Editorial
Heritage articles
Heritage-grade writing on Indonesia — origin stories, cultural etiquette, trip planning, and the depth behind every dish, destination, and tradition.
The 10 most underrated destinations in Indonesia
Why these places deserve more visitors — and how to get there before everyone else finds them.
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Singapore Nightlife: The Best Bars, Clubs, and Night Markets
Singapore is more than the Marina Bay Sands. The nightlife is the most-distinct in Southeast Asia, the most-photographed, the most-refined. From the rooftop bars to the hawker centers at night to the 24-hour shopping.
June 15, 2026
Singapore's Islands: Sentosa, Pulau Ubin, and the Lesser-Known
Singapore is more than the main island. The 60+ smaller islands — Sentosa, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong, Sisters' Islands, St. John's Island, Lazarus Island — are the most-photographed in Singapore, the most-distinct.
June 15, 2026
Singapore with Kids: The Best Family Activities
Singapore is one of the most family-friendly cities in Asia. This is the guide to the best kid-focused activities, from the Universal Studios to the S.E.A. Aquarium to the Gardens by the Bay.
June 15, 2026
Singapore: The Practical Travel Guide
Visas, money, language, transport, food safety, the things that matter for a smooth trip to the city-state.
June 15, 2026
Singapore Food: The Cultural Mix on a Plate
Singapore's food is the most-distinct in Southeast Asia, the most-photographed in Asia, the most-refined, the most-affordable (for the Michelin-starred), and the most-culturally-diverse.
June 15, 2026
Top 10 Things to Do in Singapore (That Aren't Universal Studios)
A list of 10 things to do in Singapore beyond the obvious — the hawker centers, the neighborhoods, the gardens, the airport, the street food, the heritage, the hiking, and the sunset.
June 15, 2026
Singapore in 3 Days: The City, the Food, the Gardens, the Beaches
A 3-day plan for Singapore that covers the Marina Bay, the hawker centers, the neighborhoods, the gardens, and Sentosa Island, with the right timing and the right expectations for a city that rewards the slow traveler.
June 15, 2026
Singapore's Neighborhoods: The Cultural Mix in 5 Districts
Singapore is more than the Marina Bay Sands. The neighborhoods — Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Tiong Bahru, Joo Chiat — are the cultural core of the city, the most-photographed in Southeast Asia.
June 15, 2026
Singapore Hawker Food: The Most-Refined Street Food in the World
Singapore's hawker centers are the most-photographed street food destinations in the world, the most-distinct in Asia, the most-affordable, and the home of the cheapest Michelin-starred meal on the planet.
June 15, 2026
Singapore: The City-State That Refused to Be a Country
A 733-km² island at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, 5.9 million people, the 3rd-richest country per capita, the most-photographed skyline in Asia, the most-efficient government in the world, the most expensive city to live in, and the most-surprising food city on the planet.
June 15, 2026
Malaysia: The Practical Travel Guide
Visas, money, language, transport, food safety, the things that matter for a smooth trip.
June 15, 2026
Top 10 Things to Do in Malaysia (That Aren't the Petronas Towers)
A list of 10 things to do in Malaysia beyond the obvious — the food, the nature, the culture, the diving, the islands, the highland tea, and the headhunting history.
June 15, 2026
Malaysian Food: The Fusion That Works
Malaysian food is the most-successful fusion in Southeast Asia, with the Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan traditions all contributing. Here's the cultural logic, the regional dishes, the street food etiquette, and the dishes you should know.
June 15, 2026
Cameron Highlands: The Tea Plantations, the Strawberry Farms, the Most-British Part of Malaysia
A 712-km² highland region 150 km north of Kuala Lumpur, the most-British-feeling part of Malaysia, the most-photographed tea plantations, the most-photographed strawberry farms, the cool weather (15-25°C year-round), and the most-photographed mossy forests.
