Biking in Bangkok

When people think of Bangkok, it’s a good bet that the first thing that goes through their mind is not riding a bicycle. Already legendary for its traffic jams and maze of concrete highways, the massive city of 8-12 million (depending on who you ask) is built for the car. Indeed, it only got its first above-ground electric train system in 1999, and its first subway a few years after that. Suffice it to say, wide, leafy sidewalks with plenty of room for walking and biking do not exist here.

However, despite its spaghetti-tangle of roads, alleys and pathways – or maybe because of them – Bangkok is an excellent city to explore on a bicycle, assuming you’re able to handle it with a medium amount of confidence and skill. There are temples, restaurants, shops – even entire communities – that are nearly inaccessible by car, and that lie well off the tourist trails.

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Aix en Provence: a flaneur’s paradise

The delightful French word flâner could have been created just for the pretty town of Aix-en-Provence.

Flâner means to stroll, to walk slowly and unhurriedly. When you are a flâneur, you wander, you take time to stroll about enjoying the sights and sounds, but always at an unhurried pace. It stands to reason that you usually flane in nice weather, too.

All of which makes Aix-en-Provence a flaneur’s paradise par excellence.

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Oxbridge: Cambridge University

The English university town of Cambridge is half of the famed Oxbridge, the convenient twinning of the two ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge into a united academic entity – a concept which exists only in theory, as in practice the two towns are far apart and have had a healthy rivalry for something like 900 years.

Oxford may well be the older of the two universities, but in terms of beauty and pure aesthetics, Cambridge is the clear winner.

Oxford is beautiful, but much of the beauty is hidden away within the privacy of the colleges. Cambridge, on the other hand, flaunts her beauty and fabulous medieval architecture for everyone to see. At every turn of the city’s winding cobbled streets, there is seemingly a college, a chapel, a distant glimpse of an ancient spire – architectural excellence everywhere.

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Malaysian vs Singaporean Cuisine

Q: Are Malaysian and Singaporean food the same?

If you want to fan the usually dormant flame of nationalism among Malaysians and Singaporeans, then bring up the topic of their cuisine. I was in Taipei with a Malaysian friend few years back and when we came across a Singaporean-branded hawker stall selling char kuey teow, bak kut teh and nasi lemak, I kid you not, he went on a verbal tirade that was uncharacteristic of him.  

But it's a bit misleading to accuse either cuisine of copying the other. Historically, Malaysia and Singapore share the same cultural heritage; at one point in the 1960’s they were even merged into one nation! Influences in their food come from a multicultural blend of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Thai, Portuguese, and various other ethnic groups. And quite recently, perhaps due to the number of Filipinos who have been working and residing in Singapore for decades, Philippine cuisine has been absorbed in their society as well.

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Montmartre

Pigalle.  Le Moulin Rouge and le Moulin de la Galette. Artists and cabaret dancers.  Toulouse-Lautrec and Jane Avril.  Drinkers and “poseurs” - the very word Pigalle seems to sum up all that is naughty about Paris, or at least all that people think is naughty.

Today, Pigalle tries hard to live up to the expectations of the visitors who still come looking for traces of the romanticized Naughty Nineties (of the 1890s variety, I hasten to add).

Pigalle, with its dubious cinemas and peepshows, is at the foot of probably the most famous of the hills in Paris, Montmartre. Montmartre has many claims to fame : it was (and still is) home to innumerable artists and writers. It was briefly an independent commune in the 19th century. And it is the site of the only vineyard in Paris.

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Inside Bangkok Cinemas

Going to the movies might not sound like a very exotic travel experience, but Bangkok is ever a city of surprises. Luxurious, clean, (too) well air-conditioned, well-priced and with screenings in English or in the case of 'foreign' films, with English sub-titles, Bangkok's cinemas are everything you wished you had back home.

Though most of what you'll find at the main chains is Hollywood blockbusters and mainstream English-language cinema, Bangkok also offers indie and arthouse flicks, foreign film festivals and documentaries. Film buffs interested in Asian cinema might appreciate the chance to catch a Thai horror film – the genre is very well-developed and includes highly-stylized chill-inducing remakes of traditional Thai ghost tales.

If you travel during 'winter' – the dry season from November to March – you also stand a good chance of catching an outdoor movie screening.Last year, the Goethe Institute, Rock Around Asia and Alliance Francais all hosted open air movie screenings – it's worth keeping an ear to the ground for these unique – and frequently free – cultural events.

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City insider: Spring into Sydney

Winter in Sydney is a drag. As a city very much about its coastlines, sunshine and outdoor activities, the rain and cold make Sydney – and Sydney-siders – quite inhospitable. While there are certainly blindingly bright sunny days to be had in the middle of August, these are far outnumbered by stretches of miserable rain, cold grey mornings and blustery, tomb-dark evenings that begin as early as 5pm.

Thus, when the bitter gales whipping off the harbor finally begin to mellow and the sun warms and intensifies, Sydney starts its annual metamorphosis from cranky old crone to frolicking party pal. Full revelry won't begin until December, when three months of music festivals, open air cinemas, cultural fairs, cricket matches, food fests and beach parties ensue, but the shoulder season is great time to travel because hotels are cheaper and the beaches are far less crowded.

Every year, spring in Sydney brings with it a full schedule of special events. So, aside from the general enjoyment of outdoor touristic waterfronts such as Cockle Bay, Sydney Fish Markets, Manly Beach and Circular Quay, there are some specific events on that can enhance visitors' cultural understanding of what makes this stunning city tick.

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Koh Si Chang: different type of Thai Island

Islands in southern Thailand have a certain appeal, what with all the azure waters, white sand beaches, excessive sunshine and palm trees. Yet, closer to the capital, you can find the Central Thailand version of an island getaway – an inexpensive, easy-to-execute island trip that rings true to Thailand's unofficial tagline of "same, same, but different". 

Getting there…

Koh Si Chang, under normal circumstances, is a 2.5-hour journey from central Bangkok, if you literally start in the center (around Sukhumvit 21) and hail a cab. The drive takes 1.5 to two hours, (add two or three hours if you're attempting this at 5.30pm on a Friday), and costs around 1,000 THB (USD 30), a tariff which is, naturally, subject to the bargaining skills of you and your driver.

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Mauritius's Capital: Port Louis

Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius is every bit as charming as you would expect from such a pretty little tropical island.

Port Louis is quaint, just historic enough, but yet also small enough for you to wander around on foot, soaking up the hustle and bustle  - but not too much hustle and bustle.  This is a holiday island, after all.

Port Louis sits between the peak known as Signal Hill and the sea, and as good a place as any to begin exploring is at Le Caudan Waterfront. When the waterfront opened in the late 1990s, it was a source of much amazement, containing as it did possibly the first escalator in the country.  People from small villages in the interior of Mauritius came just to have a look at the escalator.

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Traveling India in the monsoon

There are always advantages to every travel situation in life, and this is never more true than when you are planning a trip to India.

Never forget that this vast country is, geographically, a sub-continent.  From the snowy peaks of the Himalayas in the north, through the deserts to the west, down to the steamy heat of the south, there is a huge range of climatic zones.  So whenever you plan your journey, there will always be the weather factor to be considered.  Given the size of the country, there is no single ‘ideal’ time to visit India.

For example, if you wish to travel to Ladakh, high up in Kashmir, you can only do so during the hot summer months, when the snow melts in the passes, and the road and airport become, once again, accessible.

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