Travel bits

When I visit a new website, there is one section I will always go in for a browse.

Travel.

I particularly like the layout of the IHT which makes reading anything such a breeze. I'm not a fan of NY Times because I don't like reading in Times New Roman font, which really is such a superficial preference, but oh well, since online news portals are supposed to boast all that customisation and reader empowerment capabilities, I have a choice. And my choice is to check out another website. Now Washington Post uses Georgia, which happens to be quite a pleasing font to read so I've subscribed to email updates from them.

Now my only gripe is most places visited or talked about in these articles just seemed so far off and out of context. I end up reading for the vivid descriptions, which is useful when I set the locations for my stories. Otherwise if you ask me, the information does not add value to me. Which is why I think we need an asian news portal the equivalent of The NY Times or IHT. This news portal can be based on a certain country, the way NY Times is based in the US, and then from there, kickstart news from other Asian regions while at the same time maintaining ample coverage of news in the Middle East, Americas, Africa and Europe.

Now comes my bright idea, which happens to be my favourite part of this whole entry.

Travel.

Now the travel section can be about places within the Asian region. I do not believe that Asia is no match in terms of navigable places of interests. Look at China alone, I have no doubt you'll never run out of places to visit. And India, which, personally is a land I would like to visit to do a lot of photography.

At least the information we are getting from this asian portal will be more relevant, and greater feasibility of travel. Seriously, what are the chances of Asians taking time to visit Egypt as compared to the neighbouring Asian countries? As it is we have Russia lying right above us all waiting to be explored. (Speaking of which I so would like to visit their Metro after having read the article in ST)

In Singapore, I reckon most people will travel long distance only during 2 periods: May/June holidays and Nov/Dec holidays. The rest of the time we have long public holiday weekends, we'd be jetsetting off to Phuket or Bali. Besides, given only 21 days of leave every year on average, I seriously doubt most people have the time to explore the less touristy places halfway round the globe. And for myself, given a choice, I'd rather pay to go Paris than Greece because everyone has to see the Eiffle Tower once isn't it?

Right.

As it is, I probably won't finish exploring Asia or the common European countries in my lifetime, why would I be thinking of spending a bomb visiting the elusive Iceland or the Lofoten Golf Links in Norway, which happens to be a place where you can play midnight golf.

So there having said that, I have a dream of starting such an asian news portal and be the editor of the travel section. Send reporters to countries in Asia, come back, write about the beach resorts or the tropical forests retreats or the reviving towns, so that people around our region can have a good guide of where they can go and what they can do without bursting their budget.

And for people on the other side of the globe who romanticise and 'exotify'(no such word btw, I adapted it from the word exotic) "The Orient", it's time to be educated on Asia and what we have to offer. Then come see for yourself.