Asia - The Best Time to Visit

Hanoi’s Iconic Scooters Could Soon Vanish from City Centre

August 9, 2025 by Ben

It’s practically a symbol of Vietnam’s capital, if not the entire country. The countless scooters in varying states of repair, smoking and spluttering throughout the city, could well disappear from central Hanoi as early as next year… Scooters: A Social Phenomenon To say that scooters and other small motorcycles are abundant in Hanoi would be an understatement. This is hardly surprising, given that they’re the primary mode of transport for most residents – so much so that there are reportedly over 5 million of them for a population of around 9 million. It’s practically a world record… Whilst this mode … Read more

This new Abu Dhabi museum should delight those interested in Middle Eastern culture

August 5, 2025 by Ben

For once, it’s not happening in Dubai but not far from there, in Abu Dhabi. However, as always in the Gulf, this is a pharaonic project with exceptional architecture whose inauguration is planned by the end of the year. It is indeed in December 2025 that the Zayed National Museum should open its doors in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This should certainly delight those interested in Middle Eastern culture in this city that already hosts its Louvre Abu Dhabi and will soon also welcome its branch of the famous Guggenheim. 300,000 years of history If further proof … Read more

When AI Takes Over From Restaurant Chefs

August 3, 2025 by Ben

Burj Khalifa With Dubai Downtown Towers at Sunset

Where will Artificial Intelligence stop? Everywhere and in everything, it’s increasingly governing our lives, to the point where we now find it in places and for purposes we wouldn’t have imagined not so long ago. Case in point: these restaurants that will employ AI to replace their more or less Michelin-starred chefs, as we’re seeing in Dubai. First in Dubai As one might expect, this sort of thing could only emerge in Dubai. It’s indeed in this Emirati city that a restaurant run entirely by an “AI chef” will open next September. Called WOOHOO, this restaurant of the future will be … Read more

It’s still a complicated time for tourism in Thailand

July 27, 2025 by Ben

If there’s one country that seems unsure of its direction in tourism lately, struggling to recapture its pre-Covid visitor numbers, it has to be Thailand. Between constantly changing entry rules, popular sites closing for months on end, and an on-the-ground experience that seems to be satisfying visitors less and less, one has to wonder: is the “Land of Smiles” starting to frown? A tarnishing image First, there are the entry requirements. One minute they’re being simplified, the next they’re more complex, with new digital forms and other bits of red tape making it hard to keep up. Then, since mid-May, … Read more

Naoshima: The Museum Island Where Contemporary Art Replaced Industry

July 24, 2025 by Ben

Naoshima, Japan, floats in the Seto Inland Sea like an anomaly. This small 8 km² island was home to foundries and chemical plants until the 1990s. Today, tourists disembark from the ferry to see Monet paintings in an underground museum and a giant Kusama pumpkin on a pier. The Benesse Art Site project, launched by billionaire Soichiro Fukutake and architect Tadao Ando, has transformed this industrial patch of land into a global art destination. The local population, which dwindled from 8,000 to 3,000 in a few decades, has seen their island reborn thanks to visitors who come to contemplate artworks … Read more

Sri Lanka: The Cultural Triangle and Beyond

July 18, 2025 by Ben

Sri Lanka – sometimes called “India’s peaceful neighbour” – bears an undeniable resemblance to the subcontinent that lies just a few dozen kilometres to the north. The former Ceylon shares many similarities with India, including a remarkably rich historical and cultural heritage. An Exceptional Culture In Sri Lanka, cultural discovery revolves primarily around what’s known as the “Cultural Triangle”… This vast region at the heart of the country is bounded by Anuradhapura – the island’s most ancient capital, where monumental stupas stand alongside countless temples and palace ruins – and Polonnaruwa, which served as capital between the 11th and 13th centuries and retains … Read more

Chiang Mai at a Glance: The Must-Sees of Northern Thailand

July 16, 2025July 15, 2025 by Ben

Chiang Mai, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, remains a city with a character all its own in northern Thailand. A world away from the frenzy of Bangkok, it moves to a different rhythm. The historic centre still has its moats and remnants of defensive walls, encircling over 300 Buddhist temples, markets that spill onto the pavements, and a thriving local arts scene. The Temple Scene Wat Phra That Doi Suthep watches over the city from its mountain perch at an altitude of 1,000 metres. After climbing 309 steps between two golden naga balustrades, the view is more than … Read more

Could Kazakhstan be the next hotspot for space tourism?

July 14, 2025 by Ben

We’ve all heard of Cape Canaveral and Florida’s Space Coast, or Kourou in French Guiana. Both are world-renowned for launching rockets and satellites into space. This has a knock-on effect on local tourism, with crowds flocking to watch every launch and often staying to explore the surrounding area. So, what if, after Florida and French Guiana, there was another global hub for “space tourism” and astrotourism more broadly? Welcome to Kazakhstan and the Baikonur Cosmodrome… Where are Kazakhstan and Baikonur? Covering 2,724,900 km², Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and one of the ten largest in the world. … Read more

China is now home to the world’s largest Lego park

July 13, 2025 by Ben

We all played with them as kids – those famous Lego bricks, the building blocks of our youth. Tiny plastic pieces in different shapes, colours, and sizes, all ready to be clicked together to create buildings, landscapes, characters, and so much more. But for years now, Lego has also meant theme parks, which have been popping up in various countries. And now, the brand’s largest “Legoland” in the world is set to open its doors on the 5th of July in Shanghai, China. 85 million Lego bricks An incredible 318,000 m²! After years of construction and millions of dollars spent, Legoland … Read more

India Uncharted: A Journey Beyond the Beaten Path

February 18, 2024 by Ben

India, a land steeped in history, spirituality, and natural beauty, often summons images of bustling markets, majestic palaces, and serene landscapes. Yet, beyond these well-trodden paths lies an India less explored, where the rhythm of life moves to a different beat. This journey is for the curious traveler seeking experiences untouched by the typical tourist trail. From the remote valleys of the North to the undiscovered beaches of the South, let’s embark on an expedition to the India that exists off the map. The Hidden Valleys of the Himalayas In the shadow of the snow-capped Himalayas lie valleys that time … Read more