Japan · EXPLORE Unwind with shinrin-yoku Shinrin-yoku translates to “forest bathing”, though you won’t need a swimsuit for this one. It’s the Japanese practice of slowing down in a forest and deliberately noticing what’s around you. The sound of leaves, smell of damp earth, changing light and feeling of the air. The point isn’t to hike anywhere or achieve anything. Find a forest trail, put your phone away and walk much slower than feels natural, stopping whenever something catches your attention. For once, getting nowhere is exactly the point.
Japan · LEARN Fold a Japanese paper crane One sheet of paper, no glue, no scissors, no shortcuts. Origami transforms a simple square into cranes, flowers and more through folds and patience. Follow a diagram - often available free at museums, shrines, temples and visitor centres - or join a local origami class for hands-on guidance. As you fold, discover the story of Sadako Sasaki, whose senbazuru (a thousand paper cranes) became a powerful symbol of peace, hope and resilience. Don’t worry if your crane starts out a little wonky - trial and error is all part of the fold.
Japan · TASTE Surrender to omakase Give up control and let the chef take it from here. Omakase means “I’ll leave it to you”, so instead of choosing from a menu, you trust the chef to serve a progression of dishes based on what’s best that day. Find an omakase experience, take a seat at the counter and resist the urge to make the decisions. Watch each course come together and enjoy not knowing what’s coming next. No menu, no decisions, no regrets. Allergies? Say so first. The mystery is the dish, not the ingredients.
Japan · CONNECT Order in Japanese Point, practise, and give it a go. Try: This one, please - Kore kudasai What do you recommend? - Osusume wa? Draught beer for now! - Toriaezu nama! And when you’re finished, don’t forget to ask for the bill - Okaikei onegaishimasu? Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, you’re sure to earn a laugh or a smile.
Singapore · EXPLORESpot Singapore’s wild sideHead to a park, reservoir or wetland and keep your eyes open. Singapore’s cleaned-up waterways have helped wildlife return, including smooth-coated otters now regularly seen across the island. Look for monitor lizards, macaques, tropical birds and, in certain wetlands, estuarine crocodiles. Keep your distance, follow warning signs and never feed anything. For a city famous for skyscrapers, Singapore has a surprisingly lively supporting cast.
Singapore · LEARNMaster the art of chopeAt a busy hawker centre, watch Singapore’s unofficial reservation system in action. Spot tables “choped” with tissue packets, umbrellas or other belongings, then notice how everyone seems to understand the rule without a sign explaining it. Chope simply means to reserve a place, but seeing a tiny packet of tissues command an entire table tells you something wonderful about shared social customs. Some rules need legislation. Others apparently need two-ply.
Singapore · TASTETry the literal ice-cream sandwichSeek out one of Singapore’s remaining “ice-cream uncles”, traditional street vendors serving slabs of ice cream between rainbow bread. These old-school carts are slowly disappearing as ageing hawkers retire and their street licences cannot simply be passed on. Orchard Road remains a good place to look. Choose a nostalgic flavour such as red bean, yam or durian and enjoy a little piece of Singapore street culture before it melts away.
Singapore · CONNECTUse the basics in SinglishAsk a local to teach you a few Singlish expressions, then give them a go. Try: Can lah - No problem Paiseh - Sorry or my bad Shiok! - Really good! Makan - Eat or food Singlish mixes in influences from Singapore’s many languages and cultures, making it part of the country’s distinctive voice. Get a phrase slightly wrong? Don’t paiseh lah, you’re learning!
Indonesia · EXPLOREWander a pasarStep inside a neighbourhood pasar, Indonesia’s traditional market, and dive into the organised chaos. Weave past pyramids of chillies, stacked household goods, flower stalls and motorbikes somehow squeezing through the crowd. Pasar have long been trading hubs across the archipelago, with each one shaped by the produce and people around it. Keep moving, follow the flow and enjoy the commotion. If it feels slightly hectic, you’re probably in the right place.
Indonesia · LEARNTry pencak silatSmooth, controlled and deceptively graceful, pencak silat is Indonesia’s traditional martial art, blending self-defence with performance, discipline and regional style. Take an introductory class and learn a stance, sequence or defensive movement for yourself. Different parts of Indonesia developed their own techniques, sometimes accompanied by music and ceremonial elements. It all looks beautifully effortless until your own feet are invited to cooperate.