June 15, 2026
Sarawak: The Land of the Hornbills, the Headhunters, and the Longhouses
The 124,000-km² Malaysian state on the northwest of Borneo, the largest state in Malaysia, the home of the Iban, the Dayak, the Bidayuh, the Orang Ulu, and 30+ other ethnic groups, the most-photographed longhouses, the most-active orangutan sanctuary (Semenggoh), and the most-diverse cultural experi
June 15, 2026
Sabah: The Land Below the Wind, the Orangutans, the Diving, and the Highest Mountain in Malaysia
The 73,000-km² Malaysian state on the north of Borneo, the most biodiverse state in Malaysia, the home of the orangutans and the proboscis monkeys, the highest mountain (Mount Kinabalu), the world-class diving (Sipadan), and the most-culturally-diverse (30+ ethnic groups).
June 15, 2026
Malacca: The 600-Year-Old Port That Was the Most Important City in Asia
A 1,800-km² state on the southwest coast of the Malay Peninsula, the most historically layered city in Malaysia, the UNESCO heritage zone, and the place where the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, and British cultures meet in one street.
June 15, 2026
Penang: The Pearl of the Orient, the Street Food Capital of Asia
A 1,000-km² island off the northwest coast of Malaysia, the first British trading post in Southeast Asia, the UNESCO heritage city of George Town, the street food capital of Asia (according to multiple international rankings), and the most-photographed street art in the region.
June 15, 2026
Kuala Lumpur: The City That Refuses to Be Just One Thing
An 8-million-person megacity, the capital of Malaysia, the city that built the world's tallest twin towers, the food capital of Southeast Asia (in the mamak stalls and the hawker centers), and the most-cosmopolitan city in the country.
June 15, 2026
Malaysia: The Country That Invented Modern Southeast Asia
A federation of 13 states and 3 federal territories, 32 million people, 3 major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, Indian), the most-developed country in Muslim-majority Southeast Asia, and the only one where you can have breakfast in Kuala Lumpur, lunch in Penang, and dinner in Singapore — and feel lik
June 15, 2026
Thailand: The Land of Smiles, the Pad Thai Capital of the World, and the Kingdom That Refuses to Be Colonized
A 1,500-km S-shape that runs from the misty mountains of the north to the tropical islands of the south, with Bangkok in the middle, a cuisine that became the world's reference, and a culture that has been continuously sovereign for 700+ years — the only country in Southeast Asia that never got colo
June 15, 2026
Koh Tao: The Tiny Island That Became the World's Cheapest Place to Learn to Dive
A 21-km² island in the Gulf of Thailand, 70 km north of Samui, the most beautiful underwater spots in the country, the cheapest PADI certifications in the world, and the most concentrated diving community on the planet.
June 15, 2026
Koh Samui: The Coconut Island That Became a Resort
Thailand's third-largest island, 247 km², 40+ beaches, the coconut-palm-covered interior, the full-moon-party's quieter cousin, the wellness retreat capital of the south, and the most developed Gulf-coast island.
June 15, 2026
Krabi: The Limestone Karst Coast That Didn't Get Over-Touristy
The province across the bay from Phuket, with the same dramatic limestone karst landscape but 30% fewer tourists, the rock-climbing capital of Asia, the mangrove kayaking, the most-photographed beach in Thailand (Railay), and the most authentic island life in the south.
June 15, 2026
Phuket: The Pearl of the Andaman, the Island That Was, the Island That's Coming Back
Thailand's largest island, 574 km², 70 km of beaches, the diving capital of the Andaman, the old town of Sino-Portuguese architecture, the package-tour beach, and — under the over-touristy surface — a working Thai-Chinese port city that has kept its character.
June 15, 2026
Bangkok: The City That Became a Country
A 9-million-person megacity on a river delta, the capital of the only Southeast Asian country never colonized, the city that turned a dish (pad thai) into a national identity, and the world's most-visited city by international arrivals for the last decade.
