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“ Travel is fatal to prejudice , bigotry , and narrow-mindedness , and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts ”
— Mark Twain
What does it mean to be a “ traveller ” if it is not to derive pleasure from exploring new places , having fresh experiences , and enriching oneself ? Of course , there ’ s nothing wrong with kicking back on a sublime stretch of white sand or indulging in the finer things in life at a beautiful resort – we ’ d be lying if we didn ’ t admit that those aren ’ t great – but they aren ’ t the reasons why we travel in and of themselves . No , after the gruelling isolation of the pandemic , as most of us can finally look forward to getting on a plane , we travellers are excited to immerse ourselves in unknown cultures and witness amazing sites of natural ( and manmade ) beauty – and challenge ourselves in the process .
In this special issue of ASIAN Geographic PASSPORT , we aim to inspire those new travels , both through fascinating cultural experiences and adrenaline-pumping adventure . On the culture side , we head to a sacred mountain in Japan (“ Koyasan Calling ”, page 6 ) for the first in a twopart journey through Wakayama , the country ’ s spiritual heartland . We find out why Lahore is considered the cultural capital of Pakistan (“ Lahore Lahore Aye ”, page 22 ). And we round up our picks of the top UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit in Asia (“ Precious Places ”, page 30 ).
On the adventure side , we start with some inspiration from that great Asian mariner , Zheng He (“ Legendary Explorer ”, page 56 ), whose huge fleet of ships voyaged from China to Southeast Asia , India , Arabia and the Horn of Africa , showing off Chinese maritime prowess and projecting Chinese power and wealth across the region . We journey by liveaboard to the remote Indonesian archipelago of Alor (“ Preserving Paradise ”, page 64 ) to discover how people are working to ensure a sustainable tourism model prevails in this far-flung haven . And we tell you where to go to have some serious fun while giving your mind and body a good workout (“ Thrills and Spills in Southeast Asia ”, page 76 ).
We hope you find something in these pages to inspire your travels in 2023 , and beyond . And don ’ t worry , if you do happen to find yourself sipping cocktails on a gorgeous beach , indulging overzealously in the local cuisine , or languishing in a fancy hotel you paid a little too much for , well , just enjoy yourself . You ’ ve earned it . And we ’ re not judging .
Ian Bongso-Seldrup