For Phuket's ethnic Chinese community, this bizarre festival is a time of cleansing, purity and abstinence.

Her aim is to help 'kickstart a revolution' by giving citizens access to the power and information to challenge and overturn decisions.

This nationwide 'coming of age day' celebration is held each year on the second Monday in January to congratulate those who have reached the nice round number of 20. The tradition goes back well over a thousand years to a time when young princes marked the beginning of their second decade by switching to wearing adult clothes and hairstyles.

In Japan on one day a year 20-year-olds pull out all the stops for a big, noisy, colourful public party, notes Ian D. Robinson.

This park, in Sri Lanka's hill country is the only one in the country where it is considered safe to explore on foot as the native elephant population which used to inhabit the area was decimated by colonial hunters.

Jill Worrall visits one of Sri Lanka's most impressive natural attractions and wonders who really decimated the local elephant population.

The city of Kuching, capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, is a melting pot of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Muslim cultures.

Felines and white rajahs add mystique to Sarawak's colourful capital, writes Jim Eagles.

From biking, braving local delicacies and touring temples, Ann Newbery discovers there’s plenty to do in Kyoto, Japan.

Beyond the beaches, a world of sound awaits, writes Graham Reid.

Incredibly, most of the half-million tourists who visit this Indian Ocean nation annually miss out on exploring its cute capital.

Turkey's Aegean coast, is home to a wealth of antiquities, architecture and art with few parallels in the Mediterranean.

Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka's eight Unesco-listed World Heritage Sites and is for me, its most spectacular monument, an absolutely vital part of any visit to this country.

This imposing rock fortress in central Sri Lanka is a Unesco World Heritage Site with a fascinating history and breathtaking views. Built by Sri Lanka's King Kassapa in the 5th Century, the palace atop the 200 metre outcrop was ingeniously situated to repel attack attempts by the king's younger half brother and rightful heir to the throne, Mogallana.

Nicholas Jones enters a weird world of dress-ups.

Air New Zealand is seeking to add twice-weekly flights to Bali to its international service.

From the earliest days of settlement, this hill - originally known as Bukit Larangan or Forbidden Hill because it was reserved for royalty - was the seat of power.

An ancient seat of power still presides over Singapore, finds Jim Eagles.

What makes Kandalama special is that on its shores is an extraordinary hotel that has won awards for its environmental policies and practices.

The author of the hugely-popular 1,000 Places To See Before You Die reveals her absolute favourite travel destinations.