June 15, 2026
Chiang Mai: The 700-Year-Old Capital That Won't Stop
A 1,000-year-old Lanna kingdom, 300+ temples in a 1-km walled city, the food capital of the north, the staging ground for the cool-season tourist flow, and the only city in Thailand where the locals outnumber the expats.
June 15, 2026
Thai Food: The Balance Principle and the Five-Flavor Rule
Thai food is the most-discussed cuisine in the world, and the most-misunderstood. Here's the cultural logic, the regional schools, the dishes you should know, and the street food etiquette.
June 15, 2026
Top 10 Things to Do in Thailand (That Aren't the Beach)
A list of the 10 cultural, food, and nature experiences that are actually worth traveling to Thailand for, beyond the obvious beach-and-pad-Thai trip.
June 15, 2026
Thailand in Every Season: When to Go and What to Expect
Thailand has three seasons (cool, hot, rainy) and each part of the country has its own pattern. Here's the month-by-month breakdown of when to go where.
June 15, 2026
Hiking in Vietnam: Mountains, Rice Terraces, and Coastal Trails
From day walks in Sa Pa to the Fansipan summit to the remote northwest, here's where to hike in Vietnam and what to know before you go.
June 15, 2026
The Markets of Vietnam: A Buyer's (and Eater's) Guide
Vietnamese markets are where the country actually lives — wet markets at dawn, night markets at 9 p.m., floating markets in the delta, and the mountain markets of the highland minorities. Here's what to know.
June 15, 2026
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng: The World's Largest Caves, Off the Trail
A 2,000-km² national park in central Vietnam, the world's largest cave, the world's third-largest, and several other record-holders, with the jungle still feeling mostly undiscovered.
June 15, 2026
Hạ Long Bay & Lan Hạ Bay: How to Do the Karst Cruise Right
Most Halong Bay cruises are overcrowded and overpriced. The alternative is one bay over, where the same karst landscape exists without the crowds. Here's how to plan it.
June 15, 2026
Sa Pa: The Terraces, the Fog, and the Hill Tribes
A hill town in the far north, a 100-year-old French resort, the most spectacular rice-terrace landscapes in Vietnam, and the home of the H'Mông, Dao, Tày, and Giáy ethnic minorities — most of whom you can still stay with.
June 15, 2026
Phú Quốc: Vietnam's Tropical Island That Grew Up
Once a backpacker secret, now Vietnam's only real resort island — and still, mostly, beautiful. Beaches, fish sauce, pepper farms, and the question of how to enjoy it without staying in a megaresort.
June 15, 2026
The Mekong Delta: Vietnam's Rice Bowl on Water
Below Saigon, the Mekong breaks into nine branches and a thousand smaller channels, and a culture built on boats, floating markets, and fruit orchards that has no real parallel in Asia.
June 15, 2026
Huế: Vietnam's Royal, Melancholy, Underrated Heart
The former imperial capital sits on the Perfume River, walled and slow, with food that is unlike the rest of the country. Most travelers pass through. Few regret staying.
June 15, 2026
Hội An: The Town That Was Saved by Being Forgotten
A 400-year-old trading port, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tailoring capital, and the best food city in central Vietnam. Plus a beach, a river, and a full moon festival that's free.
June 15, 2026
Hà Nội: The City That Refuses to Be Modern
A guide to the capital's neighborhoods, the food map, the lake culture, and why this is the most underrated city in Southeast Asia.
June 15, 2026
Vietnamese Cultural Etiquette: What Not to Do
A practical guide to not being That Tourist. Covers temples, elders, eating, drinking, shoes, and the small things that make locals either love or quietly resent you.
June 15, 2026
Vietnamese Food: The Logic of the Bowl
Vietnamese cuisine is built on five flavors, fresh herbs eaten raw, and a balance most other Asian cuisines treat as background. Here's the framework.
June 15, 2026
The 10 Things Vietnam Does Better Than Anywhere Else in Asia
From coffee to motorbike logistics, here are the things Vietnam is, genuinely, world-class at.
