The whole of Indonesia is tropical with temperatures constantly between 21°C and 33°C whilst at sea level. You can divide the year into wet and dry seasons if you must – but you’ll find that it’s often hard to tell the difference. November to…

From Kuta beach to Menjangan Island – Bali’s beaches are the very picture of perfection. White sand beaches blend beautifully below opaque cerulean blue waters, while wooden Pinsi boats serenely make their way over calm waves. If you feel like doing a little diving…

Yogyakarta is the capital of Yogyakarta special region in Java. Aside from it being in one of the seismically active parts of Java – Yogyakarta is the centre of classical Javanese arts including traditional dance, poetry and puppetry – Yogya is one of the…

The 9th century Borobudur Temple is not only the largest Buddhist temple in the world but is the greatest and most magnificent piece of classical architecture in Indonesia. Look out for the bell-shaped stupas that adorn the upper platform of the temple.

Watch the sun rise beautifully over Mt Bromo in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Dress for the occasion though, as at an elevation of more than 7,000 ft – temperatures tend to hang at the lower end of the spectrum.

Brunei is generally hot and humid with temperatures hovering between 22°C and 32°C with the seasons best split between the rainy season from September to January and the dry season between February and April. This can be a little deceiving though as Brunei one…

English is widely spoken in the Philippines to the extent that it’s not uncommon to hear a mixture of both English and Filipino in the same conversation. A small minority still speaks Spanish – though this is fading rather quickly. Filipinos are constantly conscious…

Brunei is an Islamic state and is one of South East Asia’s most observant Islamic nations. Tourists are welcome in mosques, but only outside of prayer times and only when dressed conservatively – with men and women both wearing long sleeves and trousers –…

Bruneian cuisine is, as you might expect, heavily influenced by the cuisines of nearby Malaysia and Indonesia, spicy with touches of Indian and Thai cuisine, as well as elements from Japanese and Chinese cuisines. The country is heavily Islamic so the meat is halal…

The beaches here might not be as renowned as those in neighbouring Malaysia and nearby Indonesia – but Brunei’s beaches are simply stunning. True – they are not often littered with the mod cons that one might expect from many of Asia’s top destinations…