Asian Art & Culture

Every Monday, I take you on a journey somewhere in Thailand—to discover a place, a dish, an emotion, a unique experience designed to spark curiosity and inspire something truly memorable. So… is it a floating market or not? Is it…
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Floating Retreats & Waterborne Journeys Around the region’s great lakes, daily life continues to move in rhythm with the rising and receding waters.Floating markets appear before sunrise along riverbanks. Villages stand above…
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This afternoon, it is 4:17 p.m.The Thar Desert stretches endlessly under a pale, suspended light. The air is dry, almost still. Not the Rajasthan of palaces and fortresses… but the one that lives far from the roads, in silence, in ritual,…
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This evening, it is 7:42 p.m.Yogyakarta exhales the last warmth of the day. The light softens, turns amber, then fades into a quiet blue. Not the Yogyakarta of monuments and timelines… but the one that lingers—in memories, in silences, in…
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In many parts of South Asia, meaning is not always spoken—it is placed gently, by hand, at the center of the forehead. The tilaka is one such gesture. More than a symbol, it is an act: applied during prayer, offered as a blessing, or…
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On Monday, I take you on a journey somewhere in Thailand—to discover a place, a flavor, an emotion, an experience—everything that gives depth to discovery and to life. Sometimes a scent, a light, a sound brings back vivid memories. I…
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At the edge of a garden, beside a hotel entrance, or quietly placed near a tree, a small structure stands—often more ornate than the building behind it. It is not decoration. A spirit house is a small shrine dedicated to the…
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Every Monday, I have decided to take you somewhere in Asia. Not through a catalogue. Not through a list of hotels. But through an experience, a moment, a reverie, a slice of life. This morning, it is 6:30 a.m. Bangkok is slowly waking…
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A Different Kind of Spring Cleaning Spring cleaning, across much of Asia, begins not with what is seen, but with what is felt.Before a new season arrives, spaces are cleared, yes, and so too are energies, intentions, and the quiet…
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A single dot, placed with intention, at the center of the forehead.It is one of the smallest adornments in the world—and one of the most layered. Seen across India in shades of red, black, gold, or in jeweled forms, the bindi is often…
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