Accidental Travel Writer

Basel Hong Kong Attracts Tens of Thousands of Artists and Collectors

A painting on display at Art Basel Hong Kong. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.

Exhibitions

Tens of thousands of artists, art dealers, art critics, art lovers, curators, private collectors, and not a few curiosity seekers have descended on Hong Kong to attend Art Basel Hong Kong.

Summer 2013: Silversea's Top Three Mediterranean Cruises

The Mediterranean Sea is dotted with tiny islands and rocky coast lines. Smaller vessels allow passengers a closer look. Photo Credit: SIlversea Cruises.

Vacation Planning

Big boat or small? While large ocean liners offer more facilities, amenities, services, and options, they can't explore the tiny islands and rocky coastlines that smaller vessels can.

Top 10 Travel Destinations in Thailand for Foreign Tourists

Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, PhotoCredit: Sukhothai Hotel

Hospitality

China is the top source of inbound tourism for Thailand, followed by Malaysia, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, a survey conducted by Hotels.com reveals. Bangkok, meanwhile, is the favoured Thai travel destination.

Health and Fitness: How to Stay Fit in Your Hotel Room in 10 Minutes

Photographs used in promotional materials often take advantage of mirrors to make hotel fitness centres appear larger than they actually are.

Travel Infographic

Despite my best intentions, I often don't make it to the hotel fitness centre when I'm traveling. And when I do, I'm often disappointed. Photographers often take advantage of mirrors to make hotel gyms look larger than they really are.

Vietnam: Annual Black Tie Wine and Dine Cruise Through Halong Bay

A replica of a 1930s paddle wheel steamboat, the Emeraude will ply the waters of Vietnam's Halong Bay. Photo Credit: Emeraude Classic Cruises.:

Society

The Emeraude Wine and Dine Cruise Classic has got to be one of the most glamorous events on the Vietnamese social calender. Now in its ninth year, it will be held on 25 May 2013.

India: Top 10 Ways to Live Like a Maharajah or a Maharani This Summer

Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, India. Photo Credit: Taj Hotel Group.

Hospitality

The Taj Group of Hotels is offering a Royal Retreats package this summer at its Taj Grand Palaces. It runs through 30 September 2013. Here are the Top 10 ways to walk in the footsteps of maharajahs and maharanis.

Hong Kong: Japanese Lounge Hosts Shochu Workshop for Journalists

The evening begins when our waiter serves us a round of Yuzu Sours. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.

Food and Beverage

Think of Japanese tipples and two alcoholic beverages usually come to mind: sake and beer. But what about shochu? Not well known outside Japan, shochu has become the refreshment of choice for many Japanese connoisseurs.

Happy Buddha's Birthday from Hong Kong!

The statue of the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong has been described as “the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue”. Photo Credit: Jakub Halun.

Holidays and Festivals

Today is celebrated as Buddha's Birthday in many East Asian countries. Buddha's Birthday falls on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese Lunar Calender. 

Great Gatsby: Top Eight American Novels to Take on Holiday

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Part Five in a Series

With the recent release of yet another movie version of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby, interest in the book – and other great American novels – is high. This is the fifth in a series on The Great Gatsby.

Taiwan: W Taipei to Throw Its First Ever Social Media Party

DJ Mickey Moran will spin the discs. Photo Credit: W Taipei.

中文

Entertainment

Woobar at W Taipei in Taiwan is taking social media to a new level. The trendy night spot will host a series of three #Woobaby social media parties on 23, 24 and 25 May 2013.

Top Five Accessories That No Traveler Should Leave Home Without

Florence Giraudon heads BuyMeDesign, an on line curator of innovative new products.

Travel Tips

Florence Giraudon is the brains behind BuyMeDesign, an on line curator of new products. When Michael Taylor met her, he asked her to name five new travel accessories that no traveler should leave home without.

Hong Kong: Pairing French Wine with Chinese Cuisine

David Serodes, Wine Maker and Oenologue at Collovray and Terrior, shows off his vintages at the Mandarin Grill in Hong Kong. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.

Food and Beverage

Wine maker David Serodes travels from France to China twice a year. Michael Taylor and Daniel Creffield, Editor of Asian Hotels and Catering Times, chat with him – and sample his wines – at the Mandarin Grill.

Celebrity Chef: How to Please Long Staying Guests from Around the World

Matthew Wood is Executive Chef at Grand Mirage Resort Bali.

Bali Part Three

Michael Taylor spent three weeks in Bali, Indonesia, in the fall of 2012. While there, he explored the sights, sampled the food, learnt about the culture, and checked out what's hot and what's not in one of Southeast Asia's most exciting travel destinations.

Michael stayed at several hotels and resorts at various price points during his stay. The first hotel on his itinerary was the Grand Mirage Resort, which is located in Nusa Dua, Bali, but not within the gated community. During his three night stay, he had the pleasure of interviewing Matthew Wood, the hotel's Executive Chef.

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Social Media: Have We Forgotten How to Relax When on Holiday?

Believe me, this is NOT something I spend much time doing when I travel. And according to research, I am NOT alone! Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.

Travel Survey

I quit my last full time job about 10 years ago. As I was about to take my last ever annual leave, I wrote out my contact details – a phone number I could be reached at and my personal email address – and gave them to my supervisor.