asia

To state the obvious so we can move on; yes, Bali is unquestionably beautiful. Yes, yes, yes. Stunningly so. Kilometers of coral reefs, white- and black-sand beaches, surrounding epic volcanoes that pierce through perfect cumulus clouds. What did you expect me to say? I mean, come on. It's freaking Bali. EVERYBODY knows it's paradise. And it completely lived up to its billing. | Read more »

When I first moved to San Francisco, I thought Chinatown was impressive. But after spending a week in Beijing, I must admit, I had no idea how many Chinese you could fit in one area. Currently recognized as the political, cultural, and social center in the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the second largest city in China. Four hundred years ago, it was known as Peking, thanks to French missionaries who couldn't spell. | Read more »

When we announced our plans to vacation in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the reaction was unanimous: "Why the hell are you going there?" A fair question, I suppose. After all, Southeast Asia lacks the exotic air of places like Tahiti and Bora Bora. The hipness of Prague and Croatia. And the life-threatening danger of Bagdad or Fallujah. No, Southeast Asia's appeal lay in its "off-the-radar" quality as one of the few remaining areas of the world that doesn't actively hate us Americans. | Read more »