Asia & The Middle East

Silverkris Guide to Malé, The Maldives

A destination guide for Silverkris (Singapore Airlines in-flight magazine), December 2017
"With over 130,000 people squeezed into two square miles, Malé is a bustling and fast-paced capital - the antithesis of the laid-back island resorts that draw most tourists to The Maldives..."

Wonders of the World: Epic Building Projects

An article for The Johnnie Walker House Edit, February 2017
"Since the dawn of time, mankind has been engaged in building immense structures. From a two-week skyscraper to a two-millennia wall, here are history's most epic building projects..."

Journey to Nowhere: Barefoot Luxury Travel

An article for The Johnnie Walker House Edit, July 2015
"Kicking off your shoes, stepping onto bone-white sand and feeling the wind caress your hair, all without the sniff of a smartphone email alert - welcome to the universe of barefoot luxury..."

North Korea Travel Guide

A guide for World Travel Guide, January 2015
"Perhaps the world's most insular, provocative and challenging country, North Korea is not the archetype of an alluring holiday destination. Yet many tourists are visiting this socialist state..."

Seven Bold Vacations That Break the Mould

A contribution to an article for Huffington Post, December 2014
"North Korea is among the least visited countries in the world. Although the U.S. government strongly advises against travel, Reaney says it is worth the trip for the Arirang Mass Games..."

Out to Brunch: The All-Week Brunch Trend

An article for SO/HO Magazine, October 2014
"This late-morning meal now rivals lunch and dinner as the most creative cuisine of the day - throughout the week. So how has this dining phenomenon taken off all around the world...?"

Century Spires: Thriller in Manila

An article for Private Air Magazine, September 2014
"The eighth tower in the shimmering glass high-rise development that is 'Century City', this is the first building in the Philippines to be designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind..."

Stay for Free: Sleeping with Strangers

An article for National Geographic Traveller, May 2014
"I am folded in half. My knees are tucked up to my chin - my chin tucked into my chest. I can’t even feel my feet. In fact, my only sensation is the sharp jabbing below my shoulder blade..."

The Boutique Boom

An article for SO/HO Magazine, March 2014
"A good hotel stay is no longer only about high thread count linen and 24-hour room service; guests today are looking for stylish, independent properties that offer unique experiences..."

Chef Collaborations and Exchanges

An article for SO/HO Magazine, December 2013
"It is a regular evening. You turn up at your regular restaurant and are shown to your regular table. Then you are handed your menu, which bears zero resemblance to the regular one..."

How to Design a Boutique Bakery

An article for SO/HO Magazine, September 2013
"At boutique artisan bakeries that have seen a boom in the past two years, design and decor are as vital as the dough. From Singapore to London, here are the finest bakery boutiques..."

Blending In: Thailand’s Luxury Hotel Designs

An article for Private Air Magazine, May 2013
"The sun skirts the ocean's edge. The lingering light dances upon the water's surface, from infinite sea to infinity pool, until it eventually sinks, exhausted, beyond the crystal horizon..."

The Flight to Everest Base Camp

An article for National Geographic Traveller, May 2013
“I heard the plane before I saw it. Sitting mutely in a pallid departure lounge, the dirty put-put-put of the engine trickled its way into my subconscious. It's a peeling, patched-up biplane…”

At the Crossroads

An article for Voyeur (Virgin Airlines in-flight magazine), April 2013
“Slouching off the effects of jet-lag on a riverside bench, I watch as a group of elderly women, draped in flowing, bright white gowns, perform a languid dance with crimson fans held aloft..."

China: World Leaders in Business Travel

An article for Vertu Select, April 2013
"The United States has been sitting pretty atop the business travel market leader board for a long time, but a new contender may be about to take its place. No prizes for guessing who..."

The World’s Best Airport Architecture

An article for Private Air Magazine, March 2013
"For the majority of the 20th century, airport terminals were built for function; safe, efficient and uninspiring buildings made to deliver people from road to runway. But that's changed..."

East China to Kyrgyzstan

Proofreading and editing for Overland Magazine, March 2013
"The driver swerved violently to avoid it, but as we skidded on the snow-covered road the lump bounced off the bonnet. My blood ran cold as I realised what it was. A human being..."

Eating China: A Culinary Tour

An article for Overland Magazine, February 2013
"There are few culinary cultures as familiar, and yet as unknown, as China’s. In any world city you'll find 'Chinese' restaurants; yet the concept of a single Chinese cuisine is misguided..."

Jordan’s Luxury Oases in the Desert

An article for Vertu Select, January 2013
"It was 200 years ago that explorer Johann Burckhardt found Petra. While trekking across the desert between Syria and Egypt, he heard tales of an ancient city carved out of sandstone..."

Shenzhen: A Better Investment Than Hong Kong?

An article for Private Air Magazine, November 2012
"For more than half a century, Hong Kong has been a great economic powerhouse. Yet today it has a significant threat to its established global position - and it's coming from next door..."

Heart of Seoul: Five Grand Palaces in Two Days

An article for Serendib (Sri Lankan Airways in-flight magazine), November 2012
“It's 10 in the morning when the drumbeat starts. A heavy thud-thud-thud of anticipation. The Changing of the Guard is a rare celebration of the past in a capital obsessed with the future…”

Jordan’s Surprise Luxury Tourism Trend

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, November 2012
“It was 200 years ago that Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt rediscovered the Nabataean capital Petra. And the city, made from sandstone, has been a booming attraction ever since…”

The Rise of the No-Choice Restaurant

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, September 2012
“Commonly known as a prix-fixe (fixed price) or table d’hôte (host’s table), the idea is simple: restaurants offer a set menu at a set price, so they can focus on just a few perfected dishes…”

Amman: A Modern Arab City

An article for Serendib (Sri Lankan Airways in-flight magazine), May 2012
“Amman is a capital with many memorable millennia behind it and more to come; where time-worn temples and mosques jostle for space with high skyscrapers and picket-fenced villas..."

Off Everest’s Beaten Path

An article for Shoestring Magazine, February 2012
"I feel like throwing up. My head is spinning, my stomach churning, my joints throbbing. I suck in a lungful of icy air but there isn't enough oxygen. Yet still I ignore the thought to turn back…”

Sleeping with Strangers in Busan

An article for Everywhere Magazine, January 2012
““I am very sorry” he says, with a bow, as the door swings open. “This is all that is left.” I look down at my bed for the night - five-feet long, two-feet wide and three-feet deep - and smile..."

Top Marx: When Socialism Meets Tourism

An article for StalkingElk Magazine, July 2011
“China now has more KFC outlets than giant pandas. A mere two decades after some vexed Germans shouted at a wall, the country's about as socialist as Joseph McCarthy in a kaftan..."

The Greatest (and Most Secret) Show on Earth?

An article for Reader's Digest, August 2010
“North Korea is acquiring a reputation for something altogether different from its newsworthy nuclear programme and alleged torpedo attacks. And it involves schoolchildren in leotards..."