Articles
Izu Peninsula: Where Three Plates Collide to Create Hot Spring Paradise
The Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島), which extends southeastward from Tokyo into Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay, is a geological accident that has created one of Japan's…
Penang Georgetown: Street Art Paradise and Hawker Food Heaven
Georgetown, Penang—Malaysia's UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008—offers dual attractions that make it among Southeast Asia's most rewarding destinations…
Iceland's Work-Life Balance Culture: Where Work Ends on Time and Nature Calls
Iceland's work culture prioritises personal leisure over work, despite placing 26th out of 36 nations on the OECD work-life balance index. Icelanders work around 1,697 hours per…
Iceland's Volcanic Landscape: A Living Laboratory of Plate Tectonics and Eruptions
Iceland is one of the most volcanically active locations outside tropical zones. Its geological character is defined by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge spreading zone meeting with a mantle hotspot, resulting…
Mount Fuji: Japan's Sacred Peak Where Spirituality Meets Geology
Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) is more than just Japan's highest mountain, standing at 3,776.24 meters (12,389 ft). This flawlessly symmetrical stratovolcano represents Japanese…
The Blue Lagoon: A Geothermal Spa Born from an Industrial Accident, Now Iceland's Most Popular Attraction
The Blue Lagoon, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, is the most visited tourist destination in Iceland and one of the world's most stunning geothermal…
Nasi Lemak: Malaysia's Unofficial National Dish That Unites a Nation
Nasi lemak, a popular Malaysian dish made with coconut milk and pandan leaves, has become a symbol of national identity and multicultural unity. It is served with spicy sambal…
Japanese Alps: Three Mountain Ranges Where Tradition Meets Alpine Adventure
The Japanese Alps (Nihon Arupusu) are divided into three mountain ranges: the Northern, Central, and Southern Alps, which run over central Honshu and reach elevations…
The Icelandic Yule Lads: 13 Mischievous Christmas Trolls with 400 Years of Folklore
Iceland celebrates Christmas with 13 distinct gift-giving characters known as the Jólasveinar (Yule Lads), who originate from mediaeval Icelandic folklore and symbolise the country's…
The Golden Circle: Iceland's Ultimate 300-Kilometre Day Trip Through Three Geological Wonders
The Golden Circle is a 300-kilometre (186-mile) loop viewing route that connects three geological wonders within a comfortable driving distance from Reykjavik. It is the ideal one-day…
The Icelandic Naming System: Patronymics and Matronymics Reflecting Gender Equality Values
Iceland has a unique naming tradition where children's last names are derived from their father's or mother's first names, followed by "-son" or "-dóttir" (literally "son" or "daughter"). A family…
Mount Kinabalu: Borneo's 4,095-Meter Biodiversity Hotspot
Mount Kinabalu, at 4,095.2 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level in Sabah on Borneo's northern edge, is the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and Papua New Guinea…
The Icelandic Language: A Living Bridge to Old Norse Spoken 1,000+ Years Ago
Modern Icelandic is one of Europe's most linguistically conservative languages, remaining so similar to Old Norse (the language spoken during Iceland's settlement in 870 AD) that…
Ramadan and Hari Raya: A Month of Faith Culminating in Joyous Celebration
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Malaysian Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for 30 days, promoting spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and…
Karoshi: Japan's Culture of Overwork and the Road to Reform
Karoshi (過労死), meaning "death from overwork," is a uniquely Japanese term describing a preventable catastrophe that kills thousands of people each year. The phenomena…
Iceland's Geothermal Paradise: Sitting Atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Where Continents Diverge
Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a submarine mountain chain that marks the divergence of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. This spreading zone creates…
Penang George Town: UNESCO Heritage Where East Meets West
George Town, the capital of Penang Island, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 alongside Malacca for its "unique architectural and cultural…
Fushimi Inari Shrine: 10,000 Torii Gates Creating a Sacred Tunnel
Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) is one of Japan's most prominent spiritual locations and possibly the most photographed shrine, known for its mesmerising tunnels of vermillion…
Iceland's Gender Equality Milestone: 12+ Years as World's #1 for Gender Parity
Iceland has been ranked first globally in gender equality for at least 12 years in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index. This achievement is a result of deliberate government…
Vatnajökull Glacier: Europe's Largest Ice Cap Retreating Rapidly Due to Climate Change
Vatnajökull, sometimes known as the "Glacier of Lakes," is the largest ice cap in Iceland and the second largest in Europe, behind Novaya Zemlya's Severny Island. As of 2023, the glacier…