Every year, just before the Lenten fast, Farsang, the Carnival of the East is celebrated. A potent mixture of Catholic heritage and pagan...

A pig-slaughter feast is precisely what the name suggests – the slaughter of a pig out in the open by a master butcher, the processing of...

Holi is considered as one of the most celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also...

Rajasthan is India's biggest state, and its formerly independent kingdoms are full of architectural and cultural heritage. Numerous...

The reindeer herders of Mongolia live in Taiga, in the Northern part of Mongolia. In the local language they are called the Tsaatans...

Shamanism is the world's oldest religion. The rituals and beliefs of this ancient tradition were carried from Asia and Siberia into the...

Early on Sunday mornings one of Kyrgyzstan’s biggest animal markets takes place around 2km north of central Karakol. Typical of such...

In several countries of Central Asia, kok-boru or goat polo, is one of the most popular sports. Kok-boru is a special type of equestrian...

Hunting with birds of prey has a long history. This form of hunting dates back to the 12th-13th centuries when the Mongol during their...

They say the Himalayas are the king of mountains. When I was preparing for the trip, I considered myself very lucky to have the...

Ladakh is one of the hidden regions of the world. There are many Buddhist monasteries and stupas in this corner of the world hidden...

Galungan is a Balinese holiday which celebrates the victory of  dharma  over  adharma  (the triumph of good over evil). It marks the time...

Rice is a staple food in Bali and it has strong ties to the Balinese culture. The cycle of rice growth pretty much sets the tone for...

George Town is the capital of the state of Penang in northern Malaysia and is one of the country’s main tourist draws. This city is a...