DUBBED THE PARIS of Java for its rich heritage, Bandung has long appealed to tropical city dwellers with its cooler climate, stunning volcanoes and hot springs.

But travellers now head to the provincial capital of West Java not only to chill, but also to seek some thrills.

I check out “sky cycling” at Lodge Maribaya. Despite having a height phobia and being hopeless at cycling, here I am cycling on a thin wire, suspended five metres over a valley of green pines.

The millennials before me have been kicking their arms and legs in the air like starfishes or they stand with only one foot on the pedals. Their stunts against the backdrop of lush pine forest and blue sky make them look like heroes – at least in their photos. I wish I could look as cool, but my knees wobble.

Zip biking, or sky cycling, is one of a number of picture-worthy, ticketed activities offered at Lodge Maribaya (TheLodgeMaribaya.com).

Reluctant to rough it out? Glamour camping with “butler” service might be right down your alley. 

You can also climb a “sky tree” or sit on a “mountain swing” and wait to be pushed off a cliff. Do not worry, everyone is strapped up.

The Lodge Maribaya is on Jalan Maribaya Babakan Gentong, Cibodas, Lembang. Admission is 15,000 rupiah (about Bt40) on weekdays and 25,000 rupiah on weekends; separate tickets needed for each activity

After so much activity it has to be time to eat and the floating market in Lembang has Sundanese dishes ranging from bandrek (a ginger and palm sugar drink) to batagor (fried fish dumplings served with peanut sauce) at less than $1.50 (Bt50) a pop.

More than 30 hawkers cook their food on individual boats and serve them piping hot to customers waiting at low tables and chairs on the lakeside.

Unlike traditional markets, the Lembang market is built as a tourist attraction, so it also features touristy water attractions such as canoes, paddle boats and “water trains”, which are a string of “cabins” slithering like a toy snake on water.

The Floating Market Lembang is at Jalan Grand Hotel No. 33E. Admission is 20,000 rupiah.

Bandung’s Amazing Art World museum is another must-see.

Opened in January, this 1.5-hectare trick-eye museum claims to be the biggest in the world.

More images are still being painted in the gallery, which already boasts a dozen photo zones featuring anything from menacing dinosaurs to a giant octopus to Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by cute reindeer.

After three enjoyable hours, I am convinced I belong here among the 3D artworks.

I sing, dance and live out my stand-up comedy dreams, casting all inhibitions to the wind.

Amazing Art World is at Jalan Setiabudi No. 293, Isola, Sukasari, Bandung Admission is 91,000 rupiah (weekdays) and 119,000 rupiah (weekends)

Roughing it out in the woods is not for everyone. Glamping, or glamour camping, might be less dreadful.

A “doorman” greets us, shields us from the rain with his umbrella and carries our luggage to the tent.

A “butler” delivers a portable heater, towels and our dinner of fried rice and oxtail soup ordered via a “room” telephone.

There are electrical ports, a radio and free Wi-Fi, but only a single dim lamp.

Outside, there is a toilet and bathroom with modern facilities, a barbecue pit, a wooden table and benches.

We call for room massage and soon learn that it can be hit or miss. My friend loves his masseuse, but mine seems more interested in sporadically pounding me like sambal belacan with her imaginary pestle.

Dusun Bambu Family Leisure Park, Jalan Kolonel Masturi KM. 11, Kertawangi, Cisarua, Lembang It costs about $200 a night for a two-man tent. Find out more at http://www.DusunBambu.com

After a night of glamping, we spend half a day walking around the sprawling Dusun Bambu Leisure Park, taking in the views of well- landscaped gardens and bamboo gazebos surrounding a lake.

It is a perfect getaway for families and large groups. Everyone can enjoy outdoor ticketed activities from riding an all-terrain-vehicle quad bike to shooting an air rifle to riding a horse. The large playground, which is open to the public for free, will keep young children happy.

A trip to Bandung is not complete without visiting Tangkuban Perahu, an active volcano that last erupted in 2013. It is shaped like an upside-down boat, hence its name Tangkuban, which means “upturned boat” in Sundanese.

