Now especially in the spotlight because of the Rio Olympics, Brazil is of course known for its splendid beaches not just in Rio de Janeiro but all along its enormous Atlantic coast. Resort distination Praia do Forte is a perfect example, featuring beaches with white sand and crystal clear waters surrounded by coconut…

Punks with litre-size steins of beer; festive gay street demos; women in headscarves, sometimes even veils cruising grocery aisles; graffiti scrawled across façades in a bid to awaken social consciences; hipsters on the prowl for vintage comic books… All are multifarious faces of one ofBerlin’s most trendy, bohemian, and multicultural neighbourhoods, Kreuzberg. For most of three postwar…

photo: Martchan 





Feet bare, the woman scurried across the desert and up to the jeep as we were about to depart. Smiling, proffering a sizeable plastic bag, she said something which Khalid, my guide/interpreter as well as artist and poet, translated as, “a…

photo: Ditty_about_summer





A major debate and buzz word within the tourism industry is what is often called “sustainable tourism”.  In reality there is no one definition of what the word means an even less people are sure of how to apply the term.  The…

Prague and the towns and cities of Bohemia tend get most of the attention from travellers and travel writers alike. But in my many visits and time living in the Czech Republic, I found that the historic region in the country’s south – a bit…

Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. From long time ago up to now, lotus flowers have been in Vietnamese people’s hearts, life and culture. Contemplating lotus flowers, we can see and realize images of Vietnamese people.





Although it grows in mud, it is not be polluted. But in contrast, it can change its living environment; every where it grows, it turns turbid…

Food in Hungary's capital stands out for its flavors and aromas, with lavish use of spices (most famously but not only paprika) and generous servings. Prices are more economical than in many other European capitals. Some of the current top tables in…