Blitzed by a blizzard in Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shen Mountains
Trekking Kyrgystan's remote Tian Shen mountains is not for the faint-hearted. When the weather turns Peter Barker finds his life is at stake.
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Central Asia
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5 Essential Tips For Your UnForgettable Trip To Bali
Indonesia's only Buddhist island has tlong been a tourist favourite. Julien Chbib has some advice for first-time visitors.
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The Romans in Asia: Sagalassos, Turkey
Sangkar Chatterjee finds the Roman Empire left its traces high in Turkey's Taurus Mountains, in Sagalassos.
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Glaciers, mountains and mysterious towers In Georgia’s Caucasus
Not many people trek Georgia's highlands. Peter Barker does - and takes rather too much luggage.
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A new broom tries to sweep Chennai clean
Colin Todhunter finds the daily sweeping ritual that cleans his Chennai gym - and surrounding streets - makes his whole life feel more surviveable.
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Catching a Hippy Bus from 1970’s Delhi
In 1977's India Donal Conlon boards an overland bus heading back west, to Afghanistan and beyond. The drive is far from a smooth experience, not that anyone seems that bothered.
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No fuel for the generator in Sowcarpet, Chennai
Monsoon in an industrial suburb of central Madras. Tamil Nadu's native charm proves somewhat elusive to a damp Colin Todhunter as he surveys the endless buzzing activity of any Indian city.
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Kashmir: a possible paradise – but still without freedom
Squeezed uncomfortably above the far north of India and with a number of unappealing neighbours, Kashmir has had a terrible last 30 years. Teja reports.
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Hauling injured climbers off Everest
After a couple of disrupted years, it's likely that even more climbers will crowd Everest this year - and some will get injured. David Koo will be there to pick up the pieces.
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Bali: hot and humid but welcome to a wedding
Hazel Holloway flies into Bali and finds heat, humidity - and a whole lot of love. Though the sun never shows she has the time of her life.
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Buddhist Sikkim: mountains in a time of Covid
Even as illness stalks the Himalayas, D B Goman finds there's plenty to think about in Sikkim's mountain kingdom.
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Sri Lanka – 24 hours in Colombo
With just 24 hours to spend in Sri Lanka, Donna Richardson headed to the capital Colombo and commandeered a ‘tuk tuk’ to see the sights in a city break with a difference.
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Kunming, Yunnan – China’s most exciting art city
Katrine Levin’s mission is to discover extraordinary art from places that are less explored and for her, the Yunnan Province in China is the perfect location to find rich experiences.
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When students trek for ‘charidee’ (think of the kiddies)
Round-Britain runner Elize Downing remembers her first great adventure, a university charity trek to Nepal's base camp
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A touch of caste colours a Himalayan trek
Most travellers to India surf across the caste system without dwelling too closely on how they rank. On a trip to the Himalayas D B Goman tries to walk the delicate line between respecting the caste system while also thinking it's unfair and ridiculous.
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Vomit on the tracks – the Tamil Nadu Express
Colin Todhunter needs to get from Delhi to Chennai and chooses to go by train. But any railway journey in India - let alone such a long one - is always an experience.
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Vientiane, Laos: not what I imagined, but that’s Travel
Paul Michelson visits the Southeast Asian country of Laos and finds it's capital city challenges his preconceptions. Not least because there seems not a lot goes on. Apart from a mysterious set of gleaming golf clubs.
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Turkish delights in Istanbul’s many markets
Elizabeth von Pier explores the frenetic world of Turkey's finest markets in the capital city, Istanbul.
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Why a motorcycle tour is the best way to experience Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan has an index of happiness. Paul Tom says there's no better way to experience it than on your own vintage motorcycle.
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India to Afghanistan (almost) by 70’s Hippy Bus
In the glory days of the overland trail Donal Conlon push-starts his way across Asia on a dodgy bus. Along the way they somehow heard that Elvis died, so probably 1977.
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‘Victory Day’ in Kazakhstan: bittersweet memories of WWII
'Victory Day' is celebrated throughout Russia and the former Soviet satellite states. Ski Krieger explores the somewhat nuanced nationalism in Almaty, the Kazakh capital.
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Yala National Park: more man than beast?
Jude Perera takes his family to see the wildlife in Yala, Sri Lanka's prime game park. But though he finds a few animals he sees a lot more tourists. Yala is getting crowded.
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Following The Beatles on an Indian Tour
It might seem niche, but Tom Herstad finds there's plenty of sense structuring a tour of India around 1960's pop icons.
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On roads that echo: bicycling too far. Part 1: Asia
Charlie Walker cycles far too far - though not fast - as he pedals across India on his way to Africa. Here there's a river in the way.
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Looking for the Dalai Lama? Forget Dharamsala, he’s not there
Sara McMurry finds few Tibeta deities in Daramsala, so she heads off, more usefully, to Mcleodganj,
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Arranged marriages in India: can and do they work?
Sara McMurry takes a considered look at arranged marriages, as they happen in Asia, and wonders whether they might just work.
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Day 1 of a tiger safari in Ranthambore, India
Bhupender Gupta heads from Mumbai to Rajasthan to see one of India's most famous tiger reserves - and the very first day brings sightings.
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A few thoughts about Caste from an Indian village
Sara McMurray wrestles with one of India's most intractable problems: the enduring issue of caste.
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Nothing and everything, spiritual India has it all
Kip Brook finds a visit to India a thoroughly transformative experience.
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In Bhutan’s Thunder Dragon’s Tigers Nest
Will Ottley ventures into the Himalaya's 'Secret Kingdom', where happiness is a social aim and tradition is perfectly preserved.
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A shopping trip in Jaiselmer and how to test Pashminas
Sara McMurry goes shopping in Jaiselmer and learns how to identify a genuine Pashmina.
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In praise of Karnataka’s useful coconuts
Adam Clapham's portrait of small-village life in India includes a paen to the humble coconut - and it's alcoholic potential.
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A day in the life of a rural Indian school
When Sara McMurry stops working she doesn't retire. She goes off on a series of volunteering stints teaching children in rural India, In this extract she's teaching in a village near Shiv in the deserts of Rajasthan.
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Intruder drama in a small village in South India
Adam Clapham's new book portrays daily life in a small Karnataka village. In this extract a straggler strays into town.
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At the end of a gun in Azerbaijan
Ski Krieger discovers the vital importance, in the Caucasus, of not being a CIA spy. As this brings the risk of sudden death.
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Fairy chimneys, cave churches and underground cities
Turkey's Cappadocia region is an iconic destination. Elizabeth von Pier tours the world's most indiosyncratic desert destinations.
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A taste of Turkish Delight in the markets of Istanbul
Elizabeth von Pier takes tea and time to explore the shopping opportunities in Turkey's greatest city.
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Signs of colonialism fading in present-day Mumbai
Lee Ruddin finds history hangs heavy as he finds while he's getting selfies against Bombay's famous Gateway to India, everyone else chooses their background as the Taj. And that's the Taj Hotel, not the wonder-of-the-world in Agra.
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