Tourists can take a minibus or trudge an hour through jungle from the main gate to the crater to see the boiling mud. But we are overstuffed with Bandung’s famous snacks such as pisang bollen and Amanda steamed brownie, so we get chauffeured all the way.

The volcano comprises three craters – Kawah Ratu, Kawah Upas and Kawah Domas. At Domas, you can dip your feet in the sulphur pool and boil an egg.

THE NIGHT is black and the sound of the wind blowing through the cedar trees is interrupted by a chorus of night insects until all falls silent once more. It’s hard to believe that I am less than an hour away from Fukuoka, the economic centre of the Kyushu region in Japan.

Spider lilies bloom along the terraced rice field in Tsuzura

As the clouds scurry away to reveal a full moon that bathes the surrounding landscape in a pale, pearly light, I set off on a late night walk amidst the tranquil terraced fields in Tsuzura Tanada, one of the mountain villages surrounding Ukiha city. Stopping to sniff the sweet scent of the ears of rice diffused in the summer breeze, for a moment I am convinced I have tumbled down Alice’s rabbit hole and emerged in Wonderland.

Tsuzura Sanso, an old farmer’s house converted into an inn and perched at the top of a hill overlooking the terraces, adds to the feeling of amazement. Here, surely

one of best places to immerse yourself in the scenery, the fresh air ensures a long relaxing sleep and a gentle awakening to a new day. For someone like myself, desperate the leave the rat race, the quiet here is more than enough, but for those visitors who need a more active lifestyle, Ukiha also has a lot to offer.

Renowned for its abundant fruits, there are plenty of orchards to enjoy seasonal fruit picking while occasionally sinking your teeth into a strawberry, blueberry, pear, peach, persimmon and grape.

Traditional buildings in Chikugo Yoshii

If you prefer to linger around town, then a visit to Chikugo Yoshii is a must. The district flourished in the Edo period (1603-1868) and is full of traditional white buildings, canals and antique stores where browsers are welcomed. It’s also home to several artisanal shops run by creative locals.

Nearby is Budo no Tane, which is packed with cafes, a gallery, a shop that makes Japanese sweets, as well as gift and speciality shops. Minou Books &Cafe is a great place to hang out and Pan no Mocca has some of the most delicious freshly baked bread I’ve tasted. Yumeno Kitchen Buffet Restaurant and Deliboy Bros Hamburger are popular with the lunchtime crowd and for the history buffs, the Kaneko Fumio doll museum, the 200-year-old Nagao noodle factory and the Sugi Kojo woodwork gallery are well worth a visit. My favourite, though, is Kusumoridou, the 200-year-old residence of the Kawakita family. Surrounded by trees, it’s today owned by Yukitaka Kawakita, whose family tree goes back an impressive 1,200 years. There have been Kawakitas in Ukiha for more than 400 years running the tea plantation and factory.

The beauty of minimalism in Kusumorido

Despite having zero knowledge about tea, Yukitaka was determined to protect and pass on the old wisdom to the next generation by continuing to produce Zairaishu, a tea grown from seeds in the traditional Japanese way. Growing tea plants from seeds makes it difficult to assure the quality demanded by the industry and production has dropped significantly through time. Today, Zairaishu makes up just three per cent of Japan’s tea production.

While tea leaves cultivated from cuttings have almost the same characteristics and provide a uniform taste well suited to mass consumption, seed grown leaves have subtly different characteristics from plant to plant. Mixed together, they form the basis for a deep and rich natural flavour and Zairaishu tea remains a favourite beverage of the elderly.

Budo no tane cafe

Sitting on the Japanese style Tatami in a room surrounded by the serene moss-covered garden, I sip the tea prepared by Yukitaka while listening to his stories. I cannot helped but be moved by his gratitude towards his ancestors and the selfless passion that drove him to single-handedly renovate the house – now designated as a tangible cultural heritage – and to open it to the public free of charge.

Yukitaka personifies the kind and caring nature of the people of Ukiha, the residents that make the town so special that will keep you coming back.

IF YOU GO

>> Several airlines offer direct flights from Bangkok to Fukuoka.

>> From Fukuoka, you can travel to Ukiha by train, bus or taxi.

