Nusa Dua means ‘Two Islands’ in Indonesian which is something of a misnomer as if you come here you will find two non-descript headlands, each topped with a temple. Nusa Dua is widely known as the ‘upscale’ district of Bali and many of the high end resorts are located here. There is actually a dedicated …
In northern Portugal, Vila Real is a town in a hilly landscape, clinging to a headland far above the Corgo River. The Corgo is a tributary of the Douro and meanders down to the main stream through an epic landscape of terraced vineyards. Around the town you can visit a noble family’s palace, which was …
Kuta is probably the most famous part of Bali and with good reason. Not only is it the home of the iconic Kuta Beach but it also has a swinging nightlife scene that keeps going into the wee small hours. The coastline here is covered in soft golden sand and the beachfront is flanked with …
Defending a plateau on the right bank of the Tagus River, the city of Santarém was the home of Portugal’s kings throughout the middle ages. It was also where the Cortes, the country’s earliest parliament would sit. This has left the city with Portugal’s finest ensemble of Gothic architecture, in its walls, churches, convents and …
On the left bank of the Tagus, the town of Montijo is minutes from Lisbon, but with a character that will make the capital feel a lifetime away. Few tourists make it to Montijo; it’s just a placid, village-like community with bars where you can get a bico for 50 cents. There’s a charming old …
Delhi, the national capital of India, will never cease to amaze you. It happens to be the only city in the world with a unique distinction of having not one but three UNESCO World Heritage sites within its boundaries. If you have the will and energy to explore Delhi, there is no dearth of interesting …
The city of Tomar was founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th century on land granted by Portugal’s first king. The order set up a convent on a hill and by the riverside plotted what would be the last Templar town in the world. The Convent of Christ is a World Heritage Site, with …
Gondomar is a municipality just east of Porto. It’s a sizeable chunk of land, pushing from the eastern quarters of the city out into the countryside, and running along the right bank of the Douro for several kilometres. The area has opulent Baroque churches to poke around in, and a gorgeous 18th-century riverside estate with …
In the Braga District, Vila Nova de Famalicão is an unpretentious working town. There may not be many show-stopping sights, but the town makes up for this with enigmatic medieval churches, the homes of famous historical figures and also museums that shed light on the town’s industrial past. And for day trips, it couldn’t be …
Opposite Porto on the River Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia is a city that occupies the south bank and also continues down the coast. For a lot of its lifetime, Vila Nova de Gaia has been renowned for its port cellars. The fortified wine would arrive here by water from the east and would be …