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 …

Everywhere you go in this ancient city, the smell of sandalwood incense, or the wood of the temple buildings, or something less definable seems to make the air itself redolent with history. The oldest of the old is here in Nara, and even as millions come sightseeing every year, and the city slowly grows, the holy places of Nara stand peaceful and timeless. Nara developed as Japan’s leading cultural center in the sixth and seventh centuries, and served as the country’s first permanent capital from 710 to 784. This period …

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 …