The procession will travel along Sukhumvit Road, starting from the Phrom Phong junction and finish at the Pathum Wan intersection, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The processions will have six parts: the first parade will showcase the Amazing Songkran 2017 symbol with a show titled “Amazing Blossoming of Siam”.

The second parade will focus on the legend of the Songkran Goddess, who is named differently depending on the day Songkran falls each year. This year, the Thursday lady will be called “Kirini Devi”, who carries a hook and a bow, rides on an elephant, and wears Magnolia in her ears.

The third parade will highlight with flowers Songkran myths and traditions from five regions. The parade involves the Southern region’s Torch Ginger Flower, the Central region’s Jasmine and Champak, the Eastern region’s Marigold, the Northeastern region’s Golden Shower and the Northern region’s Bustard Teak.

The fourth parade will focus on green Songkran by IRPC Pcl, featuring decorated electric cars and “the earth of green Songkran show”.

The fifth parade will highlight the Songkran traditions of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, to strengthen ties and reveal the shared cultures between Thailand and these neighbouring countries.

The sixth part will showcase distinctive local cars from many parts of Thailand.

People can also enjoy the “Amazing Songkran Experience” event at the Benjasiri Park from Saturday until April 13, from noon until 8pm. The event, divided into four zones, will showcase local experiences and cuisine as well as some fascinating Sonkran traditions from every part of Thailand.

Ha Noi’s tourism industry has made many significant achievements in recent years, but its development has not lived up to its potential or its expectations, tourism managers and enterprise workers agreed at a conference in the capital city.

Held within the framework of Viet Nam International Travel Mart at the International Exhibition Centre, the conference aimed to enhance tourism cooperation among nations, organisations, cities and provinces of high tourism potential.

The event also created opportunity for state tourism organisations to receive constructive feedback and support to overcome difficulties.

Viet Nam’s tourism in general — and Ha Noi’s in particular — have achieved obvious development. In 2016, the total number of tourists to visit

the capital reached 21.8 million, increasing by 11 per cent over 2015.

Meanwhile, the figure of international tourists to Ha Noi was 4 million, increasing by 23 per cent in comparison with the previous year.

The development has transformed economic structures and created job opportunities. It also has improved living standards, global integration and the national image.

According to Nguyen Van Tuan, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s general director, Ha Noi possesses many tourism resources that make it a high quality destination. There are two options for Ha Noi’s tourism development: creating new products and renovating the old ones.

In creating new products, the city has attracted many investors to launch large-scale tourism projects. However, to refresh available products like the old quarter, Sword Lake or cultural heritage sites, the tourism sector needs to improve their quality by investing in infrastructure and human resources.

Nguyen Tien Dat, the vice director of TransViet Company, argued that the pedestrian zone around Sword Lake, a temporary tourism product in the city, has not met its expectations. He suggested the introduction of more diversified cultural activities to enhance its attractiveness, like ao

dai zone to display Viet Nam’s traditional dress or photo exhibition capturing each period of Ha Noi.

According to Nguyen Quang Lan, the chairman of Viet Nam Tourism Association, Ha Noi needs to construct more  international-standard leisure centres. Moreover, it is important to organise the tourism zones within the city to clearly identify its major tourism areas.

The conference also witnessed the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between Ha Noi and other provinces including Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Son La, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and Hoa Binh.

SEEKING A PLACE to recharge your battery but don’t want to go out of town? Then take your camera and head west, to the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya and be seduced by the charm of the Ban Bu community.

Sitting by the Bangkok Noi Canal, Ban Bu was a thriving trade hub full of shophouses selling spices, fish sauce, sugar and salt more than 100 years ago when the river was the major transportation network.

Today the small community on Soi Charan Sanitwong 32 is home to the last manufacturer of khan long hin, or stone-polished bronzeware, an ancient craft handed down from generation to generation since the Ayutthaya era.

Wat Suwannaram was restored in the reign of King Rama III and fused classic Thai and Chinesestyle architectures. 

Located down a narrow alley, Wat Suwannaram takes visitors back to the Krung Thonburi Kingdom. Formerly called Wat Thong, it was constructed during the Ayutthaya period and later used by King Taksin the Great as the place of execution of Burmese prisoners-of-war.

