"I think Phnom Penh has become far more confident in its own voice. A few years ago, much of the retail and lifestyle scene felt either NGO-adjacent or heavily expat-driven. Now there's a noticeable shift toward Cambodian-led creative businesses that are designing for a more discerning local audience."
Seongsu-dong is Seoul's creative hub, where old warehouses and factories have been transformed into design studios, cafés, and showrooms. Often referred to as 'the Brooklyn of Seoul,' the industrial infrastructure, pop-up scene, and design-led façades make it a photo-friendly destination favored by many design-loving visitors.
I've lived in Malaysia most of my life, and the sense of safety here quietly shapes daily life. It's not about alarms or locked gates-it's about how neighbors smile as you pass, how laughter floats from late-night food stalls, and how people look out for one another.
The exhibition is the embodiment of the scenes of the famous franchise, with the use of realistic animatronics and detailed settings and with the interactive presence. The large dinosaurs and dramatic sets usually draw the attention of the visitors and one can easily miss numerous small details in the course of the exhibition.
The fastest way of arresting someone is to surprise them, when they're enjoying life, not knowing what's going on around them. You cannot hide from the invisible, or from what you cannot see. The inspiration for disguises comes from fieldwork and criminal profiling. In the lion dance case, officers were aware the suspect had fled to a new area, and that lunar new year festivities, when the streets would be busy with celebrations, would provide a good opportunity for them to blend into crowds.
A crowd of customers, holding phones aloft, watch intently as Auntie Nid mixes up her bestseller: an iced Thai tea. Condensed milk is poured into a glass, followed by three heaped tablespoons of sugar, and then freshly strained tea. The end product a deep orange, creamy treat is poured into a plastic bag filled with ice. I want to spoil my customers, says Auntie Nid, 68, who prefers to be known by her nickname.
Windows 2000 Professional seems to be a popular choice for ticket machine operators: a small footprint, bombproof reliability, and content to sit in the background while the customer's software takes center stage. Unfortunately, that reliability was not on display in this ticket machine, spotted in Bangkok by an eagle-eyed Register reader. A reboot has brought Windows 2000 Professional out of the shadows, and the loading screen is visible.
I spent the first half of 2025 in Paris, and while I loved living in a walkable city overflowing with art and culture, I often found myself craving a taste of home. Fortunately, Paris has not one but two Chinatowns: Belleville and the 13th arrondissement. Belleville is an artsy, historically progressive neighborhood shaped by centuries of immigration from Europe, Africa, and Asia. At its center is Parc de Belleville, known for its rotating street art and sweeping sunset views of the Eiffel Tower.
This year's Art SG, which closed last month, featured an intriguing debut: South Asian Insights, a modest pavilion dedicated to contemporary art from the region. Part of the TVS Initiative for Indian and South Asian Contemporary Art, it was backed by India's TVS Motor Company, one of the world's largest two-wheel manufacturers, which has its global headquarters in Singapore. Eight galleries-five from India-were each given a wall to showcase art.
Singapore, Michigan, was a thriving lumber town in the late 1800s, until erosion from mass deforestation caused the surrounding sand dunes to shift and swallow it whole. Yet just as quickly as the town disappeared under sand, its namesake in the East emerged from it: Around the world, Singapore is renowned for its use of land reclamation - importing sand to increase landmass and spur urban development.
Tucked away in the Wat Ket area, a quiet pocket of Chiang Mai well clear of the chaos of the Old Town, at 137 Pillars House you're close enough to dip in when you want to, but far enough out that the noise never follows you back. It's the kind of neighbourhood where mornings start slowly, perhaps with a quick trip to the nearby Lung Khajohn Wat Ket, one of the city's best rice roll spots, or a plate of Neng's Clay Pot Roast Pork (insanely delish!), before retreating back to the calm of the hotel gardens.
Deserted white sandy beaches, a 15-seat chef's table serving a farm-to-table Michelin-starred tasting menu, silence broken only by crashing waves, and not a cocktail bucket in sight. Oh yes, this is Phuket, but not as you might know it. For those willing to go against the grain and head north over the bridge, it's just 20 minutes to Iniala Beach House, but a world away from the island you think you know.
When Mandarin Oriental Qianmen opened its doors in late 2024, the property shone the spotlight on a different side of Beijing. Rather than a sleek, multistory modern building, guests can now immerse themselves in the historic side of the Chinese capital by staying in a hutong, or one of the ancient alleyway networks that have been a hub of local life for centuries-all with Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum), and the National Museum of China within walking distance.
My move to Phuket was about choosing a fabulous place to live while continuing my freelance career. I feel like I've been part of the island's community for years. I'd visit annually for a couple of weeks at a time, maintain friendships, and get to know local business owners. Every trip had me dreaming about potential jobs and interesting opportunities.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-bangkok-thailand-MSTVISITASIANCITY0126-e4439c8d975b474684a537bae82e37f5.jpg)
