Heritage

A story of the ingenuity of a child and what is today the Cape of Stakes, Tanjong Pagar. In its heyday, Tanjong Pagar was a booming port filled with vessels from all over the world. This deep-water harbour is one of the reasons for Singapore's success as a trading hub in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the old railway station in the district has seen its last days as a bridge between Singapore and Malaysia.

Liron Shimoni grew up in Tel Aviv, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a thousand cultures colliding. He remembers the nights dancing on the beach, the fishermen at the port and how the city grew to the metropolis it is today.

Colombo is a city of history. Even in the all-engulfing, bustling trading centre that is Pettah, unique architectural features such as colonnaded verandas can be found, though they are fast disappearing. While the number of historical sites dwindles, the rich culture of Colombo is resilient.

The Lombok way of life draws you deeper and deeper into nature with alluring landscapes, particularly featuring the island's gorgeous coastlines, rivers, lakes and cascades. The locals are warm, the weather agreeable and the snorkelling good. Welcome to your next summer getaway.

Kabul, standing fast in the gale of change, exemplifies strength but despite the horrors of unrest has maintained an impossible innocence and breathtaking beauty. The multitudes that call Kabul home relish in the diversity of opinion, culture and natural landscape.

Kamin Mohammadi recounts her childhood in Tehran, the snowy winters spent snowball fighting with her cousins and the after-school cup of café glacé with her aunt.

Enchanting and tranquil is the sanctuary Bardhaman, a district in India lined with ornate temples and grant façades. Here nature and architecture exist in harmony, the perfect getaway for the weary metropolitan.

Salekhard, far from an empty grass steppe, is a flourishing city where tradition and modernity meet. Proudly the only city located within the polar circle, Salekhard beckons to where frigid winds calm in warm hospitality.