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Tatler Asia
2 days ago
- Tatler Asia
In defence of ‘tourist traps': 10 tourist attractions in Asia that are worth the queues
2. Halong Bay, Vietnam Above Witness an extraordinary seascape that has shaped Vietnamese legend, art and identity for centuries.(Photo: Wirestock / Freepik) It's easy to dismiss the drone shots and bargain cruise deals—but Halong Bay offers more than just one of the tourist attractions to check off your itinerary. The towering limestone formations and mist-covered waters are genuinely otherworldly. Opt for an overnight junk boat away from the day-tripping crowds to experience it as slowly, silently and under the stars. Recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site, Halong Bay has been shaped over millions of years, forming more than 1,600 limestone islets. The name means 'Descending Dragon', tied to a myth where dragons were sent to protect Vietnam from invaders. It has inspired generations of poets and remains one of the region's most significant geological wonders. 3. Uluwatu Temple, Bali, Indonesia Above Uluwatu Temple showcases a dramatic blend of sacred architecture, coastal views and live Balinese ritual theatre. (Photo: Tawatchai07 / Freepik) Uluwatu checks every touristy box: dramatic sunsets, cheeky monkeys and nightly performances. Still, its location—perched on a clifftop overlooking the Indian Ocean—remains one of Bali's most arresting views. The Kecak fire dance might be choreographed for tourists, but it's rooted in real tradition, and the setting elevates the spectacle. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali's six key spiritual pillars. Built in the 11th century by Javanese priest Mpu Kuturan, it is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in his aspect as Rudra, the god of storms. It's also a cultural landmark where Balinese Hindu beliefs blend with ancient animist rituals, visible even amid the visitor traffic. 4. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Above Gardens by the Bay is cutting-edge sustainability and public design at its finest. (Photo: Tawatchai07 / Freepik) There is no denying that Gardens by the Bay was built to impress. And it does. While some write it off as a hyper-controlled environment manufactured for tourists, the design and engineering behind the Cloud Forest and Supertree Grove are feats of vision. Go at night for the light show, which is more art installation than amusement. Opened in 2012, the Gardens were a key part of Singapore's transformation into a 'City in a Garden'. The Supertrees function as vertical gardens and generate solar power, while the conservatories replicate global ecosystems. Now one of Singapore's main tourist attractions, it is a masterclass in sustainability and urban planning—more than a visual spectacle, it's a policy statement. 5. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia Above Explore a vast, centuries-old temple complex that captures the height of Khmer civilisation. (Photo: Wirestock / Freepik) The sunrise at Angkor Wat is a tourist trap in itself, with hundreds lining up for the perfect reflection shot. But the real power of this temple complex lies in its scale and detail. Avoid the main rush and head to the outlying temples, or explore Angkor Wat at midday when it's quieter. It remains one of Asia's most profound historical sites. Built in the early 12th century under King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu before it transitioned to a Buddhist site. It remains the largest religious monument in the world, and is a symbol of Cambodian national pride. The bas-reliefs and central towers exemplify Khmer architectural mastery at its peak. 6. Badaling Great Wall, China Above The Badaling Great Wall is an easy, but equally dramatic introduction to one of the world's most famous fortifications. (Photo: Fanjianhua / Freepik) Purists will tell you to avoid Badaling and head for the more rugged sections of the Great Wall, but there's a reason this is the most visited spot. It's accessible, well-preserved and offers cinematic views without requiring a full day's hike. If you're prepared for crowds, it delivers the grandeur you expect, without the logistical headache. Badaling was the first section of the Wall to open to tourists, and was extensively restored in the 1950s. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century, it played a defensive role against Mongol invasions. Though other sections are older or wilder, Badaling's symbolism—both historical and national—is hard to ignore. 7. Boracay White Beach, Philippines Above Go for the flawless white sand and turquoise water that, on a good day, still feels untouched. (Photo: Trisha Marie Uvas / Unsplash) Boracay has become shorthand for overtourism, and with good reason. But following its rehabilitation, White Beach now offers a cleaner, more regulated experience. Yes, there are fire dancers and cocktail buckets, but the sand is still powder-fine and the sunsets surreal. Off-season or early morning, it's easy to see what drew everyone in the first place. But if we're being honest, there's something about its busyness that adds to its magnetism. White Beach stretches over four kilometres and has long been known for its talcum-soft sand. In 2018, the Philippine government closed the island for six months to reverse the environmental damage from unchecked tourism. Since reopening, stricter regulations have reined in excess, making it a rare example of a touristy destination learning from its own mistakes. 8. Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Above The Petronas Twin Towers is a bold architectural symbol of Malaysia's rise as a modern Asian capital. (Photo: Takashi Miyakazi / Unsplash) Some call it just another photo stop, but the Petronas Towers are more than shiny architecture. They represent Malaysia's modern ambitions, and their sheer height and symmetry are best appreciated in person. The view from the skybridge is impressive, but standing at their base and looking up is just as memorable—and requires no ticket. Completed in 1998, the towers were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004, and remain the tallest twin towers today. Designed by César Pelli, their floor plan is based on Islamic geometric patterns. They symbolise Malaysia's vision for a high-tech future, standing atop what used to be a race track. Love or loathe the gloss, it's architectural theatre. 