King Rama I later rebuilt and renamed the temple Wat Suwannaram and it was again restored during the reign of King Rama III, this time fusing together classic Thai and Chinese architecture. The temple also served as the cremation ground for Royal family members and senior officials until the reign of King Rama V.

A towering boat-shaped ubosot stands in the middle of the complex, the gold angels known as theppanom on its pediments glittering in the sun. The roof is decorated with elaborate gables with tooth-like ridges on their edges fashioned from mirrors.

Inside the ubosot is Phra Sardsada, an ancient Sukhothai-style Buddha image in the posture of subduing the Mara, with an oval, smiling face, spiral-like hair and a bulging chest.

 Handpainted murals inside the Ubosot depict the Buddha’s life.

The walls are covered with some of the finest two-dimensional murals found anywhere. The work of Luang Vijitjessada (Kru Thong Yu) and Luang Senee Borirak (Kru Khongpae), they depict the tales of Buddha’s final 10 incarnations.

The temple also boasts a white Chinese-style Bell Tower with three floors of arched windows and two statues of King Taksin standing on the bank of Bangkok Noi Canal.

The old Wat Thong Market, just 200 metres away from the temple, is the lifeblood of Ban Bu and open to visitors on the first and third weekends of each month.

Known locally as Rai-Kan Market, it was the biggest fresh market in Thon Buri district 80 years ago. Late last year, 45-year-old resident Pichit Boonjin and his neighbours joined the TMB Bank’s Fai Fah project and renovated the market in such a way as to evoke the simple way of life in the riverside community.

“I was born and grew up here and as a kid was often told of the days when children learned to swim by themselves and parents caught fish from their terraces for dinner. Wat Thong market was the largest in Thon Buri but disappeared after the roads were built around the town. Our community became far from the main road and hard to find,” says Pichit, who chairs Wat Thong Market’s vendor group.

“In fact, we reopened the market three years ago then had to close it again because of the political crisis. The market is the heart of community and can help local residents generate some income. I consider this a worthy form of sustainable development and want to promote our community as a new cultural tourist destination, a place where visitors can learn about the way of life in the waterside community. Every first and third weekend, local residents will serve as vendors offering rare local delicacies and sweet treats prepared with family recipes.”

The surroundings are simple, the bamboo Thai-style tables and mats pleasing to the eye and the market is kept scrupulously clean. Inclement weather is kept at bay by an old wooden Thai-style arcade with an arched roof that creates a good airflow.

There are plenty of Thai favourites to be enjoyed, such as Pad Tai, Hoi Tod, Khanom Chin Sao Nam (thin rice noodles served with coconut milk, sun-dried shrimp and fresh pineapple), Khao Kriab Pak Mor (steamed rice dumplings), Khanom Ray Rai (rice threads with coconut meat) and Khanom Tuay (steamed coconut pudding).

Some of the delicacies on offer at Wat Thong Market

“We don’t want to change anything in the market. We just repaired the zinc roof and renovated the old wood structure. Its unique architecture and design suggest that the market was built in the reign of King Rama VI by the same carpentry team, who constructed Hua Lamphong Railway Station,” Pichit explains.

Visitors are entertained while they are eating by local students who put on shows of Thai-style martial arts like krabi krabong and Thai boxing. Walk further into the community and a group of veteran artisans at the Jiam Sangsaja Khan Long Hin workshop show how the handcrafted stone-polished bronzeware is produced.

Udom Khanhiran’s factory uses the handcrafted khan long hin techniques to create a stainless steel collection at cheaper prices.  Next door at Udom Khanhiran’s factory, lotus-shaped bowls, trays, salt-pepper shakers, plates and saucers are handcrafted from in stainless steel using the same khan long hin techniques.

Behind the community is the Thon Buri Locomotive Storage Centre with its five steam locomotives made during World War II and now used for important occasions. Part of the Bangkok Noi Railway Station, it was built during the reign of King Rama V and rebuilt after being destroyed by a bomb.

IF YOU GO

>> Ban Bu Community is situated on Soi Charan Sanitwong 32, Bangkok Noi district.

