ASIAN Geographic

Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance is a book I have read and reread, and recommended over and over. When Dinabai, the protagonist of the novel, creates a massive quilt out of cloth patches, happiness, sadness, experiences, and lives intertwine in a big

With Turkey’s position at the crossroads between East and West, the country’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, flies to more countries as well as provides more non-stop flights than any other airline. While it isn’t considered large in terms

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) knows no boundaries, and has been found crossing between China, Russia, and North Korea. It has the characteristics of most leopards with its tendency to thrive in solitude and its ability to run at high

Beginning life as “Japan Optical Industries” with the merging of three leading optical manufacturers, the company was renamed Nikon Corporation in 1988 after its cameras. The year before, it had begun working with NASA to create the first digital SLR

With hopes of raising post-war youth self-esteem through athletics, former military officer Kihachiro Onitsuka established Onitsuka Tiger in 1949. The company’s breakthrough product was a basketball shoe, released in 1951, that was inspired by the te

With a keen mind and bold spirit, Seibei Nakagawa, the founder of Sapporo Breweries, left Japan when he was 17 years old in search of adventure. He landed in Germany, where he learned the craft of brewing, and the rest is history. In Asia, everyone k

Jeju has all the elements of the world’s natural landscape – islands, volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, national parks, caves and forests. The volcanic island and its stunning lava tube system are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding ocea

The Joseon dynasty lives through its five royal palaces today, but the Changdeokgung Palace is still the most striking and well-preserved of them – despite having burned down twice. Thanks to its good feng shui, or pungsu, it remained in use until th

If you thought the biggest shopping mall in the world was in America, think again! It’s actually located in Tehran and it’s called the Iran Mall. In the first of two phases, a 1.4-million-square-metre area was unveiled in 2018, encompassing a 20,000-

Steeped in rich history and located in the heart of Tokyo overlooking the Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Station Hotel commenced operations in 1915. The iconic red-brick building has stood through momentous events like the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and

Set in a country facing destruction, The Kite Runner is the story of two friends with contrasting backgrounds – a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant. The powerful, heart-wrenching narrative brings to light the darkness of Afghanistan’s h

From the southernmost island of New Zealand to some of the northernmost cities of Norway, Tiger Balm has roared its way through the homes and hearts of cities from East to West. With beginnings in the ancient courts of the Chinese empire to a small m

Expedia is one of the fastest-growing travel booking websites and mobile applications in Asia. It was formed in 1996 as a division of Microsoft, but broke away as a public company under the name of Expedia Group in 1999. Today, the application is wid

Number 35 globally and 14th in Asia according to the QS World University Rankings, Kyoto University is known for its large engineering faculty – as well as its beloved clock tower. Nine of its students and staff have received Nobel Prizes. As the fi

Founded by marine conservationist Prof Elisabeth Mann-Borgese, the International Ocean Institute (IOI) is an NGO involved in the promotion of sustainable development, management, and protection of the world’s oceans. She was instrumental in developin

Notable as the largest cruise line by revenue and the second-largest by passenger count, Royal Carribean International dates back to its founding in Norway in 1968. Its Asia cruises depart from Singapore, Shanghai and Tianjin and visit the biggest ci

One of the brands under the Worldwide Dive and Sail umbrella, Siren Fleet offers a trio of world-class liveaboards cruising to the best dive sites in Indonesia, Palau and the Philippines. With professional, highly experienced crews, Siren Fleet’s yac

Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, Woodstock School is in a truly exceptional location overlooking valleys and hills either dusted with snow in the winter or lusciously green in the summer. Initially established as a Protestant girls’ school, it

With its pristine beaches and gin-clear waters, the Maldives is a true island paradise, and Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is a resort that combines this extraordinary location with exemplary architecture and charm. Applauded by Time magazine as one

Behind Nike, Adidas is the world’s second largest sportswear manufacturer, but has established its position as the first in Europe. Created by two brothers making products out of their basement in 1924, it was the only business at the time in Germany

Blancpain has been in the market for 284 years, and is credited with being the oldest surviving watchmaking brand in the world. One of its notable achievements in its long history was the creation of one of the world’s first modern diving watches, Fi

The Philippines is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas”, and aptly so, considering its beautiful dive sites that are open to divers of all levels. The country has literally thousands of dive sites over 7000 islands that offer expansive

If the phrase “bustling city” had an image to go with it, Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, would come to mind. As the most populous city and the financial capital of India, it is always on the move, and has earned the title of being the “city that