another to the next. What is not in dispute, however, is the island’s incomparable cultural soul. A soul tourists need to mindfully mine and … More

The tourism scene on the island of Bali is, in many respects, a world of two solitudes (perhaps three if you count the Eat Pray Love pilgrims): those who come to live it up and those who come to live it downtempo. The former incarnate is on full display in the likes of Kuta, Nusa … More

From stylish high-rise cocktail bars to World Heritage temple ruins, lustrous coasts to tropical highlands, our most romantic destinations in Asia will make your significant other swoon this Valentine’s Day.

The waters of Asia, from the Laccadive Sea to the East China Sea, Yangtze to Brahmaputra, teem with endless wonders – our fishy cohorts most notably. Eclectic, electric and unmistakably beautiful, these 7 exotic exemplars mesmerise and captivate if you know where to look for them. As per the usual drill, we sort out all … More