"To a train fan there’s nothing more exciting than the hiss of a steam locomotive, and the peal of its whistle. Even more so when it’s about to bear you through a picturesque area of Japan. I’m about to board the SL Taiju, a loco which worked on the northern island of Hokkaido from 1941 to 1974. Recently granted a second life in the Nikko region north of Tokyo, it runs 35-minute trips between the hot springs town of Kinugawa Onsen and Shimo-Imaichi..."

"'I use real pearl because it’s not just for one season. Good things last longer.' Designer Coney Ko is talking about the jewellery she creates in her compact Hong Kong shop Coney & Co, but she could equally be referring to the design hub it’s housed within: PMQ. The name of this creative complex has been shortened from its original title: Police Married Quarters. Constructed in 1951 under British administration, it's now part of the arty SoHo district..."

"The first time I flew out of Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), I was lucky enough to have access to the Cathay Pacific lounge known as The Pier. Walking along its length, from room to room, feels like taking a stroll through the opening shot of an arthouse movie. There’s a dedicated noodle room, a tea room, bars and relaxation rooms, and at the very end there’s a dimly-lit space dotted with comfy reclined chairs that are more like beds..."

Detailing the highlights of Hong Kong International Airport, China.

[Read the full article here]

"Hong Kong’s new South Island MTR line opened at the end of last year, reaching Wong Chuk Hang. Not a moment too soon for the inquisitive traveller, as the former industrial district has been gradually transforming into a fascinating hotspot of art, design and food. In the 20th century this was an area crammed with numerous factories. The empty space became a playground for creative types. As a result there’s still a measure of grit, but also plenty of cutting-edge venues to explore..."

"Are you up for a travel challenge? Here it is: could you travel anywhere in the world, taking only cabin luggage with you? It may sound impossible, but it isn’t. For years, I’ve been honing my approach to packing light, to the point where I only ever take a single bag. The upside? I zip through airports, often bypassing the check-in desks entirely if the airline offers mobile check-in. When I leave the flight at the end of the trip, I can walk straight out of the airport..."

"The most memorable moment of my Korean temple stay involves a giant drum. We’ve been led to an open-sided pavilion supported by intricately painted green pillars, to witness an ancient tradition. Standing in front of a vast drum, a robed Buddhist monk beats its surface with precision, producing a rhythmic beat. My eye, however, is caught by the monk standing behind him, recording the performance on a tablet computer..."

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

[Read the full article here]

"Seoul is both a busy commercial centre and a UNESCO City of Design. But look beyond the glass and steel towers at its centre, and you’ll find neighbourhoods of winding alleyways and human-scale buildings, where the South Korean capital comes alive. One of the most vibrant districts is Hongdae, centred on Hongik University and other nearby institutions devoted to art and design. It’s a happening area of dining, live music and fashion..."

"Watched over by these surreal inhabitants, there’s something other-worldly and fairy-tale about the building – as if the witch in the Hansel and Gretel tale had fancied a warmer climate, and set up shop in Thailand. I half expect a wizened old lady beckoning me in with a gnarled finger, suggesting I take a bite of the marzipan architecture on the way. Inside, however, it’s simply delightful. Though a million toys is probably an exaggeration, there must be thousands of them within these walls..."

Journeying into nostalgia at a toy museum in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

[Read the full article here]

"I have an idea for the next Terminator movie: a cohort of tin robots marches across the earth, its colourful leaders backed by dozens of troops arrayed in black armour, with bulging red eyes and little looped antennas on their heads. At least, that’s what I see when I look into one of the many glass cases in the Million Toy Museum in Ayutthaya, Thailand..."

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"The suburbs of Delhi, India seem like a strange place to find the throne of King Louis XIII of France. Though it’s not a throne in the strict sense; it’s a replica of a grand combination of chair and toilet that the monarch had made in the 17th century. Ever a busy man, the monarch used it to attend to his courtiers and, er, other royal business at the same time..."

"'All the world’s a stage,' wrote William Shakespeare, but he might as well have said 'All the world’s a beach.' Through Asia, Australia and the Pacific there are beaches of every type, hosting every attraction. Whether you’re after a rest, a meal, a party or a spot of retail action, there’s a sandy shore out there for you. Here’s a selection of the best..."

Detailing a number of fine beaches, including two each in Bali and Phuket.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"When the hotel opened as the Railway Hotel in the 1920s, it attracted Bangkok’s well-to-do to what had previously been an unexceptional fishing village. Impressed with the new seaside resort and the contrast it provided with the busy capital, King Prajadhipok ordered the construction of a palace here, aptly named Wang Klai Kang Won ('Far from Worries')."

Visiting a beach resort town long favoured by the royal family of Thailand.

"Within the grand art deco Imperial Hotel is this opulent fever-dream of the British Empire. It’s dominated by a vast horseshoe-shaped timber bar covered by a glass canopy bearing art nouveau designs. Sepia photographs of maharajahs adorn pillars, and along one wall is a large painting of an idealised scene of Indian riverbank life. One senses that this place was as much an anachronistic fantasy when it was built as it is now..."

