Compass: Asia
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
–Miriam Beard
Explore beautiful Asia, the Earth’s largest continent. Covering more than 30 % of the planet’s land surface, Asia is the most populous region. It has a unique blend of many first civilizations. Asia’s history is vast and the continent is abundant with diverse ethnic groups, cultural heritage, traditions and religious beliefs; all worth learning more about.
The countries within beautiful Asia include: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, North, Korea, South, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor Leste (West), Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
Japanese Yokai: Mythology Preserved in Art
By Hannah CookYokai can be summarized as Japanese spirits or spectres, deeply rooted in historical Japanese mythology yet still depicted in art and culture today. Read more
Asia History The Arts
College Street Coffee House: Where Kolkata Meets the World
By Sugato MukherjeeI have come to College Street Coffee House, an iconic café in Kolkata, India, after many years. The small but cavernous entrance of this 19th-century building and its dank staircase has remained just the same. Read more
India Food & Drink
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 3 Final)
The conclusion of Escape from India during COVID-19 continues with Anietra sharing more of the roller coaster ordeal that took her and Ian from hope to hopelessness and back. Now she is confronted with the memories of the traumatic experience. Read more
India Experiences
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 2)
In Episode One of Escape from India during COVID-19, we introduced you to veteran journalist Anietra Hamper who was trying to escape from India after COVID-19 derailed her fishing assignment trip. Anietra and her fishing guide, Ian Henderson, were left stranded in India with only a narrow window to get … Read more Read more
India Experiences
Hampi: India’s Ruined Euphoric Village
By Deepika AkhsharHampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the southern part of India. Hampi was a prosperous city and the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. Read more
India Architecture History
Escape from India during COVID-19 (Part 1)
What was meant to be a four-week writing assignment to Nepal and India for veteran journalist Anietra Hamper, turned out to be an absolute nightmare for her and her traveling companion, Ian Henderson. Read more
India Experiences
4 Incredible Places to Visit in Lake Toba, Sumatra
By Nayla AzmiLake Toba, or Danau Toba in Bahasa, is a huge, natural lake occupying the caldera of a supervolcano and an important site for the Batak Indigenous people. Read more
Asia Off the Beaten Path Indigenous
Onsen Culture in Japan
By Hannah CookBathing and onsen culture in Japan is a unique aspect to Japan’s heritage that can be easily enjoyed by both visitors and residents. Read more
Asia Experiences
Gongoni: Bengal’s Grand Canyon
By Sugato MukherjeeGongoni Danga, roughly translated from Bengali, means red-hot land. In the scorching summer months, locals say that the laterite textures of the canyon seem to sizzle from a distance, hence the name. Read more
India Landscape Nature & Outdoors History
4 Things You Can Only Find During Ramadan in Sumatra
By Nayla AzmiFor Muslims around the world, and Sumatra in particular, Ramadan is a special time. It’s a holy month of fasting, introspection, and praying. Read more
Asia Religious Travel Events & Festivals
Cause for a change: The post-pandemic future of Asia’s elephant tourism
By Bianca CaruanaIn a small town in the southwestern region of Nepal, Eva the rescue elephant and her new companion Lhamo are sprouting a charming kinship. Read more
Asia Social Responsibility
How one Indonesian community is using ecotourism income to fight deforestation and climate change
By Nayla AzmiClimate change is impacting the world in significant ways. We know this. But it’s impacting the beautiful islands of Indonesia, in particular… Read more
Asia Eco-tourism Indigenous
On the Nawabs’ Trail in Murshidabad
By Sugato MukherjeeTwo and a half centuries later, Murshidabad lies half-forgotten, 215 kilometres from Calcutta, cocooned in its glorious past, waiting for its distinct heritage trail to be rediscovered and restored. Read more
India HistorySwat Valley: The Switzerland of Pakistan
By Muzammil HussainSwat Valley (Swat) is known as the ‘Switzerland’ of Pakistan because of its snow-capped mountains and beautiful scenery. Read more
Asia Off the Beaten Path History
The Future of Sustainable Orangutan Treks in a Post-COVID World
By Nayla AzmiAs the only primate that only can be found outside of Africa, the orangutan lures people from all over the world to see its uniqueness of being strikingly similar to human beings. Read more
Asia Social Responsibility