Where … Lake Towada, near the northern tip of Japan’s Honshu Island. When … Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 3.25pm What … Lake Towada, the largest caldera pond on Japan’s main island, is part of the Towada National Park and marks the border between Akita and Aomori prefectures. It is famous for the “autumn colour”Continue reading “Lake Towada …”
Category Archives: Asia
Luang Prabang’s new luxe …
LAOS is shaping up as one of 2018’s hidden holiday gems with travellers now having another option when it comes to booking luxury accommodation. The AVANI+ Luang Prabang opened on March 1 with the 53-room property located in the heart of the northern city steps from the Mekong River, Royal Palace, and Night Market. TheContinue reading “Luang Prabang’s new luxe …”
AVANI’s new hotel brand …
AVANI Hotels & Resorts will add a new brand to the stable with the launch of AVANI+. Each address wearing the AVANI+ name will “tell its own unique story” using architecture and design while also employing technology to help those making reservations explore the locations they are visiting. “We will introduce guests to the destinationContinue reading “AVANI’s new hotel brand …”
Putting on the Ritz in Thailand …
KOH Samui’s newest hotel the Ritz-Carlton officially opened back in October but I just received a stack of photographs snapped around the luxurious Thai property and thought it was worth showing them off. The resort occupies land on the holiday island that was once home to a coconut plantation with the 175 suites and poolContinue reading “Putting on the Ritz in Thailand …”
Do South-East Asia in 2018 …
WHEN Aussies daydream about getting away it’s destinations around Asia that often provide the backdrop for holiday fantasies. Empty beaches, ancient temples, bustling cities, lush rainforests, hectic markets and serene islands promise something to satisfy every appetite, but where to go when new resorts, tours, experiences and destinations pop up every day? Escape chats withContinue reading “Do South-East Asia in 2018 …”
AVANI new for Thailand’s Hua Hin …
HUA HIN, the beach-side settlement that’s long been a favourite with the Thai royal family, is home to the newest AVANI hotel. The AVANI Hua Hin Resort is a block from the beach but boasts lush tropical gardens with each of the 196 guest rooms, suites and villas looking across the vast lagoon-style pools thatContinue reading “AVANI new for Thailand’s Hua Hin …”
Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …
SOMETIMES moments of great symmetry happen during travels. Like reading a great work of literature set in the bygone French Indochina while floating along the waterway that features in the story. From my armchair on the deck of a colonial-style riverboat, floating along Vietnam’s Mekong River somewhere between the Cambodian border and South China Sea,Continue reading “Deposited in Ms Duras’ Sa Dec …”
Singapore’s A380 cabin upgrade …
SINGAPORE Airlines has set a new standard in sky-high comfort by unveiling the next generation of “cabin products”. The airline, known as an innovator when it comes to aircraft interiors, has invested four years in designing the new passenger spaces that will feature across all four cabin categories in the A380 after a fleet refurbishmentContinue reading “Singapore’s A380 cabin upgrade …”
Anantara Angkor’s super suites …
A FRENCH explorer and renowned silk merchant have inspired two grand new guest villas at Siem Reap’s Anantara Angkor Resort. The jewel in the hotel’s crown is the sprawling Henri Mouhot Suite — the serene space celebrates the intrepid naturalist and adventurer credited with uncovering the lost Angkor ruins back in the 1860 — andContinue reading “Anantara Angkor’s super suites …”
SQ183 sunset …
Where … Flying on a Singapore Airlines’ 777 from Saigon to Singapore When … Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 9.09pm What … A delayed departure from Saigon, and a command from Singapore air traffic control to slow down by doing lazy circles in the sky while flying south along the Malay Peninsula, put my planeContinue reading “SQ183 sunset …”
HOTEL – MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO
Situated on the lush Kooddoo Island within the southern Gaafu Alifu Atoll, we are only 50 minutes domestic flight from Male International Airport, with no other speedboat journey. Which means direct access from the domestic terminal to your villa. Mercure Maldives Kooddoo website MALDIVES NEW MERCURE THERE’S now another option for mid-scale accommodation in theContinue reading “HOTEL – MERCURE MALDIVES KOODDOO”
Stepping into Japanese tradition …
IT’S easy to see why the residents of Ogimachi were able to live their traditional lifestyle for so long. The Japanese village, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage register since 1995, sits on a plot of flat river-side land at the foot of steep hills and towering peaks and this geological barrier makesContinue reading “Stepping into Japanese tradition …”
… Singapore’s Chinatown market …
SINGAPORE is a place that’s making a mad dash towards the future with the Lion City leading the way when it comes to everything from innovative social housing developments to something as simple as finding better ways to check luggage for an international flight. But in a settlement that’s shiny and new there are stillContinue reading “… Singapore’s Chinatown market …”
the Mekong River …
WHERE … The Mekong River in central Cambodia WHEN … Monday, August 7, at 5.06pm WHAT … It’s the second full day of my cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon on board the RV Mekong Pandaw and we’re sailing downstream somewhere between Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh. It’s about an hour before dusk settles onContinue reading “the Mekong River …”
Singapore’s southern sky …
Where … A suite on the 19th floor at One Ferrar Resort & Spa When … Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 9.23am What … Another day begins in Singapore with the floor-to-ceiling windows in my suite on the 19th floor at One Ferrar Resort & Spa framing a view that stretches across the island’s southernContinue reading “Singapore’s southern sky …”