>> Wat Thong Market opens on the first and third weekend of the month from 9am to 3pm. This week the market celebrates the Thai New Year with cultural shows and local food. Find out more at the Raikhan Market (Thai spelling) page on Facebook.

The phenomenon lasted seven minutes and tourists used their smartphones to capture the moment.

The phenomenon takes place only four times a year.

This year, Thai astronomers predicted that the sun would be visible through the 15 doors in the morning of April 3 to 5, in the morning of September 8 to 10, in the evening of March 5 to 7 and in the evening of October 6 to 8.

From a total solar eclipse to the Milky Way to the Northern Lights, many experts at Berlin’s ITB, marketed as the world’s leading travel trade show, were making the case for astronomical experiences this year.

“Astro-tourism is really an increasing business. We now see a lot of travel agencies which offer this kind of tourism,” Andreas Haenel, an astronomer and director of the planetarium museum in north-western Germany’s Osnabrueck, told AFP.

While space tourism may be the holy grail for the most committed of stargazers, its astronomical price tag puts it out of reach for most, not to mention health and safety concerns over forays beyond the atmosphere.

Enter astro-tourism, which allows enthusiasts of celestial movements to experience the natural phenomena with both feet firmly on planet Earth.

With few places sufficiently dark for observations, some European and US national parks have now classed certain areas as “dark sky preserves”.

Meanwhile, deserts in Namibia, Botswana and Iran are marketed as ideal stargazing sites that also offer the exoticism of sandy dunes.

Keyvan Lankarani, the European representative of an Iranian tour company, said the sector started developing in his country due to domestic demand.

“It really started within the Iranian market itself because of the vast central desert, we have pretty big spaces of darkness,” he said,.

– Northern Lights –

===================

But beyond just searching for familiar favourites like Orion’s belt or the Big Dipper, Haenel says recent years have seen a boom in “event astro-tourism” — travel to witness an eclipse, a meteor shower, or the Northern Lights.

At the ITB show, the brochure promoting Canada’s Yukon sold the moment that “you will never forget” when skies suddenly light up with colourful streaks as a result of gaseous particle collisions.

Known commonly as the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis has become a major selling point for towns around the Arctic Circle.

“There has been an increasing interest since the last four years. It has to do our marketing of course and an awakening,” said Ellen Kachel of the Northern Norway Tourist Board, noting that demand has grown in particular among Asian clients.

The northern Norwegian city of Tromso has seen the number of visitors explode, and every photo shared on social networks only serves to fuel further interest for the region.

But this year, the big astro-tourism seller is the August 21 total eclipse of the sun, which will only be visible along a stretch running from Oregon to South Carolina, cutting diagonally across the United States.

“Nobody knows how many tourists are going there, the estimations go from several hundred thousands to several million people. But it seems to be becoming a great event,” said Haenel.

In Idaho, the tourism sector is already in full gear to welcome an influx.

“We are almost sold out,” said Nancy Richardson of Idaho Tourism, adding that “we’ve been selling this product (the solar eclipse) for two years already.”

– Be patient with the ‘diva’ –

==============================

Illustrating how magical such experiences can be, Richardson recounted the story of a tourist from a polluted Chinese city who had tears in his eyes when he saw the Milky Way from the dark Idaho mountains for the first time.

After all for some on the planet, starry skies are already a thing of the past.

Defenders of the “dark sky” warn that the space available is shrinking faster and faster due to light pollution, not just for star gazing, but also for nocturnal animals that thrive in the dark.

Harald Bardenhagen, an astronomer and director of the Stars without Borders workshop, noted that “many Europeans have never seen properly the Milky Way”.

“In 2024 you won’t be able to see the stars anymore if nothing is done against the light pollution,” he said.

As the sector’s popularity grows, some warn that it should be careful not to fall victim to its own success.

For Kachel, the sector will have to find a balance of moderate growth that respects nature.

At the same time, astro-tourism may not be for everyone as it not only calls for patience, but also the acceptance that tonight may just not be the night.

“We never promise, that’s why we call it ‘hunting the Lights’, you are looking for it but you don’t know if you’ll see it,” said Kachel.

After all, she went on, the Aurora Borealis “is a diva” — sometimes just not in the mood to perform.