Indonesia · TASTETry a bowl of baksoBakso is one of Indonesia’s favourite comfort foods: springy meatballs served in a hot savoury broth, usually with noodles, tofu, greens or crispy wonton. You’ll find it everywhere from roaming street carts and neighbourhood warungs to dedicated bakso restaurants. Track down a bowl wherever you are and see how yours comes loaded. Cart, warung or restaurant, the important bit is getting stuck in.
Indonesia · CONNECTOrder in Bahasa IndonesiaPoint, practise, and give it a go. Try: This one, please! - Yang ini, ya! What’s good here? - Enaknya apa? Beer, please! - Bir satu, ya! And when you’re finished, don’t forget to ask for the bill - Minta bonnya, ya? Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, you’re sure to earn a laugh or a smile.
Thailand · EXPLOREGet lost in the soisThailand’s sois are smaller streets and lanes branching off the main roads, often forming winding networks that are easily overlooked. Pick an area, wander into a soi and spend an hour exploring without a plan. Follow whatever catches your eye, take turns that look interesting and leave the map alone unless you need it. Let curiosity guide you and see where the neighbourhood leads. Soi what if you get a little lost?
Thailand · LEARNLearn the waiThe wai looks simple until you realise not every wai is the same. In this greeting of respect, palms come together and the head dips, but the height of the hands and depth of the bow can change depending on who is greeting whom. Learn how the gesture works, then start watching for it around you. You’ll notice it between strangers, staff, elders and monks, each with subtle differences. Learn the code and one of Thailand’s most familiar gestures suddenly says much more.
Thailand · TASTEBuild a boat noodle towerSettle in for a few bowls of boat noodles, known for their small portions and dark, intensely savoury broth. They were once served from boats along Thailand’s canals, where smaller bowls were easier to handle and pass to customers. That tradition stuck, and ordering several bowls is still part of the experience. Keep the empties on your table and see how high your stack gets. One bowl was never really the plan.
Thailand · CONNECTUse “mai pen rai” like a localWhen travel doesn’t go to plan, take a breath, smile and say “mai pen rai,” which roughly translates as “it’s okay”, “no worries”, or “never mind”. Your train is late? Mai pen rai. Took the wrong turn? Mai pen rai. Ordered something you didn’t expect? Mai pen rai. Use it with the people around you when a small mishap happens and notice how the mood can shift when you choose not to get flustered. It’s more than three little syllables: it can become a wonderfully Thai way to embrace the unexpected.
Vietnam · EXPLORERide a xích lô [sik loh]Climb into a xích lô, Vietnam’s three-wheeled cycle rickshaw, and watch the city unfold from the front seat. Once a common way to get around cities such as Hanoi, Hue and old Saigon, xích lô now offer a much slower view of streets dominated by motorbikes. Today, you can find them throughout Vietnam’s major urban centres where terrain is flat. Look up where they still operate, settle in and watch shopfronts, traffic and neighbourhoods roll past. Vietnam rarely moves this slowly, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Vietnam · LEARNKeep it in the air with đá cầu [da kow]This Vietnamese shuttlecock game, often described as foot badminton, is played in parks, streets, and courtyards and dates back to the 11th century. Jump in and learn with locals, or pick one up and give it a go yourself. Look for a small weighted shuttlecock with colourful feathers, sold at markets and toy shops. The challenge is simple: just keep it in the air!
Vietnam · TASTEBuild your own chè [cheh]Choose your own adventure with Vietnam’s colourful dessert and sweet soup consisting of jellies, beans, fruit, sticky rice, and coconut cream. Served hot or iced, chè comes in endless combinations and could be considered Vietnam’s street dessert bar. Pick a ready-made version or point to your own mix of toppings. With so many regional styles and ingredients, there’s always another delicious combination waiting to be discovered.
Vietnam · CONNECTToast “một, hai, ba, dô!” with locals [mot, hi, ba, yo!]Join the cheer, loud and proud. This iconic Vietnamese toast means “one, two, three, cheers!” It’s energetic, communal, and hard not to smile through. You might even hear someone joke in reply “không say không về!” [hum sigh hum veh!] - “not drunk, not going home!”