9. Taj Mahal, Agra, India Above A rare combination of technically brilliant architecture and storytelling (Photo: Rowan Heuvel / Unsplash) No landmark attracts the 'tourist trap' label faster than the Taj Mahal. It's crowded, tightly policed and endlessly photographed. Still, none of that diminishes its beauty. The symmetry, the marble inlay, the shifting colour under different light—this is one of the rare sites where reality lives up to the reputation. Just don't expect a serene moment at sunrise. Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. It combines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles, and its inscription-laced façade and floral motifs remain remarkably intact. Its symbolism—eternal love, empire, ambition—is as potent as ever. 10. Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan Above There's no better place to experience Tokyo's energy than Shibuya Crossing. (Photo: Nikolay Likomanov / Unsplash) A chaotic intersection surrounded by screens might not sound like a proper tourist attraction, but Shibuya Crossing is quintessentially Tokyo. Tourists love it, locals use it and the moment of mass movement is oddly captivating. Watch it from a nearby café or cross it yourself—it's all part of the scene. Yes, it's touristy, but it's also electric. The intersection outside Shibuya Station has become an emblem of modern Tokyo. Up to 3,000 people can cross at a time when the lights turn red in every direction. It first gained global attention in films like Lost in Translation and remains one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. It's a spectacle of order within chaos—an urban choreography that never gets old. It's easy to sneer at tourist attractions labelled as traps, but that misses the point. Popularity doesn't always equal inauthenticity. In many cases, these sites earned their reputation long before hashtags and tour buses. The key is knowing how to approach them—whether that means going at the right time, hiring a local guide or simply accepting that some places are worth sharing with a crowd.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers
[SINGAPORE] Singapore plans to nurture an intrepid pool of artificial intelligence (AI) users to complement the data scientists and machine learning engineers it is currently training to take the nation into the digital future. 'We are talking about people who are in the professions – lawyers, accountants, doctors – who will become the early adopters of AI, and then they show their peers how to make better use of it,' said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on Jul 22, the first day of the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. She was detailing how small states can develop their AI strategy to compete on a global stage dominated by large nations such as the US and China, during a fireside chat entitled 'Beyond scale: How small nations can lead in the age of AI'. The pool of AI users will have to far exceed the 15,000 AI practitioners that Singapore already aims to nurture and hire, Teo said. She noted that the nation's workforce numbers about 3.5 million, including those in manufacturing, healthcare and financial services. 'They can demonstrate how (AI) can create more value for their organisations,' said Teo, adding that more details on equipping the workforce with AI skills will be announced in the future. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The minister was responding to a question from Fortune magazine's executive editor of Asia, Clay Chandler, about manpower development, as part of a larger dialogue on how Singapore is distinguishing its AI strategy on the global stage as a small island state. Plans to triple Singapore's talent pool of AI practitioners to 15,000 were first announced in December 2023. The group includes data and machine-learning scientists and engineers who are the backbone in translating AI into real-world apps. Teo also said small states can find their own niche to compete in a fast-changing market. In January 2025, China's DeepSeek launched its generative AI model that the start-up claimed cost only US$5.6 million (S$7.2 million) to train, a fraction of the hundreds of millions US tech giants have poured into training their large language models (LLMs). Since then, Chinese tech leaders have contributed to the market with several low-cost AI services. Said Teo: 'From the perspective of bringing down costs, innovations such as DeepSeek are very much welcome.' Citing how Singapore found its niche in a language model it developed for the region, she said there is room for innovation even for small states. 'I would also say this whole dynamic is not necessarily only a competitive one, it is also mutually reinforcing,' she said, referring to home-grown invention Sea-Lion. Developed by AI Singapore, Sea-Lion was trained on 13 languages including Javanese, Sudanese, Malay, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese, as well as English and Chinese. 'We know that large language models that are trained primarily on a Western corpus... They will have difficulties being applied in the South-east Asian context,' said Teo. 