The view from Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
I had the opportunity to visit many of Bawa's buildings in Sri lanka. It was a pilgrimage for me to explore his work and to finally understand the simplicity and beauty of his architecture. Winner of the prestigious Aga Khan award, Bawa was truly a legendary architect in the South Asian countries bringing to life the idea of a contemporary vernacular- building a monsoon architecture.
Read MoreThe beautiful Angkor Wat across from the lotus pond.
First impressions of Siem Reap- the city is nothing like what I expected from the typical South East Asian cities. No tall skyscrapers, no neon lights, as a matter of fact we were told later by our guide that no building in Siem Reap can be built taller than the temple of Angkor Wat. The buildings were all a mix of kitschy local architecture with Colonial influences and pagoda tops flanked with sculptures of imitation Apsaras and Buddha heads.
Read MoreFirst impressions- Krabi is spectacular! It is what Goa could be but isn’t. Stark high mountains bobbing out of the sea forming little islands that resemble the ones I have seen in Chinese paintings. Krabi is known for its diving, snorkeling and sailing scene. However, the waters are much calmer from November to May and not so much in the monsoony September.
Read MoreSingapore has a wonderful Promenade by the water with a fantastic skyline which is crowded with tourists in the day but completely empty at night with fabulous lights shining brightly in the water.
Read MoreSo what is Kaya toast. Well its a jam like spread made of coconut, eggs and sugar. Its got that warm curstardy taste to it. Its offset by a generous helping of salty butter on freshly toasted bread. Its like a bite of heaven in your mouth. It goes perfectly well with coffee.
Read MoreAs a Chinese history geek, I took this trip across the length and breadth of the country primarily to satiate my long-held desire to visit sites and view artifacts that I had previously only seen in books, websites, films and TV series. But culture is an important facet of history, and food is an important facet of culture. My journey turned to be as gastronomical as it was historical, as I sampled my way from Beijing in the north to Yangshuo in the south, and from Shanghai in the east to Xiían in the west, eating on the street and in restaurants, trying everything from the ancient and traditional to the modern and cosmopolitan.
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