Kebun Raya, Bogor: Gardens in the city
He who plants a garden, plants happiness, says the old proverb. When Casper Reinwardt established his botanical gardens at Buitenzorg in 1817 he did just that.
Read more
Features
Simian City: The Monkeys of Lopburi
It’s early morning in Lopburi, and a monkey has grabbed a bottle of yummy looking yellow liquid and is scampering off along the cables attached to the side of a building.
Read more
The sweet smell of steam: A century old sugar mill in East Java
With a shrill whistle, a cloud of black smoke and much clanking of steel engine No4, Semeru, with it’s one truck load of passengers chuffed through the gates
Read more
Art walking in Penang’s living gallery
One of the joys of exploring Penang’s street art is that new works pop up with no announcement while old works fade or are painted over as buildings are renovated
Read more
War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea
Tea arrived in the UK in the early seventeenth century but it had a slow start. It was very expensive and was marketed primarily for its medicinal properties.
Read more
Sunrise over Gunung Bromo and the Tengger Highlands
Sunrise over Gunung Bromo is one of the earth’s great spectacles. I first saw it, in less than perfect weather conditions, over twenty years ago. Back then there
Read more
Climbing Mt Kinabalu via the old Mesilau trail
The name Kinabalu is derived from the words Aki Nabalu which, in the local Kadazan language, means ‘the revered place of the dead.’
Read more
Hiking in Hong Kong: The Tai Tam West Catchwater
A stroll along the Tai Tam West Catchwater and the southern shore of the Intermediate reservoir offers a lovely walk that doesn’t require any hill climbing
Read more
The Fire Carts of Xishi
A shrill whistle splits the morning calm and echoes off the two enormous sandstone cliffs that shelter the little town of Bagou. A few moments later, in a cloud of smoke and steam, a train bursts out of a tunnel
Read more
Hiking in Hong Kong: Violet Hill and The Twins
“Violent Hill, I call it,” remarked a former colleague of mine. She didn’t say what she called The Twins, she doesn’t approve of strong language.
Read more