Like many places in Italy, Siena comes down to us as a museum, beautifully preserved. Like most fascinating places, it is a museum of contradictions. In the Piazza del Campo, Siena has one of the loveliest open spaces in all of Italy, yet the city is infamous for the closed society it maintains. Bankers and artists, in their always uneasy alliance, have coexisted here for centuries. Siena is as self-involved a city as there exists, constantly keening before the mirror of history, oblivious to tourists, condescendingly tolerant of the modern …

The most celebrated sunset in Asia fills Manila Bay with an orange glow which shimmers before the spectator’s eyes, bringing another unsteady day to a close and heralding the start of another glittering, flickering night. The sunset is a natural phenomenon but ironically has the hallmark of Man. For the shimmering sky and the misty light are in no small part due to the pollution which chokes Manila’s air. Some people hate Manila, others cannot get enough of it. The city is a constant assault on the senses, a 24-hour …

One of the biggest draws of Intercontinental Hotel West Lake Hanoi is the view, most of the 359 rooms overlook Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West Lake) and the 800 year old Golden Lotus Pagoda. The scenery is equally appealing from the hotel’s lakeside bar, which is set on its own island and accessible by way of a torch-lit bridge.
Dining options include brasserie fare at Café du Lac and homemade croissants and sandwiches at Le Gourmet, while the guest rooms pay homage to local artisans with intricate hill-tribe textiles and crafts and …

Time and again the city of Kyoto has worked its mysterious power on conquerors and casual visitors alike. It makes them want to stay. Ask any member of the large international population who came here out of curiosity and found themselves settling to devote years of study to Zen, or calligraphy, or any one of a number of other traditional arts. The beauty and refinement of the ancient capital transforms everyone who sets foot in it. The imperial court and aristocrats who ruled ancient Japan set the tone for Kyoto …

Kyoto Much as we love Kyoto’s traditional inns, this modern hike on the ryokan is as alluring as can be. From the lobby to each of the 13 rooms, design and decor is unique and whimsical, thanks to the posse of local artists who were called upon to craft different looks for each space. One room is all white, draped with swaths of billowing muslin, another lakes its cues from China, with red-lacquered furniture and charcoal-black walls. It’s a bravely contemporary statement for a place that is walking distance to …