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A Burmese Salad That Says Welcome

A new generation of tastemakers puts Beijing on the fashion map.

There’s so much history—and even more flavor—packed inside every spoonful of this traditional soup.

Everyday Universal Experiences: Audrey Scott and Dan Noll, Uncornered Market

With just an old photograph in hand, a writer sets out to understand her father’s role in the Vietnam War—depending entirely on the kindness of strangers willing to help.

In the Adriatic Sea’s largest peninsula, esteemed journalist Mark Bittman finds out what it really means to “eat local.”

Embrace a rustic, woodsy vibe at these timber lodges such as the Fairmont Le Château Montebello in Quebec.

Hoi An’s iconic noodle dish was tangled in mystery for decades. Then writer David Farley came to town.

Pastry chef, Michael Laiskonis, shares his favorite things to do, see, and (of course) eat while in Bogotá, Colombia.

Beyond the Olympics in London’s East End

Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, has emerged as one of Asia’s best-loved destinations. The rapidly developing city has restaurants and hotels that hold their own with the best in East Asia, but remains more budget-friendly than Tokyo or Hong Kong. Visitors find strong Taiwanese cultural heritage in places like Snake Alley and Longshan Temple, while just minutes away by MRT is the hyper-fashionable Ximending district and the electronics bazaar of the Guang Hua Digital Plaza.

For cross-country skiers, one winter destination rises above the rest: humble Hayward, Wisconsin, where, for a glorious weekend, their obscure sport is king.

Each wooden suite—spread out over the waters of a coral-lined lagoon—has a smartly designed sea-level sun deck, a deepwater pool, and a glass spy hole carved into the floor so you can watch the stingrays and reef sharks glide below. The property underwent massive renovations during 2019 after a fire ravaged the hotel, but it took the opportunity to expand and improve. The resort reopened with 45 luxury villas with furniture made from locally sourced materials.

The Buddhist temple complex of Dambulla consists of five cave temples carved under a very large overhanging rock. The temples were carved out over several centuries, but the oldest dates back to the 1st century B.C.E. The temples include numerous carved statues of Buddha, and his faithful disciple Ananda, as well as Hindu deities.


The largest of the caves is known as the Maharaja Vihara Lena, or Cave of the Great Kings, so named because the cave contains the statues of two ancient, great Sri Lankan kings—Valagambahu and Nissankamalla. Fifty or so Buddha statues, including a life-sized granite one, are all contained inside the temple as is small stupa surrounded by eleven seated Buddhas.


The cave walls and ceiling are entirely painted with paintings depicting early Buddhist historical events and murals with traditional Buddhist designs. Like all the other cave temples, this one is dimly lit, preserving the vibrant colors of the paintings and murals.


Another unusual feature of this particular cave temple is the large metal bowl that was placed inside the cave centuries ago, presumably to catch rain dripping from the cave roof. It’s said that even in a severe drought, the water in the bowl does not dry up.

Dambulla is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites located in the region known as Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. If you ever go to Sri Lanka, you must go to Dambulla. It is a very unique and spectacular site!

The Spirit of Istanbul