'If you built AI tools on top of these LLMs that didn't incorporate the kind of data that can be found in our part of the world, naturally the quality and the way it performs and responds to prompts will perhaps not meet the requirements of Singapore as well as our neighbouring countries.' She added: 'Many companies, when they are thinking about how they can develop, for example, chat assistance that could be useful in our context, they would use a combination of both.' Sea-Lion has been tapped by some businesses for its language features, with Indonesia's GoTo Group among the first enterprises to adopt it as a base to build its own AI system. Singapore's space to innovate is expanded when factors such as ways to bring down costs and how AI models can complement one another are considered, said Teo. The Republic will also continue to engage all countries to build bilateral foundations and make headway in new technological fields, she added. The minister said this in response to a question from Chandler about how the country can maintain a stance that is strategically unaligned amid growing US-China tensions. She cited Singapore's dialogue with the US on critical and emerging technologies, and a dialogue with China on digital policy. She added: 'They cover different areas of interest that we mutually believe are important for our own countries, but it doesn't prevent us from seeking to understand each other's concerns better, and continuing to find ways to move forward. 'With Asean countries, even if we are not ready to move into the era of standards in AI governance, there's nothing to prevent us from agreeing on what the ethical principles could look like first.' THE STRAITS TIMES
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo (right) spoke with Clay Chandler, executive editor of Asia at Fortune Magazine, on day one of the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference. SINGAPORE - Singapore plans to nurture an intrepid pool of artificial intelligence (AI) users to complement the data scientists and machine learning engineers it is currently training to take the nation into the digital future. 'We're talking about people who are in the professions - lawyers, accountants, doctors - who will become the early adopters of AI and then they show their peers how to make better use of it,' said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on July 22, the first day of the Fortune Brainstorm AI conference at The Ritz-Carlton. Mrs Teo was detailing how small states can develop their AI strategy to compete on a global stage dominated by large nations such as the United States and China during a fireside chat entitled 'Beyond scale: How small nations can lead in the age of AI'. The pool of AI users will have to far exceed the 15,000 AI practitioners whom Singapore already aims to nurture and hire, she said. She noted that the nation's workforce number about 3.5 million including those in manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services. 'They can demonstrate how (AI) can create more value for their organisations,' said Mrs Teo, adding that more details to equip the workforce with AI skills will be announced in the future. Mrs Teo was responding to a question from Fortune magazine's executive editor of Asia Clay Chandler about manpower development, as part of a larger dialogue about how Singapore is distinguishing its AI strategy on a global stage as a small island state. Plans to triple Singapore's talent pool of AI practitioners to 15,000 was first announced in December 2023. The group includes data and machine-learning scientists and engineers who are the backbone of translating AI into real-world apps. Mrs Teo also said that small states can find their own niche to compete in a fast-changing market. In January 2025 , China's DeepSeek launched its generative AI model that the start-up claimed cost only US$5.6 million (S$7.1 million) to train. This is a fraction of the hundreds of millions US tech giants have poured into training their large-language models (LLMs). Since then, Chinese tech leaders have contributed to the market with several low-cost AI services. Said Mrs Teo: 'From the perspective of bringing down costs, innovations such as DeepSeek are very much welcome.' Citing how Singapore found its niche in a language model it developed for the region, she said there is room for innovation even for small states. 'I would also say this whole dynamic is not necessarily only a competitive one, it is also mutually reinforcing,' she said, referring to homegrown invention Sea-Lion. Developed by AI Singapore, Sea-Lion was trained on 13 languages i ncluding Javanese, Sudanese, Malay, Tamil, Thai and Vietnamese, as well as English and Chinese. 'We know that large-language models that are trained primarily on a Western will have difficulties being applied in the South-east Asian context,' said Mrs Teo. 'If you built AI tools on top of these LLMs that didn't incorporate the kind of data that can be found in our part of the world, naturally, the quality and the way it performs and responds to prompts, will perhaps not meet the requirements of Singapore as well as our neighbouring countries.' She added: 'Many companies, when they are thinking about how they can develop for example, chat assistance that could be useful in our context, they would use a combination of both.' Sea-Lion has been tapped by some businesses for its language features, with Indonesia's GoTo Group among the first enterprises to adopt it as a base to build its own AI system. Singapore's space to innovate is expanded when factors such as ways to bring down costs and how AI models can complement each other are considered, said Mrs Teo. Singapore will also continue to engage all countries to build bilateral foundations and make headway in new technological fields, said Mrs Teo. She said this in response to a question from Mr Chandler about how the country can maintain a stance that is strategically unaligned amidst growing tensions between US and China. She cited the country's dialogue with the US on critical and emerging technologies, and a dialogue with China on digital policy. She added: 'They cover different areas of interest that we mutually believe are important for our own countries, but it doesn't prevent us from seeking to understand each other's concerns better, and continuing to find ways to move forward. 'With ASEAN countries, even if we are not ready to move into the era of standards in AI governance, there's nothing to prevent us from agreeing on what the ethical principles could look like first.'
