A Drop In The Ocean

With the establishment of locally managed marine areas around just a few of the Mergui Archipelago's 800 islands, the race to safeguard this jewel of the Andaman Sea faces a long uphill battle

Saving Species On The Brink

There are two primary reasons underlying threats to wildlife in Southeast Asia: illegal wildlife trade resulting in population declines and rapid deforestation leading to large-scale loss of habitat.

Finding Harmony Between Humans And Elephants

How one non-profit organisation is encouraging alternative crops to reduce human-elephant conflict in Thailand

Understanding The Ocean's Biggest Fish

How one research team is using ultrasound and blood sampling techniques pioneered in Japan to study whale sharks in the wild off the Galápagos

Cleaning Up The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

New technologies are being deployed to remove plastic trash from our oceans and rivers

Koh Tao: Little Changes, Big Impacts

How two small businesses are putting sustainability first in their efforts to improve lives and preserve the environment

Protecting The World's Biggest Eagle

The national bird of the Philippines is under threat of extinction from deforestation and human persecution

Whalers Of Days Gone By

Whaling In The Age-old Tradition Is Still Alive In One Remote Village

The Markings Of Man And Gods

Ancient Imprints Of Hands And The Rise Of Feet

If It Weren't For Tea

The Measly Leaf That Brought Empires To Their Knees

Soaked In Rejuvenation - Once In 12 Years

Once every 12 years, a Hindu temple is required to hold a Kumbhabhishekam as part of its consecration ceremony. Kumbhabhishekam is derived from two words, abhisheka (ritualistic pouring of sacred water) and kumbham (a pot filled with sacred water).

Blinking Colours The Eye Of The Beholder

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what do they say about the beauty of the eye, if, they in question, happen to be great scientific minds? In a basic sense, eye colour is determined by iris pigmentation, and how well the stroma of the iris is able to scatter light.

The Marriage Of Art And Alliance A Habit Of Henna

A Hindu bride is a work of art: Her hands and feet are a canvas for the most intricate of henna designs. It is said that the darker the colour of the design, the more love and welcome she will receive from her in-laws so getting it right is an absolute must.

The Russian Rice Connection

A peek into an obscure nook of Asia

Between Death And Rebirth The Way To The Sky

In Tibetan regions, people still practise the sky burial – a ceremony that entrusts the corpses to vultures.

Blessed Bay

LORD GANESHA'S SEND-OFF

THE RELIGIOUS SOURCE OF MARTIAL ARTS Spirit Warrior

Over the centuries, martial arts have travelled far beyond their places of origin and become some of the greatest sports ever devised. In contemporary culture, names like Jackie Chan and Jet Li have broken language barriers, transcended cultural differences and made martial arts the go-to commercial success, embraced by billions and eventually influencing many Hollywood movies.

A Spiritual Journey: Kumano Odyssey

The only pilgrimage route in Asia designated as a World Heritage site, the trails of the Kumano Kodo have guided pilgrims for over 1,000 years

Casting Light

The Origins of Optics

ALOR Preserving Paradise

Savvy divers know this far-flung archipelago as the home of stunning reefs and exhilarating currents, and now a group of dive operators and conservationists have united with government to ensure the long-term preservation of this very special marine ecosystem

Koyasan Calling

Venture to Japan's spiritual heartland of Wakayama for unique experiences to cleanse body and soul

Music To Her Ears

With sophisticated social proceedings typical of subdued Filipino society, gallant gentlemen once wooed their women with sweet songs

Gone But Not Forgotten

Remembering the world's onetime longest-reigning monarch

At The Edge Of Extinction

A look at several endangered Asian languages

A Great Convergence?

Did the Ancient Greeks help build China's Terracotta Army?

The Rickshaw Revolution

Asia's classic mode of transport has seen continuous upgrades over the years. Yet the earliest rickshaws - and the downtrodden coolies that pulled them may soon be relics of history following Kolkata's efforts to eradicate them

The Taste Of Freedom

Coming of age in Japan has evolved from an ancient rite of passage to a raucous festival

A Dying Tradition

The clanging of hammers on metal, echoing through the back alleys of Bangkok, signals a fading tradition

A History Of Violence

Sowing the seeds of modern warfare

Behind The Myth Of Shangri-La

Shangri-La – the earthly paradise that has captured the imaginations of explorers and scholars alike around the globe – is a fictional utopia described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon.