Category Archives: Off the Beat
Black volcanic sand plains, moss-covered hills… is this Mars? ( 09 October 2022 )
A view of Katla, the volcano in Iceland. The setting of Katla in Iceland, one of the country’s most volatile volcanoes, resembles Mars. This is a place where volcanic eruptions have occurred against similar breathless landscapes. To put it simply, […] Continue Reading
My 15 minutes with one of the world’s most famous paintings, ‘The Last Supper’ ( 27 August 2022 )
The Last Supper can be found at the Convent Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. — Photo: Florence Teh It took three trips to Milan, Italy, before I finally got to see one of the most revered paintings, The […] Continue Reading
When getting soaked at one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls is actually fun ( 23 July 2022 )
The Gullfoss, or Golden Waterfall, is a popular tourist attraction and is especially wonderful to visit in summer. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH While the rest of Europe is suffering from a sweltering heat wave with people advised to stay at […] Continue Reading
Your favourite winter destinations are getting warmer thanks to climate change ( 08 March 2020 )
A file photo from August 2019 of a boat navigating at night next to an iceberg in Greenland. Rising temperatures and diminished snow and ice cover in the Arctic are imperilling ecosystems, fisheries and local cultures, according to reports by […] Continue Reading
A hunt for the best hairy crabs in Yangcheng Lake ( 26 December 2019 )
Hairy crabs from the Yangcheng Lake are a premium item that are highly sought after by foodies. Photo: Wong Chun Wai The hairy crab don’t take crap for its reputation of being super delicious, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come stamped […] Continue Reading
Knocking on death’s door at the Bangkok Forensic Museum ( 17 November 2019 )
At the forensic museum in Bangkok are countless glass containers of deformed and diseased babies, including Siamese or conjoined twins, all preserved in formaldehyde. Halloween may have just passed, but there’s surely never a time to turn down a morbid […] Continue Reading
A gorgeous island that’s just a hop, skip and jump away ( 08 November 2019 )
I’ve had the privilege and luxury of travelling to a multitude of places near and far, and in more recent time, my preoccupation has been on the living world, particularly in our oceans. Our region has some of the most […] Continue Reading
Swimming with graceful whale sharks at Sulawesi Sea ( 05 October 2019 )
It’s baffling how a paradise, dubbed Kalimantan’s best-kept secret, has eluded not only most Malaysians, but Sabahans in Tawau, which is the closest point to this place. Yet, it’s literally in our own backyard! Tarakan, the Indonesian island city of […] Continue Reading
Wild as the wind in Serengeti, northern Tanzania ( 21 September 2019 )
Sometimes, the wildebeests will form a single line to cross the river. — Photos: WONG CHUN WAI/The Star The wildebeest isn’t exactly the best-known animal to most of us here. They aren’t striking in appearance and people often mistake them […] Continue Reading
Getting up close and personal with the king of the beasts in Tanzania ( 07 September 2019 )
It’s hot and dusty in the sprawling plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania. The dry season has gone into overdrive at this time of year, but August is also the best time to be on the safari trail. This is […] Continue Reading