Barnama
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Wayang Santri: Unique Tradition Of Javanese Commmunity With Moral Teachings
By Kamarul Halim M Kamal MUAR, July 21 (Bernama) — Wayang Santri stage performances may still be unfamiliar to many Malaysians, but this unique art form holds deep roots in the Javanese community across the Indonesian archipelago, where it has been passed down from generation to generation. According to a young millennial Wayang Santri puppeteer, Ki Haryo Susilo Enthus Susmono, many Malaysians still mistakenly associate Wayang Santri with wayang kulit, particularly the well-known versions from Kelantan and Terengganu. He said it was to address this misconception that the Wayang Santri stage tour was launched in Johor and Kuala Lumpur, starting July 19, to introduce the traditional art form to Malaysian audiences. 'Beyond serving as a platform for cross-cultural artistic exchange, the tour also aims to strengthen cultural ties between Malaysia and Indonesia, which share a deep and inseparable heritage. 'Unlike wayang kulit, which is performed behind a screen, Wayang Santri or also known as wayang golek, is performed live using wooden puppets,' he told Bernama after the Malaysia Wayang Santri Tour 2025: Indonesia-Malaysia Cultural Diplomacy at Keraton Mbah Anang here recently. Keraton Mbah Anang, a centre for cultural activities rooted in Javanese customs and traditions, served as the venue for the Wayang Santri performance in Johor. Ki Haryo explained that the Wayang Santri performances are distinctive in their emphasis on moral teachings and Islamic dakwah narratives, with the stories often about the Islamic kingdom of Sunan Kalijaga and are interwoven with contemporary elements, while remaining true to the original concept and values. Ki Haryo, who inherited the puppeteering skills from his father, the legendary Ki Enthus Susmono, shared that each performance is supported by 17 to 20 musicians who play a variety of traditional instruments, including the demung, saron, gong, bonang and Sundanese drums, alongside modern instruments like the violin and keyboard.
The Star
17-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Not all types of palms are created equal
Oil palm is such an important edible oil tree crop for the world. We all know oil palm is called 'sawit' in Malaysia and Indonesia, but ever wondered where this punchy little word came from? What's in a name? Fuelled by curiosity, I dove into some etymological sleuthing. The results? As rich and tangled as a fruit bunch – thorny, colourful and full of surprises. One theory traces sawit to the Javanese phrase 'sak wit', meaning one tree trunk. A fitting nod to the palm's upright stance. Folklore even tells of a majestic tree that towered over a village in Indonesia, inspiring its name – Sawit. Now that's a name with deep roots! Then comes another twist from the Indonesian dictionary: 'sawitan', referring to matching outfits. Could this reflect the oil palm fruits' synchronised ripening – either in their reddish-nigrescens charm or the virescent variety's orange glow? Fashionable indeed. Now here's the poetic angle: in old Javanese, sawit can mean 'necklace' or 'thread'. Imagine it – oil palm as a strand connecting lives and livelihoods across generations, draped like a legacy over the shoulders of South-East Asia. But wait – Tagalog brings in a wild card. Sawit there means 'non-stop chatter' (yes, verbal diarrhoea!). Apt for a crop that fuels heated talk: costs, taxes, trade wars, EU Deforestation Regulation, sustainability – you name it, sawit stirs the pot. And just when you think the word has run dry, along come the acronyms. SAWiT or South Asian Women in Tech, or South African Wine Industry Trust. From palm oil to IT and wine, this word truly spans the globe. A spiky connection: Oil palm versus snake fruit Did you know oil palm is called Kelapa Bali in Indonesia? Don't ask me why –even Google throws up its hands. But here's a fun twist: in Bahasa Sunda, it's affectionately known as salak minyak. Just don't confuse it with salah minyak (wrong oil), because in this case, the name fits beautifully. Why? Just look at an oil palm fresh fruit bunch. Spiky, reddish, tightly packed – basically a snake fruit (salak) that hit the gym and bulked up into an agri-industrial powerhouse. Add minyak (oil), and boom! You've got the perfect metaphor for this tropical titan. Now, salak isn't just some cute name. It means 'silver' in Sundanese, a nod to its shimmering, scaly skin. Like oil palm, snake fruit hides value beneath armour – both are nature's barbed treasures. Salak, native to Indonesia and Malaysia, is a close cousin in the palm family. Its snake-like skin grabs your attention, but inside? Sweet, tangy flesh