VISIT – BALI
BALI BEST IN AUGUST TRIPADVISOR has news for those Aussies desperate to escape the mid-winter gloom by spending some time in Asia’s tropical warm. Bali’s average nightly room rates are set to plummet by more than $50 per night in August at places to stay right around the Indonesian holiday island. TripAdvisor has been searchingContinue reading “VISIT – BALI”
Singapore’s Shang receives refresh …
SINGAPORE’S Shangri-La hotel is an enclave of elegant excess at the top end of Orchard Road that regularly welcomes everyone from kings and queens to diplomats and politicians as well as discerning tourists in town to indulge in a spot of sightseeing. The hotel’s Tower Wing – built in 1971, it’s an original part ofContinue reading “Singapore’s Shang receives refresh …”
Temple etiquette for Asia tour …
DO you know the difference between a pagoda, a temple and a stupa? I have been to Asia dozens of times since my rookie tour back in 1994, and ventured inside more Buddhist sanctuaries than I can remember, but it wasn’t until my first sojourn in Myanmar at the end of 2015 that a guideContinue reading “Temple etiquette for Asia tour …”
Another first for BKK’s Pullman …
NINE years after welcoming its first guests the world’s first Pullman hotel, Pullman Bangkok King Power, has unveiled a new look after completing a transformative renovation project. “The renovation of Pullman Bangkok King Power presented an unprecedented challenge but the result is simply stunning,” explains the property’s general manager Marc Begassat. “Our goal was toContinue reading “Another first for BKK’s Pullman …”
River ship that feels like home …
“GOOD morning, welcome home,’’ the ship’s crew chant as we step back on board the RV Mekong Pandaw. It’s only 10.30am but the day is already fiercely hot, the dense humidity delivered by last night’s monsoonal downpour settling on the landscape like a wet woolen blanket. I’m pleased to be back on my graceful floatingContinue reading “River ship that feels like home …”
Honkers’ new very Kerry address …
HONG Kong’s Kerry Hotel is close to opening and taking reservations for stays from April 2017. The 546-room property, in Kowloon’s waterfront Hung Hom Bay, is described as Hong Kong’s first “five-star urban resort” created to “pamper guests with pure comfort and understated luxury” and each room features floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the Victoria HarbourContinue reading “Honkers’ new very Kerry address …”
So majestic in KL …
→ Colonial charm at Kuala Lumpur’s Majestic Hotel … I HAVE a thing for Asia’s colonial-era hotels. I love everything about them – from the old-time architecture to a serene sense of history suggested by the internal design – and seek out historic addresses when heading to the Orient. So when I find myself inContinue reading “So majestic in KL …”
Shop for style in new Saigon …
THE first time I went to Saigon almost 20 years ago shopping was limited to a stroll through Ben Thanh Market. Nothing cost more than a couple of dollars and while items like clothes and shoes rarely fitted the western frame it was a chance to stock up on delicate ceramics, colourful handbags and vibrantContinue reading “Shop for style in new Saigon …”
Burma’s summer-time capital …
IT’S Christmas Eve in Australia and I’ve spent the past few hours battling crowds to collect last-minute provisions from the supermarket, preparing tomorrow’s desserts, and rearranging the pile of presents under the tree. But while pottering around I’ve been thinking back 12 months and reminiscing about where I was this time last year. Instead ofContinue reading “Burma’s summer-time capital …”
Angkor’s colonial charming …
→ Staying at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa promises a dose of colonial charm … I’VE stayed in a few Siem Reap hotels over the years. Since my first visit to Cambodia’s Khmer kingdom at the turn of the century I’ve slept in everything from budget bland to luxury lovely with every property providing aContinue reading “Angkor’s colonial charming …”
Flying Kangaroo hops to Tokyo …
AUSTRALIANS now have another flight option for reaching Tokyo with the first Qantas service between Melbourne and Tokyo’s Narita Airport departing on December 16. The daily hop, which will use upgraded Airbus A330-300 aircraft featuring a two-class cabin with Qantas’ signature Marc Newson interiors, departs Melbourne at 9:15am and leaves Narita at 7pm for theContinue reading “Flying Kangaroo hops to Tokyo …”
Singapore’s 2017 hot and happening …
NOT too long ago travellers were happy to stop in Singapore on the promise of nothing more than a gin sling at Raffles and an Orchard Rd bargain. But as the city continues to evolve into one of the world’s most dynamic destinations and visitors seek a holiday like no other in a country effortlesslyContinue reading “Singapore’s 2017 hot and happening …”
Vietnam’s Sa Dec …
I’VE been to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta a few times now but this is the first time I’ve visited Sa Dec. The settlement sits upstream from big cities like Vinh Long and My Tho and, at first glance, looks much like all the other villages lining the banks of the might Mekong River as it snakesContinue reading “Vietnam’s Sa Dec …”
Slow journey is a fast boat …
THE pastel tropical dawn is fusing with the white glow of street-light fluorescents to illuminate our path along the wharf and we can hear the staccato throb of the motors on the back of the speedboat ferry awaiting our arrival. We’re in Chau Doc, on the Vietnamese side of the Cambodian border, and my WorldContinue reading “Slow journey is a fast boat …”
Asia’s top temples to tempt …
SOUTH-East Asia’s top temples, in settlements from Bangkok to Yangon, are ideal places to find serenity in the region’s bustling cities. Angkor Wat Cambodia’s Angkor Wat isn’t just the world’s biggest temple – the sanctuary occupies a 162ha plot 5km from Siem Reap – but it’s also one of the most famous with more thanContinue reading “Asia’s top temples to tempt …”
Far Near Or Here 