Netherlands is known for tulips, dykes, windmills and such, its beaches are not usually one of them. And yet, north of the mainland is a string of islands fringed with ribbons of the most pristine sands. These are known as the Wadden Islands and they are separated from the mainland by the Waddenzee, or Wadden sea. The word ‘wad’ means wetlands and this region, shaped by the dynamic interplay between strong tidal currents and the wind, is considered to be the Netherlands’ last true wilderness. This rich natural diversity …
In the past few years, Singapore has gone through a kind of renaissance, it was once considered quite dour, but now offers a wide choice of activities both familiar and exotic. The arts are booming, the theaters are vibrant and the nightlife is pumping. Locals enjoy a high standard of living, and ‘fun’ is always on the agenda. Outdoor activity is not something that’s immediately associated with this small south-east Asian nation, but the Hast Coast Park, with its 11-kilometer stretch of beach and parkland is perfect for rollerblading, jogging, …
Bonaire is an island without even a single set of traffic lights. Here, fish and flamingos outnumber people. Bonaire has largely avoided the kind of development that blights other Caribbean islands, the glitzy resorts and malls, jet skis and beach-side discos. This island, the least populated of the so-called ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles (the others being Aruba and Curacao), prides itself on pioneering sustainable tourism, the first nature reserve and marine park in the Caribbean were founded here exactly 40 years ago. It helps that the beaches aren’t …
Tourists and locals swarm around in front of the large white facade of this 14th-century building. Inside is an exhibition on the French poet and screenwriter Jacques Prevert, where you can read his words, “Paris is tiny for those, like us, who share such a great love.” Hotel de Ville, the capital’s epicentre, is located in the 4th arrondissement. In Paris, the arrondissements don’t have names, but, since the 1860s, numbers from one to 20, spiraling around each other like an elegant snail shell. Each one is distinct, with a …
The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Northern Thailand is renowned for its stunning mountain scenery, home to all manner of wild orchids, not to mention temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches. Central Thailand is one of the world’s most fertile rice and fruit growing areas, home to sandy beaches on the east coast and vibrant, cosmopolitan Bangkok. Further south along the peninsula, unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands dot the landscape, offering some of …
