Category Archives: Off the Beat
Swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays in the Maldives ( 01 February 2026 )
Nurse sharks ‘lining up’ along the shore. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH The plan was simple: Fly to Maldives, stay in an affordable three-star hotel instead of a luxury resort, and swim endlessly with the sharks. I had done my research […] Continue Reading
China’s spectacular paradise of lakes, Jiuzhaigou, comes in many colours ( 17 January 2026 )
Jiuzhaigou is one of China’s best natural wonders so it is no surprise that the place is always crowded with tourists. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH The best time to visit China is always in autumn, right after the national holidays. […] Continue Reading
Hunting for fossils in the Moroccan desert ( 02 November 2025 )
An old structure at Erfoud, an oasis desert town, near the Sahara. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH There was a complete silence but I could sense the loud air of annoyance and disbelief when I told the tour guide that I […] Continue Reading
Journey to the roof of the world … by bus ( 06 October 2025 )
One of the government-sanctioned ‘eco-buses’ that travellers can take to the EBC. — Photos: WONG CHUN WAI. (Click on image above to view the rest of the gallery). It may seem hard to believe but you can actually take a […] Continue Reading
Exploring rocket town Hainan, China’s gateway to space ( 07 September 2025 )
The writer at the lobby of Hilton Wenchang where models of Chinese rockets were set up for sale. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH A call from a Beijing-based Chinese journalist friend came suggesting I should make a quick trip to Hainan, […] Continue Reading
Angkor Wat in the wet season is not just cooler, it is less crowded too ( 16 August 2025 )
The author and his wife enjoying a great view of Angkor Wat. During peak holiday seasons, this may not be possible as there would be more tourists. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH The trip to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat was unplanned. A […] Continue Reading
To visit the South Pole, head to the “End Of The World” first ( 03 February 2024 )
An adult penguin looking after its chicks at Jougla Point in Antarctica. — Polar Latitudes Just the thought of eventually seeing it sent a tingle down my spine. The point was not lost on me that I was about to […] Continue Reading
Changing dunes: A visit to Saudi Arabia’s top tourist destinations ( 14 December 2023 )
The Elephant’s Rock in Al-ula, Saudi Arabia. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH I would never have imagined a non-Muslim like me getting to visit Medina, the second holiest city for Muslims in Saudi Arabia after Mecca. But just weeks ago, I […] Continue Reading
Seeing ancient treasures of Yogyakarta up close and personal ( 20 May 2023 )
The writer standing among the stupas at Borobudur in Yogyakarta. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH Despite the long-standing temptation, it took me ages to finally visit Yogyakarta, which is a crying shame because this Indonesian city is just a hop, skip […] Continue Reading
Planning a sakura holiday in Japan? It’s all about timing ( 23 April 2023 )
This year, cherry blossom season in Japan started earlier than expected. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH It has become progressively difficult predicting the cherry blossom season in Japan each year. Since it’s regarded peak period, travellers should make their airline and […] Continue Reading
