The grand palace in Bangkok. Hong Kong’s tian TAN BUDDHA. the namdaemun market in Seoul. we list the highlights and hot spots of five OF ASIA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND bustling cities.
BEYOND BALI » Everyone knows about the lush tropical islands of Java and Bali. But here’s a secret: Indonesia has 17,000 other islands worthy of your attention. by chris taylor
KING OF THE INSECTS » Some are lauded for singing. Some are lauded for fighting. (A few are lauded for both.) Some tell you the temperature. As a collective bunch, they indicate when it’s time to plow a field. Talk about a wonder bug. Maybe that’s why the right cricket in China can fetch nearly $13,000. by jack boulware
GROWING VIETNAM » Listed as one of the Next Eleven countries to watch for investment opportunities and accepted into the World Trade Organization, Vietnam has been dubbed the New Asian Tiger. But can it live up to the world’s expectations? by jack boulware
SHANGHAI SON RISES » Houston Rockets center Yao Ming may lay his head in Houston, but his heart is still in Shanghai, his hometown. by Kristin baird rattini
Samurai Snack Attack » In Osaka, “eat until you drop” is not an amusing phrase — it’s a way of life. There’s no way you can sample all the great food the city has to offer, but we certainly tried by David Sax
By the Numbers » From railroads to forests to Taiwan’s Postal Museum, we searched Asia high and low to find the numbers that make the continent tick. by Jenna Schnuer
Great Ball of China » Who will follow Yao Ming out of China to dominate the NBA? Maybe six-foot-eleven Yi Jianlian. Maybe no one. by John Gonzalez
Survival of the Fittest » Could your excess work schedule be killing you? by Charlotte huff
Passport to Asia » Don’t even think of visiting the world’s largest continent without boosting your cultural IQ. by Jenna Schnuer
when it comes to entertainment, nagisa Oshima, takashi miike, and the pang brothers give martin scorsese and steven spielberg a run for their moviemaking money.
