Next Destination

“I had never considered visiting China until only a few months before I started this trip. But then I read an article about the magnificence of The Forbidden City, Beijing’s greatest palace complex which is filled with the history of the Emperors from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. It stimulated my curiosity and led me to do some further research about the country; as a result, I decided to visit four cities in 12 days last November.” The first city on my list was Shanghai, and so I started my journey in what is China’s largest city of 24 million people. Located on the Huangpu River where it enters the southern bank of the Yangtze River estuary, Shanghai is a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers. It has well developed modern transport systems which make it very easy to get aro...

Pushkar - A Spiritual Town I had planned a trip to Rajasthan, a state in the North East of India and, on landing in the capital Jaipur, I headed for Pushkar, 150km away. Pushka is a town bordering the Thar Desert and is a famous sacred site for both Hindu and Sikh pilgrims. It is a small town with many temples and lakeside ghats (stone staircases) where people bathe during celebrations. For religious reasons in Puskar, you are not allowed to eat eggs, and meat and alcohol are prohibited. Pushkar is famous for the “Pushkar Camel Fair” which happens every year in October or November. Over a period of seven days, people come from far and wide to trade horses and camels. The first impression is that it sounds like it is just a cattle market, but it is, in fact, much more than that. ...

I CAME ACROSS AN IMAGE CAPTURED IN AN OLD POSTCARD PORTRAYING THOUSANDS OF STUPAS SET IN GREEN FIELDS SWEPT BY GOLDEN RAYS OF SUNSHINE AND EMBLAZONED WITH THE NAME “BURMA” ACROSS IT. I WAS FASCINATED. I must go to this place I said to myself. Myanmar (formerly Burma), it seems, is not popular as a tourism destination for Asian people these days however the archaeological site consisting of more than 2,000 temples is a favoured destination for the world traveller. I flew to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar and continued my journey with an 8 hour trip by overnight bus, arriving in Bagan at dawn. Even at that early hour, there were many alternative transport options to choose from with taxis, charter cars and horse-drawn carriages ready to take me to see the sunrise in Minnanthu vill...

VOYAGER OF THE SEAS AN AWARD-WINNING GLOBAL CRUISE COMPANY WITH A 50-YEAR LEGACY FOR INNOVATION, ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL IS OFFERING EXCITING NEW OPTIONS FOR THOSE DISCERNING TRAVELLERS WHO SEEK OUT THE ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE YOU CAN ONLY FIND OUT ON THE HIGH SEAS. The company is giving ‘Adventures in Asia’ a whole new meaning with the highly anticipated arrival of the bolder-than-ever reincarnation of the cruise liner Voyager of the Seas. The ship has been extensively refitted giving it a US$97 million new look with a list of jaw-dropping “firsts” never before seen at sea. Starting on Oct 21st, the newly refurbished ship will set sail on a series of 3- to 5-night Southeast Asian cruises with seven sailings from Singapore to Penang, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang). ...

IN THE WESTERN SICHUAN PROVINCE OF CHINA, LIES GARZE TOWN, PART OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF TIBET. Surrounded by rocky terrain and mountains at 4,000 metres above sea- level, Jose Jeuland found himself immersed in the life, colors and culture of the rosy-cheeked and free-spirited Tibetan locals. A French photographer who is based in Singapore, Jose was entranced by the strength and vitality the Tibetan people exuded despite living amidst the harsh weather and living conditions. Adorable children filled with energy were running around while folks worked hard ploughing the fields. Temples and monasteries line the streets. The people living here are devout buddhists. They lead simple lives and are devoted to their strong religious beliefs. The Tibet Autonomous Region is the ...