Asia Weekly

House of flying blaggers

When passing through Cambodia's Kampong Chhnang, travellers should keep an eye out for an unassuming farmhouse set back from National Highway 5, say Tracey Shelton and Nguon Sovan in the Phnom Penh Post. The long journey from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh to Thailand could use a little excitement, amd it's amply provided by this infamous "house the ghost bought," which was the subject of a 2006 movie. The film relates the myth of a couple who moved in, only to be told in a dream that a spirit wished to buy the house for $3,000.

Banking on history

Like a black-clad vandal caught in the act of keying a vintage car, the silhouette cast by the Olympic spotlight showed a China hell-bent on leveling its cultural heritage and replacing it with soulless concrete monstrosities.

Celestial Celebes

The butterfly-filled vales around Tana Toraja on Indonesia's South Sulawesi offer a reflective retreat from the fast-paced lifestyle of Makassar, says Stephanie Brookes in The Jakarta Post. The "timeless journey" north from town follows a river that is a living monument to the culture of the Torajan tribe, who believe they came to earth in starships, and have built their houses in the guise of the vessels that spirited them here at the dawn of time.

Genji's gardens

Japanese royalty "lived, ruled and played" in Kyoto's Imperial Park, and anyone intrigued by the prospect of gaining a glimpse into their lifestyle should book themselves a visit, says Alena Eckelmann in Metropolis magazine.

Letting go in Laos

Laos’ charming backwaters will slow the pulse rate of even the most highly strung Asian executive, says Stephanie Brookes in the Bangkok Post.

Knowing thyself

Women travelers get own floor

Singapore's Naumi Hotel is offering women travellers a special amenity: a separate floor all their own. The five rooms on the sixth floor of the 40-room boutique hotel are designated for females only, says The Straits Times.

Once more unto the beach

Many have lamented the commercialization of Thailand's myriad islands and the beaches that nestle along their coasts, but for the hardy seafarer one redoubt remains blight-free, says Phoowadon Duangmee in The Nation. Koh Phayarm, or "hard to reach island," lies 35 kilometres off the coast of Pak Nam Ranong and is home to an idyllic community of fishermen and cashew growers.

Indochina indulgence

Ho Chi Minh City is a place where "the horn never sleeps," but there are many options in Vietnam's countryside, where luxury travellers can find respite from the maddening crowds, says Sharon Fowler in The Australian.