"There's only one way to really discover Old Delhi, the 17th century city laid out by Moghul emperor and Taj Mahal creator Shah Jahan: on two feet. Though the government of India is centred on the geometric streets of New Delhi, Old Delhi has more historic appeal. Off pulsing Chandni Chowk, the district's incredibly busy main street, are dozens of narrow alleyways leading to shopping precincts and eateries."

"Ah, food. It doesn’t take long for any Bangkok conversation to turn to the local cuisine. The frequent visitor will have eaten with backpackers on the Khao San Road, taken noodles in Chinatown, tried samosas in Little India, dined upmarket in Sukhumvit and sampled the streets stall dishes of Banglamphu. Been there, eaten that. But here comes Bangkok’s latest hot eat street: Soi Ari."

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"Walking from the square to the waterfront, I stand under a lone palm tree and gaze out over the strait. I can’t see the island of Sumatra, lying just beyond the horizon, but it’s easy to imagine the spice traders of bygone days threading their ships through this body of water, braving pirates and treacherous weather in order to be the first to land their cargoes in far-flung ports."

Investigating the diverse history and culture of Melaka, Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"I try something I’d not previously heard of: tui na, a Chinese massage that applies pressure to the traditional acupuncture points. My masseur is a Chinese-Malaysian woman of slight stature, but surprising physical strength. At the end of the hour she takes hold of my head, says 'relax', then twists it sharply till it clicks. Then in the other direction as well. I feel strangely flexible after all that."

Testing out three styles of massage in Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Bangkok is an exciting and vibrant city at all hours of the day, especially here in the commercial centre where gigantic shopping malls line busy roads, overshadowed by the Skytrain elevated railway. But is it possible to discover a more contemplative side to the Thai capital? Having set out on foot through the humid morning haze from my hotel, I’m determined to give it a try."

Exploring the quieter back streets of Bangkok, Thailand.

"As I listen to the music, the waitress returns to top up my jasmine tea with boiling water. Then, to my intense surprise, the duo begins playing a version of Click Go the Shears. I glance up, catch the erhu player’s eye, and we exchange discreet smiles. Like the decor of the tea house, which features a jumble of items from Shanghai’s 20th century past, it seems the music selection is drawn from a variety of sources across the years."

Tasting tea, dumplings and the historic past in Shanghai, China.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"It’s time for the moment I’ve been dreading: getting out on the river. I’m a novice on the water, being the kind of traveller who hangs around cities investigating art galleries and bars, so there’s some tension in the air as we walk down to the sandy shore below the village. Luckily, I’ll have the able Ivy to guide us safely over the admittedly tiny set of rapids we’ll encounter en route."

A kayaking journey in the state of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Then comes the character we’ve all been waiting for: Ritchie swings down through the forest. He’s huge! Alighting on the platform, he samples the papayas and bananas, and then selects a coconut. With three mighty whacks against the wooden decking, Ritchie smashes open the fruit and casually tastes its interior. With a strength up to ten times that of humans, an orangutan instils a sense of awe."

Encountering wild orangutans in the forests of Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Not available for republication.

"It’s a Monday and, even for a travel writer, I’m experiencing an unusual afternoon at work. I’m at the front of a two-person kayak, paddling and sometimes drifting down the Sarawak Kiri River in Borneo, on my first-ever kayaking foray. The humidity is relatively low, it’s a hot sunny day, and I’m moving past lush green banks. If only I could get my balance right, I’d be in paradise."

I go kayaking in Sarawak, Malaysia, on the tropical island of Borneo.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Never one to avoid an amusingly tacky gift, I pick up a small red wind-up alarm clock featuring an image of Mao, with his arm frantically waving his Little Red Book at the masses. I also fancy a set of playing cards with interwar Shanghai posters, another set depicting a bizarre 1970s ballet involving women with guns, and a relatively tasteful set of worry balls featuring a dragon and a phoenix."

Exploring the Old Town district of Shanghai, China.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Music is playing loudly, smoke is billowing from a nearby shrine, and a flock of birds is flying across the sky above the crowd. It’s an invigorating atmosphere: a potent blend of aroma, sound, colour, motion and human vibrancy that reaches deeper than the rational mind, intensely moving in both its passion and the good humour of the crowds which have come to share in it."

Witnessing the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"Younger than most Australian cities, KL has the energetic feel of a city still in the process of establishing its identity, symbolised by the contrasts between the modern Kuala Lumpur City Centre, bustling Chinatown, and its colonial architecture. The icing on the cake - or the sambal on the laksa, perhaps - is the city's multi-ethnic population."

Outlining the attractions of the Malaysian capital over a single day.
Available for republication (print only).
Images available.

[Read the full article here]

I also have a selection of high-quality digital images available, depicting a variety of international locations. 
See examples of my travel photography.

If you'd like to republish one of these pieces, or would like a new piece written about the same location, please get in touch via the contacts below:

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email:
tim@iwriter.com.au

phone:
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(international +61-411-242327)

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