The Inle Lake Region of Burma is not only aesthetically compelling, it is also historically important. The lake is the site of the deeply revered Buddhist site Phaung Daw Oo (variantly Hpaung Daw U) Pagoda which houses five gilded images of Buddha of different sizes that are no longer discernible …
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Seldom is a highly destructive event commemorated, but in Indonesia, the Krakatoa Festival in Lampung, Sumatra is exactly that. The Krakatoa (misspelled by the British from “Krakatua”) was a massive volcano found in the Sunda Strait, between the Java and Sumatran islands of Indonesia. It violently blew off its top …
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For a compact country, Singapore is a cultural haven jam-packed with things to do day and night. To give credence to the fact that there’s more – plenty more – to Singapore from sundown to sun-up, the Singapore Night Festival was conceived. An artistic extravaganza that comes alive after-hours, the …
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About 200 years ago, the Singapore River started as a trading post that opened up not only this small city-state but the entire region to trade with the rest of the world. The establishment of Singapore as a logistics hub started way back when Sir Stamford Raffles realized the importance …
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Only a few monarchies today have remained absolute, with all the powers vested in the reigning king or queen. The concentration of political power from one ruler has transitioned to a group of advisers or a council, and this was what happened to Thailand on December 10, 1932. People Power …
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Christmas is one of the world’s most recognizable and celebrated holidays. Countries and cultures all over the world prepare for this time of the year and celebrate with much pomp and revelry. It is one of the holidays which have both religious and secular roots. Every year, Christmas falls on …
Read More »The flag carrier of Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, plans to expand their presence in Asia this year, with more flights lined up to serve passengers coming from and bound for the Philippines and China. The flag carrier has also added transit flights to Tokyo en route to Los Angeles, and is …
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Rama IX, popularly known as King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the world’s longest-reigning monarch. His Majesty came to the throne on June 9, 1946, while still finishing his studies in Switzerland. It was there that he met his future wife, Queen Sirikit, equally the world’s longest-serving consort. As the descendant of …
Read More »Thai monarchs are revered by their people because of their great contributions to the development of the nation. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) was one of those monarchs who opened up the country to Western thought, having been tutored by a British-Indian governess named Anna Leonowens whose life was the basis …
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When is bashing your neighbor a good way to start the year? Unless you are from south Zanzibar, then you probably would end up in jail hitting someone hard with a banana stalk as an expression of taking out grudges and starting the year on a clean slate. Americans are …
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In most parts of the world, summer means beach. White beach. And blue waters. But in Boryeong, 200 kilometers south of Seoul, summer means mud, the biggest mud festival there ever is in Asia. Mud madness this year starts on July 19 and concludes on July 28. It’s a Mud …
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One look at the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and one gets a sense of ambition that wants to outdo the pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State. Dubai, where this lofty building rises and taunts the sky, has fully embraced the influence of Western commerce in …
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