All in Culture
Phuket’s western beaches are home to several big budget shows that cater to the thousands of international tourists who visit the southern Thailand island every year. But for those who may be looking for a more intimate theatre setting, there is a lesser-known option in the middle of the island. The Junkyard Theatre offers cabaret-style shows, twice a week, of music, dance and comedy sketches that parody the Thailand visitor experience.
For travellers interested in the unique customs, language, culture, and history of the hill tribes of northern Thailand, a trip to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai provides the opportunity to visit these ethnic minorities in their villages or compounds. It’s a chance to get off the beaten track. Most hill tribes welcome visitors and in return you can support their local community initiatives.
The Ancient City (Muang Boran), also known as Ancient Siam, is an historical park and open-air museum in Samut Prakan province, not far from Bangkok. It features ancient buildings that have been relocated from other parts of Thailand and meticulously constructed replicas of temples and palaces from the country’s different regions. It provides an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Thailand if you don’t have time to travel the whole country.
One of the most unusual of the historical attractions in the ancient city of Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern. This underground water storage facility is a gigantic architectural and engineering feat which can again be visited since it reopened last year after structural renovations. With a new light show now incorporated into the experience, it’s been described as both magical and mystical.
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park, a Buddhist temple area southeast of Khao Sok National Park, in Surat Thani province, Thailand, is well off the beaten track for both international and domestic tourists, but those who make the effort to visit are enthralled at its beauty and magnificent setting surrounded by rainforest-clad limestone karst mountains.
Asia is home to many superstitions and beliefs, some of which date back centuries. Whilst many Westerners may scoff at the rituals that supposedly bring health, wealth and happiness, millions of people continue to follow traditions to bring luck that have been handed down through generations. We take a look at some of the rituals you’ll likely come across in the coming months.
Many older travellers to Cambodia like to understand what local life is like off the usual tourist track. Finding an English-speaking tuk-tuk driver who is prepared to take you to places that tourists normally don’t visit can be a rewarding experience. It’s a relaxing way to learn about the local culture and discover daily life in rural communities.
If you like getting off the beaten track and exploring hidden corners of cities that have an interesting history, then you’ll enjoy visiting the Talad Noi district of Bangkok. This riverside neighbourhood is an ancient area of unique gritty streets, and multicultural heritage, and is distinctly different from other parts of Thailand’s capital.
A boat trip along the Mekong River from Vietnam to Cambodia is a leisurely way to see and learn how people live in the Mekong Delta — a vast section of Indo-China that provides fascinating insights into the culture and history of a region that has been described as the heart and soul of Southeast Asia.
A first-time visitor to Dhaka is likely to be mesmerised by the huge numbers of cycle rickshaws that ply the streets of Bangladesh’s crowded capital. In an age when rickshaws have largely disappeared from most Asian cities, they remain as popular here as ever. They give Dhaka a distinctive feel and are a vital means of transport for local people.
ICONSIAM is a new shopping complex in Bangkok that is a day-trip destination in itself. Aside from high-end stores and luxury retail outlets, it features a large market in which small businesses from all over Thailand sell their wares including street foods and handicrafts. There is also a spectacular sound and light show that is staged on the riverfront each evening.
Japan’s distinctive manhole covers are an unusual drawcard for visitors and locals alike. Thousands of decorated covers are found throughout the country. Most of them highlight the attractions of local cities, towns and districts, while others feature geometric designs or portray popular cartoon characters. Many are genuine works of art and well worth watching out for.
Singapore’s Little India is a vibrant district full of colour, culture, atmosphere and vitality. It’s best explored on foot and there’s a lot for older travellers to enjoy from temples, mosques, art exhibitions, historical places, great shopping and of course a wide variety of food from many regions of India.
Ipoh, the capital of Malaysia’s Perak state, has become a popular stopover for older travellers interested to view its street art which depicts the history and heritage of this once-booming tin mining town with opium and gambling dens and streets where wealthy Chinese kept their mistresses. These days it’s also rivaling Georgetown in Penang as a destination for food and coffee lovers.
When you’ve been travelling in Turkey, have you ever wondered about the meaning or purpose of the cobalt blue-eye glass amulets and ornaments that you see in souvenir shops, people’s homes, businesses, hotels, restaurants — in fact almost anywhere? They are to ward off the ‘evil eye’ and ensure that you have a safe visit and onward journey. The belief in the power of these amulets extends back many centuries.
Shaggy and hard-working, the yak plays an essential role in the lives of people on the high plateaus of the Himalayas. It’s a pack animal and important provider of milk, food and much else for communities across the far-flung region. Here are some facts about this distinctively Asian animal.
