Julian Hanton relives his top five highlights making Travel Channel New Zealand's brand new series, Asian Times.

A group of former All Blacks have beaten a team of Thai ladyboys in an elephant polo match.

There is a different side to this mad city, one that'd get a tick of approval from even the most hardened hipster. Or aesthete. Or whatever that group with cynical world views and ironic clothing is being called these days.

Racism is no part of the issue, writes Hussein Rawlings. Nor should we fear the accusation of "protectionism". Are Indonesia, China, or Thailand challenged on their land ownership laws?

An inspired Kelly Lynch finds tension and excitement ringside in Bangkok.

A pane of glass was all that prevented three Kiwi travellers from being dragged underneath a train when it derailed in Thailand.

Chris Harrington discovers a village in Thailand with a distinctly Chinese history.

It's hard to beat Thailand's beaches. But where to go if you've been to Phuket and Koh Samui, the most popular choice of tourists, and you'd like to try somewhere slightly less crowded?

A Christchurch man is on life support in Thailand after falling from a fourth-storey balcony as he tried to get into an apartment he had locked himself out of.

New Zealand Police say protocol was responsible for the delay in notifying a Dunedin mother of the death of her Dunedin-born son in a Thai apartment complex.

The family of a Dunedin man found dead in a Thai apartment complex are distraught and angry they learnt of his death through media reports rather than police.

A trip to the bridge that cost so many prisoners of war their lives is a poignant experience, writes Peter Feeney.

Provincial authorities in Thailand have shut down a biomass power plant following the deaths of Michael Coppins and a Thai colleague.

A 51-year-old New Zealander has died in Thailand trying to save a married couple from a ventilation chimney filled with poisonous gas.

In the Basque Country, Ewan McDonald learns the cider houses rule.

Everything revolves around the local pub in the UK, writes Jared Savage.

Many travellers only experience Bangkok through the largely sleepless eyes of a backpacker – or settle for clean yet budget hotel accommodation at best. Don't overlook a luxury holiday in Bangkok, though - it's more affordable than you might think.

The former army commando who murdered New Zealander Charles Jones in Thailand has been sentenced to nine years and five months in jail.

Influence pedallers: The best cities for bicycle rides.

Many people say it's London, Paris or Munich. But the most exciting shopping is in Bangkok. The air conditioned and squeaky-clean trains stop right at the entrance of the most important shopping complexes on the lively Sukhumvit and Rama I roads.

They still call it rush hour, only now it lasts most of the day. As car sales soar, there's a noticeable drop in the number of places you can get them out of second gear.

President's Asia tour underscores foreign policy shift eastwards to counter China.