that's both refreshing and a little astringent, depending on the variety. But beware the hard seeds – crunch at your own risk. The parallels with oil palm are uncanny: both are spiky, misunderstood and brimming with utility. Oil palm powers global food and industry; salak satisfies with its exotic, natural sweetness. Calling oil palm salak minyak isn't just poetic – it's a tribute to palm family resilience. But salak's legacy isn't just botanical – it's also geographic. In Malaysia, the name crops up in Salak Tinggi, Salak South, Kampung Salak, even the Salak Expressway. It's practically a postcode celebrity. Beyond Malaysia? Mount Salak looms in West Java. There's a Salak town in North Sumatra, a Salak village in Iran, and even one in northern Cameroon. Who knew this prickly fruit would plant its name across continents? So next time you see a sawit bunch or a snake fruit, pause. Beneath the spikes lie stories of strength, sweetness, and an unexpected global journey. Kelapa Sawit: A town with ghosts Did you know there's a town in Johor called Kelapa Sawit? Tucked along the Jalan Kulai–Air Hitam road, this quiet 'pekan' traces its roots to the 1950s Malayan Emergency, when Chinese villagers were relocated into New Villages. Today, it's a Hakka cultural gem, where time slows down and Singaporeans flock in on weekends for rustic charm and food trails. But not all is calm beneath the sawit canopy. Back in the 1990s, I heard of planters' whisper about the town's police station – dubbed one of Malaysia's most haunted lockups. Whether they were pranking me or not, the tales were chilling. Detainees, they claimed, were tormented by eerie presences, with some so scared they wet themselves. Ghosts from the Emergency or World War II? Who knows. But the haunted reputation stuck. Honestly, this place could outshine escape rooms – imagine a 'One Night Behind Bars' ghost-tourism dare. Eat your heart out, Ghostbusters! The sawit name pops up everywhere – Bukit Sawit, Sawit Seberang and across kampungs and plantations in South-East Asia. It's more than just oil palm; it's folklore, economy and identity rolled into one prickly package. Oil palm or palm oil? Here's a confession that might ruffle a few journalistic feathers: I get twitchy when people mix up oil palm industry with palm oil industry. Yes, I know – it sounds nitpicky. But trust me, the difference matters. The oil palm industry refers to the upstream side – plantations, planters, smallholders and estate work. It's where the real toil happens, from seed to fruit bunches. The palm oil industry kicks in downstream – refineries, oleochemicals, packagers – the glossier, processed side of the chain. Palm oil mills? They're the midstream bridge, turning fruit bunches into crude palm oil. Not quite upstream, not quite downstream. Somewhere in between with an identity crisis. So when we talk about Malaysia's plantation sector, what's the right label? My vote: oil palm industry. That's where the ecosystem begins. It powers everything else. Without upstream, there's no golden oil downstream. Now for pet peeve number two: misidentified oil palm trees in the media. You're reading a story about oil palms and – bam! – a date palm photo appears. It's like writing about elephants and showing a mammoth. What's next? Koala piece with a kangaroo pic? And artificial intelligence (AI)? Don't get me started. Some generated 'oil palm estate' images look like tropical Minecraft – bizarre fruit clusters, sci-fi trees and pristine fields straight out of an 1980s arcade game. Real estates are muddy, sweaty and full of heart. We don't float on sleek drones – we slog through rain and blazing sun. Why this matters Here's a quick botany refresher. The palm family (Arecaceae) has 2,600 species. But only Elaeis guineensis — the African oil palm – is the high-yielding, oil-churning, tropical superstar that fuels the global edible oil market. Date palms and coconut trees? Beautiful, but not in the same productivity league. Media missteps – wrong photos, wrong terms – may seem small, but they shape perception. If we want people to understand oil palm, we need accuracy in language and visuals. It's time for more media familiarisation, some Oil Palm 101, and also better AI prompts. So, next time you spot a date palm masquerading in an oil palm article, know this: someone's palms got crossed. Let's honour the industry by getting it right – because palm oil products don't just grow on trees. They grow livelihoods and they deserve to be seen clearly and respectfully. Joseph Tek Choon Yee has over 30 years experience in the plantation industry, with a strong background in oil palm research and development, C-suite leadership and industry advocacy. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
