All in Culture
Mumbai’s Victoria Terminus is one of Asia’s great railway stations. The 130-year-old building, now called the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, is a creation of British rule that has become a treasured symbol of modern-day Mumbai. It handles at least 3 million passengers a day, has featured in many Bollywood films and has even come under terrorist attack. It has a lot to offer any visitor interested in India’s colonial heritage.
A senior traveller returns to Cambodia to revisit some of the temples at Angkor that he last saw more than a decade earlier. The trip affects him in ways he doesn’t expect.
The humble bullock cart has been an important means of transport in Asia since ancient times. It has survived into the modern age and continues to be used in many parts of the continent despite fierce competition from tractors and other motorised transport. The bullock cart represents a side of Asia where tradition holds sway even in the 21st century.
When you’re travelling in Asia, you’ll probably want to see some of its famous festivals. Each country has its own, religious or cultural, traditional or modern. Some of the biggest festivals, especially religious ones, reach beyond national borders and are celebrated by huge numbers of people across the continent. Here’s a concise guide to six of Asia’s top international festivals.
The story of Hachiko, the dog who waited at a Tokyo railway station for almost a decade for the arrival of his deceased master, is well known in Japan. A memorial to Hachiko outside the busy Shibuya Station is a testament to how Japanese people value loyalty and perseverance.
The Asian elephant still lives in the wild in at least 13 countries. But it’s facing ever-growing competition for land from humans and its numbers are declining. Many others live in captivity and work in the logging industry, at temples and in the tourism business. Travellers who want to see these gentle giants at close hand have several options.
Travellers in Asia may be surprised to discover how widespread the practice of chewing betel nut is. It’s common in many regions, from South Asia to Indochina and beyond. Visitors may be unaware that betel nut isn’t just a chewy stimulant. It has a social and cultural history dating back centuries and is even a symbol of love and marriage.