June 15, 2026
When to Go to Vietnam: A Region-by-Region Guide
Vietnam is 1,650 km long, spans 8 latitudes, and has at least three different climates. Pick the wrong month and you'll be rained out of Hạ Long. Pick the right one and you'll swim in turquoise water the whole trip.
June 15, 2026
Vietnam: The Country of Ascending Dragons
A 3,260-km sliver of a country that invented the elevator rice grain, weathered a thousand years of foreign rule, and somehow turned the chaos into the world's most-celebrated bowl of noodle soup.
June 15, 2026
A complete guide to Indonesian street food
From pempek to se'i, the 50 dishes every traveler should try.
June 2, 2026
Why the Mentawai Islands should be on every surfer's bucket list
World-class waves and a culture that's never been colonized.
June 1, 2026
The cultural etiquette of visiting Toraja
Death rituals, sacred sites, and how to be a respectful guest.
May 31, 2026
How to plan a 2-week Indonesia trip on $1000
Backpacker-tested, fully possible, here's how.
May 30, 2026
Bali vs Lombok: which is right for you?
An honest side-by-side.
May 29, 2026
Inside the spice trade: Maluku's living history
How the Spice Islands shaped the world.
May 28, 2026
The best time to visit Komodo (and when to skip it)
Monthly breakdown of crowds, weather, and marine life.
May 27, 2026
Papua is not what you think it is
Beyond the stereotypes — the people, places, and food of Indonesia's eastern half.
May 26, 2026
A guide to Indonesian coffee
Gayo, Toraja, Kintamani, Mandheling — what to drink and where.
May 25, 2026
How to plan a family trip to Indonesia (with kids)
Practical advice for parents, the best destinations for families.
May 24, 2026
Solo female travel in Indonesia: a complete safety guide
From a woman who lived in Yogya for 3 years.
May 23, 2026
The textile traditions of Indonesia
Batik, tenun, songket, ulos — and where to see them made.
May 22, 2026
What I learned eating my way across Sumatra
A 30-day food journey through Padang, Medan, Palembang.
May 21, 2026
The 5 best surfing spots in Indonesia for beginners
Where to catch your first wave without losing it.
May 20, 2026
An honest review of Bali's digital nomad scene
Canggu vs Ubud, costs, internet, community — the truth.
May 19, 2026
The dark history of Banda Neira
Genocide, spice trade, and the nutmeg that was worth more than gold.
May 18, 2026
Why Indonesian batik was added to UNESCO's list
The centuries-old technique and what it means today.
May 17, 2026
How to use Indonesian trains (it's easier than you think)
A practical guide to KAI and getting around by rail.
May 16, 2026
Indonesia on a plant-based diet
Vegan and vegetarian options across the archipelago.
May 15, 2026
A first-timer's guide to Bali's Day of Silence (Nyepi)
What happens, what to expect, and how to be respectful.
May 14, 2026
Why you should visit Indonesia in the rainy season
Fewer crowds, lush green, lower prices.
May 13, 2026
The most photogenic places in Java
From Borobudur at sunrise to Bromo at dawn.
May 12, 2026
An interview with a Torajan funeral officiant
What death rituals teach us about life.
May 11, 2026
The truth about Bali's water shortages
A growing crisis and what travelers can do.
May 10, 2026
Why Indonesian music is the next big thing
From dangdut to indie, the scene is exploding.
May 9, 2026
The komodo dragon, explained
Behavior, conservation, why they're not actually dangerous (much).
May 8, 2026
How to travel Indonesia on a motorbike
A complete guide to riding safely, legally, and well.
May 7, 2026
A new era for Indonesian tourism
How 'second-tier' destinations are reshaping travel.
May 6, 2026
A first-timer's guide to Vietnam
Two weeks is the right amount. Here's how to spend them.
Vietnamese coffee: the complete guide
Cà phê sữa đá, egg coffee, coconut coffee, and the 30-year-old beans behind them all.
The truth about Vietnamese street food
Why the best meal you'll eat in Vietnam costs less than a coffee back home.