Vijay Verghese

VIJAY VERGHESE IS A HONGKONG-BASED JOURNALIST, COLUMNIST AND THE EDITOR OF ASIANCONVERSATIONS.COM AND SMARTTRAVELASIA.COM

BT20190122_201942051936 Kelvin Chng/Jaime

Story Background :
Chefs' CNY dishes

Photo Opportunity :
Please take photo of chef Ivan Brehm and his CNY creation. Shot of the dish up close, and of chef  preparing it,



Address : nouri restaurant, 72 Amoy Street

Hotels can still be a Find Wally puzzle

In the pre-Google-maps era, new hotels started lavishing gifts upon taxi drivers to ensure they remembered the address for future fares. But...

A Bangkok-Samui sector might cost US$16,200 on a 14-seat Gulfstream, which works out to US$1,157 per passenger.

Fly like a millionaire: How to score deals on return-leg private jets

Actually, would-be passengers may not know their destination either as empty leg flights are random offerings at random times

Serious stargazers and astronomers will likely explore remote deserts, mountains and national parks around the world. 
While not the easiest to get to, there are clear spots in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Namibia, Iceland, Tibet, Bhutan, and Ladakh (the high plains Hanle village).

Starry starry night... but someone please switch off the lights

Why travellers are seeing stars (not just at hotels) and scratching their heads in the dark – to simply fall asleep. New...

Hotel guests at the front desk of the Marina Bay Sands hotel lobby on 18 October 2021.

What a feeling

The emotional takeaway may be the biggest gift a hotel can offer its guests. And this is where many fail in their...

Cathay Pacific grounded its Airbus A350 fleet following a problem on a Zurich-bound A350-1000 from Hong Kong.

What ails failing aircraft engines?

And how many aircraft engines does it take to make flying safe? Are six better than four, or two? Some aircraft have...

As with its retail, Muji has picked choice hotel locations downtown for young city professionals who form its loyal base.
LIFE & CULTURE

Can a no-brand retail store muscle into the brand hotel space?

Muji now operates three hotels with its trademark minimalism and affordable rates. And its rooms use Muji products as a real-time testing...

Sardinia, a remote region in Italy, was the first blue zone identified. It is said to be home to the world's longest-living men and has nearly 10 times more centenarians per capita than the US.
LIFE & CULTURE

‘Blue Zones’ may hold the key to future travel, lifestyle and longevity

Nine lifestyle practices of those living in such areas may help latter-day adventurers achieve stress-free harmony

Cathay Pacific's possible resurgence is hampered by two factors — a huge shortfall in pilots and cabin crew after the pandemic layoffs; and a steady shift in ticket purchase trends.

Flights of fancy: Excel sheets collide with in-flight service

Cathay Pacific faces strong headwinds as political pressure mounts for new routes and trainee captains are grounded for egregious flying errors

Greenwashing is something travellers need to be aware of when searching for deals.
LIFE & CULTURE

Is greenwashing taking travellers to the cleaners?

Holidaymakers should follow airline and hotel efforts to save the planet, but separate scams from sustainability

Potential white elephants in Asia include Indonesia’s US$7.3 billion “Whoosh” high speed rail, which was launched on Oct 2
THE BROAD VIEW

Mega-airports and a plastic blizzard

Travellers need to be aware of the part they play in preserving – or destroying – the local environment. It’s not just...