Rivalries among kingdoms, empires and modern-day republics have profoundly shaped humanity in many ways. In the process of outdoing each other – through the economy,…
Mount Kencana: Into the Tea Country
Nowadays, wherever you go in the world, it seems like cafés and coffee shops can be found at almost every corner of a city. Many…
Sydney’s Symphony
As the plane made its final approach to Kingsford Smith International Airport, my excitement was slightly dampened by the thick clouds that stretched as far…
An Aftertaste of Istanbul
We were standing under Galata Tower, a 14th century gem perched on the hill of Beyoğlu, a district in the European side of Istanbul. South…
Nuremberg: The Ups and Downs
Currently Nuremberg is Germany’s fourteenth largest city. However, in the past it played a significant role in the history of the nation. During the age…
Memories of Anuradhapura
I don’t know about you, but I am one of those people who like to look at their old travel photos to relive the good…
Puncak: Jakarta’s Lush Backyard
Merak. In your language this word may or may not mean something, but in Indonesian it refers to the peacock, one of the most extravagant-looking…
A Taste of the Levant: Lebanon
From the balmy Mediterranean Sea to the snow-covered mountains of Lebanon, the magnificent Roman ruins in Baalbek to the spectacular rock city of Petra, and the scorching heat of Jordanian desert to…
Vijaya and the Defeat of Angkor
Trying to imagine how Vijaya looked during its heyday is difficult when you see what it’s like in the present. The day after we went…
A Slice of Taiwan in Semarang
Kota Lama. That charming part of my hometown Semarang seems to know how to keep me visiting whenever I’m in town. Despite the haphazard “revitalization” done by…