They're rich in history, hidden beaches and water sports - so why is it that Thais ignore the holiday isles of Cebu and Boracay?

The Japanese Imperial Army, giraffes, Earth Day and you.

I have seen the cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo more times than I am willing to remember. Next year marks 20 years of my living and working in this city as the Japan correspondent for this newspaper.

Sulat, one of the oldest towns of Eastern Samar, is not on any list of must-see places. It does not merit a footnote in travel books and many would be hard pressed to find it on a map.

There is no proof that a couple named Romeo and Juliet once lived in Verona, fell in love with each other despite the feud between their families and died tragic deaths in a graveyard, as the story goes in the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet.

You can find Jesus, Confucius and Versace in Asia’s last European colony.

After viewing the cult road-trip film Easy Rider for a second time, I had this harebrained idea of driving to Yogyakarta during the long weekend in March.

When you first spot it, you may be tempted to say “Wow! The London Eye has finally come to Singapore!” And your taxi driver may correct you, pointing out that this new toy belongs to the city-state and is called the Singapore Flyer. “I see, it’s not called the Singapore Eye, then?”

The Korean concept of a holiday is fast changing. In the '90s, Korean travellers preferred to go to Europe or to North America on bus tours.

India’s beach paradise is not only perfect for soaking up the sun, sand and sea, but it’s also great for dirt-cheap food, parties and shopping.